Agenda and minutes

Prayers were led by Father Ling.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 25 January 2018 (previously circulated).

RESOLVED:   The Minutes of the Meeting held on 25 January 2018 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.

Councillors J Collop, S Collop, C Crofts, N Daubney, I Devereux, G Hipperson, Lord Howard, A Lawrence, K Mellish, J Moriarty, M Peake, M Storey  T Tilbrook, G Wareham, Mrs A Wright declared personal interests in Cabinet - 6 February 2018 item CAB119: Civil Penalties and Rent Repayment Orders – Housing and Planning Act 2016, Housing Act 2004. 

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.

Under Standing Order 9, the Mayor invited Mrs Jo Rust to ask her public question:

She congratulated the Council on the measures being put forward to alleviate homelessness and asked “Will the council commit to funding a permanent night shelter as part of its homelessness reduction strategy?”

Councillor Lawrence responded as follows:

"I have instructed officers to review & enhance the Council’s winter emergency shelter arrangements, working with our partner organisations.

It is not our intention to plan permanent shelter provision. To do so would be a tacit acceptance that we are prepared to accept that rough sleeping will become a permanent feature in West Norfolk which we absolutely do not.  Our ambition is to eradicate rough sleeping because it is dangerous and unacceptable. Shelter provision is not accommodation, and is something we will plan not to need eventually.

We are delivering new services and developing new models of temporary accommodation - as previously mentioned. It has to be an ambition to get people off the streets and into accommodation. It's recognised that some accommodation may be short term, and that some people will still make mistakes - new accommodation services will reflect the diversity of accommodation needed."

By way of supplementary Mrs Rust asked what measures the Council had in place to support those threatened with homelessness

Councillor Lawrence responded that the Council was constantly working with organisations such as the Purfleet Trust to ensure there was somewhere to go, and the cold weather provisions came into force when needed.

Pursuant to Minute CAB117: FinancialPlan 2017/2022of the Cabinet Meeting held on 6 February 2018, the “Financial Plan 2017/2022 and Council Tax Resolution 2018/2019” the document attached as a supplementary to the agenda for consideration and decision includes an updated summary of the Financial Plan 2017/2022, the County Council, the Police and Crime Commissioner - Council Tax for 2018/2019 and details of Parish Precepts and Internal Drainage Boards levies for 2018/2019. 

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 CAB117: Financial Plan 2017/2022, of the Cabinet Meeting held on 6 February 2018.  This was seconded by Councillor Mrs Nockolds.

In proposing the recommendations, Councillor Long reminded Members that 2 years ago the Council had accepted a 4 year funding plan from the Government.  The Revenue Support Grant (RSG) was being phased out and it was planned that the Borough would be paying for its services locally despite continued uncertainty around Business Rates retention, IDB, reducing RSG and Brexit.  Councillor Long reminded members that the Borough’s element of the Council Tax bill received by the householder was a very small element of it.  The increase of £4.50 by the Borough allowed the Borough to provide more services than many others, empty the bins, provide homelessness support as well as providing the popular festival elements.  The following years would involve financial constraint, but the Council was building houses, improving the carbon footprint of its buildings and sharing offices. 

Councillor Parish expressed concern with the increase in car parking charges particularly at Heacham where there was no 2 hour slot but a 4 hour slot along with a large increase in residents and non residents permits and beach hut rents.  He commented that the consultation period for the parking increases extended beyond the budget meeting.

Councillor Mrs Collop expressed concern about the change in time from 6pm to 5pm for the evening parking charges.

Councillor J Collop thanked officers for preparing the report and briefing his group on the content.  He drew attention to the uncertainty from 2020/21 with Business Rates, the fair funding review, and that the Council was in the lowest quartile of Council taxes.  He drew attention to press reports about concern by Council Leaders on finances, and expressed the view that Councils couldn’t carry on in the way they were with the level of cut backs.

Councillor Joyce drew attention to the increases many residents would see in their Council Tax bills for the year but sympathised with both the Leader with the Government’s funding position, and the opposition.   He commented on items which he had raised at the Cabinet meeting which weren’t mentioned in the budget report, and the provision of services free to the County Council who had their own budget.  He considered some projects should be reviewed and ceased.

Councillor Howman drew attention to the fact that there was no fee increase in sex establishments or taxi licenses, but large increases for overnight parking.  He also drew attention to the increase in charges for the crematorium.

Councillor Daubney drew attention to the fact that there was no alternative budget from the opposition, and commented that the Administration had maintained a sensible budget which kept the Council alive.

Councillor A Tyler drew attention to the financial situation and commented that the lack of increases in Council Tax in previous years had worsened the situation for the Borough.

In summing up Councillor Long drew attention to the fact that the financial situation  ...  view the full minutes text for item C:77

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 presented his report and in response to a question on the Salters Road, North Lynn allotments which were being cleared and redeveloped he explained that the plans were that the existing allotments be moved  to a better position with improved access.  He undertook to provide more detail in an email.

In response to a question on the arrangements for work on the H&M site Councillor Beales explained there was a problem with utility provision, and if there were commercial implications they would be reported on.

Councillor Blunt presented his report, by way of update advised Council that the Secretary of State wouldn’t defend the Gayton planning appeal, although it still had to go through due process.

