Agenda and minutes

A minutes silence was held for the late Harold Bodmer, Norfolk County Council, Head of Adult Services who passed away recently.

Prayers were said by Father Ling.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 30 June 2016 (previously circulated).

RESOLVED:   That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 30 June 2016 be approved.

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.

The Mayor informed Council that good wishes had been sent to the Duchess of Cornwall on the occasion of her birthday.

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

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

Under Standing Order 9, the Mayor invited the following members of the public to ask their questions:

Mrs Joanne Rust

“At the last council meeting Cllr Pope questioned the use of council funds to support the King's Lynn Town Football Club.  The club is privately owned and the owner can take the profit he makes.  Why does the council choose to fund private profits rather than activities for disadvantaged young people at the Discovery Centre?”  

In response Councillor Long  stated that whilst the Discovery Centre was run by its Board so he would not know how much had been spent on it,  there was a landlord and tenant relationship between the Council and the Football Club where repair works had been carried out before the previous owner took over, but there had been nothing since that time.

Mrs  Sue Bruce

Can the Borough Council tell me when was the census taken that led NCC Children's Services to its conclusion that it was not necessary for any financial contribution to be made for education in regard to the planned development for site 3 Lynnsport, and which will be the primary and secondary schools nominated for the children who will live in the new properties?

Councillor Beales responded as follows:

“Thank you for your question. Norfolk County Council are responsible for allocation of school places and all matters related to primary and secondary education and the planning system and your question should be directed to that authority.

However, there is an inference to this question and earlier questions that the Borough Council is somehow seeking to sidestep its responsibilities. Nothing could be further from the truth. I say again that the Borough Council works closely with Norfolk County Council on education matters and allocation of school places and is working to provide a new school site at no charge – the county having concluded that such a site is needed. Such co-operation is normal and responsible.

With regard to this particular application, I think it is worth reminding you of the infrastructure that the Borough Council is or will be providing for wider public benefit.

1.     Wildlife area in association with Norfolk Wildlife Trust – some 12 acres.

2.     One hockey and one multisport pitch.

3.     Four new tennis courts with others potentially to follow.

4.     A new carpark for Lynnsport (already open) which increases the provision for mother and toddler parking adjacent to the play area (which itself will be updated, and improved) as well as Disabled parking adjacent to the disabled Angling Pond. All together very roughly doubling the car parking capacity at Lynnsport.

5.     A new road serving existing and proposed developments, Lynnsport and the wider community. Of particular note is the improved access to the north (Edward Benefer Way) for the North Lynn estate which currently has only one access/exit out towards Loke Road.

6.     Improved cycle links and footpaths.

7.     Miniature Railway improvements.

8.     Better and safer access to the North Lynn Industrial estate (Traffic light controlled).  ...  view the full minutes text for item C:32

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 confirmed she had passed on information to Alive Leisure re the Radio Station seeking towns close to water to broadcast from.

In response to questions on the finances of the King’s Lynn Football Club, who the Council’s representative on it was, and their reporting back arrangements, Councillor Mrs Nockolds responded that the Council was landlord for the premises and was not involved with the Club’s finances as it was a private entity.  The Council had not sponsored the Club or given any financial assistance to it.  The Council’s representative on their Board, Mr Paul Bland, was an observer and was appointed by Council at its last meeting and he reported in annually to a Panel. She agreed to meet with the ward members on the Club should they wish but explained she had no additional information to impart.  She was not aware of any profit sharing arrangement with the Council and believed that the upkeep of the car park was part of the lease.

Following a question on the attraction to the town events and festivals to Pokemon Go players Councillor Mrs Nockolds confirmed there had been large numbers at the Custom House and around the Walks,  the Tourist Information Centre had been encouraging people to come into the building.  She commented that if businesses offered incentives for players such as charging points etc there were potential business opportunities.

Congratulations was given on the appearance of the town blooms, to which Councillor Mrs Nockolds paid tribute not just to the grounds maintenance crews, but also to the many groups of volunteers who assisted in keeping the town parks and gardens etc looking beautiful.

Councillor Blunt presented his report and welcomed Councillor Sam Sandell as his new Deputy Cabinet Member.  In response to questions relating to CIL, Councillor Blunt confirmed that the CIL Examination was taking place on 6 and 7 September at the South Lynn Community Centre.  Once the Examiners response was received the full proposal would be put forward for how any finance received would be spent.  In response to the question relating to who would decide how a King’s Lynn pot would be spent, Councillor Blunt referred to the King’s Lynn Area Consultative Committee which could be consulted and could have commented on the proposals put forward to the Examination.

