We have detailed some key highlights from the Cabinet meeting, held on Monday 6th January 2025.
Enforcement of Environmental Offences
Environmental enforcement companies will be invited bid for a new contract, following approval from Cabinet.
Members gave the go ahead for the procurement of a new arrangement to run from 2025 to 2030 when the current agreement with National Enforcement Solutions Ltd (NES) ends in July 2025.
Cabinet was told that enforcement had been successful in tackling the issue of littering, fly-tipping and dog-fouling with an average of five to six penalty notices being issued each day – mostly for littering.
Members were informed that the number of incidents of fly-tipping at recycling centres and commercial waste being dumped in litter bins, a significant problem previously, had reduced since the enforcement contract started.
Cllr Kathryn Field, portfolio holder for environmental said there was a lot of push back from the public when the enforcement contract first began adding: “I think all of us appreciate having a much cleaner district.”
Barnhorn Green NHS Development
A report was presented to Cabinet seeking members’ approval of the legal agreements required to deliver the proposed Barnhorn Green Medical Centre.
Members unanimously agreed to delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to enter the necessary legal agreements to purchase and lease-back Old Town Surgery and Little Common Surgery; agree the lease of the proposed Barnhorn Green Medical Centre with the Sussex Integrated Care Board; and enter a Design and Build Construction Contract for the construction of the proposed new Medical Centre.
The total capital cost of the scheme is £12m, with £5m coming from Levelling Up Partnership Fund and the remaining £7m sourced from borrowing.
Cllr Christine Bayliss, portfolio holder for regeneration and economic development, said: “This is a good project to build a state-of-the-art GP surgery and we are making real efforts here to provide local infrastructure, working with the NHS. It is partially supported by Levelling Up Partnership funding and we are grateful to the current government for reconfirming that funding.”
Review of the Housing, Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2019-2024
Members were presented with a retrospective report on the progress of the Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Housing Strategy, and unanimously approved the Improvement Delivery Plan.
Cllr Ruairi McCourt, portfolio holder for housing, highlighted the challenges facing the district noting the number of homeless has risen from 216 people in 2017/18 to 571 in 2023/24, coupled with the cost-of-living crisis and spiralling private rents.
Cllr McCourt said: “I commend the Housing team who have risen to the challenge. There are positives such as the Blackfrairs scheme, a task and finish group on development which should be reporting in the next few months, and the council’s property acquisition programme.”
He added that the council’s homeless prevention work has been very successful.
The current Strategy came to an end on 31 December 2024 and the council is looking to establish revised housing development objectives in a standalone strategy.
The Housing Development and Enablement Strategy will be complemented by a separate Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, which will go to consultation in February 2025.
Published: 10th January 2025
