Henry Potter, CDC Member, Goodwood, November 2024 Report

Westhampnett PC Meeting 11/11/2024

District Councillors Report

The government budget of 31/10 has raised possible problems for the Council with the introduction of an increase Employers contribution towards employee National Insurance contributions. Unless this increase is waived for Local Authorities, which is unlikely, this increase will cost CDC in the region of £500,000 per annum. Consider the liability for Council Officers, office staff, Street cleaners, refuse collectors, parking staff, parks attendants and £1/2 million is near the mark. So we must prepare for increases in Council precepts. Magnify this by WSCC and Sussex Police any increase will be considerable. There are circa 373 Local Authorities in England, Scotland, Wales and N Ireland so any relief will cost the Government circa £200 million which is why I fear that relief from this increase is unlikely.

In the matter of the Southern Gateway Redevelopment Scheme, which was on the Agenda for Cabinet and was presented to full Council last month, there is still little progress due to the uncertainty of relocating the numerous bus stops which are currently contained in the bus terminal. It has been suggested that these bus stops be moved into the Avenue de Chartres and South Street. However, at the Cabinet Meeting on 05/11 a public question was tabled suggesting ‘how wrong it was to divert bus passengers onto a busy road adjacent to the Avenue de Chartres multi story car park, the bus terminal should remain’ The response by the Leader of the Council was ‘the vision of a Transport Hub in this location will be close to a railway station, bus stops, toilets, EV charging points???, bicycle racks, cafes and of course car parking. How all of these facilities will be accommodated within this Southern Gateway area remains to be seen. And yet again another member of the public addressed the Cabinet last Tuesday saying that the bus terminal must stay. Always in mind is to have improved pedestrian routes towards the City centre which, considering the ageing population of Chichester, shouldn’t feature high in priorities. However, further assessments of the Scheme will proceed using monies from the Local Enterprise Partnership which was secured to support the Southern Gateway Proposals. This was initially £5 million but it is gradually being used.

Following a request from Councillors, the Cabinet will receive and note a 5 year Resource Monitor Update. Concerns have been recorded about the high levels of funding for various projects which resulted in this request. At end of October funding approvals have amounted to £4.46 million but at the 05/11 meeting Cabinet were asked to agree further funding of £8.228 million! This will include £0.25 million for the purchase of replacement Refuse collection and a Green Waste collection vehicle. I will add that the two year trial of 2 Electric Refuse collection Vehicles is less than successful. £8 million will be set aside for refurbishment and investment in the Councils Leisure Centres. The contract with ‘Everyone Active’, who currently manage the three Leisure Centres, expires in 2026, after 10 years, and preparations are being considered for the re-tendering process. These Centres clearly need reinvestment.

That concludes my report.

Henry Potter.
CDC Member, Goodwood