Agenda and minutes

Council held a minute’s silence in memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Following the minute’s silence the Mayor thanked all the officers who had assisted with the additional work required to ensure the Queen’s passing was marked with suitable ceremony in the borough.

Prayers were led by Canon Mark Dimond

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 1 September 2022 (previously circulated).

RESOLVED:  The Minutes of the Meeting held on 1 September 2022 were agreed 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

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RESOLVED:       That proportionality be amended by the change of  seats as follows:

That Conservatives lose 1 seat from the Licensing Committee and that seat goes to the Group of Independents

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As the Leader was not able to be present in the meeting he asked for any questions to be emailed to him.

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

None

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

To consider the following recommendations to Council:

CAB69:           Risk Management Policy

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Councillor Middleton proposed the following recommendation from Cabinet on 1 September 2022 - CAB69:            Risk Management Policy.  This was seconded by Councillor Dickinson.  The recommendation was put to the vote.

RESOLVED:  That the recommendation from 1 September 2022 Cabinet be approved.

1)    To consider the following Notice of Motion (12/22), submitted by Councillor C Morley:

“This Council recognises the support being given by the Government, to all householders, to help combat inflationary pressures and in particular, energy prices this winter.

However, and in accordance with its intention, as described in its Corporate Plan, to support the Health and Well-being of the people of West Norfolk, this Council intends to provide a Hardship Fund for householders in need over the next 2 years.

It will therefore withdraw £1m from its General Reserves for financial year 2023/4 to propagate the Fund and earmark £1m in its budget for 2024/5.

The Fund will open on 1 April 2023 and close 31 March 2025.

It will be available to all households that meet a defined hardship criterion. This criterion will be formulated by an Informal Working Group and agreed by Council. It will be published in sufficient time for applications to commence and be vetted by the opening date."

2)    To consider the following Notice of Motion (13/22) submitted by Councillor S Squire:

“In light of recent concerns over the Government's growth plans and the effect they may have on the environment, this council confirms its continued commitment to the improvement, preservation and protection of the environment, habitat and biodiversity of West Norfolk.” 

3)    To consider the following Notice of Motion (14/22) submitted by Councillor T Parish:

This Council deplores recent announcements by Prime Minister Truss which, if carried through, will severely damage the environment and measures to protect and enhance bio diversity. 

These include, diminishing Habitats Regulation rules; changes to current legislation protecting water quality; potentially scrapping the Environmental Land Management Proposals, and allowing fracking.

Given the abhorrence shown to the proposals by all notable environmental organisations, including the RSPB, which represent some millions of people including both residents of and visitors to West Norfolk, this Council will make its concerns known to the Prime Minister.

4)    To consider the following Notice of Motion (15/22) submitted by Councillor C Morley:

"This Council resolves that, in view of its second failure to secure funds from the Heritage Lottery Fund for renovating the Guildhall complex and in recognition of paragraphs 3.26-3.28 of the Government's Town Fund Guidance Paper which confirm the objective of securing matching or contributory funds from business, to seek fiscal support from those companies which operate within the Town.

The extra revenues expected to be secured through this part of the Town Improvement Programme will bring opportunities for additional Town business and in particular to the retail sector"

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1)    Councillor C Morley proposed Notice of Motion (12/22), this was seconded by Councillor Ryves.

“This Council recognises the support being given by the Government, to all householders, to help combat inflationary pressures and in particular, energy prices this winter.

However, and in accordance with its intention, as described in its Corporate Plan, to support the Health and Well-being of the people of West Norfolk, this Council intends to provide a Hardship Fund for householders in need over the next 2 years.

It will therefore withdraw £1m from its General Reserves for financial year 2023/4 to propagate the Fund and earmark £1m in its budget for 2024/5.

The Fund will open on 1 April 2023 and close 31 March 2025.

It will be available to all households that meet a defined hardship criterion. This criterion will be formulated by an Informal Working Group and agreed by Council. It will be published in sufficient time for applications to commence and be vetted by the opening date."

Councillor de Whalley proposed an amendment to the second paragraph to

Councillor de Whalley proposed an amendment to the second paragraph of the Motion to read “… Hardship Fund for householders, residents and communities in need….”

Councillor Morley accepted this amendment which then became the substantive motion.

Councillor Lowe proposed a further amendment to the third paragraph which would then read:

“It will therefore withdraw £1m from its General Reserves for the present financial year.  The fund will open on 10 December 2022.”  Deleting the remainder  of the paragraph.

