Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Committee Suite, King's Court, Chapel Street, King's Lynn

Contact: Sam Winter, Democratic Services Manager 01553 616327 

Items
No. Item

CAB53

MINUTES

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 2 August 2016 (previously circulated).

 

Decision:

RESOLVED:The Minutes of the Meeting held on 2 August 2016 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:The Minutes of the Meeting held on 2 August 2016 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

CAB54

URGENT BUSINESS

To consider any business, which by reason of special circumstances, the Chairman proposes to accept, under Section 100(b)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

 

Decision:

None

Minutes:

None

CAB55

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Please indicate if there are any interests which should be declared.  A declaration of an interest should indicate the nature of the interest (if not already declared on the Register of Interests) and the agenda item to which it relates.  If a disclosable pecuniary interest is declared, the member should withdraw from the room whilst the matter is discussed.

 

These declarations apply to all Members present, whether the Member is part of the meeting, attending to speak as a local Member on an item or simply observing the meeting from the public seating area.

Decision:

Councillor A Lawrence declared a pecuniary interest in item 15, Inspectors Report for the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Plan, and left the meeting during its consideration.

Minutes:

Councillor A Lawrence declared a pecuniary interest in item 15, Inspectors Report for the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Plan, and left the meeting during its consideration.

.

CAB56

CHAIRMAN'S CORRESPONDENCE

To receive any Chairman’s correspondence.

Decision:

None

Minutes:

None

CAB57

MEMBERS PRESENT UNDER STANDING ORDER 34

To note the names of any Councillors who wish to address the meeting under Standing Order 34.

Decision:

Under Standing Order 34, Councillor D Pope attended for agenda item 12 -Effectiveness of the Audit Committee.

Minutes:

Under Standing Order 34, Councillor D Pope attended for agenda item 12 -Effectiveness of the Audit Committee.

CAB58

CALLED IN MATTERS

To report on any Cabinet Decisions called in.

Decision:

None

Minutes:

None

CAB59

FORWARD DECISIONS pdf icon PDF 59 KB

A copy of the Forward Decisions List is attached

 

Decision:

The Forward Decisions List was noted

Minutes:

The Forward Decisions List was noted

CAB60

MATTERS REFERRED TO CABINET FROM OTHER BODIES

To receive any comments and recommendations from other Council bodies which meet after the dispatch of this agenda. 

 

Decision:

None

Minutes:

None

CAB61

COUNCIL TAX SUPPORT SCHEME 2017/18 - DRAFT FOR CONSULTATION pdf icon PDF 320 KB

Decision:

RESOLVED:1)       That the draft 2017/2018 Council Tax Support Scheme, as shown at Section 3 and Appendix C to the report, goes to public consultation.

 

2)       That the consultation responses from Norfolk County Council and the Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner be noted.

 

3)       That a public consultation period running online over a six week period from 12 September 2016 to 23 October 2016 be agreed

 

4)       That a further report detailing the proposed final Council Tax Support scheme for 2017/2018 be presented to Cabinet, for recommendation to Council, before 31 January 2017

 

5)       That the cost of the Council Tax Support scheme be noted and the impact on the taxbase monitored with an update report made available for Members in Autumn 2017

 

Reason for Decision

 

To ensure a Council Tax Support scheme for 2017/2018 is agreed by full Council by 31 January 2017

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report which explained that the Council must review and agree its Council Tax Support scheme each financial year.  This process included consulting with major preceptors, publishing a draft Council Tax Support scheme and then consulting with interested parties before the final Council Tax Support scheme could be approved. 

 

The report detailed the recommended draft 2017/2018 Council Tax Support scheme to go to public consultation.

 

Deputy Director L Gore explained that the changes proposed were in order to bring the scheme into line with the Welfare Reforms.

 

RESOLVED:   1)         That the draft 2017/2018 Council Tax Support Scheme, as shown at Section 3 and Appendix C to the report, goes to public consultation.

 

2)         That the consultation responses from Norfolk County Council and the Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner be noted.

 

3)         That a public consultation period running online over a six week period from 12 September 2016 to 23 October 2016 be agreed

 

4)         That a further report detailing the proposed final Council Tax Support scheme for 2017/2018 be presented to Cabinet, for recommendation to Council, before 31 January 2017

 

5)         That the cost of the Council Tax Support scheme be noted and the impact on the taxbase monitored with an update report made available for Members in Autumn 2017

 

 

Reason for Decision

 

To ensure a Council Tax Support scheme for 2017/2018 is agreed by full Council by 31 January 2017

CAB62

MULTI YEAR FUNDING SETTLEMENT FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY PLAN pdf icon PDF 59 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

RECOMMENDED:  That the Financial Sustainability Plan 2016-2020 as attached to the report be approved.

 

Reason For The Decision

 

The Council is required to approve an efficiency plan, submit the plan to DCLG and publish the plan on the Council website by 14 October 2016 in order for the Council to take up the Government’s offer of a four-year funding settlement.

Minutes:

Cabinet was informed that the government had made an offer as part of the funding settlement announcement in December 2015 to guarantee a minimum level of grant funding, paid to councils for a 4-year period from April 2016.

