Agenda and minutes

Prayers were led by Father Ling.

Council held a minutes silence in memory of Dominique Petchey, Electoral Services Officer who had sadly passed away following a long and hard fought illness.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 15 June 2017 (previously circulated).

Councillor J Collop expressed disagreement with the previously taken Council decision to reduce the detail of the minutes and to summarise debate only, and asked that questioners be named, the detail put and the answers recorded.  It was noted this was not the forum for the discussion on the methodology.  The Labour Group abstained from agreeing the minutes.

RESOLVED:   The Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 15 June 2017 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.

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To receive Mayor’s communications and announcements.

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

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

The Mayor invited the following public questioners to pose their questions to Council.

Question from Alexandra Kemp

Would the Borough listen to local residents, and recognise and respect, in the Waterfront Plan, the uniqueness of the strategic cultural, heritage, wildlife, community, tourist and waterfront asset that is Hardings Way and Hardings Pits, and not place general traffic on Hardings Way, which would turn Wisbech Road into a bottleneck, causing queues and pollution when vehicles turn into Hardings Way; Natural England says Hardings Way could bring increased income from tourism, especially when the new Coastal Path brings in more cyclists and walkers; and keeping bus lanes  traffic-free, and opening park-and-rides are the proven route to reducing congestion.

Councillor Beales responded “Firstly let me say that this Council seeks the views of both local residents and the wider population of the Borough whenever a major project is planned or being planned. Views are collated and carefully considered during the formulation of policy, within recommendations to Council and during the scrutiny process – recognition and respect of such views is implicit in the conduct of Council business.

In terms of the specific question you ask you will note that a clear majority of respondents to public consultation (55%) preferred Option 3 of the Riverfront Delivery Plan – the one in which Hardings Way would be open to all traffic.

However, and importantly, the recommendation to Cabinet to endorse option 3 refers extensively to the need to “test the scheme further” and “to progress investigation and testing of these options”. Subject to the outcome of Cabinet deliberations, this Council will be asked to endorse option 3 and approve funding for proper investigation of such matters as ecology, archelogy, ground conditions, flood issues and many others as well as traffic surveys and Highways advice on the future of Hardings Way. Until such facts are available and understood this Council cannot and will not commit to any specific proposal.

I will finish by reassuring you that the value of Hardings Pits as a green open space is recognized by this Council and particularly by me personally and the potential tourism boost from the new stretch of the Coastal Path has been widely discussed during formulation of the Riverfront Delivery Plan.”

By way of supplementary, Miss Kemp asked if the Council would have regard to the 70% of respondents who were against the proposal.  She wished to present a petition, but was advised that the 57 signatures did not meet the petition criteria for full Council.

In response, Councillor Beales re-iterated that the facts were not yet known, and the most significant aspect was to get the funding in place to look at the issues properly.

Question from Francis Bone

The residents of Highgate, who have had parking permits imposed on them at a significant cost, would like to know what positive impact they can expect to see on their environment?

Councillor Long responded “The imposition of resident only parking passes is a function of  ...  view the full minutes text for item C:30

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.  He updated Members on the receipt of £93800 grant for environmental improvements to a site on Greenpark Avenue to provide landscaping, planning, disabled access, furniture and activities in the area.

In response to a question on whether the Council would be willing to provide a doctors surgery anywhere the Council owned land, Councillor Beales explained that it would have to be subject to developers, site suitability and the surgery requirements.  He drew attention to the enormous benefits to the community of the proposed surgery in North Lynn.

Councillor Blunt presented his report.  In response to a question on whether it was possible to include car charging points to the new builds on Lynnsport, Councillor Blunt confirmed it would be considered if an application were to come forward.

In response to a question on the workload of the planning officers and whether with the increase in planning fees more officers would be employed, Councillor Blunt confirmed that there had been a reduction in the number of planning officers over time.  The biggest issue was the number of items having to go to Committee which took an enormous amount of time to prepare the reports, however the Government’s timescales were being adhered to.  The Borough’s planning officers dealt with the largest caseload in the County.  However, Councillor Blunt confirmed that 2 graduate planner positions had recently been offered and accepted.

Councillor Lawrence presented his report. In response to a request to give an update on the Community Housing Fund explained that officers were working on some proposals which would be consulted on and come before the Council as soon as something was available. 

