Minutes – Community Affairs Committee – 5 September 2022
The agenda and papers for this meeting are available here: Community Affairs Committee – 5 September 2022 – agenda and papers
The minutes of this meeting are presented below.
You can also download a PDF copy of the minutes here: Minutes – Community Affairs Committee – 5 September 2022
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Minutes
Date: 5 September 2022
Time: 3.15pm – 4.23pm
Location: The Council Chamber – The Council House • North Street • CHICHESTER • West Sussex • PO19 1LQ
PRESENT: Councillor Apel (Chairman), Councillor C Hughes, Councillor Sharp, Councillor Lishman, Councillor Carter
EX-OFFICIO: Councillor Scicluna (Chairman of Finance)
ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Councillor J Hughes, Councillor Corfield, Councillor Quail, Councillor Gaskin, Alastair Alexander (Representative of Friends of Ravenna), Graham Pound (Chairman of Friends of Valletta), Pam Bushby (Chichester District Council), Paula Chatfield (Chichester Tree Wardens), Julia Sander (Transition Chichester), Revd Martha Weatherill (Rural Dean of Chichester), Luke Irvine-Capel SSC (Archdeacon of Chichester), Town Clerk, Deputy Town Clerk, Property Manager and Committee and Community Officer.
The Committee noted with sadness the untimely passing of Councillor Kevin Hughes and Members agreed he would be remembered for his commitment and service to the City of Chichester.
23. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
RESOLVED to accept and approve apologies and reasons for absence from the meeting from the Mayor (Councillor Joy), the Deputy Mayor (Councillor Plowman) and Councillor Gershater.
24. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE IN MATTERS ON THE AGENDA FOR THIS MEETING
Councillors Apel and Lishman declared an interest as Members of Chichester District Council.
Councillor C Hughes declared an interest as the City Council representative for Friends of Valletta.
Councillor Scicluna declared an interest as the City Council representative on all three Friends Associations.
Councillor Quail declared an interest as the City Council representative for Friends of Ravenna.
25. MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON 6 JUNE 2022
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 6 June 2022, having been circulated; be approved and signed as a correct record.
At this point the Chairman took agenda item 6
26. REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES OF FRIENDS OF CHARTRES, RAVENNA AND VALLETTA
a) Friends of Chartres
The Chairman of the Friends of Chartres presented her report outlining the current activities of the Friends.
The Chairman noted that meetings had been productive, and she had no further information to add to her report.
b) Friends of Ravenna
A representative of the Friends of Ravenna presented a report as the Chairman was not available to attend the meeting.
He added to the previously circulated report that Liz Turner, the former Chairman had a remarkable four years as the previous Chairman and had recently stepped down.
c) Friends of Valletta
The Chairman of the Friends of Valletta presented his report outlining the current activities of the Friends.
The Chairman summarised his report and welcomed questions from Members.
The meeting returned to the published agenda order.
27. UPDATES FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES
a) Minute 11 – City Council membership of the European Association of Historic Towns and Regions
After a brief discussion, it was decided to put the concept on hold until after May 2023. Councillor Scicluna agreed to contact Mr Brian Smith (Secretary General of the European Association of Historic Towns and Regions) and advise him of the decision.
b) Minute 19 – Graffiti in the city
Pam Bushby advised that Andy Howard was responsible for the graffiti contract at Parks and Open Spaces. She referred to the Community Warden’s report and the reduction in graffiti throughout Chichester City Centre and how it was removed much quicker than in the past.
As the Councillor for Central Chichester, Councillor Scicluna advised that she was still in receipt of countless reports of graffiti, and the problem was not going away.
The Chairman suggested that Andy Howard be invited to an upcoming meeting to discuss the item further.
c) Minute 21 – Section 106 funding for public art
The Deputy Town Clerk advised that any proposals going forward will be considered at the next Finance Committee on 13 September 2022.
