The Chichester Observer gave front page prominence to the Canal Basin saga that saw the District Council returning over a quarter of a million pounds to the developer that under the Planning Act Section 106 should have been spent on community facilities in the Chichester Gateway area. The monies were returned as the time had expired by when they should have been spent. The matter fell between three stools, Southern Gateway Forum, Chichester District Council and County (all Conservative led as it happens). As Councillor Chaplin rightly said at my last Overview and Scrutiny meeting there was a failure of political leadership. A detailed review of what went wrong and what can be learnt will have to await the next Council.
Also on the front page was a report that the Chichester Festival Theatre and Pallant House Gallery had been selected for the Arts Council of England's new National Portfolio and will therefore continue to receive major funding over the next three years. As chairman of the committee that over the past four years has recommended Council funding for both organisations and given the importance of local financial support for Arts Council grants I am pleased with that result. The gallery continues to be disgruntled, to put it mildly, however over the District Council's cut in its discretionary rate relief. Some people you can never please.
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Corporate Governance and Audit reviewed my report for the year as chairman of scrutiny. Complementary in general but made some pertinent comments as to risk of self perpetuating panels and their preference for more effective task and finish groups. Also queried whether our health panel overlapped with County's HOSC. I was somewhat thrown by member's question about whether our efforts to protect St Richard's in the Fit for the Future exercise had been worthwhile. I ought to have had an answer. Next Council should follow this up and I will so recommend.
My last appearance as chairman of scrutiny. Good attendance, generous comments by senior officer. Agenda contained report on the new CHP at Westgate that we had seen that same morning before committee, that will much reduce cost of energy to the centre but whose installation had been many months late. Will be the subject of Internal Audit. There was also a report on the Canal Basin S106 task and finish group with chairman inappropriately making a political statement that may well hit the press.
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Third meeting of the Affordable Housing Working Party. A lot of progress is being made in identifying two sites and starting discussions with owners. An architect's scheme for 12 housing units, was presented with single bed bungalows, and two/ three/ four bedroom houses. Rather attractive first sketch. We made some suggestions as to use of vernacular materials such as brick, flint, and local design including half hips. The building code for sustainable buildings will include solar panels. Overall next month when some more work is done on the design and both sites have been thoroughly researched North Mundham Parish will be presented with an attractive proposal. I am pleased to have played a part in this project, promoting against some local opposition at a public meeting last July. Council officers have done a good job so far.
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Second session surveying residents in Oving (North Mundham on March 11) on issues about their locality such as crime, environment, housing, traffic and those services they were most keen should not be cut. Good response from residents providing some useful leads. This was also a start to introducing my successor to the community. She has lots of enthusiasm, ideas and energy. She will have the benefit of my support throughout the campaign and my unsurpassable grasp of local priorities.
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Executive Board under Part II discusses former fuel depot at Bognor Road as possible site for park and ride. That much may be deduced from the agenda papers. I may not publish more on this open site at this stage.
Marsh Lane watch No odour these days. Has the new site manager cracked it? Still waiting for County Highways to send their jetter to clear the culvert opposite my house over three weeks since it was reported to be on the jobs list.
19:00. Full Council that set Council tax for 2011/2012. It was decided to go for a tax freeze in response to the £170K we are receiving from central government. It will have to go up next year though. Residents in properties rated Band D in North Mundham will pay £1483.92, in Oving £1484.44.
Another uninspiring Council, my last. The leader and executive have done nothing to make this meeting a participatory one for members over the last experimental year, introduced no topics for debate, not invited me or chairman of Corporate Governance and Audit to give a report at any time. No debate on the budget, we did nothing on the LibDem side to show our distinctive approach. No members of the public. At least mercifully it was short, perhaps the consequence of its being held in the evening, one of my more productive contributions to this Council.
17:00. Launched a website for teaching citizenship in schools that I have been working on with two others, to do with the EU and to do with migration issues, for over two and a half years. www.citizensofeurope.org Have now to promote it to schools.
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