Minutes – Community Affairs Committee – 2 December 2024
The agenda and papers for this meeting are available here: Agenda and papers – Community Affairs Committee – 2 December 2024
The minutes of this meeting are presented below.
You can also download a PDF copy of the minutes here: Minutes – Community Affairs Committee – 2 December 2024
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Minutes
Date: 2 December 2024
Time: 5.30pm – 6.35pm
Location: The Council Chamber – The Council House • North Street • CHICHESTER • West Sussex • PO19 1LQ
PRESENT: Councillors Apel (CA/Chair), Chant (RC) and Kondabeka (JK).
ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: The Town Clerk (TC), Deputy Town Clerk (DTC), Communications, Civic and Council Support Officer (CCCSO), Helen Marhsall (HM) of Chichester BID, Pam Bushby (PB) of Chichester District Council, PC Ebou Faal (EF) of Sussex Police, West Sussex County Councillor Simon Oakley (SO).
50. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
The Mayor Councillor Sarah Quail and Councillors Knight, Moore and J. Gershater
51. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE IN MATTERS ON THE AGENDA FOR THIS MEETING
RC declared an interest in the grant application from Kitchen Sink Productions.
JK declared an interest in the grant application from Chichester and District Foodbank.
CA then moved that item 13 (allocation of grants) be deferred until 9th December 2024 at 5.30pm to ensure that the committee remained quorate when considering all grant applications.
The committee RESOLVED that item 13 be deferred until 9th December at 5.30pm.
52. PUBLIC QUESTIONS
To answer questions (if any) from members of the public being residents of the City pursuant to Appendix 1 of the latest version of Chichester City Council’s Standing Orders.
The committee considered one question from a member of the public:
“I have been reviewing the agenda for the December meeting, where the Council will decide whether to renew the Murray Statue for another five years. I felt it important to share some thoughts and questions on this matter in writing.
Has the Council considered consulting residents and local artists regarding the use of this space? In my research, I could not find any details about who in the city was involved in the decision-making process for the original piece.
While Admiral Murray’s contributions may be noteworthy, I believe this could be an excellent moment for the Council to explore alternatives. Perhaps the space could be repurposed to showcase work by new, emerging, or diverse artists, supporting Chichester’s evolving cultural identity. This presents an exciting opportunity to honour the past while also embracing the future. A piece that inspires, intrigues, and fosters conversation would bring significant value to the community.
For many residents, these historical figures represent a bygone era that few can connect with. As a result, beautifully crafted sculptures like these often fade into the background, perceived as yet another generic bronze statue.
This is a chance for us to celebrate the present while drawing inspiration from the past and contributing to the ongoing growth of our cultural landscape.”
CA thanked the member of the public for their comments and advised that the committee would take them into consideration when deciding on the future of the Murray statue.
RC added that the City Council is reviewing its public art policy with a view to ensuring that commissioning of new art works is more transparent and inclusive of the community.
The Chair moved the following item up the agenda
53. POLICING AND SECURITY IN THE CITY
Chichester Police
EF provided an update on issues in the City – known problems in the City include shop lifting, crowds gathering, drunk and disorder.
Wider Anti-Social Behaviour issues outside of the City Centre include abandoned cars, e-bikes, scooters, etc.
Youth crime is becoming an issue, this has stemmed from groups of friends falling out and issues escalating. This has led to threats and perceptions of risk of knife crime, although there have been no incidents found to date.
It is possible that the issues are being exacerbated by external drugs related issues.
Operation Ceremony has been developed to tackle this emerging issue.
E-bikes are proving a problem – although this is a national issue. EF urged people to report any incidents with e-bikes and scooters.
There are currently 5 Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) working in the City, this is down from the target of 8-9 officers, due to loss of PCSOs who have become Police Officers. They are currently recruiting but recognise that retention of staff is an ongoing problem.
Councillors asked how successful the police pod had proved to be – EF explained that it had been damaged after only two weeks in situ. It is currently being repaired but will soon be redeployed in the City and assessed to see what impact it makes.
Councillors had observed Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) in certain areas of the City, e.g. Parklands shops and Portfield shops. They asked what can the police do about this?
EF replied that incidents of ASB and drug dealing need to be reported, so that Sussex Police can then focus resources where they are needed.
Councillors asked questions about the Police Pod, who would be manning the pod when it is redeployed?
It will be manned by officers from across the County depending on the needs, but often it will be the City Centre team using it.
The team will be deployed to use it as an engagement hub, so hopefully people will see it being used and manned. Pam Bushby (CDC) advised that the Community Wardens and City Ambassadors will also be able to use it. When it Is redeployed, it will be placed at Eastgate Square, as this is a known ASB hotspot.
Community Wardens Update (Pam Bushby, PB, CDC)
PB advised that there was a regular meeting to look at the issues of ASB with young people, and that the situation is being monitored and vulnerable children have been identified and there is a plan to intervene where needed.
PB advised that the team had held a memorial for Declan Moody on 29/11/2024.
The team are currently stretched as they are trying to cover the City Centre whilst they are recruiting a new warden.
