Agenda and minutes

Prayers were led by the Mayors Chaplain, Father Ling.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 25 February 2016 (previously circulated).

RESOLVED:   The Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 25 February 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 Lawrence declared a personal interest in CAB 139: Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Plan – Proposed Modifications.

To receive Mayor’s communications and announcements.

The Mayor wished Councillor Squires luck in her Clipper training which she was starting shortly. 

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 Joanne Rust to come forward and ask the following public question:

“The number of Unintentional priority homeless acceptances by the Borough Council have increased to 117 for 2015.  

What steps has the borough council taken to rectify this dire situation?”

Councillor Lawrence gave the following response:

“Council is addressing increasing numbers of priority and non-priority homeless households through actions identified in its current Housing and Homelessness Strategy which can be found on the Borough’s website.

As you will see in the Strategy, the Council works with a wide range of statutory and voluntary sector partners in order to develop and maintain services connected with the aim of preventing homelessness.

The strategy and action plan are currently being reviewed. In addition staff are looking at proposals for additional fit for purpose temporary accommodation, to help avoid the need to use bed and breakfast. We are working with the County Council and some specialist housing support providers to address current and future needs of some vulnerable groups including people with mental health problems.”

By way of a supplementary question, Mrs Rust asked “What plans the Council had to deal with impact of the Housing and Planning Bill which will force Council’s to sell off high value housing as they fall vacant to pay for the Right to Buy discounts for housing association tenants.”

Councillor Lawrence initially responded that the planning element was not within his remit, and later in the meeting during his report when the question was repeated by Councillor Collop, he responded that the Council was not the Housing provider so would not be making plans to deal with the impact of Right to Buy.

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.  Councillor Mrs Buck asked if Councillor Mrs Nockolds considered that allotments contributed to the health and wellbeing of the local community, and if so what steps she was taking to ensure that there was sufficient land available for people to grow their own fruit and vegetables.  Councillor Mrs Nockolds agreed that allotments were good for helping people remain active and growing their own food in the outdoors.  She commented that there were still allotments available in North Lynn.

Councillor J Collop expressed pleasure that something was to be done to the Southgates to enhance the experience on visiting it.

Councillor Smith, having visited the Stories of Lynn exhibition asked if it would be ready for the 10am formal opening on Friday.  Councillor Mrs Nockolds confirmed it was ready for the opening the following day, and she would be pleased to hear any feedback from visits.

Councillor Blunt presented his report.  Councillor Moriarty drew attention to the cessation of the provision of hard copies of planning application plans for parish councils as part of the consultation process. He asked if, as the consideration of planning applications was often when the public attended parish council meetings, and so would have difficulty seeing the plans, the Council would continue to offer hard copies to parishes, and the applicant be charged an additional fee for that process. 

Councillor Blunt responded that he appreciated it was not an easy process, but applicants were encouraged to submit applications electronically, and to then convert to hard copies or copy plans was a costly process. He was talking to officers to come up with a workable solution, and offered that should any parishes need any further training on the submission of comments or viewing plans etc, it would readily be provided.

Councillor Tilbury asked of the Compact with Parishes had been taken into account when the decision to enforce electronic communication was taken.  Councillor Blunt reminded Members that Members and Parishes had to move on to electronic communications as the provision of hard copies was so expensive.

Councillor J Collop asked how King’s Lynn would be formally consulted as part of the CIL process.  Councillor Blunt reminded members that the consultation process for CIL enabled anyone to participate. 

Councillor Long presented his report.  Councillor Bird asked if it could be explained that the Environment Agency assessment for the Wash East Coast works would require 5 years of materials to carry out the work, which was the recycling, not the recharge which would cost between £1-8m to provide.  What plans were in place for that amount of money to be collected.

Councillor Long commented that Councillor Bird had been present at the same meetings on the subject as he had, so had been provided with the same information.  The situation to date had been to maintain existing flood defences utilising existing material.  Nothing on the scheme had been done to generate the funds for a capital injection to recharge the area.  The scheme was not deemed appropriate which has seen work done to maintain defences as set out in the report, and money had been raised for the following year. On current estimates there was approximately 5 years material available, but that could change. The Stakeholder meetings were being held to look at raising those funds for capital investment.

