Purpose

To present to Cabinet the findings of a review
of the Building Control service and to seek Cabinet approval to
progress the preferred option to be set out in the report, pending
completion of the review.

Content

Exempt Paragraph 3
Information relating to financial and business affairs of any
particular person (including the Authority holding that
information)

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet:

a)               
agrees option E as set out from section 7.30 of
report  PES/453 to enable the launch of
Crawley Borough Council’s temporary Building Control Team,
for the period 23 October 2025 to 31 March 2026.

b)               
delegates authority to the Head of Economy and
Planning in consultation with the Head of Corporate Finance and the
Head of Governance, People and Performance, to launch the temporary
Crawley Building Control Team for the period 23 October 2025 to 31
March 2026.
(Generic
Delegations 2 and 3 will be used to enact this
recommendation).

c)               
delegates the negotiation, approval and completion
of all relevant documentation, including legal paperwork, to the
Head of Economy and Planning, in consultation with the Head of
Corporate Finance and Head of Governance, People and
Performance.
(Generic
Delegations 2 and 3 will be used to enact this
recommendation).

d)               
agrees that officers undertake a further review of
options for Building Control service provision in Crawley for the
period 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2028 and to report back to Cabinet
by the end of financial year 2026.

That Full Council be
recommended to approve a revenue supplementary estimate of up to
£200,000 for the provision of a temporary Building Control
Service until 31 March 2026 as set out in section 8.3 of report
PES/453.

Reason for Recommendations

Horsham DC have given notice to
Crawley BC of the termination of the existing Shared Service
Agreement for Sussex Building Control services and the termination
date is 22 October 2025. It is essential that Crawley BC secures
alternative building control service provision to ensure statutory
building control duties are maintained.

For the reasons set out
in  report PES/453, the only option
available to Crawley BC, at least for the period 23rd
October 2025 to 31st March 2026 is to establish a
temporary “in-house” Building Control Team.  

Given Local Government
re-organisation with the successor unitary authority expected in
shadow form in 2027-2028, it makes sense for a further review of
the options for Crawley Building Control service
provision.   It is therefore
proposed that officers report back to Cabinet by the end of
financial year 2026 with the outcome of that further review and
proposals for Crawley Building Control service provision for
1st April 2026 to 31st March 2028.