City Ambassadors (Helen Marshall, HM, Chichester BID)
The Ambassadors are still seeing several ASB related issues, and their experience is that it is often not safe to intervene.
The BID is currently working on budgets for next year and would like to extend the coverage of the Ambassador service, as they are building much stronger relationships with partners and businesses.
The BID is also looking at how support for Chichester Business Against Crime Partnership can be increased.
The Chair raised the issue of re-starting the City Angels service and if this would be a possibility again. JK advised that it was previously organised by the Revelation Church, but that the service had run into difficulty in recruiting and retaining volunteers which had made it hard to run.
HM advised that the BID would be happy to help support the scheme and would like to explore what they could do to facilitate the project starting again.
CA REQUESTED that a meeting be called to discuss with the relevant churches and community groups in the City to explore if this was a possibility.
54. UPDATES ON ACTIONS FROM PREVIOUS MEETING
Chair acknowledged that previous actions had been completed.
55. UPDATES FROM MEMBERS
To note reports received by:
Councillor Kondabeka – Voluntary Sector Support Working Group
3 main focuses of the group have been:
1) Recommendations for recruitment model for the advice worker. Citizens Advice Bureau worker has been in post since August, offering service to public since September. The group have asked the City Council Community Officer to make sure that local charities are aware that they can refer clients here, and that Chichester District Council can send people here when they are busy.
2) Charity Forum – 3 forums have been held. An average of 18-20 charity groups were in attendance. The City Council has provided training and networking opportunities at each event. They are a good way for us to keep groups up to date on opportunities and for the City Council to understand their needs. The next session will focus on identifying needs for a community hub as the community centre project proceeds. RC offered to help facilitate if needed.
3) Community Hub – Foodbank initiative – the idea is to try and intervene early to avoid reliance on crisis support by putting people in contact with support networks. The hope is to hold something in the new year in the precinct using the Farmers Market stalls, and to hold an event in the portico in the spring.
Councillor Chant – Arts Forum Update
Group has been meeting for over a year and it has really helped to foster and create an arts community in the City.
The Forum is looking at how they can possibly do more to coordinate arts activity in the City and are exploring options for setting up a CIO to act as an umbrella organisation for Arts Development, to foster collaboration and make better use of funding and resources.
The group have also been exploring the need for a performance space in the City and will make a case as part of the Chichester District Council regeneration strategy consultation.
56. TO NOTE REPORTS RECEIVED FROM COMMUNITY GROUPS
The committee noted receipt of the following reports
• Friends of Chartres
• Friends of Ravenna
• Friends of Speyer
• Friends of Valletta
• Chichester Tree Wardens
57. WEST SUSSEX FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE COMMUNITY RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN (CRMP) QUESTIONAIRE
The Chair moved the following item up the agenda
The Committee were satisfied with the proposed plan and AGREED that they would not submit a response.
58. PUBLIC ART POLICY
To consider the draft public art policy for adoption.
The Committee DEFERRED the item to 9th December 2024.
59. ADMIRAL MURRAY STATUE LICENCE
To consider the recommendation from the Property Sub-Committee meeting on the 26th November 2024:
The Sub-Committee RECOMMENDED to the Community Affairs Committee meeting on 2 December 2024 that a planning permission application be submitted for a further five years extension of the licence for the Murray Statue and plinth.
The Committee DEFERRED the item to the meeting on 9th December 2024.
60. SHOPMOBILITY
The Committee REQUESTED that we continue discussions with the Chichester Access Forum and VAAC and present a full report on the proposal at the March 2025 meeting.
The remaining agenda items were DEFERRED until 9th December at 5.30pm
61. PUBLIC SECTOR BODIES (ADMISSION TO MEETINGS ACT) 1960
Proposal to resolve that the public and press be excluded from this meeting for Agenda Item 16 due to the confidential nature of the business to be transacted namely financial and business affairs of third parties.
62. CONSIDERATION OF GRANT APPLICATIONS
Deputy Clerk to introduce the following discretionary grant applications:
- Small Grant Applications
- Chichester District Foodbank
- Chichester Area Mental Health Support Foundation (lunch club)
- Chichester Film Makers CIC
- Chichester Open Studios Art Trail 2025
- Community Fundraisers
- Creative Beatz
- Kitchen Sink Productions CIC
- Second Chance Chichester CIO
- Talks at Six
- The Novium Chichester
- Volya Art Community Group
63. ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA
- Grants
- Public Art Policy
- Murray Statue
- Civic Awards Ceremony Format
64. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
DATE OF NEXT ORDINARY MEETING: 9 DECEMBER 2024
The meeting closed at 6.35pm
ACTIONS ARISING FROM THIS MEETING
| Minute ref. | Agreed action | Assigned for action to |
| 55.. | Meeting to be arranged with local community and faith groups to discuss the possibility to restart the City Angels Service | Communities Officer |
| 58,59 & 62. | To place the following items on the next agenda | Communications, Civic and Council Support Officer |
| 60. | To continue discussions with the Chichester Access Forum and VAAC and present a full report on the proposal at the March 2025 meeting. | Property Manager |