Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Committee Suite

Contact: Sam Winter, Democratic Services Manager 01553 616327 

Items
No. Item

CAB57

MINUTES

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 9 September 2015 (previously circulated pages 245-264).

 

Decision:

RESOLVED:   The Minutes of the Meeting held on 9 September 2015 were signed as a correct record

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  The Minutes of the Meeting held on 9 September 2015 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

CAB58

APOLOGIES

To receive apologies for absence.

 

Decision:

Councillor Beales, in giving Councillor Daubney’s apologies informed Members that whilst he was still unwell, he had also suffered a bereavement today.  Cabinet wished its condolences and best wishes to be sent to Councillor Daubney.

Minutes:

Councillor Beales, in giving Councillor Daubney’s apologies informed Members that whilst he was still unwell, he had also suffered a bereavement today.  Cabinet wished its condolences and best wishes to be sent to Councillor Daubney.

CAB59

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

CAB60

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:

None

CAB61

CHAIRMAN'S CORRESPONDENCE

To receive any Chairman’s correspondence.

Decision:

Councillor Beales informed Members that a question had been received from Councillor McGuinness relating to the Devolution item, which the Chief Executive had responded to him directly.

CAB62

MEMBERS PRESENT UNDER STANDING ORDER 34

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

Decision:

The following Councillors attended under Standing Order 34 for the items shown:

 

Councillors K Mellish  items 10 & 12

Councillor Westrop – item 10

Minutes:

The following Councillors attended under Standing Order 34 for the items shown:

 

Councillors K Mellish  items 10 & 12

Councillor Westrop – item 10

Councillor McGuinness – Item 10

CAB63

CALLED IN MATTERS

To report on any Cabinet Decisions called in.

Decision:

None

Minutes:

None

CAB64

FORWARD DECISIONS pdf icon PDF 70 KB

A copy of the Forward Decisions List is attached

 

Decision:

Noted.

Minutes:

Noted

CAB65

MATTERS REFERRED TO CABINET FROM OTHER BODIES pdf icon PDF 65 KB

To receive any comments and recommendations from other Council bodies which meet after the dispatch of this agenda.  Copies of any additional  comments made will be circulated as soon as they are available.

 

§     Resources and Performance Panel –  29 September 2015

§     Joint Regeneration  & Development and Environment and Community Panels – 30 September 2015

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

i)        Resources and Performance Panel – 29 September 2015

 

The following recommendation was taken into account during consideration of the item on the agenda:

 

RP58  Cabinet Report:  Devolution

 

RESOLVED:  That the Panel support the recommendations to Cabinet as follows:

 

1)              Note and endorse the submission of the Norfolk Letter of Intent.

 

2)              Endorse the proposal to progress a joint Norfolk and Suffolk devolution deal.

 

3)              Comment upon and support the proposed functions for inclusion in the devolution negotiations as outlined in Section 3 of the report.

 

4)              To note that it will be a requirement that the Borough Council joins and participates full in a ‘Combined Authority’ for Norfolk and Suffolk in the event that an attractive devolution agreement is reached.

 

5)              Authorise the Leader to pursue negotiations on behalf of the Borough Council to help to secure a devolution deal for Norfolk and Suffolk with Government.

 

6)              That a further report be brought forward on the matter for a decision to be taken by Council.

 

 

ii)        Joint Regeneration & Development and Environment and Community Panels – 30 September 2015

 

The following recommendation was made by the Panel:

 

RD&EC65: Cabinet Report – Residential Caravan Site Licensing

 

RESOLVED: That the Regeneration & Development and Environment & Community Panel support the recommendations to Cabinet as set out below:

 

1)    Members note the report and endorse the approach to dealing with, and enforcement associated with residential caravan sites.

2)    Members approve the amendments to the standard residential caravan site licence conditions.

3)    Members approve the adoption of the proposed Fees Policy with annual fees commencing in April 2016.

4)    It is proposed that the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder with responsibility for housing be given delegated authority to make minor amendments to the standard conditions to ensure it complies with legislative requirements, Government Guidance and caselaw.

 

 

Minutes:

i)        Resources and Performance Panel – 29 September 2015

 

The following item recommendation was taken into account during consideration of the item on the agenda:

 

RP58  Cabinet Report:  Devolution

 

RESOLVED:  That the Panel support the recommendations to Cabinet as follows:

 

1)              Note and endorse the submission of the Norfolk Letter of Intent.

 

2)              Endorse the proposal to progress a joint Norfolk and Suffolk devolution deal.

 

3)              Comment upon and support the proposed functions for inclusion in the devolution negotiations as outlined in Section 3 of the report.

 

4)              To note that it will be a requirement that the Borough Council joins and participates full in a ‘Combined Authority’ for Norfolk and Suffolk in the event that an attractive devolution agreement is reached.

 

5)              Authorise the Leader to pursue negotiations on behalf of the Borough Council to help to secure a devolution deal for Norfolk and Suffolk with Government.

 

6)              That a further report be brought forward on the matter for a decision to be taken by Council.

 

 

ii)        Joint Regeneration & Development and Environment and Community Panels – 30 September 2015

 

The following recommendation was made by the Panel:

 

RD&EC65: Cabinet Report – Residential Caravan Site Licensing

 

RESOLVED: That the Regeneration & Development and Environment & Community Panel support the recommendations to Cabinet as set out below:

 

1)    Members note the report and endorse the approach to dealing with, and enforcement associated with residential caravan sites.

2)    Members approve the amendments to the standard residential caravan site licence conditions.

3)    Members approve the adoption of the proposed Fees Policy with annual fees commencing in April 2016.

