Agenda

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 2^nd October 2025.

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.

To receive Mayor’s communications and announcements.

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

To receive petitions and public questions in accordance with Procedure Rule 20.

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

To consider the following recommendations to Council:

4. Burnham Market Community Governance Review – Next Steps

5. Hilgay Community Governance Review – Next Steps

CAB89: Review of Licensing Act 2003 Statement of Licensing Policy

CAB90: Council Tax Support: Final Scheme for Working Age People for 2026/2027

CAB91: Adoption of Norfolk Local Nature Recovery Strategy

CAB94: Quarter 2 – 2025/2026 – Budget Monitoring

To consider the following Notices of Motion:

(03/25), submitted by Councillor Kirk:

The Reform Group wishes to put forward the following motion to full council

This Council notes that:

- It declared a climate emergency in 2021 and set a corporate net zero target for 2035. 

- Policies include the Climate Change Strategy & Action Plan, decarbonisation of 11 council buildings, Norfolk Net Zero Communities pilot, Eco Flexible Eligibility Scheme, and £3.8m spent on solar, heat pumps, and EV points. 

- These unfunded mandates raise council tax and divert funds from local services — hitting the poorest residents hardest.

This Council believes that:

- Its first duty is to protect the poorest and most vulnerable residents, not to chase costly net zero targets.

This Council resolves to:

- Scrap all net zero policies and targets immediately, including the 2035 target, Climate Change Strategy, building decarbonisation programme, and Eco Scheme. 

- Publish a full audit of net zero spend within 3 months and consult residents on priorities for the savings.

(04/25), submitted by Councillor SAYERS:

This Council notes that:

1. "Fleecehold" refers to properties sold as freehold where homeowners remain liable for annual estate management charges to private companies for roads and communal areas councils would traditionally maintain through council tax.
2. One million homeowners across 20,000 estates face escalating charges with no meaningful ability to challenge unreasonable fees or poor service.
3. Eighty percent of new freehold properties by the 11 largest housebuilders now include estate management charges, making fleecehold standard industry practice.
4. Research shows the average new-build home comes with 157 defects, up 96% since 2005, yet residents pay twice - through council tax and private estate charges.
5. The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 received Royal Assent in May 2024, but most provisions await secondary legislation. The High Court dismissed a judicial review challenge on 24 October 2025, removing obstacles to implementation.
6. The property management sector remains unregulated, leaving residents with no recourse against excessive charges.

This Council resolves to:

1. Request the Leader writes to the Secretary of State urging immediate implementation of secondary legislation and regulation of property management.
2. Establish support for affected residents through information and signposting to campaign groups.
3. Engage with developers to discourage fleecehold arrangements and require transparent costings.
4. Use planning powers to require adoption agreements for roads and communal areas, and discourage fleecehold through planning policy and Section 106 agreements.

In accordance with Council procedure rule 8, to receive reports from Cabinet Members to be moved en bloc.  Members of the Council may ask up to four 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, then non aligned members, followed by 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 60 minutes for all Cabinet Members and the Leader

Climate Change and Biodiversity – Councillor M de Whalley

Culture and Events – Councillor S Lintern

Planning and Licensing – Councillor J Moriarty

Environment and Coastal - Councillor S Squire

Finance – Councillor C Morley

People and Communities – Councillor J Rust

Deputy Leader and Business – Cllr S Ring

Leader - Councillor A Beales

In accordance with Procedure rule 9, Members of the Council may ask any questions of the Chair of any Council Body (except the Cabinet).