Agenda and draft minutes

Prayers were led by Rev Canon Ling

Councillor Parish proposed and Councillor Moriarty seconded that Councillor Bullen be appointed Vice Chair for the meeting.  This was agreed.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 31 January 2024 (previously circulated).

RESOLVED:  The Minutes of the meeting held on 31 January 2024 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Deputy 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.

Councillors A Ware and J Ratcliffe declared non pecuniary interests as Directors of West Norfolk Housing Company and West Norfolk Property.

Councillor B Jones declared a non pecuniary interest as a Director od Alive West Norfolk.

To receive Mayor’s communications and announcements.

None

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

Councillor Kemp proposed that an item on funding the appeal on the  Medworth Incinerator be considered.  The Deputy Mayor confirmed that he had spoken to the Monitoring officer who had confirmed that the matter would be dealt with under officer delegated powers.

Cabinet Recommendation from 15 January 2024

CAB88:             Polling District Review – NB the amendment raised prior to the previous meeting has been withdrawn

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Cabinet Recommendation from 15 January 2024

Councillor Parish proposed and Councillor Moriarty seconded recommendation CAB88:            Polling District Review.  It was noted that the amendment raised prior to the previous meeting had been withdrawn.

RESOLVED:   That CAB88: Polling District Review be approved.

THE FINANCIAL PLAN 2024/2028 AND COUNCIL TAX RESOLUTION 2024/25  (Document attached)

Pursuant to Minute CAB116: Financial Plan2023/2028of the Cabinet Meeting held on 7 February 2024, the “Financial Plan 2023/2028 and Council Tax Resolution 2024/2025” the document attached as a supplementary to the agenda for consideration and decision includes an updated summary of the Financial Plan 2023/2028, the County Council, the Police and Crime Commissioner - Council Tax for 2024/2025 and details of Parish Precepts and Internal Drainage Boards levies for 2024/2025. 

NOTE:In accordance with Statutory Instrument 2014 No. 165, Local Government, England, The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, any decision taken on the Council’s Budget or Council Tax setting must be taken with a recorded vote.

Other Cabinet recommendations from 7 February 2024 with reports also attached as they were updated following the meeting:

CAB117: Capital Strategy 2024/25

CAB118:  Treasury Management Strategy 2024/25 – to include CAB96: Council Companies Funding

CAB119 Capital Programme 2024/2028 – to include CAB106: Lynnsport 1

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FINANCIAL PLAN 2024/2028 AND COUNCIL TAX RESOLUTION 2024/25 

Pursuant to Minute CAB116: Financial Plan2023/2028of the Cabinet Meeting held on 7 February 2024, the “Financial Plan 2023/2028 and Council Tax Resolution 2024/2025” the document attached as a supplementary to the agenda for consideration and decision included an updated summary of the Financial Plan 2023/2028, the County Council, the Police and Crime Commissioner - Council Tax for 2024/2025 and details of Parish Precepts and Internal Drainage Boards levies for 2024/2025. 

NOTE:          In accordance with Statutory Instrument 2014 No. 165, Local Government, England, The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, any decision taken on the Council’s Budget or Council Tax setting must be taken with a recorded vote.

Councillor Morley proposed the Financial Plan 2024/2028 and Council Tax resolution 2024/2025.  He thanked the S151 Officer and her team for their hard work on the budget. In proposing it he commented that the budget would assist in delivering the priorities in accordance with the new Corporate Plan.  He informed Council it was a fully funded budget for the years 2024/25 and 2025/26 without cuts to services, and if Business Rates continued to be delivered at the current rate then it could be fully funded un 2026/2027.  It was hoped that Government changes to IDB funding would be made in the future which would assist in building back some reserves.  Councillor Morley also highlighted that the Cost Management Income Generation Plan could present a further saving of £2m in 2026/2027.

He referred to the increase in fees and charges which were not increased the previous year, and presented 1 amendment in the parking charges for weekly holiday parking which was omitted from the published schedule, but was taken into account in the estimates.

He reminded Members that work was under way to convert the King’s Lynn Area Consultative Committee to a formal area committee which would permit them to have a budget to spend.

Councillor Morley proposed the increase to Council tax of £4.50, plus 50p on special expenses.

The proposed Budget was seconded by Councillor Parish.

The Deputy Mayor asked if there were any proposed amendments to the budget set out.  Councillor Joyce confirmed he had 8 amendments to put.

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1)     £50,000 from the General Reserve Fund as a donation to local foodbanks. 

This was seconded by Councillor Everett.  Councillor Morley and Parish accepted the amendment, which then became part of the substantive motion.

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2)     £50,000 from the General Reserve Fund as a donation to voluntary sector organisations that has their main aim to combat domestic abuse and violence

This was seconded by Councillor Spikings.  Councillor Morley, whilst supporting the request, but without knowing any detail of where the money would be going, could not agree the amendment.  Councillor Parish concurred that  ...  view the full minutes text for item C:85i

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Councillor Morley proposed the following recommendations en bloc (copies of the amended reports containing the recommendations as discussed to ring forward to Council at the cabinet meeting were enclosed with the agenda for clarification and approval).  These were seconded by Councillor Parish.

CAB117: Capital Strategy 2024/25

CAB118:  Treasury Management Strategy 2024/25 – to include CAB96: Council Companies Funding

CAB119 Capital Programme 2024/2028 – to include CAB106: Lynnsport 1

Councillor Beales drew attention to CAB117, where the Corporate Performance Panel had recommended the involvement of the Shareholder Committee in discussions on the Council Companies financing.  He gave reassurances that would be the case.

Councillor Long supported the recommendations on supporting the Council Companies financing,

Councillor Kemp stated she did not support the capital programme.

Councillor Bone indicated support for the Capital strategy.

Councillor Parish supported the recommendations.

On being put to the vote the recommendations were agreed as follows:

CAB117: Capital Strategy 2024/25

RESOLVED: 1)       That the Capital Strategy 2024/2025 as attached to the report be approved.

2) That delegated authority be given to the Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Business to amend the Capital Strategy for 2023- 2024 to reflect the approved Drawdown facility to the Companies (from report to Cabinet on 15 January 2024 Council Company Funding.

CAB118:  Treasury Management Strategy 2024/25 – to include CAB96: Council Companies Funding

RESOLVED: That the following items be approved:    

·       Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2024/2025, including treasury indicators for 2024-2028.

·       The Minimum Revenue Provision Policy 2024/2025

·       The Investment Strategy 2024/2025

2)              That the Treasury Management Strategy be amended in reference to the recommendation to give delegated authority to the Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Business to amend the Capital Strategy for 2023- 2024 to reflect the approved Drawdown facility to the Companies (from report to Cabinet on 15 January 2024 Council Company Funding.

CAB119 Capital Programme 2024/2028 – to include CAB106: Lynnsport 1

RESOLVED:           1)       That the amendments to capital schemes and resources for the 2023-2028 capital programme as detailed in the report be approved.

2)       That the new capital bids as set out in section 5 table 6, to be funded from available capital resources and included in the capital programme 2023-2028 as detailed in the report be approved.

3)       That the Capital budget estimate as detailed in section 5 and appendix 2 of the report Lynnsport 1 Development Update presented to Cabinet on 6 February 2024 be approved.