Agenda and minutes

Council held a Minutes silence in memory of Jo Cox MP tragically murdered in her constituency.

Prayers were led by Father Ling.

The Mayor welcomed new Councillor Tim Tilbrook who had recently been elected to the Valley Hill Ward.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 28 April and 2 meetings on 12 May 2016.

RESOLVED:   The Minutes of the Meeting held on 28 April and two meetings on 12 May 2016 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.

No interests were declared.

To receive Mayor’s communications and announcements.

The Mayor reported that he had send birthday congratulations to HM The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

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 the following questioners forward to ask their submitted public questions, the responses to which were given as shown:

Question from Wendy Woo

Can the Council tell me how many refugees from the Syrian crisis it has offered to take for the King’s Lynn area, and what stage in the arrangements for effecting this has currently been reached?

Councillor Long gave the following answer:

“Following The Prime Minister’s commitments made in September 2015 it was agreed that Norfolk County Council would take the lead on a county wide response to the  national ‘Syrian Vulnerable persons Resettlement scheme’ (VPR) -  a voluntary scheme. Representatives from a range of relevant services across the public sector formed a task group to prepare some proposals to submit to the Home Office. BCKLWN participated in the work of this group in relation to the accommodation aspects of the proposals.

A proposed approach is set out in a Norfolk County Council document titled ‘Syrian Vulnerable Person’s Refugee Scheme for Norfolk’. This document has been consulted on earlier this year and its content discussed with Home Office representatives. The proposal sets out arrangements to re-settle 50 refugees (12-15 families). Assumptions are made with regard to the need for education, specialist health and support services, with cost estimates included. The task group advised that the 12 -15 families are located in the same community rather than be separated across the county. For many reasons including: access to worship opportunities (Sunni and Shia mosques); access to social integration initiatives; voluntary and community support; and employment opportunities Norwich was deemed to be the most appropriate location.

The Norfolk County Council’s ‘Full Council’ will make a decision on whether to participate in the Syrian Vulnerable Person’s Refugee Scheme for Norfolk at its meeting of the 25 July 2016.”

Question from Robert Raab

What is the total number of  houses the borough council wants to be built in the King’s Lynn area and the Borough area ?

Councillor Blunt responded:

“The Local Development Plan currently in its final stages of approval states that  16,500 homes are proposed for the King's Lynn & West Norfolk Borough of which 7,500 are for King's Lynn and by King's Lynn I mean the King's Lynn unparished area, West Lynn, North & South Wootton, Knights Hill and West Winch/North Runcton.”

As a supplementary question Mr Raab asked how much of an increase in infrastructure had been approved, where would the Council get the money needed for the infrastructure when the Government money had been cut.  He considered that without guaranteed increases to the NHS additional houses should not be built.

In response, Councillor Blunt informed Mr Raab that for all planning considerations infrastructure and sustainability were considered and consulted upon and considered on their merit.

Question from Joanne Rust

The Discovery Centre in North Lynn has played a large and positive part in that community and the wider community as a whole; from after school and holiday activities at affordable prices to NEET engagement courses for  ...  view the full minutes text for item C:20

To consider the attached report and recommendations.

In response to a question from Councillor Lord Howard as to whether if it was given consent at this stage the further decision of the Council in October would be required, the Monitoring Officer reported that under s14 of the Cities and Local Government Act 2016, amended the s104 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 to acquire that prior to an order being made the consent of the constituent authorities was required.

Councillor Long proposed the recommendations in the report on Devolution, setting out the following elements of the Offer which he considered should be supported:

·        Local control of how the normally centrally controlled money was spent.

·        A new relationship between the East and Central Government

·        £130m new homes allocation for the area, £30m of which was for Ipswich and Norwich, the £100m could be used a pump prime figures for new affordable and starter homes

·        £25m pa for 30 years for new infrastructure projects.

·        Up to £100m for the Ely North Junction to allow half hourly trains from London to Norfolk

·        £20m for adult skills and £2m apprentice fund which would be controlled locally instead of centrally.

·        Coastal risk management

·        The Offer was the largest Deal for the first round of Devolution to date.

He drew attention to some of the concerns raised such as an elected Mayor, but reminded Members the position would be formed as weakly as possible in order to get the Deal approved.  He reminded Members that the recommendations could not be altered, only approved or rejected as they were identical to those being considered by all. 

Councillor Beales seconded the proposal and reserved his right to speak.

