Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 16 March 2021 (previously circulated).

RESOLVED:   The Minutes of the meeting held on 16 March 2021 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

RESOLVED:   The Minutes of the meeting held on 16 March 2021 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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.

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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.

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To receive any Chair’s correspondence.

The Chair reported on correspondence received from Councillor de Whalley on the Fens Biosphere proposal.

The Chair reported on correspondence received from Councillor de Whalley on the Fens Biosphere proposal.

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 Bullen, Rust  and de Whalley attended under standing order 34.

Councillors Bullen, Rust  and de Whalley attended under standing order 34.

To report on any Cabinet Decisions called in.

Items CAB247 Salters Road Kings Lynn and CAB248 Southend Road Hunstanton were called in.  The call in was not allowed.

Items CAB247 Salters Road Kings Lynn and CAB248 Southend Road Hunstanton were called in.  The call ins were not allowed.

Items CAB247 Salters Road Kings Lynn and CAB248 Southend Road Hunstanton were called in.  The call ins were not allowed.

A copy of the Forward Decisions List is attached

The forward decisions list was noted.

The forward decisions list was noted.

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

Environment and Community Panel comments from 20 April 2021, on both items on the agenda are attached.

Environment and Community Panel comments from 20 April 2021, on both items on the agenda were attached with the agenda and taken into account in considering the reports.

The Environment and Community Panel comments from 20 April 2021, on both items on the agenda were attached and taken into account.

RESOLVED: That the Borough Council expresses in principle support for the designation by UNESCO of a Fens Biosphere.

Reason for Decision

To provide support for the proposed designation.

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The Fens, including part of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, is a candidate UNESCO Biosphere.  Cabinet considered a report which sought in principle support for its nomination for formal designation.  It was reported that there was now a delay in submission until March 2022 in order to allow more time for all the relevant local authorities to get on board with the proposal.

It was anticipated that it would raise the profile of the area, and have economic and social benefits.

Under standing order 34 Councillor Rust asked whether the expectation was that this document would take priority over the council’s local plan in planning matters.  It was confirmed that it was not a statutory designation so would not override local plan policies.

Under standing order 34 Councillor Bullen stressed that he considered it vital that local residents were engaged in  the process as it could affect their lives.  It was confirmed that parishes were being consulted on the proposal.

Under standing order 34, Councillor de Whalley encouraged the council be act as an exemplar and be proactive with partners, which could also attract external funding.  He referred to the issue of clay appearing on fenland with erosion.

Cabinet Members questioned whether clay land was suitable for agricultural use, and also supported the fact that the submission was being slipped to March 2022 in order to ensure the support of other authorities.  The fact that the proposal would raise the profile of the area and bring benefits was referred to.

RESOLVED: That the Borough Council expresses in principle support for the designation by UNESCO of a Fens Biosphere.

Reason for Decision

To provide support for the proposed designation.

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 item below on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined by paragraph 3 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 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

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 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

RESOLVED: That the Council enter in to a contract with the Norfolk Environmental Waste Services Ltd for the provision of food waste processing.

Reason for Decision

To provide processing of collected food waste arrangements once the collection service resumes as Covid19 restrictions ease.

Cabinet considered a report which detailed the procurement exercise completed for a new food waste processing service.  It was noted that it was anticipated that the service would re-commence when the Government’s roadmap permitted, which was hoped to be 21 June.

Under standing order 34 Councillor de Whalley asked that residents be encouraged to minimise food waste and assist with information on this.

It was confirmed that Cabinet members were often asked when the service would be re-commenced, and that the public would be encouraged to minimise their food waste.

RESOLVED: That the Council enter in to a contract with the Norfolk Environmental Waste Services Ltd for the provision of food waste processing.

Reason for Decision

To provide processing of collected food waste arrangements once the collection service resumes as Covid19 restrictions ease.