Agenda and minutes

Prayers were said by Father Ling.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 28 July 2016 (previously circulated).

RESOLVED:   The Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 28 July 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.

Councillor A Lawrence declared a pecuniary interest in item CAB66: Inspectors Report for Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Plan and left the meeting during its consideration.

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 Sue Bruce to ask her public question:

“Can you please confirm that the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk owns and can demonstrate a freehold title to the piece of land know as site 2, River Lane playing field?”

In response, Councillor Beales confirmed that the Council was able to demonstrate such title.

As a supplementary, Mrs Bruce asked what was the reason for failing to register the land under the Fields in Trust scheme?

Councillor Beales explained that it had failed due to the level of income the area generated.  He gave reassurance that the site would be protected and that a report was forthcoming to offer protection to the site as Council had agreed to do.

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.  In response to questions from Councillor J Collop regarding the measurement of success for the town centre events against their costs, and whether she would be attending the King’s Lynn Area Committee to discuss them, Councillor Mrs Nockolds explained that it was measured by the footfall and car parking income on the day, although it was difficult to know exactly where people had visited once in the town.  As the date of the meeting had been changed she was not now able to attend the meeting.

Congratulations were given to the portfolio holder for the events held and the feedback received from other areas for them.  Councillor Mrs Nockolds acknowledged that it wasn’t just the Borough who laid on events in the town, but other partners as well.

Councillor Blunt presented his report, and in response to a question from Councillor J Collop, agreed to provide detail of the additional resources which the planning department were looking to employ.

Councillor Lawrence presented his report.  He answered a question from Councillor Joyce relating to the compliance of the Council’s public toilets with disability requirements, and reminded Members about the Task Group which was currently looking at the provision of toilets in the Borough.   He confirmed he was not able to attend the new date for the King’s Lynn Area Consultative Committee meeting should they wish to discuss the toilets in the town.

In response to a question from Councillor J Collop relating to the complicated nature of the consultation and documentation and the low level of comments made in the consultation process for the Council Tax support scheme, Councillor Lawrence encouraged all Members to get the message across in their communities and encourage comments to be made.

Councillor Mrs Mellish presented her report. In order to assist the questions asked earlier on the success levels of the events in the town centre, Councillor Mrs Mellish gave an update on the footfall levels in the town centre during August which were increased by 10.5%, far higher than many other town centres. It was confirmed that the numbers of visitors to open buildings etc were recorded.

Councillor Daubney presented his report.

Councillor Beales presented his report and re-confirmed that he attached importance to the protection of the land at Lynnsport discussed earlier in the meeting and that he was bringing forward a report to facilitate this at the earliest opportunity.  He responded to comments by Councillor Smith regarding dealings with Fields In Trust and confirmed there had been much misrepresentation made in the press, but the protection would be forthcoming and concerns addressed.

Councillor Long presented his report.  In response to a question from Councillor J Collop relating to the Council’s borrowing during the time of Housing Transfer 10 years before, Councillor Long undertook to provide the information for Members.

Councillor Long responded to questions from Councillor Collop on the charging of £5 for cheque or cash payments for brown bins and the allegations of it affecting older clients, in that the issue was the user paying for the additional costs incurred by paying for the service in this way where direct debit was a much cheaper method of payment so did not incur any additional charge.

Councillor Long confirmed that he was responsible for actions taken regarding Council Tax since he was the Leader and commended the current Council Tax levels.

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).

As the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Corporate Performance Panel were not present no question could be asked of them as requested.

To consider the following recommendations to Council:

To consider the recommendations from Cabinet as follows:

CAB62: Multi Year Funding Settlement Financial Sustainability Plan

CAB65:Nora Joint Venture - Phase 3

CAB66:Inspector’s Report for the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Plan

Councillor Long, seconded by Councillor Beales proposed the following recommendations from the Cabinet meeting on 7 September 2016:

CAB62: Multi Year Funding Settlement Financial Sustainability Plan

CAB65: Nora Joint Venture - Phase 3

Councillor Long, seconded by Councillor Blunt proposed CAB66: Inspector’s Report for the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Plan.

RESOLVED:   That the recommendations from the Cabinet meeting on 7 September 2016 be approved.

To receive the Annual reports from the Panel Chairmen for 2015/16.

The Annual reports for 2015-16 from the Overview and Scrutiny Panel Chairmen were noted.