As Councillor Lawrence was not present at the meeting, Members were invited to submit any questions to him on email.

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

Councillor Daubney presented his report.  In response to a question regarding the Council Tax support scheme, Councillor Daubney reminded Members it was not his responsibility.

Councillor Beales presented his report. In response to a question posed on the Heads of Terms of the Lynnsport development, Councillor Beales re-iterated that there was no S106 obligation, and the Council was working with the County Council to deliver the school site.

In response to a request, Councillor Beales agreed to try to arrange a further visit to view the KLIC operation for those Councillors who had not had the opportunity to do so. 

Councillor Beales also received congratulations for the successful bid for funding at the Heritage Gardens in Hunstanton, and agreed to arrange a Pre Council Briefing for Members on the One Public Estate project once there was information to impart.

With regard to the temporary closure of the cycle path at Lynnsport where the IDB was carrying out their works, Councillor Beales agreed to try to find out the timescale.

In response to a question on the cost and deliverability of the proposed River Front Delivery Plan, Councillor Beales explained that Architects had been appointed with a track record of such regeneration projects across the country and now that large areas of land and property in the area were within the Council’s ownership he had every faith that it could be delivered.

Councillor Long presented his report and addressed questions in relation to the fullness of minutes of meetings, which some Members objected to not now having questions specifically attributed to them in the Minutes. Councillor Long reminded Council that following recommendations through from the Scrutiny Structures Working Group, Council had taken the decision to reduce the fullness of Minutes and that they would specifically not attribute questions but be a summary. 

Councillor Long confirmed that at this stage there was no further progress on any re-introduction of the Trolley Collection man, but the situation regarding abandoned trolleys was still being monitored.

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).

In response to a question relating to the alleged comments made at a recent meeting regarding the end time of the meeting, the Chairman of the Corporate Performance Panel denied any such comment.

To consider the following Notice of Motion (2 /16), submitted by Councillor C Joyce:

“We are proud to live in a diverse and tolerant society. Racism, xenophobia and hate crimes have no place in our country.  We, The Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk, oppose racism, xenophobia and hate crimes unequivocally. We will not allow hate to become acceptable. 

The Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk will work to ensure local bodies and programmes have support and resources needed to fight and prevent racism and xenophobia.

We reassure all people living in The Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk that they are valued members of our community.”

Councillor Joyce proposed the following Notice of Motion (2 /16), and was seconded by Councillor Moriarty.

“We are proud to live in a diverse and tolerant society. Racism, xenophobia and hate crimes have no place in our country.  We, The Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk, oppose racism, xenophobia and hate crimes unequivocally. We will not allow hate to become acceptable. 

The Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk will work to ensure local bodies and programmes have support and resources needed to fight and prevent racism and xenophobia.

We reassure all people living in The Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk that they are valued members of our community.”

Councillor Long proposed the following amendments to the Motion, seconded by Councillor Beales:

Add: “continue to”

Delete “and programmes have support and resources needed to”

RESOLVED:   That the following be approved:

“We are proud to live in a diverse and tolerant society. Racism, xenophobia and hate crimes have no place in our country.  We, The Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk, oppose racism, xenophobia and hate crimes unequivocally. We will not allow hate to become acceptable. 

The Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk will continue to work to ensure local bodies fight and prevent racism and xenophobia.

We reassure all people living in The Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk that they are valued members of our community.”

To consider the following recommendations to Council:

To consider the following recommendations from the 28 June 2016 Cabinet meeting:

CAB27:            RIPA Policy Review

EXEMPT ITEMS

CAB35:            Town Centre Investment Phase 1

CAB36:            Town Centre Investment – Strategic Land and Property Acquisition Phase 2

Councillor Long proposed recommendation CAB27 from the 28 June 2016 Cabinet meeting, which was seconded by Councillor Beales:

CAB27:            RIPA Policy Review

The item was approved without debate.

Councillor Long, seconded by Councillor Beales proposed CAB 35 and 36 below:

At the request of Councillor Collop, in order facilitate questions on the items which contained exempt material Councillor Long seconded by Councillor Beales proposed the exclusion of the press and public and it was:

RESOLVED:               That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for items of business CAB35 and 36 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

Members attention was drawn to the additional information which was issued for CAB35 in response to Councillor Pope’s questions at the Cabinet meeting.

CAB35:            Town Centre Investment Phase 1

CAB36:            Town Centre Investment – Strategic Land and Property Acquisition Phase 2

RESOLVED:   That the recommendations from the Cabinet meeting on 28 June 2016 be approved.