In response to a question as to whether interested organisations in King’s Lynn could attend the planning training sessions being run for parishes, Councillor Blunt confirmed that wouldn’t be a problem and to let him know which organisations.

Councillor Lawrence presented his report.  In response to questions Councillor Lawrence undertook to let members know how many HMOs were registered in the last 12 months; how many HMOs were in the Borough, how many staff were in the team responsible for licensing HMOs and how often were they visited to ensure compliance with the law.

In response to a question regarding what the Council was doing  to put pressure on the County Council regarding the closure of Morley House, he suggested the information be emailed to him.

In response to a question on the Warm Homes Fund Councillor Lawrence explained that schemes changed from year to year and were run by the National Grid through a Community Interest Company.

In response to a comment on the local connection element for the Hunstanton low cost homes Councillor Lawrence explained that if there were not enough people with a local connection the distance would be increased.

Councillor Devereux presented his report and thanked the Mayor for her support with the Lord Lieutenant for the commemoration of the 45 soldiers from Snettisham who fell in the war.

In response to a question relating to the review of the use of the trolley man to collect trolleys left in the town, Councillor Devereux explained that there had not been a perceived issue across the town, but to email specific areas to him if there were problems. 

In response to a question on the changes in the chinese market for recycling, asking if it likely that there would be stockpiling of recycling in the Borough, and also whether it was time to stop using single use plastics at Council facilities, Councillor Devereux confirmed there was already a negative sale price for paper, but there would be many discussions taking place over the coming months.

Following a question relating to the replacement of obsolete street lights in Fairstead and King’s Lynn owned by the Borough, Councillor Devereux confirmed they formed part of the capital programme, but would update members at a later date.

Councillor Devereux explained he was aware of the County Council’s decision to charge for DIY waste and the likelihood of increased fly tipping, and confirmed that the County Council had to be accountable for its actions.

Councillor Mrs Mellish presented her report.  There were no questions.

Councillor Hodson presented his report. There were no questions.

Councillor Mrs Nockolds presented her report and updated members that she had not attended the King’s Lynn Transport meeting but read the Proclamation at the Mart.

Following a question on what the Borough was doing to commemorate 100 years since Armistice Day, Councillor Mrs Nockolds explained that it would be commemorated across the Borough and she had made arrangements for community grants to be available to enable parishes to commemorate it.

She also confirmed that the meeting on modern slavery  attended was alongside the Mayor at the College where the Police force were giving an explanation on dealing with modern slavery.

Councillor Mrs Nockolds agreed to look into the condition of the Dance Studio floor at Lynnsport.

In response to a question on the flooding of the Walks, Councillor Mrs Nockolds explained that the Park was a flood plain, and that recently following periods of high levels of rainfall the Walks had flooded but the levels would recede in due course and the surface would likely be raked out and cut as normal once the grass began to grow.

Councillor Long presented his report, and confirmed that the changes to the bus services for the area were a county council function as they were meeting with operators, and would issue a press release in due course.  Once that negotiation had taken place the Borough would be able to lobby for the service.

With regard to the schools attainment presentation given to the Corporate Performance Panel Councillor Long confirmed the presentation would be published for members.

In response to the question about the loan to Marshland St James, Councillor Long explained it was a delegated decision taken by the Deputy Leader as he had declared an interest in the item.  The loan had assisted the Parish Council to fund the building of a new hall with lottery funding, and would be paid back as soon as the sale of the old site had completed.  It was confirmed that the item had been considered by the Corporate Performance Panel at the time. 

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).

None

(Members are reminded this is a debate, not a question and answer session)

To consider the following recommendations to Council:

CAB118: Capital Programme 2018/23

CAB119: Civil Penalties and Rent Repayment Orders – Housing and Planning Act 2016, Housing Act 2004

Councillor Long proposed the recommendations from Cabinet on 6 February 2018, seconded by Councillor Mrs Nockolds.

CAB118: Capital Programme 2018/23 was agreed without debate.

In considering CAB119: Civil Penalties and Rent Repayment Orders – Housing and Planning Act 2016, Housing Act 2004, Council, Councillor Long supported the recommendation reminding Members it was in order to target those landlords who created unsafe conditions for their tenants.  A debate ensued about HMOs and the ability to prosecute landlords who were often based abroad, if required.

The question of whether landlords could obtain a concession for council tax when restoring properties was raised.

In summing up Councillor Long reminded Members that the scheme was a tool to  encourage landlords to ensure compliance.  He confirmed that severe cases would still go to court and that the scheme was for HMOs and individual properties rented out.

RESOLVED:   That the recommendations be approved.

Council was invited to nominate 2 replacement representatives for the Gaywood Allotment Trust and endorse the 2 proposed members Mr Stewart and Miss Hayden.

The following Councillors were nominated: Councillors S Collop, G Howman, M Shorting and S Young.  On being put to the vote Councillors Mrs S Young and M Shorting were elected.

RESOLVED:   1)         That Councillors Mrs S Young and  M Shorting be appointed as Borough Council representatives to serve on Gaywood Allotment Trust, up to the period May 2019.

2)         That Council approve the appointment of the two external representatives - Mr Stewart and Miss Hayden to serve on Gaywood Allotment Trust.