Agenda, decisions and minutes

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

None

None

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.

None

None

To receive any Chair’s correspondence.

None

None

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

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chair of their intention to do so and on what items they wish to be heard before a decision on that item is taken.

Councillors de Whalley, Joyce, Kemp, Morley, Moriarty, Parish and  Ryves attended under standing order 34.

Councillors de Whalley, Joyce, Kemp, Morley, Moriarty, Parish and  Ryves attended under standing order 34.

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

The Regeneration and Development Panel considered the report at its meeting on 6 June 2022 and made the following recommendations to Cabinet:

RESOLVED: That the Regeneration and Development Panel support the recommendations to Cabinet, with amendments set out in bold below.

1. Cabinet endorses the revised Town Deal programme, as the accountable body for the fund.

2. Cabinet endorses the submission of project adjustment forms to government.

3. Cabinet agrees that the Town Centre Re-purposing project should remain a priority project to be pursued by the Borough Council and delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the S151 Officer, Monitoring Officer and Deputy Leader to bring a separate business case forward for this project outside of the Town Deal programme and this would go through the normal democratic processes.

4. Delegated authority is granted to the Chief Executive and S151 Officer, in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Regeneration following scrutiny by and comments from the Guildhall Complex and Creative Hub Task Group, to agree the final business cases yet to be submitted to government, with the Town Deal Board.

Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube

The Regeneration and Development Panel considered the report at its meeting on 6 June 2022 and made the following recommendations to Cabinet:

RESOLVED: That the Regeneration and Development Panel support the recommendations to Cabinet, with amendments set out in bold below.

1. Cabinet endorses the revised Town Deal programme, as the accountable body for the fund.

2. Cabinet endorses the submission of project adjustment forms to government.

3. Cabinet agrees that the Town Centre Re-purposing project should remain a priority project to be pursued by the Borough Council and delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the S151 Officer, Monitoring Officer and Deputy Leader to bring a separate business case forward for this project outside of the Town Deal programme and this would go through the normal democratic processes.

4. Delegated authority is granted to the Chief Executive and S151 Officer, in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Regeneration following scrutiny by and comments from the Guildhall Complex and Creative Hub Task Group, to agree the final business cases yet to be submitted to government, with the Town Deal Board.

RESOLVED:           1) That the revised Town Deal programme, as the accountable body for the fund be endorsed.

2)       That the submission of project adjustment forms to government be endorsed.

3)       That the Town Centre Re-purposing project should remain a

priority project to be pursued by the Borough Council be agreed and delegated authority be granted to the Chief Executive in consultation with the S151 Officer, Monitoring Officer and Deputy Leader to bring a separate business case forward for this project outside of the Town Deal programme and this would go through the normal democratic processes.

4)       The draft business case for each remaining Town Deal project shall be brought to Cabinet, through the Regeneration & Development Panel. Special Cabinet and Regeneration & Development Panel meetings shall, where necessary, be convened for this purpose.

Reason for Decision

To ensure the full Town Deal allocation of £25m is secured for King’s Lynn to deliver against the vision and priorities set out in the Town Investment Plan (2021).

Recommendation 4 was amended to take into advice from the Monitoring Officer.  The comments from the Panel in recommendation 3 were supported.

Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube

Councillor Middleton presented a report which provided an update on the progress made to develop detailed Business Cases for the projects approved by the King’s Lynn Town Deal Board and Borough Council (as accountable body) under the government’s Towns Fund programme and sought approval to submit project adjustment forms to government.

The Chair reported that following advice from the Monitoring officer recommendation 4 was superfluous and should be replaced with the following wording:

“4)       The draft business case for each remaining Town Deal project shall be brought to Cabinet, through the Regeneration & Development Panel. Special Cabinet and Regeneration & Development Panel meetings shall, where necessary, be convened for this purpose.”

Under standing order 34 Councillor Parish expressed disappointment that the Gyratory and Town Centre Repurposing projects were being withdrawn and the Guildhall and Multi User Hub being favoured over them.  He felt that the Hub would detract from businesses in the town and had reservations about it.  He questioned the changing of recommendation 4.

Under standing order 34 Councillor Morley referred to the need to rigorously check business cases which he considered would be reviewed in detail by the Government. He considered the Town Centre Repurposing project to be a core project.  He questioned the potential revenue in the Guildhall and commented that the Task Group would want robust information on the business cases as they were high risk projects.

Councillor Moriarty confirmed that following the change in recommendation 4, he no longer wished to speak.

Under standing order 34 Councillor Joyce supported the case and commented on the treatment of a member who he considered was trying to be helpful in the Panel meeting. He considered the levelling up fund was to help communities, and the Hub and the Guildhall would not deliver for those communities.  He questioned the value of the buildings once completed.  He reminded Members of the Carnegie Library.

Councillor Dark referred to the comments made by Councillor Joyce and suggested he raise it with the Chair.

Under standing order 34 Councillor Kemp confirmed the Guildhall project should be at the top of the tree, she commented on the future of the existing Carnegie Library and considered the Multi User Hub would put that at risk.  She encouraged the Borough Council to look into ownership of it.

Under standing order 34 Councillor de Whalley commended the existing Carnegie Library rather than the Multi User Hub.  With regard to the Active and clean connectivity he encouraged greater emphasis on active travel.  With regard to the Town Centre Re-purposing  he considered it a worthy project.  He also expressed concern that so much money was being aimed at the White Barn when the multi user creativity hub would be located elsewhere.  He referred to the future if the Lottery Fund was not forthcoming.

Under standing order 34  Councillor Ryves referred to the high risk and commented that the two schemes was to increase density of the population in  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB6