Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs Buck, G Howman and B Long.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 29 October 2018 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.

There were no declarations of interest.

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 to consider.

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.

There was no Chairman’s correspondence to report.

To receive a presentation from Vicky Etheridge, Manager, Discover King's Lynn and Darren Taylor from the BID.

The Chairman welcomed Darren Taylor, Chairman of the BID and Vicky Etheridge, Manager, Discover King’s Lynn to the meeting.

Darren Taylor explained that he was Chairman of the BID and Managing Director of KLFM and had been working on the BID for a number of years.  A vote had been taken in 2014 and was narrowly defeated but a second vote was successful in 2016.  The project would last for 5 years.

It was explained that all businesses paid a levy which was spent by the Board of Directors with the overall aim of improvements to the town centre. 

Vicky Etheridge went through the presentation to the Committee, which included:

·        Future High Streets 2030

·        The area covered by the BID

·        Picking up issues that mattered most to businesses

·        The type of specialist events that the BID were promoting, ie. cocktail week, beauty week, business week.

·        Xmas trees in Tower Street

·        Street rangers to be in post end of March/April

The Chairman then invited questions/comments from the Committee which are summarised below.

In response to a question, Darren Taylor explained that the BID had a good working relationship with the Council who had been very supportive of the work carried out by the BID.  He also explained that there was a formal procedure for grants to businesses.  He added that the BID interacted with other agencies as much as they could.

Reference was made to the defibrillators and it was explained that once they went live there would be a press release.  The BID had also provided training courses on how to use them.

In response to a question regarding the future of the town centre, Darren Taylor stated that he did not consider the shopping experience to be dead.  He added that the role of independent shops was important and that there was still enough of a community spirit in King’s Lynn.  He considered that somewhere to eat / drink / shop and spend time was the future.  Also turning empty buildings in the town centre into residential was important to add to the vitality of the town.  The heritage offer also played an important part of the visitor experience.

Councillor Mrs Wilkinson stated that there was a lot interesting things going on within the town, but expressed concern that the BID might be taking on some roles which were the responsibility of the Council.  In response, Darren Taylor explained that it was very clear within the BID’s Business Plan that it did not exist to take on roles/responsibilities of the Borough Council / Police / Norfolk County Council.  The BID would try to work alongside organisations to add a different perspective to things.

With regards to the street rangers, it was explained that they would have an informal role and he explained the types of duties that they would carry out.

Darren Taylor also explained that parking was always an issue and the BID had subsidised free parking after 3 pm on the run up to Christmas, however  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To receive an update report from the Assistant Director on the provision of defibrillators in the town centre.

The Assistant Director reminded the Committee that at the meeting on 19 June and 20 September 2018 there was a discussion on the issue of defibrillators and it was requested that an item on the issue should be brought to a future meeting.

As noted in the earlier presentation from the BID they had installed six defibrillators in various locations within the town centre.  The defibrillators had been registered with the Ambulance Service and the National Defibrillator Network, and it was understood that they would be adopted by the Community Heartbeat Trust.

The report also outlined the Council owned premises which housed defibrillators and other locations within the town.

AGREED:       (1)        That, the Committee welcomed the report and noted the locations of the defibrillators within the town centre.

(2)        That, the Committee suggested that the location of the defibrillators should be marked out on a town centre map and also publicised on the Council’s website.

The Assistant Director presented a report which provided an update on the budget monitoring and outturn position for the Committee on King’s Lynn Special Expenses for the year 2018/2019.

The Committee noted that there had been an overspend of £10,056 together with the reasons for the variance as set out in the report.

The next monitoring report would be presented to the Committee at the next meeting on 29 March 2019.

AGREED:       That, the Committee noted the monitoring position and project outturn for 2018/2019.

Councillor Joyce explained that £1,000 had been ring-fenced to be used as a marketing budget, from a projected underspend at year end, to promote bookings and try to increase income.  

Councillor Joyce further explained that the Informal Working Group had met on 1 November and identified a list of actions to be undertaken and went through some of these with the Committee.

AGREED:       That a further update be provided to the Committee at a future meeting.

The Committee is asked to consider items for a future Work Programme for 2019/2020.

The Committee is also asked to consider the Cabinet’s Forward Decision List.

The Committee’s Work Programme and Cabinet’s Forward Decision list was noted.

Councillor Joyce raised the issue of lighting in the town centre and suggested that the County Programme should be looked at.

Councillor Tyler informed the Committee that he would keep them updated on progress with the rail service.

The next meeting is scheduled to take place on Monday 25 March 2019 at 6pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, King’s Lynn.

The next meeting of the Committee would be held on Monday, 25 March 2019 at 6pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, King’s Lynn.