Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Ring.

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.

The Chair informed Cabinet that there had been agreement from the Chair of the Corporate Performance Panel that the decision on the Local Plan was urgent and could not be called in under Standing Order 12.

The Chair informed Cabinet that there had been agreement from the Chair of the Corporate Performance Panel that the decision on the Local Plan was urgent and could not be called in under Standing Order 12.

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.

None.

None.

To report on any Cabinet Decisions called in.

There were no matters called in.

There were no matters called in.

A copy of the Forward Decisions List is attached

The Forward Decision List was noted.

The Forward Decision List was noted.

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 Local Plan report and endorsed the recommendations.

The Joint Panel had considered the Redundancy and Pay Policy Review and endorsed the recommendations.

The Regeneration and Development Panel considered the Local Plan report and endorsed the recommendations.

The Joint Panel had considered the Redundancy and Pay Policy Review and endorsed the recommendations.

The Chair of the Corporate Performance Panel had that agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.15 that this decision of Cabinet on 20 March 2025 cannot be called in.

RECOMMENDED:  1)       To note the outcome of the Inspectors report into the Examination of the Local Plan (Appendices 1 and 2 to this report).

2)              That the Council adopts the Local Plan as per the Inspectors Report, 21 February 2025, (appendix 1 to this report) incorporating the Main Modifications (as shown in appendix 2 to this report). A version of this Plan and the accompanying Policies Map are contained within appendix 3.

3)              That Council notes that all policies of the King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Core Strategy (2011) and the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Plan (2016) (the current Local Plan, for the period 2001-2026) will be superseded by the new Local Plan, upon adoption.

4)              That the Assistant Director for Environment and Planning, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning, be authorised to make any non-material updates and drafting changes to the Local Plan. This includes the Additional (minor) Modifications published alongside the Main Modifications.

Reason for Decision

To enable the Borough Council to adopt the Local Plan and therefore ensure that the Borough Council has an up-to-date Local Plan in place. This will then be used in the planning decision making process.

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It was noted that in the circumstances, the Chair of the Corporate Performance Panel had agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.15 that this decision of Cabinet on 20 March 2025 could not be called in.

Councillor Moriarty presented the report which set out the final Inspector’s report on the Local Plan 2021-2040.  The Local Plan needed to be adopted by 31 March 2025 and would be presented to Full Council on 27 March 2025.

Officers present introduced themselves and Councillor Moriarty thanked them for their hard work on bringing the Plan forward for adoption.

It was noted that a presentation was available for Members and the Public to view and this had been presented to the Regeneration and Development Panel on 11 March 2025.

Councillor Moriarty read out correspondence that had been sent to Parishes outlining the process involved in bringing the Plan to adoption stage.

Cabinet Members thanked officers and the Portfolio Holder for the work involved.

In response to a question from Councillor Morley, the Portfolio Holder and officers confirmed that once adopted statutory notices and communications would be sent out.  It was noted that the final Plan would be published along with, the PDF Policies Map, and an interactive planning policy mapping tool on the Borough Council’s Website.  The Portfolio Holder confirmed that officers could look at briefing notes that could be provided to Councillors when engaging with Parish Councils.  It was also noted that Parish Council briefing sessions would be arranged in June 2025.

In response to a question from Councillor Rust it was confirmed that officers could provide an update to King’s Lynn Area Committee.

Cabinet discussed the importance of neighbourhood plans, the complexity of them, along with the benefits they brought.

RECOMMENDED:  1)         To note the outcome of the Inspectors report into the Examination of the Local Plan (Appendices 1 and 2 to this report).

2)            That the Council adopts the Local Plan as per the Inspectors Report, 21 February 2025, (appendix 1 to this report) incorporating the Main Modifications (as shown in appendix 2 to this report). A version of this Plan and the accompanying Policies Map are contained within appendix 3.

3)            That Council notes that all policies of the King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Core Strategy (2011) and the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Plan (2016) (the current Local Plan, for the period 2001-2026) will be superseded by the new Local Plan, upon adoption.

4)            That the Assistant Director for Environment and Planning, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning, be authorised to make any non-material updates and drafting changes to the Local Plan. This includes the Additional (minor) Modifications published alongside the Main Modifications.

Reason for Decision

To enable the Borough Council to adopt the Local Plan and therefore ensure that the Borough Council has an up-to-date Local Plan in place. This will then be used in the planning decision making process.

The Cabinet is asked to consider excluding the public from the meeting under section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 for consideration of the items below on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined by paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act, and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

PRIVATE ITEM

Details of any representations received about why the following reports should be considered in public will be reported at the meeting.

RESOLVED: That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

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RESOLVED: That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

RECOMMENDED:      1)          That the updated Redundancy Policy (attached as Appendix 1 to the report) be adopted with effect from 1^st April 2025. 

2)             That, as outlined in the updated Redundancy Policy, the Council revises the terms of its redundancy payments scheme to 1.75 times the number of weeks statutory redundancy entitlement (based on age and length of service) with effect from 1^st April 2025.

3)             That, as outlined in the updated redundancy policy, the Council revises the terms of its salary protection arrangements to provide salary protection for a period of 24 months where an employee is redeployed to a position one grade lower, with effect from 1^st April 2025.

4)             That the updated Pay Policy Statement for 2025/26 as set out in Appendix 4 be approved.

Reason for Decision

To ensure the Council’s redundancy payments scheme and procedure for salary protection in circumstances where an employee is redeployed are reviewed and updated in accordance with the relevant regulations, and to ensure the Council’s Pay Policy Statement for 2025/26 reflects the Authority’s policies towards pay related issues.

The Assistant Director, Central Services presented the report which outlined the Council’s current arrangements and the business case to support the recommendations for change to the Council’s redundancy policy, redundancy payments scheme and salary protection arrangements. 

It was noted that, subject to Full Council agreeing the revised Redundancy Policy, it was also necessary to update the Council’s Pay Policy Statement for 2025/26 so that the policies remained consistent.

Cabinet noted that discussions and negotiations had been held with the relevant Trade Unions who had agreed with the proposals.

It was noted that the Joint Panel had considered the proposals at their meeting on 18^th March 2025 and had supported the proposals.

RECOMMENDED:      1)         That the updated Redundancy Policy (attached as Appendix 1 to the report) be adopted with effect from 1^st April 2025. 

2)               That, as outlined in the updated Redundancy Policy, the Council revises the terms of its redundancy payments scheme to 1.75 times the number of weeks statutory redundancy entitlement (based on age and length of service) with effect from 1^st April 2025.

3)               That, as outlined in the updated redundancy policy, the Council revises the terms of its salary protection arrangements to provide salary protection for a period of 24 months where an employee is redeployed to a position one grade lower, with effect from 1^st April 2025.

4)              That the updated Pay Policy Statement for 2025/26 as set out in Appendix 4 be approved.

Reason for Decision

To ensure the Council’s redundancy payments scheme and procedure for salary protection in circumstances where an employee is redeployed are reviewed and updated in accordance with the relevant regulations, and to ensure the Council’s Pay Policy Statement for 2025/26 reflects the Authority’s policies towards pay related issues.