Agenda and minutes

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In the absence of the Mayor, the Chief Executive invited nominations for the Chair for the meeting.

Councillor Parish nominated Councillor A Bullen as Chair for the meeting.  This was seconded by Councillor Jones.  On being put to the vote it was

RESOLVED:   Councillor Andy Bullen was appointed Chair for the meeting.

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Councillor Parish proposed Councillor Francis Bone as Vice-Chair for the meeting.  This was seconded by Councillor Jones

On being put to the vote it was

RESOLVED:   That Councillor Francis Bone be appointed Vice-Chair for the meeting.

Council held a minute’s silence in memory of the Late Honorary Alderman Nick Daubney who had passed away on 29 May 2023.

Prayers were led by Rev Canon Ling

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Extraordinary and Ordinary Meetings of the Council held on 30 March  and Annual Council 18 May 2023  (attached).

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meetings held on 30 March and 18 May 2023 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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 Long declared a pecuniary interest for the previous year as a paid Chair of the King’s Lynn IDB.

To receive Mayor’s communications and announcements.

The Chair welcomed the new Council to its first meeting.

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.

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Under standing Order 9, the Chair invited Mr Jamie Symington to pose his question to Council as follows:

“Would the Cabinet member welcome an independent and speedy investigation by this Council of the benefits that would accrue to West Norfolk and beyond from a possible re location of the QEH, in terms of improving our infrastructure and sustainability. This is especially so as other sites available may well offer greatly improved East/West and South transport links and directly benefit a large number of tax payers in West Norfolk.”

Councillor Moriarty, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Development and Regeneration responded to the question in his capacity as a Borough Councillor and explained that this Council had no statutory highway responsibilities or function as they lay with the County Council or Department of Transport.  It also had no statutory functions relating to building hospitals or any officers involved in such matters.  He considered that any investigation would have to take place externally and would require the disclosure of a considerable amount of confidential information which the Borough Council had no power to compel them to divulge.  So, he considered that if an investigation were to take place it should be carried out by a body with the statutory responsibilities or a Parliamentary Committee. He considered that the council would not be able to undertake an investigation as the Council had to get value for money from the resources available.  He acknowledged that if an inquiry was called the Borough would respond.  He commented that he understood the reasons for putting the question in the speedy delivery of the hospital programme.

By way of supplementary Mr Symington asked: “Would he agree that such an due diligence has been performed to ensure that the public purse is indeed getting best value for money”.

Councillor Moriarty did not think the Borough had the right or the resources to investigate the operation of the other bodies.  He did not consider it was the Borough Council’s role.

Council is invited to appoint a Vice Chair of the Planning Committee following the resignation from that position by Councillor Spikings.

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Councillor Joyce proposed Councillor F Bone as Vice-Chair of the Planning Committee.  This was seconded by Councillor Parish.  This was put to the vote.

RESOLVED:   That Councillor F Bone be appointed as Vice-Chair of the Planning Committee for the remainder of the municipal year.

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Councillor Moriarty proposed the recommendations contained within the report.  This was seconded by Councillor Anota who reserved the right to speak.

Councillor Parish proposed an amendment to recommendation 4 that the Full Council meetings start at 5pm.  This was seconded by Councillor Squire who reserved the right to speak.  Councillors Moriarty and Anota accepted the amendment, it then became the substantive motion.

Councillor Dark proposed that “in the short term Full Council meetings will continue to start at 4.30pm whilst all Councillors are consulted and a paper is brought forward to a full Council promptly allowing an informed decision on the preferred choice of members going forward.”

Councillor Dark spoke on his amendment, he considered the full council should have the opportunity to discuss and debate through panel meetings. This was seconded by Councillor Blunt who reserved the right to speak.

Councillor Moriarty did not accept the amendment.

Councillor Long considered that the proposal for all members to have input was important as not all Councillors had the flexibility to be able to attend at that time of day.

Councillor Colwell considered it was important not to block people standing as it would interfere with work.

Councillor Beales did not support the amendment as a working member and would vote accordingly.

Councillor Joyce reminded members that the time could change in the future but felt the time should be 5pm as proposed.

Councillor Collingham did not agree with the proposed 5pm start and considered that there should be a wider debate on it.

Councillor Blunt suggested that a survey of members should be carried out.

Councillor Parish suggested going to the vote to permit councillors to have their say.

Councillor Squires commented that she felt 5pm was a compromise for all councillors between the earlier and later start times.

Councillor de Winton suggested that members should consider officers working hours.

Councillor Rust commented that officers should take toil and start later in the day.  She said that the proposal put forward was something the new administration supported but the old administration did not.

In summing up, Councillor Moriarty reminded members they were discussing 30 minutes and that the Panels would consider what start times they would prefer.  He acknowledged that all members had a vote, as would the Panel meetings.  He stated that if the Corporate Performance Panel wished to come up with a recommendation they could do so.

Council voted on the amendment from Councillor Dark.  The amendment was lost.

Councillor Moriarty also drew attention to the fact that they had requested the return of pre Council briefings for all councillors before some Council meetings.

Council then voted on the substantive motion to start Council meetings at 5.00pm.  The substantive motion was carried.

RESOLVED:   1)         The Planning Committee and Licensing Committee meetings remain during the day as per current arrangements.

2)            That the Panels determine their meeting start times. 

3)    That Cabinet continue to determine the  ...  view the full minutes text for item C:26

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

To consider the following recommendations to Council:

CAB159:         Southgates Area Masterplan Delivery Plan

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Councillor Parish proposed that CAB159:      Southgates Area Masterplan Delivery Plan be deferred to the next meeting of Council on 24 August 2023 to enable further consideration to be given to the matter.  This was seconded by Councillor Joyce. On being put to the vote the deferral was agreed.

RESOLVED:   That CAB159 be deferred to the 24 August 2023 Council meeting.

CAB12            Scheme of Delegation

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Councillor Parish proposed CAB12: Scheme of Delegation, this was seconded by Councillor Moriarty.  On being put to the vote this was agreed.

RESOLVED:   That recommendation CAB12: Scheme of Delegation from the Cabinet meeting on 27 June 2023 be agreed.

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Council was invited to give consideration to the appointment of members to outside bodies.  Where there was a vote required, Council  agreed to carry out the vote via a ballot to be counted after the meeting.

Councillor Parish proposed an amendment to the list to include Councillors Devulapalli and Rose onto the East of Ouse IDB. This was seconded and agreed.

Councillor Dark expressed his disappointment at the timings of the lists being released.  A debate ensued on how the lists were prepared and allocated.

Councillor Long suggested that the annual appointments should carry over after each annual council meeting to the next date for them to be considered as was the case at annual council meetings between elections.

RESOLVED:   1)         That where votes are required for any of the outside bodies (those Bodies marked in bold below) they be carried out by a ballot sheet issued to Cllrs at the beginning of the meeting.  The results to be notified to Councillors and published in the minutes. The results of the ballot are included in the overall list attached to the minutes.

2)         That the representatives to serve on the outside bodies and partnerships listed in the Parish level and General categories as shown where no vote was required be approved.

3)  That the appointment of representatives nominated by the Panels to serve on outside bodies and partnerships which fall within the Scrutiny and Regulatory categories as shown in point 4.1 of the report and Council nominates members to serve on the scrutiny outside bodies if no nominations were made by the Panels was approved.

4) That representatives to serve on Internal Drainage Boards for a four year period as listed in the attached document be approved.

5) That nominations be invited from appropriate Parish Councils to fill any vacancies on the internal Drainage Boards not taken up by the Borough Council.

6)  That the reporting arrangements be noted, as shown in section 3 of the report.

1)    To consider the following Notice of Motion (8/23), submitted by Councillor S Dark

This Council whole-heartedly welcomes the significant news that the QEH bid for a much-needed replacement has been successful, with several hundred millions of pounds of central government/NHS funding assigned to it and an expedited build time of 2030.   This Council recognises the many, many months of ‘hard yards’, often behind the scenes, undertaken by the QEH’s Leadership, this Council’s Leadership at the time and its Officers, our local MPs, individual councillors, partners and members of our community to inform and then convince decision makers based a long way from West Norfolk of the dire need to do this above other national NHS funding pressures and puts on record its deep gratitude to them all. This Council understands that the QEH and its partners will now have to work at pace to deliver such a major build programme in just 7 years within the confines of its grant funding and requests the new administration and Officers do all they can to support them.

2)    To consider the following Notice of Motion (9/23), submitted by Councillor R Blunt

This Council recognises the significant work to date of the voluntary Towns Board members, its Officers and partners in developing and then progressing related, specified projects, leading directly to £25m of transformational government funding into Kings Lynn, in turn stimulating significant additional funding from other sources such as the County Council. This Council asks the new administration to prioritise working constructively with the Towns Board members, the County Council and partners to deliver all of these known and approved projects within the critical, short delivery timeframes specified so as not to put this funding in serious jeopardy.

3)    To consider the following Notice of Motion (10/23), submitted by Councillor R Blunt

This Council recognises the vital role ‘outside body’ Councillor appointments play in providing effective links in to and out of bodies operating locally for the good of West Norfolk. In many cases these appointments help to monitor formal SLAs and financial grants from the local taxpayer, or are part of the external body’s constitution and all provide the Council’s/wider perspective in the formulation of partners policies, services and work programmes in mutually beneficial areas where Committees, Cabinet or Full Council have previously formally considered such a direct link Councillor or Councillors to be highly beneficial.

This Council instructs that any intended/potential review of these positions should be done in a considered, systematic, evidence based way and in consultation with the bodies affected re their needs and the impact of any withdrawing of this level of support will have on them with a formal paper up through Committees for debate at full Council as a ‘critical decision’ affecting others delivering for West Norfolk.

Whilst any such review and paper is being developed, Councillors and political groups will continue to take up and support these positions in a fair and proportionate way to ensure minimal impact on the operation of these  ...  view the full agenda text for item C:29

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1)    Councillor S Dark proposed the following Notice of Motion (8/23), seconded by Councillor Sandell who reserved the right to speak:

This Council whole-heartedly welcomes the significant news that the QEH bid for a much-needed replacement has been successful, with several hundred millions of pounds of central government/NHS funding assigned to it and an expedited build time of 2030.   This Council recognises the many, many months of ‘hard yards’, often behind the scenes, undertaken by the QEH’s Leadership, this Council’s Leadership at the time and its Officers, our local MPs, individual councillors, partners and members of our community to inform and then convince decision makers based a long way from West Norfolk of the dire need to do this above other national NHS funding pressures and puts on record its deep gratitude to them all. This Council understands that the QEH and its partners will now have to work at pace to deliver such a major build programme in just 7 years within the confines of its grant funding and requests the new administration and Officers do all they can to support them.

Councillor Dark in proposing the motion recognised the work done by all to achieve the new hospital.  Councillor Parish supported the Motion and mentioned that he proposed to form a task group to look at and liaise with the hospital post funding.

Councillor Kemp supported the motion and drew attention to the council needing to do all it could for the hospital, and said that she had written to the hospital Chief Executive to ensure the council would support the team to deliver the hospital as soon as possible.

Councillor Colwell drew attention to the lengths the community went to especially Cllr Rust, and thanked all involved whilst stressing the need to keep the pressure on the Government to deliver.

Councillor Rust agreed with the motion and reassured that the new administration had met with the Hospital’s Executive team to see if there was anything the Council could do to assist. She explained that the business case had not yet been confirmed and the strategic business case had to be re-written, the council would assist with information on the proposed growth in the area which would be written into the business case.

Councillor de Whalley, in supporting the Motion commented on the lateness of the award for funding for the new build and drew attention to the need to provide external infrastructure to train and retain staff.

Councillor Long spoke in support of the Motion drawing attention to the increase in population in the last 40 years.  He gave credit to the staff working under such conditions and welcomed the work which had commenced on the car park.

Councillor Devulapalli proposed an amendment to the motion to delete the word “expedited”, and add “the Trades Union Council” in the 6^th line prior to QEH’s Leadership.  This was seconded by Councillor Rust. 

Councillor Dark did  ...  view the full minutes text for item C:29

In accordance with Standing Order 11, to receive reports from Cabinet Members moved en bloc, under Standing Order 11.2 Members of the Council may ask questions of Cabinet Members on their reports and Portfolio areas. The order of putting questions shall commence with a Member from the largest opposition group, proceeding in descending order to the smallest opposition group, followed by a non-aligned Member and finally a Member from the ruling group. This order shall repeat until the time for questions has elapsed or there are no more questions to be put. 

The period of time for putting questions and receiving responses shall not exceed 50 minutes for all Cabinet Members, excluding the Leader

The period of time for putting questions and receiving responses to the Leader shall not exceed 15 minutes.

(Councillors are reminded that this is a question and answer session not a debate.)

Business – Councillor A Beales

Climate Change and Biodiversity – Councillor M de Whalley

Environment and Coastal - Councillor S Squire

Finance – Councillor C Morley

Property & Corporate Services – Councillor B Anota

People and Communities – Councillor A Kemp

Tourism Events and Marketing – Cllr S Ring

Deputy Leader Development and Regeneration – Councillor J Moriarty

Leader - Councillor T Parish

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Councillor Parish moved the Cabinet Members reports acknowledging that some members had some updates to give following publication.

Councillor Kemp gave an update on housing standards enforcement and empty homes.

Councillor Dark asked for brevity in updates from Cabinet members.

Councillor Moriarty informed Council that regarding the Local Plan the Inspectors had indicated that the timescale for the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment needed to be submitted by February 2024. The topic papers requested by the Inspectorate would have an 8 week consultation period.  He intended that a briefing be included for members of the Local Plan Task Group on strategies to deal with it at its next meeting.

Councillor Squire confirmed that 12 additional litter and dog waste bins were being installed along Heacham Beach.  She also urged members to share the information on the RNLI Float to Live campaign.

Councillor Parish informed members that District Leaders were sending a joint letter to the Secretary of state about the Norfolk County Deal, all Leaders considered the deal had insufficient money, powers and participation.  The County Council Leader had already written asking for further powers.  Further iterations of the letter were being proposed.

Councillor Kunes asked Councillor de Whalley to confirm that the item produced in the Paper referring to initiatives being undertaken were those which had been brought forward by the previous administration including Parkway where members had voted against it he asked if he would reference where the initiative had come from.  Councillor de Whalley commented that the piece was representing the Council.

Councillor Bartrum asked Councillor Squire what steps were being taken to alleviate the high instance of fly tipping of large objects in her ward and around the borough.  Councillor Squire responded that an audit of fly tipping and bulky waste tipping was being carried out.  Work was being undertaken to track down fly tippers.

Councillor Rust  explained that the funding hadn’t yet been released for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and car park asked Councillor Kemp if she would work closely with   the Data Collection team at the Hospital to ensure that any further developments  were taken into account and that the demographics of the area were taken into account.  Councillor Kemp confirmed she had corresponded with the hospital and was aware of the growth issues and would work with them where she could.  The Queen Elizabeth Management were working on information to allow flexibility to have information pertinent to the area.

Councillor Sandell asked Councillor Kemp about the subsidised leisure activities for young people which had taken place in previous years she asked if she supported them and would do so.

Councillor Kemp confirmed her support for these, but indicated that the funding for the events had been cut.

Councillor Devulapalli asked Councillor Beales if the Eastern side of the Parkway site would continue to be a wildlife site.  Councillor Beales confirmed that £50,000 had been set aside for the scheme, a boardwalk  ...  view the full minutes text for item C:30