28. POLICING AND SECURITY IN THE CITY
a) Community Wardens
Pam Bushby (Divisional Manager, Communities and Wellbeing, Chichester District Council) summarised the report that had been sent to Councillors.
Ms Bushby also advised there was a resignation of a Community Warden in the Tangmere and Oving area, and the decision had been made to not fill that post. The question of funding for the Wardens would be considered in due course by the Finance Committee.
b) BID Rangers
The Chairman noted there was no representative from the BID present however, Councillor Quail who was present, was the City Council’s representative.
Councillor Quail advised they were to meet the following Wednesday morning and if Members had any questions, she would relay them at the upcoming meeting at the BID.
The Chairman asked that Councillor Quail request a summary of any updates from the BID rangers to be brought to future Community Affairs Committees.
c) West Sussex Police
No report had been received.
At this point the Chairman took agenda item 10
29. CHICHESTER WARM NETWORK
The Committee considered a report submitted by Councillor Sharp. The Chairman welcomed Revd Martha Weatherill (Rural Dean of Chichester). Revd Martha summarised the idea behind the Chichester Warm Network and the churches want to help those in need.
Revd Martha suggested that a list of churches and other available buildings along with the services they offered be complied into a directory and that directory be shared with the public.
Councillor Sharp noted that the directory should not purely be faith based and that other organisations should also be included. She further noted that this should be done on a City wide basis and advertised on the City Council’s website.
Revd Martha asked what was the upcoming plan to support the homeless through this time. The Chairman advised this responsibility came under Chichester District Council and Stonepillow.
The Town Clerk noted that a Directory of Community Assets was already in existence which included churches, halls and organisations.
Councillor Quail recommended that the City Council seek to co-ordinate a list of organisations whose facilities may be available for the specific purpose of providing a Chichester Warm Network during the winter.
The Chairman offered to speak to Ash Pal (Chairman of Chichester Community Network) about meetins commencing once more to ensure the Resident’s Associations were involved.
The Town Clerk noted that the Committee and Community Officer’s maternity leave was due to commence in October 2022 for a one year period. Due to community work levels rising around this time, it would need to be discussed in the upcoming Finance committee to seek authority to search for a temporary replacement to assist the City Council with community work.
The Chairman agreed with the Town Clerk and RECOMMENDED it be discussed at the next Finance Committee the possibility of taking on a replacement person in the absence of the Committee and Community Officer.
The meeting returned to the published agenda order.
30. CHICHESTER TREE WARDENS
Paula Chatfield of Chichester Tree Wardens summarised the report that had been sent to Councillors.
Councillors thanked the Chichester Tree Wardens for all the work the do for the city’s trees.
Councillor Gaskin asked for more information regarding CAVAT (Capital Asset Value for Amenity Trees) and what was the cost involved for the charity.
Ms Chatfield advised it was the standard way of valuating a tree and the amenity value of the tree. She further advised there was no cost involved if the charity used an established formula. However, to gain an accurate valuation, a qualified expert would need to be hired at a cost.
31. SPEYER FRIENDSHIP/TWINNING LINK
The Committee considered the report of the Town Clerk. The Chairman noted the successful Speyer visit which had taken place in August 2022.
After a short discussion, it was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND to Council on 28 September 2022 to formally twin with Speyer, Germany.
32. BIG GREEN WEEK 2022
The Chairman welcomed Julia Sander who firstly thanked the City Council for the grant which had been awarded in the last round of Discretionary Grants which made this possible.
Ms Sander distributed a leaflet which advertised ‘The Great Big Green Week 2022’ which highlighted events that were taking place in September and October. She also welcomed Councillors to all events and asked they give information to residents in their wards about the events.
33. ITEMS TO BE INCLUDED ON THE NEXT AGENDA
No items were proposed other than the Committee’s standing items.
34. DATE OF NEXT ORDINARY MEETING
DATE OF NEXT MEETING (DISCRETIONARY GRANTS): 3 OCTOBER 2022
The meeting closed at 4.23pm