Agenda and minutes

The Council held a Minute’s silence in memory of the late former Councillor John Dobson and the later Honorary Alderman John Loveless both of whom had passed away the previous week.

Prayers were led by Rev Canon Adrian Ling.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 23 November 2023 (previously circulated).

RESOLVED:   The Minutes of the meeting held on 23 November 2024 were agreed 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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Councillor Blunt, Devulapalli and Lintern declared pecuniary interest in CAB89 – regarding second homes and left the meeting during its consideration.

Councillors Bhondi, Ratcliffe and  Ware declared a non pecuniary interest in CAB96 Council Companies Funding

Councillor Jamieson declared an interest in CAB89 as Deputy Leader of the County Council.

Councillor Kemp declared an interest in the South Lynn Village Green item as she had been campaigning in favour of it.

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.

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Mr Cliff Goodman

Due to some issues with the sound the meeting was adjourned for 6 minutes to resolve it.

I very much welcome the Council’s Corporate Strategy that included strategy on environment protection, and also the recent announcement that the community in Marshland St James has been selected as the starting point for net zero communities in West Norfolk.

I welcome these initiatives as good starting points and hope that Councillors across this council, relevant businesses and residents will buy into helping towards success. 

Has the council any plans to make a programme of basic insulation to stop huge waste of energy escaping through poorly insulated roofs and walls part of the Corporate Strategy? and also is there a plan to ensure that the Corporate Strategy and Net Zero Communities proceed as live high importance projects with potential for warm homes that don’t cost the earth; delivering on the aims with possible cost benefits to the council?

Councillor Rust responded “that the Corporate strategy says that we’ll work with partners to minimise emissions from new and existing properties, housing and other developments.  We know how much heating homes can cost to our residents at a time when the cost of living is already sky high and not set to fall at any time.  Since February last year we have seen 115 declarations of eligibility for the Eco Flex scheme (Energy Company Obligation) designed to tackle fuel poverty and help reduce carbon emissions.  promote measures that improve the ability of low-income, fuel-poor and vulnerable households to heat their homes. Our energy efficiency officer has worked to ensure as many of our local residents as possible can access this scheme and since he has been in post we’ve seen a huge increase in the number of households submitting a declaration, which, once accepted, means they can access a full house retrofit which includes the installation of greener heating, solar PV, insulation and various other enabling works.  Although our housing standards team involvement technically ends once the declaration has been made, they have been following up the work with the installers and households to check everything has gone as expected.  Once the work has been done we do an energy efficiency rating can see how the property has improved in that respect.  We are now working on a project with the ICB to reach households that would automatically qualify for the scheme so we can reach them more easily.  It’s important that we remember that when we make a home more energy efficient we also reduce our own carbon emissions.  On average a household in the UK will produce 6 tonnes of CO2 a year.  With these energy efficiency measure the CO2 produced has been dramatically reduced.  In several instances the CO2 produced was 0, and the most was 1.6 tonnes.  As a result of the work done by housing standards our borough has saved 254 tonnes of CO2.  I’m  ...  view the full minutes text for item C:74

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Following the formation of the new Progressive Group proportionality had been further reviewed following the original report published with the agenda.  An updated  report and recommendations were considered.

RESOLVED:  The proportionality was agreed as per the amended report and table.

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Council was invited to nominate members to serve on the King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Charity and the East of Ouse, Polver and the Nar Internal Drainage Board.

Nominations of Councillor Rust to the Borough Charity had been received, and Alan Holmes to the Internal Drainage Board.

No further nominations were invited. On being put to the vote the nominations were agreed.

RESOLVED:  That Councillor Jo Rust be appointed to the King’s Lynn Borough Charity, and Alan Holmes be appointed to the East of Ouse Polver and the Nar IDB.

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

To consider the following recommendations to Council:

CAB74: Council Tax Support -  Final Scheme for 2024-25

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Councillor Parish proposed the recommendations in CAB74: Council Tax Support -  Final Scheme for 2024-25, seconded by Councillor Moriarty.

In debating the recommendations Councillor Bone supported them.

Councillor Dark spoke against the recommendations drawing attention to Great Yarmouth’s reduction in percentage support which had therefore decreased the county council’s funding element.  The County Council had then allocated Great Yarmouth part of those savings for a hardship fund.  He considered this Council’s level of support should stay at its current level or should have worked with the County Council to create a scheme to help a larger number of people.

Councillor Osborne spoke in support of the recommendations in order to assist those in real poverty.

Councillor Kemp spoke in support, drawing attention to the rising costs of the basics for families.

Councillor Joyce spoke in support of the recommendations, but commented that he considered people should be means tested and get 100% support with council tax.

Councillor Morley, in supporting the recommendations drew attention to the fact that the recommendations were what had been promised and urged members to support it. 

Councillor Ratcliffe supported the increased level of support for those in need, and confirmed that the options available could be reviewed in the future.   

Councillor Long considered the proposal didn’t allow any room for assisting other households who also needed support.

Councillor Jamieson stated he would not support the recommendations as the impact on the County Council’s budget was high.  He indicated he would prefer a hardship fund or funding through Lily.

Councillor de Whalley indicated support for the scheme to reduce inequality.

Councillor Parish summed up stating that if the recommendations were not agreed it reverted back to the existing 84% level, which required more people to have to fill in forms to receive support, and additional officer time in processing the applications.  He stated there had been no consultation with the County Council on the options available although he had been holding discussions with them on other matters.  He commented that the Council was not in the position to negotiate with the County Council regarding the funding at this stage, but it was possible in future years. 

The recommendations were put to the vote.

RESOLVED:  The recommendations from Cabinet on 5 December 2023 were agreed.                                                                                                                                                                 

CAB88:             Polling District Review

CAB89:             Council Tax Premiums for Long-Term Empty Properties and Second Homes

CAB90:             Whistle Blowing Policy

CAB91:             Designation of a Village Green, South Lynn

CAB93:             Appointment of Honorary Aldermen

CAB96:             Council Companies Funding

Recommendation CAB88: Polling District Review had been withdrawn from this meeting and would be presented at the next meeting.

Councillor Parish moved each of the recommendations, seconded by Councillor Moriarty.

CAB89:             Council Tax Premiums for Long-Term Empty Properties and Second Homes

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Council was informed that recommendation1 and the relevant part of recommendation 3 relating to empty properties would be taken first.

In proposing the recommendation, Councillor Parish referred to the potential figures which could be raised for each precepting body, he referred to discussions with the County Council on apportionment of the funding.  He expressed the hope that those with empty homes would be encouraged to bring them back into use, or sell them so they could be brought back into use by others. 

Councillor Dark referred to the exceptions in the policy such as hardship or probate and asked if it was proposed to maintain those exceptions.  Councillor Moriarty confirmed and drew attention to the exceptions.

Councillor Bone expressed the hope that the policy would encourage more people to sell those properties to provide homes for those who need them.

Councillor Long supported the increase commenting that some kept properties empty deliberately, which then often made the properties a magnet for anti social behaviour and crime. He made reference to issues faced by executors dealing with empty homes.

Councillor Kemp supported the recommendation hoping it would focus owners minds.

Councillor Morley drew attention to the measures in place to check if homes were empty, and the enforcement of the new law.

Councillor Joyce commented on the that generally where children went to school was their home.  He commented on the valuation office writing properties off for Council Tax.

Councillor Rust responded on the stringent checks on  properties before they could be deemed derelict.  She referred to the information contained on the Valuation Office website and undertook to send it to members.

On being put to the vote recommendation 1 and the relevant part of recommendation 3 were agreed.

Councillors Blunt, Lintern and Devulapalli declared pecuniary interests in the remainder of the item and left the meeting during its consideration.

Councillor Parish proposed recommendations 2 3 (remainder of), 4 and 5 of CAB89 Council Tax premiums for Long Term Empty Properties and Second Homes.  This was seconded by Councillor Moriarty.

In proposing the recommendations Councillor Parish drew attention to the potential funding from the decision, and explained that discussions were ongoing with the County Council regarding apportionment of it.  He acknowledged owners would either pay the Council tax, live in them, turn the properties into businesses, or sell them.

Councillor Bone in supporting the recommendations acknowledged it would bring in additional revenue, as too many second homes in a village often caused it to be uninhabited out of season.  He drew attention to the number of neighbourhood plans which  were being agreed with conditions on second homes, and the number of areas which local people could no longer  ...  view the full minutes text for item C:77ii