Agenda and minutes

To appoint a Chairman for the Municipal Year 2017/18.

RESOLVED:   That Councillor A Tyler be appointed Chairman for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

To appoint a Vice-Chairman for the Municipal Year 2017/18.

RESOLVED:   That Councillor Mrs S Collop be appointed as Vice-Chairman for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Middleton.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 27 March 2017.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 27 March 2017 were agreed as a correct record.

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.

Councillor McGuinness declared that he was employed by the NHS in relation to item 9.

Councillors Miss Bambridge and Mrs Wilkinson declared that they were patients at St James Surgery.

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 no urgent business.

There was no Chairman’s correspondence.

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.

There were no members present pursuant to Standing Order 34.

Matthew Henry, Property Services Manager will give an update to the Committee.

Matthew Henry, Property Services Manager provided the Committee with a briefing on a surgery proposal in King’s Lynn.

The Property Services Manager explained that the proposal still had to go through the NHS decision making process and also through the planning process.

The Chairman thanked the Property Services Manager for the briefing, and invited the Committee to ask questions/make comments.

In response to a question from the Chairman in relation to the location of the proposed new surgery, the Property Services Manager explained that the Council had worked with NHS to provide a site, but the location would be decided by the Health Service.  

The Property Services Manager also explained that the NHS was hoping that the proposal would enhance the health care provision for King’s Lynn and were looking at providing an endoscopy unit and would also carry out minor surgery.

In terms of whether any consultation regarding the proposal had been carried out, the Property Services Manager explained that he had held meetings with the Practice Manager who advised that consultation had been carried out.

Councillor McGuinness explained that consultation was likely to take place at the next stage as part of the NHS business case.

Councillor Bambridge advised that a lot of residents, which she represented, walked to St James Medical Practice.  They had been advised by the existing practice that a bus service would be provided to the new surgery.  She added that she had not had any communication from the practice in relation to the proposed move.  She further explained that a lot of residents in her ward did not have access to a car.  She wanted to express the concerns of residents in her ward.

Councillor Joyce stated that he was not opposed to the principle of the Council proposing a site, however he shared concerns regarding the proposed location of the surgery.  He also suggested that consideration should be given to a new surgery at South Lynn on the NORA site.  He did not want to see the existing provision for people lost who were able to walk to the surgery.

Councillor Howman suggested that Members could lobby the CCG on behalf of residents.

In response to a question from Councillor McGuinness, the Property Services Manager advised that the Council owned the land and was acting as a developer on behalf of the NHS.  The Borough Council had some time ago shown the NHS available sites in King’s Lynn, however this site was the NHS preferred option.

Councillor Collop stated that he had been to both surgeries and both were not the easiest to get to.  He added that where the position was of the proposed new surgery needed consideration however this facility was needed in the area.

Councillor Joyce suggested that the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Committee could write to the CCG and NHS England expressing concern regarding the relocation of the surgery and that the Council did have other sites that could be considered in the town centre which would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Matthew Henry, Property Services Manager will give an update to the Committee.

Matthew Henry, Property Services Manager gave a presentation to the Committee on Bus Shelters in King’s Lynn.

It was reported that bus shelters had been previously operated by a private company but at the end of the contract the decision had been taken that the Borough Council would retain and operate them.  The Property Services Manager explained that there would be a cost onto the Special Expenses however there was also the opportunity for revenue income by advertisements.

Councillor Mrs Wilkinson informed the Committee that some shelters were in locations where the bus did not stop and referred to one at Winston Churchill Drive.  The Property Services Manager undertook to look at that.

In response to a comment from Councillor Joyce, it was confirmed that Parish Councils looked after bus shelters in their parish, in terms of damage, etc.

Councillor Collop referred to the fact that no advertising was taking place on the shelters at the moment.  He suggested that a business plan should be put together to look at the location of the shelters and whether all shelters were required.  He added that he would like the Committee to have further information on the expected revenue.  He suggested that this should be added to the Committee’s Work Programme.

AGREED:  That bus shelters be added to the Committee’s Work Programme for further consideration.

N Gromett, Chief Operating Officer, Alive Management will give an update to the Committee.

Neil Gromett, Chief Operating Officer explained that the Council had asked for a no obligations look at the Council’s buildings and estate, which included street lights, to assess the scope for a reduction in running costs, energy consumption and carbon emissions.  This was something that was being carried out at Fenland District Council.

The Chief Operating Officer explained that the whole of the Council’s estate had been looked at comprising 18 Council buildings and 851 street lights under the Borough Council’s control at the moment.  The Chief Operating Officer explained the savings that could be made in relation to the buildings, and Fenland District Council had done this for all of their leisure facilities.  In relation to street lights, he explained that to replace the street lights would be £212,000 and would generate a saving of £17,000 per year.  There could also be a saving of £192,000 in maintenance costs.