4)    It is proposed that the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder with responsibility for housing be given delegated authority to make minor amendments to the standard conditions to ensure it complies with legislative requirements, Government Guidance and caselaw.

 

 

CAB66

DEVOLUTION pdf icon PDF 113 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

 

RESOLVED:1) That the submission of the Norfolk Letter of Intent be noted and endorsed.

2) That progress towards a joint Norfolk and Suffolk devolution deal be continued.

3) That the proposed functions for inclusion in the devolution negotiations as outlined in Section 3 of the report and updated in accordance with the additional paper distributed to all Members be supported.

4) That it be noted that it will be a requirement that the Borough Council joins and participates fully in a ‘Combined Authority’ for Norfolk and Suffolk in the event that an attractive devolution agreement is reached.

5) That the Leader be authorised to pursue negotiations on behalf of the Borough Council to help to secure a devolution deal for Norfolk and Suffolk with Government – for the avoidance of doubt this authority does not extend to conceding any existing Borough Council functions or powers without separate and prior authorisation by this Cabinet and Council.

6) That a further report be brought forward on the matter for a decision to be taken by Council.

 

 

 

Minutes:

The Chief Executive presented a report which set out Norfolk’s ambition for and approach to the Government’s Devolution proposals contained in the ‘Cites and Local Government Devolution Bill’ currently before Parliament.

 

The report explained that the approach which had been taken thus far in Norfolk was set out in the letter ‘Devolution – Letter of Intent’ and associated paper ‘The Norfolk Offer’ (Appendix 1 to the report) which had been submitted by all of Norfolk’s Council Leaders and the Chairman of the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

 

Norfolk Leaders were responding to an invitation for expressions of interest to be submitted to Government by 4th September 2015. The Leaders had expressed a clear view that devolution proposals should, if at all possible, be based on the New Anglia LEP geography, i.e. for both Norfolk and Suffolk.

The initial submissions for both Norfolk and Suffolk had been well received in Government and civil servants had made it very clear that going forward these two proposals would be greatly strengthened if they could be combined into a single ‘devolution deal’.

 

The Chief Executive explained that discussions and negotiations had moved on quickly since the report had been written, and that the functions put forward for devolution were broadly the same, but phrased slightly differently as follows, with some explanation of the areas they would look to address:

 

·       Productivity, business support and inward investment – establishment of a Productivity Commission; Building on the success of the New Anglia Growth Hub to improve local business support;  MAS and Growth accelerator funding into Growth Fund from 2017 and £10m from the Local Growth Fund to be used to expand the Growing Business Fund; create  Productivity Fund; inward investment service focussed on key locations and sectors; local network of innovation centres and devolution of European Structural Funds.

 

·       Coherent Housing and Planning – Joint Strategic Plan supported by delivery plans so decision making is made locally; identification of new settlements and re-thinking of the Local Plan process to prevent perpetual reviews.

 

·       Assets and Infrastructure – Devolved capital funding; influence of strategic road network and rail franchises and infrastructure programmes; joined up approach to coastal management  and defences with pooling of resources; influencing priorities for utilities to support growth in key locations; permitting user contributions for concessionary passes and local discretion to vary age threshold on disabled eligibility.

 

·       Education, Employment and Skills – Post 16 education and skills provision; co-commissioning post 16 education and skills provision; ability to establish a Regional Schools Commissioner; a single entity for schools planning; a Joint Education Infrastructure Plan delivering the maximum number of school places with the available resources; provision of a network of Institutes of Technology; an Apprenticeship levy system which worked at a local level; employment support allowance and a more effective delivery of the service with DWP; Novation of the National Careers Service contract to the local area and local commissioning to Work Programme Plus and other nationally procured employment programmes.

 

·       Health and Care Redesign – a more  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB66

CAB67

RESIDENTIAL CARAVAN SITE LICENSING pdf icon PDF 103 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

The Residential Caravan Site Licensing item was deferred in order for further consideration to be given to some of the detail.

Minutes:

The Residential Caravan Site Licensing item was deferred in order for further consideration to be given to some of the detail.

CAB68

HONORARY RECORDER pdf icon PDF 73 KB

Decision:

RECOMMENDED:   That Council support the appointment of an Honorary Recorder for the Borough, and grant delegated authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader to make the appointment.

 

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report which set out the request from Judge Holt that the Borough Council reinstate the post of Honorary Recorder of King’s Lynn.  The position was purely ceremonial and would be held by a Judge that sat most regularly and was senior in the town.  The role of the post was to strengthen links between the town and the Judiciary and they would be invited to attend the main Civic events.

 

Under Standing Order 34 Councillor Mellish asked if re-establishing the role would help support the Motion put forward to Council to save the County Court in King’s Lynn from closure.  This was confirmed.

 

RECOMMENDED:   That Council support the appointment of an Honorary Recorder for the Borough, and grant delegated authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader to make the appointment.

 

CAB69

STORIES OF LYNN, TOWN HALL- EXHIBITION TENDER pdf icon PDF 71 KB

Decision:

RESOLVED:That the selected contractor, Realm Projects, be awarded the contract for the Town Hall exhibition as detailed in the report.

 

 

 

Minutes:

Councillor Mrs Nockolds presented a report which set out the result of a tender exercise recently undertaken to provide the exhibition and displays within the Town Hall complex as part of the Heritage Lottery Scheme.  Realm Projects had submitted the winning tender at a cost of £510,4452.

 

RESOLVED:That the selected contractor, Realm Projects, be awarded the contract for the Town Hall exhibition as detailed in the report.