Agenda and draft minutes

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the previous meetings held on Monday 28 September 2015 and 7 January 2016.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 28 September 2015 were agreed as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 6 January 2016 were agreed as a correct record subject to the following amendment on page 27 – Allotments:

Delegated authority be granted to the Executive Director in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer to increase rents and to remove a charge to Special Expenses.  A report be presented to the next meeting outlining how discounts would be applied for schools, charities or community groups.

The Chairman also informed the Committee that in relation to page 25 – Grounds Maintenance, the County Council had now agreed to 5 cuts per year and not 4.

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.

These declarations apply to all Members present, whether the Member is part of the meeting, attending to speak as a local Member on an item or simply observing the meeting from the public seating area.

There was none.

To consider any business which, by reason of special circumstances, the Chairman proposes to accept as urgent under Section 100(b)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act, 1972.

There was none.

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chairman of their intention to do so and on what items they wish to be heard before the meeting commences.  Any Member attending the meeting under Standing Order 34 will only be permitted to speak on those items which have been previously notified to the Chairman.

Councillor Mrs E A Nockolds for item 9 – Allotments.

There was none.

To receive a presentation from Mark Whitmore, Principal Officer, Environmental Health on Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, Powers and Enforcement.

The Chairman introduced Mark Whitmore, Principal Officer, Environmental Health to give a presentation to the Committee on Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, Powers & Enforcement.

A copy of the presentation is attached at Appendix 1.

Councillor Tyler explained that he was currently visiting someone in his Ward who was having issues with people drinking alcohol and leaving rubbish on a piece of land near to his house.  He asked the Principal Officer what the best course of action would be.

In response, the Principal Officer explained that there were several resolutions available.  If they were known individuals then it could be dealt with on an individual basis.  If it was drinking and behavioural issues, then a community protection notice could be issued or the Police could use their powers in relation to the individuals being drunk and disorderly.  It was explained that officers could pick and choose the power to suit the case.

The Principal Officer also explained that the issues could be reported to any of the agencies as it would be picked up through the Operational Partnership Team meetings.

The issue of dog fouling was raised, and the Principal Officer explained that the difficulty was actually catching people at the time who let their dogs foul.  He added that officers tried to be as intelligence led as possible.  He added that an approach had been started over the winter months and a process trialled in Gayton was now coming to an end.

Councillor Miss Bambridge suggested that the presentation would be useful for all Councillors.  She also suggested that information could be made available in the Members’ Bulletin.

Councillor Miss Bambridge outlined a scheme that she had been involved with at Whitefriars School, in relation to dog fouling, which was an organised project, where stickers were made and stuck to windows, lampposts, etc reminding people to pick up after their dog.  However, she did not think that this had helped with the problem.

The Principal Officer advised that if there were any particular areas of dog fouling that needed attention to let him or his team know.

In response to a question, the Principal Officer explained that he and his team worked closely with the Clean-Up Team.

In response to a query from Councillor J Collop regarding whether private sector landlords would be involved if their tenants caused anti-social behaviour, the Principal Officer explained that officers would seek to engage with landlords and a landlord could serve notice to tenants, and the landlord did have the power to end a tenancy.

In relation to houses of multiple occupation, the Principal Officer explained that landlords would be expected to set rules on how to use the property.  He added that officers would work with the landlord as well as the tenant.

The Chairman thanked Mark for a useful presentation.

At the meeting held on 3 March 2016, the KLACC Planning Sub-Group deferred determination of the application listed below to the King’s Lynn Consultative Committee.

16/00097/FM

Construction of 54 dwellings, associated access roads, footways and new areas of public open space and associated external works at land north of Lynnsport, King’s Lynn, Norfolk

The Chairman reported that the KLACC Sub-Group at its meeting held on 3 March 2016, deferred determination of the application below to the Committee:

Construction of 54 dwellings, associated access road, footways and new areas of public open space and associated external works at land north of Lynnsport, King’s Lynn, Norfolk

The Chairman invited the Assistant Director to outline the application to the Committee.

The Chairman stated that he thought that it was a good idea to bring the application to the Committee to consider.  He asked whether there were any particular issues which the public were raising.  In response, the Assistant Director advised that all correspondence was on-line and could be viewed via public access.  He added that correspondence was now being received from the statutory consultees.  He advised that one issue which had been raised related to flood risk and County Highways had requested a number of changes to the layout.

Councillor Joyce stated that there were old Borough Council minutes which indicated that a Compulsory Purchase Order was authorised by the Secretary of State that the land in question was brought as allotment land.  He asked what difference that would make to the determination of the application.

The Assistant Director explained that the granting of planning permission did not override other legislation that might be in place. 

Councillor J Collop asked for clarification as how the views of this Committee would be reported.  The Assistant Director explained that the views of this Committee would be reported to the Planning Committee and would be published on the website.

In relation to one Member of the Committee also being a member of the Planning Committee, the Assistant Director read out the relevant advice in that the Committee Member had to keep an open mind when considering the application.