Councillor Lawrence responded to questions relating to the proposed Empty Homes Strategy and the Borough’s performance on bringing empty homes back into use compared to other authorities.  He explained that the Borough’s housing stock was larger than the other authorities and that providing homeowners paid their bills and didn’t cause problems for the neighbours etc, it was ultimately their own decision whether the property was deemed as empty.   With regard to empty homes in the ownership of housing associations, it was explained that the association should be approached directly.

In response to a question on the derelict land and buildings group, Councillor Lawrence confirmed it was not within his portfolio, but the Environment and Community Panel regularly received information and updates from the group.

Councillor Devereux presented his report. In response to questions as to whether enforcement action would be taken against those who abused the bins and what was put into them, he reminded members that there was the ability to issue fixed penalty notice, but it was preferred to educate the homeowners on which bins to put different elements of rubbish. He also confirmed that bins could be collected any time after 7.00am which was the start of the shift.

In response to a question on the Hunstanton Coastal Management Plan, Councillor Devereux explained that the future works required along the coastline including the promenade had been examined, a large grant towards the study had previously been announced.  He confirmed that a consultation process would be undertaken.

Councillor Mrs Mellish presented her report and reminded Members that Mintlyn Crematorium was holding an open day on Saturday between 11am and 3pm.

In response to a question on the provision of facilities for members to use a pc in King’s Court or the Town hall Councillor Mrs Mellish undertook to look into the matter.

Councillor Hodson presented his report.  He confirmed that he had yet to look at the work of the Panel on markets but would do so.

Councillor Mrs Nockolds presented her report.  In responding to a question on the level of fees charged for allotments, Councillor Mrs Nockolds confirmed that the matter had been considered by the King’s Lynn Area Committee on two occasions where they had concluded that the rest of the Borough shouldn’t subsidise the allotments, so resulting in the first increase in charges in over 10 years.

Councillor Nockolds also responded to a point made about the funding from the disposal of allotments being ploughed back into allotments by confirming that North Lynn Allotments had formed an association and so would set their own charges in line with their lease.

In response to questions seeking reassurance about the future of events in the town centre, Councillor Mrs Nockolds commented that the events which were being laid on were the Borough’s way of helping increase footfall and assisting businesses in the town.  She confirmed that in the future the Borough Council would be working with the BID.  

Councillor Long presented his report.  He was asked a question seeking a response on the proposed longer rail journey times from King’s Lynn to London and whether he considered the Government should be stricter to ensure railway projects came to fruition.  Councillor Long acknowledged that there had been investment in new stock on the line, and the point about potential longer times was in a consultation paper which had been responded to objecting to such a proposal along with partners.  He reminded Members that the Chief Executive chaired a multi-agency body working to achieve improvements to the Ely North Junction.   

In response to a question on the Football Club meeting Councillor Long explained that he and Councillor Westrop had met the owner of the Football Club in King’s Court and Councillor Westrop had subsequently visited the Club as the Council’s new observer to the Club.

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).

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

To consider the following recommendations to Council:

CAB151: Safeguarding Policy

CAB156:  Exempt - Lynnsport Update and Phase 2 Decision

Councillor Long proposed the recommendations from Cabinet on 11 April 2017, seconded by Councillor Mrs Nockolds.

RESOLVED:   The following recommendations were approved:

CAB151: Safeguarding Policy

CAB156:  Exempt - Lynnsport Update and Phase 2 Decision

CAB20: Long Term Empty Homes Strategy

CAB24: Amendments to the Scheme of Delegation

Councillor Long proposed the recommendations from Cabinet on 27 June 2017, seconded by Councillor Mrs Nockolds.

In debating CAB20 Long Term Empty Homes Strategy,  there were differing opinions on the success of the work on empty homes, with attention being drawn to the fact that the proposed amended policy was much in line with other local authorities.  In summing up it was noted that the need for housing was important and the strategy was an additional element which could be used to do so.  On being put to the vote the recommendation was agreed.

RESOLVED:   The following recommendations were approved:

CAB20: Long Term Empty Homes Strategy

CAB24: Amendments to the Scheme of Delegation

Nominations were invited for the position on Freebridge Community Housing Board. Councillors G Howman and M Hopkins were nominated. On being put to the vote, Councillor Hopkins was appointed.

Councillor J Collop had been nominated for the position on Hunstanton Sailing Club. This was agreed.

RESOLVED:   That the nominations be approved.