 

An ‘efficiency plan’ was required to be approved by Council, the plan submitted to DCLG and published on the Council’s website by 14 October 2016 in order for the Council to take up the Government’s offer of a four-year funding settlement.

 

The proposed plan was presented for Members consideration. It was noted that there were no surprises in the plan, as all the information had been presented in previous reports, but it was a good summary of the proposals.

 

RECOMMENDED:      That the Financial Sustainability Plan 2016-2020 as attached to the report be approved.

 

Reason For The Decision

 

The Council is required to approve an efficiency plan, submit the plan to DCLG and publish the plan on the Council website by 14 October 2016 in order for the Council to take up the Government’s offer of a four-year funding settlement.

CAB63

EFFECTIVENESS OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE pdf icon PDF 143 KB

Decision:

RESOLVED:           That the contents of the report be noted.

 

Reason for Decision

To ensure the Council continues to meet its obligations under the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015.

 

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report which provided the results of the ‘Review of the Effectiveness of the Audit and Risk Committee’ for 2015/16 and confirmed that the Committee was fulfilling its stated purpose which was ‘to provide independent assurance of the adequacy of the risk management framework and the associated control environment, independent scrutiny of the Council’s financial and non-financial performance to the extent that it affected the Council’s exposure to risk and weakened the control environment, and to oversee the financial reporting process’.

 

Under Standing Order 34 Councillor D Pope, Chairman of the Audit Committee, addressed Cabinet stating that he was happy with the changes to the Audit Committee arrangements, and he endorsed the findings of the report.

 

 

RESOLVED:               That the contents of the report be noted.

 

Reason for Decision

To ensure the Council continues to meet its obligations under the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015.

 

CAB64

MEMBERS CODE OF GOOD PRACTICE FOR PLANNING COMMITTEE pdf icon PDF 54 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

This item was deferred to the next meeting in order that further additions could be added to it.

 

 

Minutes:

This item was deferred to the next meeting in order that further additions could be added to it.

 

CAB65

NORA JOINT VENTURE - PHASE 3 pdf icon PDF 184 KB

Decision:

RECOMMENDED:      That the signing of contracts and start of works for NORA Phase 3 be authorised.

 

Reason for Decision

 

To allow the development on Nar Valley Park (NORA) to be completed

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report which updated Members on progress made on the NORA Housing project for phases 1 and 2, and invited Members to agree to give delegated authority to the Chief Executive and the Chief Financial Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, to authorise the signing of contracts to enable the start of works for Phase 3. 

 

It was noted that the risk elements of the scheme had been included in the report, and the mitigation explained.  The project to date was complimented, the design, rate of sale of the properties and their energy efficiency was commended and the Members and Officers involved in the scheme congratulated. 

 

RECOMMENDED:      That the signing of contracts and start of works for NORA Phase 3 be authorised.

 

Reason for Decision

 

To allow the development on Nar Valley Park (NORA) to be completed.

CAB66

INSPECTORS REPORT FOR THE SITE ALLOCATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICIES PLAN pdf icon PDF 209 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

RECOMMENDED:

1. That the outcome of the Inspector’s report into the Examination of the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Plan (SADMP) as shown in Appendices 1 and 2 to the report  be noted.

2. That the Council adopts the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Plan (SADMP) Plan, incorporating the Main Modifications as shown in Appendix 2 to the report.

3. That Council notes that the saved policies of the King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Local Plan (1998) will be superseded by SADMP.

4. That the Executive Director, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Development, be authorised to undertake any minor updates and drafting changes to improve the presentation of the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Plan (SADMP)  as proposed to be modified prior to publication of the final version. This includes the Minor Modifications agreed by the Council on 24 March 2016.

 

Reason for Decision

To enable the Borough Council to adopt the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Plan (SADMP) and, therefore, ensure that we have an up to date plan to use when we make decisions on planning applications

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report which explained that the Inspector undertaking the examination into the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Plan (SADMP) had found the document sound subject to the inclusion of modificationswhich were previously agreed by Council on 24 March 2016 and hadbeen subject to public consultation and sustainability appraisal/ habitatsregulations assessment.

 

The purpose of the report was to seek Council’s agreement to adopt the SADMP as amended by the Main Modifications, set out in the Inspector’s Report.

 

Members drew attention to the length of time it had taken to reach this point and the level of work involved.  The comments of the Inspector were welcomed, and the fact that he had clearly visited the sites commended.  Officers and Members involved in the work carried out on the Plan were congratulated.

 

RECOMMENDED:      1) That the outcome of the Inspector’s report into the Examination of the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Plan (SADMP) as shown in Appendices 1 and 2 to the report  be noted.

 

2)         That the Council adopts the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Plan (SADMP) Plan, incorporating the Main Modifications as shown in Appendix 2 to the report.

 

3)         That Council notes that the saved policies of the King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Local Plan (1998) will be superseded by SADMP.

 

4)         That the Executive Director, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Development, be authorised to undertake any minor updates and drafting changes to improve the presentation of the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Plan (SADMP)  as proposed to be modified prior to publication of the final version. This includes the Minor Modifications agreed by the Council on 24 March 2016.

 

Reason for Decision

To enable the Borough Council to adopt the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Plan (SADMP) and, therefore, ensure that we have an up to date plan to use when we make decisions on planning applications