The Committee then discussed the application in detail.

The Committee raised the following issues:

·        Concern was raised in relation to the design of the coach house building, with the flat being above the garages and potentially in different ownership, as this could cause future problems and was a poor design solution.

·        Concern was also expressed in relation to the loss of green space and the Committee requested that alternative accessible green space of the same amount should be provided before the commencement of the development.

·        The Committee also raised concern in relation to the flood risk and proposed that this issue mist be given full and proper consideration.

To receive a report from the Operations Manager on Allotment concessions.

The Assistant Director presented a report from the Operations Manager relating to Allotment Concessions, which had been requested by the Committee at the previous meeting, where the proposal to increase the allotment rents had been agreed.

The report proposed a 25% reduction in rate for community groups, charities and schools. 

The report also explained that there were currently 4 groups that would be offered the concession rate, who between them tended 13 plots in total.

Councillor Rochford stated that he did not consider that the 25% discount had not gone far enough.  He considered that it would be more appropriate to have a 25% charge rather than discount.

Councillor Mrs Collop stated that there were currently 4 groups who would be offered the discounted rate and asked if it was known who these groups were.

It was advised that the groups were MIND, the Discovery Centre, and a primary school.

Councillor Middleton agreed with the suggestion of a 25% charge but with a cap of 5 or 10% of the allotment amount.

In accordance with Standing Order 34, Councillor Mrs Nockolds explained that if the charity groups only paid 25% of the charge then it would take longer for the allotments to become self-financing.

Councillor Joyce stated that it was the administration costs that were causing problems. 

Councillor Collop suggested that the discount could be limited to a certain amount of acreage.

The Portfolio Holder explained that allotment fees were not just for administration but included maintenance costs.  She added the only way to abolish administration fees was to make them all allotment associations, which had been tried in the past but not been successful.

Councillor Mrs Collop proposed that the recommendation within the report should be accepted.  This was seconded by Councillor Mrs Buck and put to the vote.

Councillors Rochford and Smith disagreed with the resolution as they would have liked to see more discount offered.

AGREED:       (1)        That the proposal, as set out in the report, offering a 25% reduction to community groups, charities and schools be agreed.

(2)        That this be reviewed in 12 months’ time with a report back to the Committee.

To receive feedback from the Assistant Director on the CIF road following comments made by the Committee at the previous meeting.

The Assistant Director explained that Hardings Way was at present a bus only route.  At the last meeting Quentin Brogdale agreed to look into the issues of the road.  The Assistant Director advised that surveys had taken place at the end of last year, the results of which could be circulated to the Committee if required.  He explained that it had been suggested that the road could potentially be used by taxis in addition to buses. He explained that any change would require a Traffic Regulation Order, however, there were no planning issues to consider but the whole process was at a very early stage.

Councillor Miss Bambridge stated that she considered that the road was underused.

Councillor Joyce stated that he had seen the road used by buses, cyclists and people walking their children to school. He asked what made a taxi driver different than a motorist.  He explained that Norfolk County Council put the road forward for sole use for public transport.  He considered that there were other ways to ease the congestion along London Road, for example a park and ride scheme.

The Assistant Director explained that it was a balance to make, whether the road was opened up to all traffic or just for some.  He explained that Norfolk County Council would consider any proposal from a safety point of view.  He highlighted that any changes to the road were at a very early investigatory stage at the moment, and there would be significant consultation before anything came forward.

Councillor Mrs Buck stated that she was concerned that if the road was to be opened up then this could cause more traffic to use Wisbech Road.

Councillor Joyce also expressed concern that if the road was to be opened up then it would bring more traffic past Whitefriars School and he would not be in support of this.

AGREED:       That the update be noted.

The Assistant Director explained that the Committee had a discussion at the last meeting regarding Special Expenses and as a result it was suggested that the Committee may want to consider priorities for King’s Lynn.  It was explained that the Committee would have the opportunity to consider Special Expenses at the September meeting, therefore it would seem sensible for the Committee to consider what projects they would like to see go forward as particular priorities.

AGREED:       That, the Committee considers the issue again at their next meeting.

The Committee is asked to consider items for a future Work Programme for 2016/2017.

The Committee noted the Work Programme for 2016/17.

Councillor J Collop suggested that the item relating to Bus Transport should be brought forward on the work programme.  It was also suggested that the invitation should be extended to other bus operators.

Councillor J Collop also requested that an item be included on the work programme to invite the Leader of the Council to a future meeting to discuss the future of the Committee.

AGREED:       (1)        That the item relating to Bus Transport be brought forward to the next meeting of the Committee and other bus operators also be invited to attend.

(2)        That the Leader be invited to the September meeting to discuss the future of the Committee.

Please note that the meeting scheduled for 14 June 106 has been moved to Tuesday 12 July 2016 at 6.00 pm.

The next meeting of the Committee would be held on Tuesday 12 July 2016 at 6pm in the Committee Suite, King’s Court.