This amendment was seconded by Councillor Hudson.  The amendment was not supported by Councillor Morley.

Councillor Lowe spoke in support of the amendment, as did Councillors Hudson, Rust Parish, Jones, A Tyler, Bone,  Ryves and Nash.

Councillor Long spoke against the amendment as it wasn’t known if such a scheme could be delivered in such a time frame, and the Government were putting in place other measures.

Councillor Ratcliff spoke of the need to deal with issues in a budgeted way. 

Councillor Moriarty sought clarification on the timing of the amendment.  Councillor Joyce suggested that if it was set up quickly, it could be looked at again at budget time.

Councillor Morley summed up explaining he was trying to propose a framework for a two year chest of finances for the community.

With the required number of supporters a recorded vote was requested on the amendment.

The amendment was lost.

Council then debated the substantive motion.  Councillor Rust spoke in support of the substantive.  Councillors Joyce, Ryves, Hudson, Parish, Squire, Ratcliff, Lawton Lowe and Bone spoke in support of  ...  view the full minutes text for item C:48

In accordance with Standing Order 11, to receive reports from Cabinet Members moved en bloc, under Standing Order 11.2 Members of the Council may ask questions of Cabinet Members on their reports and Portfolio areas. The order of putting questions shall commence with a Member from the largest opposition group, proceeding in descending order to the smallest opposition group, followed by a non-aligned Member and finally a Member from the ruling group. This order shall repeat until the time for questions has elapsed or there are no more questions to be put. 

The period of time for putting questions and receiving responses shall not exceed 50 minutes for all Cabinet Members, excluding the Leader

The period of time for putting questions and receiving responses to the Leader shall not exceed 15 minutes.

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

Corporate Services - Councillor B Long

Environment - Councillor P Kunes

Development - Councillor R Blunt

Finance – Councillor A Dickinson

Property – Councillor A Lawrence

People and Communities – Councillor Sam Sandell

Deputy Leader and Business, Culture & Heritage – Councillor G Middleton

Leader - Councillor Stuart Dark  - To follow

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The Deputy Leader proposed the Cabinet reports en bloc.  He requested that questions of the Leader be sent to him on email in his absence from the meeting.

Councillor Long responded to a question from Councillor Morley on Council companies governance and confirmed the report should come to 15 November Cabinet.

Councillor Lawrence confirmed to Councillor Bone that the households behind the Somerfeld and Thomas site would be consulted and any concerns they had taken into account.

Councillor Lawrence confirmed to Councillor Devereux that the NWES money from the KLIC had now been paid in full to the council.

Councillor Blunt responded to a question from Councillor Ryves on solar farms that each application would be considered on its merit.

Councillor Collop asked Councillor Kunes about the industrial relations with Serco, to which he confirmed discussions were ongoing.

In response to a question from Councillor Spikings to Councillor Sandell she confirmed that residents not able to access the funding stream recently announced details on line could call the Council’s telephone line and they would be assisted.

Following a question from Councillor Parish regarding the properties at Southend Road Hunstanton being sold or rented to people with local connections, Councillor Blunt confirmed that this was being pursued.

Councillor Blunt responded to a question from Councillor Bone who indicated that local people were not happy with the proposals for the Custom House and environs, he confirmed that the consultation process was taking place and feedback welcomed.  He agreed to email a fuller response.

In response to a question from Councillor Bower, Councillor Long confirmed that Hunstanton had been awarded a Gold, and also the best Open space for the Esplanade Gardens.  Councillor Nockolds had also received a nomination for the work towards and support of In Bloom over the years.

Councillor Ryves asked Councillor Sandell what the situation was for those people having taken in Ukrainian refugees 6 months ago and that time was fast approaching. 

Councillor Sandell agreed to look into it and respond to him.

Councillor Lawrence agreed to email Councillor Collop with details of the residential area proposed on Gayton Road.

Councillor Blunt gave an update on the CIL payments to date and encouraged members to attend the briefing being held for all members on Teams.

Councillor Kunes responded to Councillor Parish in that the Council was monitoring the Solar Together project and the project was moving well, because of the good uptake the project would go into the following year.

Councillor Sandell, in responding to Councillor Nockolds confirmed that residents and businesses were being asked to respond to a survey so the responses could be used towards the Rural Prosperity Fund work.

Coming up to the 3 hours point, Councillor de Whalley proposed that the meeting continue to sit.  This was seconded by Councillor Rust.  On being put to the vote the proposal was lost and the meeting closed.