Agenda and draft minutes

Prayers were led by Rev Cannon Ling.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Anota, Beal, Beales, Coates, Colwell, Dickinson, Osborne, Ratcliffe, Sandell, Storey, Tyler and de Winton.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 31^st July 2025 and the Extraordinary meeting held on 18^th September 2025.

RESOLVED: The minutes from the meetings held on 31^st July and 18^th September 2025 were agreed 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.

There were no declarations of Interest.

To receive Mayor’s communications and announcements.

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The Mayor provided detail of a fishing fleet tragedy that had happened 150 years ago and the events that were being held to commemorate the tragedy taking place locally and in Fife.

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

There was no Urgent Business.

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

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The Mayor invited David Bailey to ask his question as set out below:

“While the Lynnsport Bowls Club embraces and welcomes the proposed upgrade to Lynnsport incorporating new swimming facilities. To achieve the current proposals the Bowls Club will need to sacrifice and reduce their capacity by 60%. The loss of such a high capacity will have a devastating effect not just on the Lynnsport Club, its members (especially the vulnerable) but the local bowls community in general. There are discrepancies in the information and figures being circulated. Can I ask that these discrepancies are looked at then following this to allow a review to see if there is still a need for such a desperate reduction in the bowls capacity?”

Councillor Ring responded to the question appreciating the support of the upgrade of facilities and stating that the consultation period had only just concluded and all responses would be assessed and views carefully considered.  Councillor Ring informed Council that proposals for Lynnsport would be presented to the relevant Panel, Cabinet and Council in January 2026 for consideration.  Councillor Ring commented that he would be willing to meet with key stakeholders to discuss their concerns.

By way of a supplementary, Mr David Bailey stated that the current proposals would negatively impact the NHS and put pressure on Doctors due to vulnerable people having their regular activities withdrawn.  He also outlined that there were discrepancies in the Sports Facilities Strategy and asked if the document was fit for purpose.

Councillor Ring responded by stating that he had confidence in the supporting information and data from consultants which would be used in taking the Lynnsport proposals forward.  He did not agree with comments relating to negative impacts on the NHS as the proposals to be brought forward would benefit the overall health and wellbeing of residents by increasing provision across the board.  Councillor Ring reminded Council that this was still a work in progress and comments and feedback from the consultation exercise would be taken into consideration as appropriate.

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

To consider the following recommendations to Council:

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CAB75: Playing Pitch and Sports Facilities Strategy Adoption

CAB76: Budget Monitoring Quarter 1 – 2025/2026

CAB79: Changes to the Constitution

Councillor Ring proposed deferral of CAB75: Playing Pitch and Sports Facilities Strategy Adoption, acknowledging that further consultation needed to be carried out.

Deferral of the item was seconded by Councillor Rust and agreed by Council.

RESOLVED: CAB75 – Playing Pitch and Sports Facilities Strategy Adoption be deferred.

Councillor Ring proposed the remaining recommendations from the Cabinet Meeting held on 23^rd September, seconded by Councillor Rust.

RESOLVED: The recommendations from the Cabinet Meeting held on 23^rd September in relation to the below items were approved by Council:

            CAB76: Budget Monitoring Quarter 1 – 2025/2026

CAB79: Changes to the Constitution

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Councillor Ring proposed the recommendations, seconded by Councillor Lintern.

RESOLVED: 1. To amend the Terms of Reference for the Community Governance Review relating to Hilgay Parish.

2. To amend the Terms of Reference for the Community Governance Review relating to Burnham Market Parish Council.

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Councillor Ring, seconded by Councillor Long, proposed Councillor Beales be appointed as Chair to this Committee.

Councillor Bone, seconded by Councillor Rust, proposed Councillor Everett be appointed as Vice Chair to this Committee.

There were no other nominations to consider.

RESOLVED: That Councillor Beales be appointed Chair and Councillor Everett be appointed as Vice Chair of the Electoral Arrangements Committee for the 25-26 Municipal Year.

There are no Notices of Motion to consider.

There were no Notices of Motion.

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

Open Space and Parking – Councillor P Bland

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

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Councillor Ring moved the Cabinet Members reports.

Councillor Long referred to the Sports Facilities and Playing Pitch Strategy and asked Councillor Ring if he agreed that the work of consultants should be cross checked for inaccuracies and highlighted concerns that had been raised with him by residents.  By way of response Councillor Ring stated that the report had been commissioned in 2021 and things had moved on since then, so the information included should have been updated, but this had not been the case.  He explained that further consultation and liaison with the relevant bodies would now take place to ensure that the information included in the strategy was up to date.

Councillor Heneghan referred to the Notice of Motion that she had previously submitted to Council relating to Gambling Reforms and asked the Portfolio Holder for an update.  Councillor Moriarty provided an update and read out an update from the lead lobbying authority which set out Government plans to change the law and provide new powers to Councils relating to gambling premises and vape shops, including the potential to introduce cumulative impact policies.  Councillor Moriarty thanked Councillor Heneghan for bringing the Notice of Motion forward.

Councillor Kemp referred to the Sports Facilities and Playing Pitches Strategy and asked that consideration be given to keeping a pool in the current location at St James so that it was more accessible.  Councillor Ring explained that St James was an aging facility and costly to maintain and alternative locations needed to be considered so that there was a facility available at all times.  Redeveloping the current site would mean that there would be no pool provision for a number of years.  Councillor Ring highlighted that the swimming club supported the proposals with the additional facilities that would be available at Lynnsport and that it was a requirement to have sufficient and regular access for children.

Councillor Nash asked about the EV vehicle fleet review and information on the makes, models, term of ownership and projected mileage of the vehicles along with details of the companies to be used.  Councillor de Whalley explained that this piece of work was ongoing and demonstration work would provide the information Councillor Nash had asked for and would be available in due course.  Councillor de Whalley agreed to provide Councillor Nash with details of the companies that were being used to take this piece of work forward.

Councillor Parish asked for an update on Heacham Beach Huts, informing Council that there had been a petition and there was no local appetite for selling these.  Councillor Ring stated that an asset management review was being undertaken to ensure best value for the tax payer.  Given the views of owners and that the beach status was improving, it had been decided to offer a one year licence to the beach hut owners whilst the right long term approach was considered.

Councillor Long called for a point of  ...  view the full minutes text for item C:68

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

There were no questions.