Agenda and minutes

Council stood in silence as a mark of respect for the Late Councillor Ian Gourlay who had sadly passed away on Sunday 12 February 2017.

The Prayers were led by Father Paul.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 19 January 2017 (previously circulated).

RESOLVED:   The Minutes of the Meeting held on 19 January 2017 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

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.

None

To receive Mayor’s communications and announcements.

None

To receive any items of business which in the opinion of the Mayor are urgent. 

None.

To receive petitions and public questions in accordance with Standing Order 9.

The Mayor invited Mrs J Rust to ask her public question as follows:

“Cllr Lawrence has reported that West Norfolk has been awarded £1.8m which represents one of the largest awards to any local authority. At the end of January there were 1315 on the Home Choice register- 230 High, 361 medium and 724 Low.  How many people does the council envisage employing to ensure that there is sufficient capacity and skills to deliver this ongoing and sustainable programme of community housing?”

In response, Councillor Lawrence stated “This funding is warmly welcomed and it will be split in two halves, the second part will only be forthcoming if we get things right. We will look at our capacity and skills to ensure delivery, at this moment in time I cannot say if we will need another member of staff. The key objective of this money is to deliver much needed low cost housing in places with high amounts of second homes.”

As a supplementary Mrs Rust asked why the first half of the money available couldn’t just be used to build Council Housing to house people rather than to set up a programme. 

Councillor Lawrence responded that there were rules which had to be followed for the Fund, and so the guidelines would be followed in order to make things work, and homes would be built where they were needed in accordance with the terms of the Fund.

Pursuant to Minute CAB119: FinancialPlan 2016/2021of the Cabinet Meeting held on 31 January 2017, the “Financial Plan 2016/2021 and Council Tax Resolution 2017/2018” the attached document for consideration and decision includes an updated summary of the Financial Plan 2016/2021, the County Council, the Police and Crime Commissioner - Council Tax for 2017/2018 and details of Parish Precepts and Internal Drainage Boards levies for 2017/2018. 

NOTE:In accordance with Statutory Instrument 2014 No. 165, Local Government, England, The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, any decision taken on the Council’s Budget or Council Tax setting must be taken with a recorded vote

Councillor Long proposed the budget in accordance with CAB 119 Financial Plan 2016/21and the Council Tax resolution 2017/18. He acknowledged that his ethos was not to take taxes unless really necessary, which had been possible over the last 14 years.  However as times were changing there were no financial incentives from the Government to assist in keeping the tax the same, and the revenue support grant was disappearing.  The efficiency plan which had been provided to the Government to enable certainty in the support grant had been accepted as sound and included the increase in Council Tax which was expected by Government as part of the solution.  The increase  proposed was £4 per year for a Band D equivalent and associated increases in Special Expenses.  He drew attention to the plan to increase the General Fund balance in order to draw on reserves in coming years.

In referring to the budget Councillor Long drew attention to the fact that although Business rates for car parks had increased, to cost of car parking was not, in order to assist the town centre to maintain its high footfall.  The programme of events in the town centre would also continue.

Councillor Long thanked the Internal Drainage Boards for the maintaining their precepts at 2016/17 levels.

Councillor Mrs Nockolds seconded the budget and reserved the right to speak.

Councillor J Collop as Leader of the Labour Group  in speaking on the budget criticised the fact that no small increases had been made previously which he considered if there had been it would have meant a small increase could be made this year.  He drew attention to the risk elements of the report which showed that the impact of the review of Business Rates and the fair funding review were unknown so there was no assurance that by 2021 the Council could continue.  He stated he would therefore vote against the proposals due to what had been agreed previously and what could happen in the future.

Councillor Daubney stated that the Council was in a good position now because of good financial management undertaken since the opposition Administration.

In summing up Councillor Long explained the rise was not being excessive, when others had increased by more.  He acknowledged that there were warnings in the report which was why the current approach was being taken, because once the Business Rates were divided in the review, because of the County adult services situation it was likely that Government would award them the lions share. 

In accordance with  SI 2014 No 165, Local Government, England, The Local Authorities (Standing Orders)(England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, a recorded vote was taken.

In accordance with Standing Order 11.1 to receive reports from Cabinet Members in the following order and under Standing Order 11.2 (a) Members of the Council may ask questions of the Cabinet Member on their reports and Portfolio areas:

(Councillors are reminded that this is a question and answer session not a debate.)

Councillor Beales was not able to be present at the meeting so Members were asked to email any questions they may have.