Councillor Lawrence presented his report. He gave an update for Members that the numbers on the housing register was 1,658, an increase of 31 on January.

Councillor Mrs Buck asked what information could be given on the future of the Discovery Centre.  Councillor Lawrence explained that the Centre was going back to its roots and providing what they were originally set up for as some things had to cease when funding was no longer available.  He did hope that a further sponsor could be found.

In response to the question of what the Council would put in place for the latch key children, Councillor Lawrence stated that the parents would have to make other arrangements.

Councillor Pope was not present at the meeting.  Members were invited to submit any questions via email.

Councillor Lord Howard presented his report.  There were no questions.

Councillor Beales presented his report. He gave an update that he had been corrected by Councillor Smith that he had been present at the consultation event at Lynnsport.  Councillor Mrs Buck confirmed that she was also present.

Councillor Bird asked what the meeting in Hunstanton on 14 March related to, to which Councillor Beales stated that he had met with Paul Searle to discuss Hunstanton.

Councillor S Collop asked for detail on the meeting held at Springwood School.  Councillor Beales explained that it was a 6^th Form debate in “Question Time” format, with representatives from different political parties, the questions ranged from the EU to university fees.  He considered it was a positive and enjoyable occasion where the pupils and staff who had run it and participated were very knowledgeable.  Discussions were taking place to run such events in other schools.

Councillor J Collop asked if Councillor Beales would comment on the item in the Lynn News on the Lynnsport development, to which Councillor Beales explained that whilst he was happy to answer questions from Councillors, he would not comment on articles in the press.

Councillor Daubney presented his report. Councillor J Collop asked whether an elected Mayor was now on the cards, when he did not think it had been previously, and whether Cambridgeshire’s vote against the proposal meant it was not going ahead.  Councillor Daubney responded that as far as he knew the Council hadn’t taken a view on an Elected Mayor, but there were a broad range of opinions on it.  As things stood that day the offer from the Government was to include a directly Elected Mayor from May 2017, and that was contained within the offer document.  He considered that there was a considerable amount of misunderstanding about the Cambridgeshire County Council vote, as most of the TV coverage had been wide of the mark.  He understood that Cambridgeshire County Council had voted not to accept the document in its current form, which could mean many things.  He explained that at the meeting yesterday Cambridgeshire had been present and were contributing to the meeting, however there was a way to go and difficult discussions to be had.

Councillor J Collop acknowledged that the Leader would keep Council informed, and the Leader confirmed that a lot was happening in a short space of time, and the summary sheet sent out was to keep members involved and updated.

Councillor Tilbury commented that it was negotiation taking place to find mutual understanding, and asked the Leader to keep that in mind.  He also asked if the other bulletins would be available.

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 recommendations from the Cabinet Meeting on 1 March 2016 as follows:

CAB137:       Treasury Management Strategy 2016/17

CAB 138:      Risk Management Policy and Strategy Review

CAB 139:      Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Plan (SADMP)  - Proposed Modifications

CAB140:       Assessing King's Lynn and West Norfolk's Housing Requirement

CAB142:       Appointment of Honorary Aldermen

Councillor Daubney, seconded by Councillor Beales proposed the recommendations from the Cabinet Meeting on 1 March 2016.

CAB 137:      Treasury Management Strategy 2016/17

CAB 138:      Risk Management Policy and Strategy Review

CAB 139:      Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Plan (SADMP)  - Proposed Modifications

CAB140:       Assessing King's Lynn and West Norfolk's Housing Requirement

In proposing CAB142: Appointment of Honorary Aldermen, as former Councillor Loveless was in the Chamber, the proposal was to recognise the long and valuable services given by those Councillors named in the report.

RESOLVED:That the recommendations from the Cabinet meeting held on 1 March 2016 be approved.