Council debated the issue with points in favour in addition to those raised by Councillor Long were raised as

·        the upgrade of the Ely North Junction would assist in bringing growth, and freight as well as more regular trains

·        the ability to have a seat at the table for decisions for the whole area

·        if it was voted against the money wouldn’t be available for the Borough

·        Act now as there was a good chance that the Government would look to make more unitary authorities out of those not signing up to such deals

·        Decisions would be taken at a local level including Double Devolution

·        The weak Mayor model would allow for a veto by members of the Cabinet and the budget, with no casting vote.

·        The Council would remain the owner of its land, the Combined Authority could not take any land without the agreement of all parties.

·        The powers taken from Government will be actioned by people the Council know

·        The Deal would bring capital funding, jobs and infrastructure to the area

·        In turning it down at this stage the Council would be denying the public the opportunity to make their views known

·        It was not right to tell the public they couldn’t have the decisions taken locally when they hadn’t had the consultation process, this decision was to progress through  ...  view the full minutes text for item C:21

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 Mrs Nockolds presented her report. She responded to a question on In Bloom, and confirmed she supported the Council continuing to enter the competition which was supported by a large number of volunteers.

Councillor Mrs Nockolds also confirmed that the comments being received on the Borough’s grass length were being collated for review at the year end.  She reminded Council that not all of the grassland was Borough owned, often County Council owned, those areas cut by the Borough often had different uses which warranted different numbers of cuts.  She also explained that Parishes could pay for more cuts to their areas if they wished.

In response to questions on the joint ticketing at the museums, Councillor Mrs Nockolds confirmed that she would report on their sales to the Area Museums Committee.  The way mystery shoppers worked in reporting on facilities was explained.

In responding to questions on her visit to the King’s Lynn Football Club and its new owners with the Leader and the Council’s representative, Councillor Mrs Nockolds confirmed they had not discussed the club’s finances.   

Councillor Blunt presented his report, and agreed to provide the figures for the development contribution for secondary education for King’s Lynn and surrounding villages. He also undertook to respond to the question asking if meetings were held with the NHS on future requirements when discussing development boundaries.

In response to the question relating to when the required number of houses would be reviewed, Councillor Blunt confirmed that it related to the strategy.

Councillor Lawrence presented his report.  In response to a question asking if the number of Gypsies and Travellers in West Norfolk would be dispersed across all of Norfolk, Councillor Lawrence explained that the Assessment being carried out was intended to ascertain the number of sites and pitches required. 

Councillor Lawrence also confirmed that the meeting with the Discovery Centre mentioned had not taken place.  He informed Members that Councillor Middleton is now the Council’s representative on the Centre.

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

Councillor Daubney presented his report. There were no questions.

Councillor Beales had left the meeting at this point, a question on when the Lynnsport 2 area would receive its protected status was asked in his absence.

Members were invited to submit any further questions in writing.

Councillor Long presented his report, and responded to questions on the picking up of dumped trolleys that further discussions were taking place with the supermarkets who owned the trolleys in an effort to get them to collect them, before a Council collector was re-engaged who would impose fines on the supermarkets.  Members were encouraged to continue to report them in order for a log to be kept.

In response to a question on how it would continue to encourage householders to sign up to the green deal, Councillor Long encouraged Members to do so, and drew attention to the high levels of contamination in much of the recycling , and that the worst areas would be targeted to reduce it.

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

To consider the following recommendations to Council:

To consider the following recommendations from Cabinet:

CAB2: Late Item - Payment Of Allowances For Deputy Cabinet Members

CAB11: Child Protection Policy

CAB13: Constitutional Updates

The recommendations from the Cabinet meeting held on 24 May were proposed by Councillor Long and seconded by Councillor Daubney.

CAB2: Late Item - Payment Of Allowances For Deputy Cabinet Members

CAB11: Child Protection Policy

CAB13: Constitutional Updates

RESOLVED:   That the recommendations be approved.

RESOLVED:   1) That the representatives to serve on the outside bodies and partnerships listed in the Parish level and General categories as shown below be approved:

2)  That the appointment of representatives nominated by the Environment and Community and Corporate Performance Panels to serve on outside bodies and partnerships which fall within the Scrutiny and Regulatory categories be approved as follows:

·        Borough Council/College of West Anglia Liaison Board – Councillor T Smith

·        Hunstanton Sailing Club Development  ...  view the full minutes text for item C:25

To consider the report on Proportionality Changes following the By Election on 16 June 2016.

Following the by election in the Valley Hill Ward, proportionality had been reconfigured.  Council was invited to approve the change.

RESOLVED:   That proportionality be amended by the change of 1 seat on the Licensing & Appeals Board moving from Independent to Conservative and the appropriate membership sought.