Councillor Blunt presented his report.  There were no questions.

Councillor Devereux presented his report and responded to questions on the legal arrangements for the coastal works, and undertook to provide more information on the legal position of the Environment Agency in the proposals. He also undertook to provide information on when the litter bins at the wildlife area at Lynnsport would be put back in place. With regard to a question around sea gull attacks and what the situation was regarding vermin where sea birds and ducks were fed in Hunstanton he undertook to ascertain if there had been any reports.

Councillor Devereux also responded to questions on fallen trees and explained he had attended a tree seminar and discussed if a tree strategy was needed.  With regard to a question asked at the previous meeting regarding dog fouling, Councillor Devereux explained the procedure with the CSNN team and Police. 

Councillor Lawrence presented his report.  In response to questions around the Community Housing Fund, Councillor Lawrence explained that there was a report coming to the next Cabinet meeting  on how progress would be made on using the Fund.  He also confirmed that the fund was to assist those areas affected by second homes, but also where there was a housing need in the area. 

In response to a question on resolving homelessness, Councillor Lawrence offered the opportunity for Councillor Collop to accompany officers to see the work being done.  He also confirmed that he would not advise people to give money directly to someone begging, but to donate it to the Purfleet Trust or some other recognised homelessness charity where it was guaranteed to go towards helping homeless people in a practical way.

Councillor Mrs Mellish presented her report and undertook to ascertain whether the CCTV at Hardwick Road Cemetery was working.

In response to a question on the wording of the forms used by the Council to determine someone’s sex, she explained that some forms had to be in the form they were because of benefit evaluation requirements etc, but potentially others could be amended to give a blank box for the person to add their gender identity.

Councillor Daubney presented his report and responded to a question on his attendance at the Hanse Business network explaining the benefits for businesses in the area of its membership and his promotion of the area.

In response to a question on the provision of a scanner in the CIC for customers, he explained that there was a danger of people leaving confidential information for others to see, so it was much better upload the documents or leave them to be scanned in the office.

Councillor Mrs Nockolds presented her report and explained that every year a meeting was held with the Showman’s Guild to discuss the layout and charges for services  for the Mart.  There were no negotiations taking place.

In response to questions she agreed to support the BBC radio proposals to nominate properties where someone famous had once lived for blue plaques, and also explained that meetings were being undertaken with representatives of Guildhall users on the forthcoming proposals, but also recognising that the current subsidy of the building could not be maintained.

Councillor Long presented his report.  In response to a comment that the tweet from the Council regarding the rainbow colours being projected onto the front of the Town Hall to support LGBT was one of the most re-tweets in the past year, Councillor Long explained it was important to show that the Borough Council was an inclusive Council.  He confirmed that he had asked Councillor Rochford to assist with ensuring the Council is approachable for the LGBT community.

In response to a request Councillor Long undertook to make the School attainment information given to the Corporate Performance Panel into a Pre Council Briefing for all Councillors.  He also confirmed that the Borough would continue to support the infrastructure improvements for the area such as the Ely North Junction, and confirmed the Chief Executive was closely involved with the proposals.

In response to a question regarding what publicity and consultation was being carried out for the  proposed school site at North Lynn, Councillor Long reminded Members it was a County Council proposal so questions should be aimed at them.

In accordance with Standing Order 11.2 (b), Members of the Council may ask any questions of the Chairman of any Council Body (except the Cabinet).

To consider the following recommendations to Council

(Councillors are reminded that this is a debate with one opportunity to participate in the debate per item)

To consider the recommendations from the Cabinet Meeting on 31 January 2017:

CAB119  FinancialPlan 2016/2021 (this recommendation was dealt with at item 8 above)

CAB120  CapitalProgramme andResources 2016/2021

CAB121  CapitalAnd Local Property InvestmentFund Strategy2017- 2021

CAB122  ContaminatedLandInspectionStrategy

CAB124  SchemeOfDelegationUpdate

NB: CAB119Financial Plan2016/2021 (this recommendation was dealt with earlier on the agenda)

Councillor Long proposed the following recommendations from Cabinet which were  seconded by Councillor Mrs Nockolds:

CAB120  CapitalProgramme andResources 2016/2021

CAB121  CapitalAnd Local Property InvestmentFund Strategy2017- 2021

CAB122  ContaminatedLandInspectionStrategy

CAB124  SchemeOfDelegationUpdate

RESOLVED:  The recommendations from the meeting held on 31 January 2017 were approved.