The next stage was for the Local Partnership to attend the Council’s Management Team meeting to present the case within the next month.

Councillor Joyce informed the Committee that King’s Lynn had 380 street lights.  He referred to a scheme which had been carried out in Marshland St James where the street lights had been changed to LED lights. 

Councillor Joyce also referred to the fact that Norfolk County Council turned off some of their lights at night, which made a saving of £5,236 in energy costs, but he would not want this to happen with the Borough Council’s lights.

He supported the idea put forward and considered that the savings quoted were realistic. 

Councillor Joyce also stated that the street lighting should be up to BS5489, which could be found in the Vancouver Centre and Railway Station. 

AGREED:       That, the Committee supported the ReFit Programme.

To receive the findings from the Informal Working Group set up to look at Community Centres and Pavilions.

The Chairman invited Councillors Joyce and Mrs Wilkinson to present the findings from the Informal Working Group in relation to Community Centres and Pavilions.

Councillor Joyce explained that the Group had met on two occasions.  The outcomes from the meeting were:

·        The Valuation Office had been asked to look at the business rates for both the Dutton Pavilion and Kingsway.

·        Employee costs looked high for South Lynn Community Centre and Fairstead Community Centre.

·        Hiring the community centre with a caretaker present did increase the cost.

·        The Working Group looked at ways to increase bookings at the Community Centres.

·        The issue of attracting staff to work at the Community Centres and Alive Leisure in general had been discussed, particularly as those staff would be on zero hours contracts.

In response to some of the points raised by Councillor Joyce, the Chief Operating Officer explained that the pricing structure was looked at to ensure that it was competitive.  However, negotiation did take place with organisations.  Two charities were currently using South Lynn Community Centre, which therefore required a good service and facilities.  He did insist that staffing were on site when an event was taking place.   The Chief Operating Officer advised that he would be looking at the staffing allocations for the Community Centres.

The Assistant Director explained that there were 4 action points to progress and a further meeting of the Working Group.   The results would then feed into the Special Expenses meeting.

The Chief Operating Officer explained that in the past events had been put on at the community centres with very little take-up.  He added that what was needed was a resource to go into the community to get people to use the facilities.

Councillor Mrs Wilkinson thanked Councillor Joyce and added that it had been a worthwhile exercise.

The Chairman thanked those involved with the Working Group.

AGREED:       (1)        That the update be noted.

(2)        That a further meeting of the Working Group be arranged.  The results from the Working Group would be fed into the Special Expenses meeting.

To receive an update from the Assistant Director on the Parish Partnership Scheme for 2018/19.

The Assistant Director reminded the Committee of the Parish Partnership Scheme.  It allowed for Parish Councils to put forward small scale highway improvement works for match funding with Norfolk County Council.  The maximum Norfolk County Council contribution was £25,000.

The Assistant Director explained that the scheme was widened out last year to include the unparished parts of the County.  The scheme allowed for Ward Members to put forward a scheme, supported by a business case to the Committee.  The Committee would then determine any schemes put forward.

The Assistant Director then outlined the timetable to the Committee as follows:

·        Members to consider and work up any schemes July/August 2017;

·        To consider any schemes put forward at KLACC at the meeting on 12 September or potentially at the Special Expenses meeting;

·        Final deadline for schemes to be submitted to Norfolk County Council is 11 December 2017.

The Committee then discussed possible options.  The Assistant Director advised the Committee to contact Paul Donnachie at Norfolk County Council to discuss whether the schemes would be viable.

AGREED:       (1)        That the update be noted.

(2)        That the presentation and contact details for Paul Donnachie be sent to the Committee.

To appoint Members to the Planning Sub-Group.

The Chairman asked for nominations for the Committee’s Planning Sub-Group.

AGREED:       (1)        That Councillors Miss L Bambridge, Mrs S Collop and C Joyce be appointed to the Sub-Group.

(2)        That the Democratic Services Officer to check with Councillors Rochford and Smith to see if they wished to continue to serve on the Planning Sub-Group.

To consider the Cabinet’s Forward Decision List and to identify any items the Committee wished to add to its work programme.

The Committee noted the Cabinet’s Forward Decision List.

The Committee is asked to consider items for a future Work Programme for 2017/18.

The Committee noted the Work Programme with the inclusion of bus shelters at a future meeting.

The next meeting of the Committee was scheduled for Tuesday 12 September 2017 at 6pm in the Education Room, Town Hall, King’s Lynn.

An additional meeting of the Committee would be held on Thursday 24 August 2017 at 6pm in the Committee Suite, King’s Court, Chapel Street, King’s Lynn.

The next scheduled meeting of the Committee would be held on Tuesday 12 September 2017 at 6pm in the Education Room, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.