Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Hudson.

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

The minutes of the meeting held on 19 September 2019 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 Chair proposes to accept as urgent under Section 100(b)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act, 1972.

There was no urgent business.

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chair of their intention to do so and on what items they wish to be heard before a decision on that item is taken.

There were no Members present pursuant to Standing Order 34.

There was no Chair’s correspondence.

The Committee is asked to consider the attached report and to make any appropriate recommendations to Cabinet.

The Assistant Director informed the Committee that four schemes had been put forward for the funding period 2020/21, as follows:

·        Scheme 1 – Speed Awareness Messaging 2 (SAM2) sign for the New Lynn Area

This was a scheme which had been put forward by Councillor Rust for one moveable Speed Awareness Messaging (SAM2) sign to be located in the New Lyn area, on locations in Kent Road, Rosebery Avenue, Kensington Road, Queensway or Jermyn Road.  The scheme was also supported by Councillor J Rust, County Councillors T Smith and Mrs S Young.

·        Scheme 2 – New bus shelter at Peckover Way, King’s Lynn

This was a proposal for a new bus shelter at an existing bus stop at Peckover Way.  It was understood that a request was made by some residents to Councillor Mrs S Collop and that a bus shelter would be useful.  A consultation exercise was undertaken with residents and the outcome was that one objection had been received from a local resident.  The reason for the objection was outlined the report.

There had been no objections received from the Police to the new bus shelter, and the scheme was supported by Councillor Mrs S Collop and County Councillor Mrs S Young.

·        Scheme 3 – New bus shelter at Minster Court/William Booth Road

This was a proposal for a new bus shelter at an existing bus stop on Minster Court on the Fairstead estate.  It was understood that a request was made by some residents to Councillor Mrs M Wilkinson that a bus shelter would be use.  A consultation exercise had been undertaken with residents and no objections had been received. 

There had been no objections received from the Police to the new bus shelter, and the scheme was supported by Councillor Mrs M Wilkinson and County Councillor T Smith.

·        Scheme 4 – New bus shelter at Saddlebow Road

This was a proposal for a new bus shelter at an existing bus stop on Sadlebow Road. 

The proposal had been put forward by Councillor Kemp.  A consultation exercise was undertaken with residents/local businesses.  Two objections had been received and a summary of the objections were outlined the report.

There had been no objections received from the Police to the new bus shelter, and the scheme was supported by Councillor A Kemp as Borough and County Councillor for the area.

The Committee noted the financial implications of the proposals, and that if all four schemes were supported it would add 10p to an average Band D Council Tax in 2020/21.

The Committee then made the following recommendations to Cabinet:

(1)        That the Committee supports Scheme 1 – the above proposal for a SAM sign in King’s Lynn, to be paid through Special Expenses over a period of 5 years.

(2)        That the Committee supported Scheme 2 – the above proposal for a bus shelter on Peckover Way in King’s Lynn, to be paid through Special Expenses over a period of 10 years.

(3)        The that Committee supported Scheme 3  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

The Chief Executive presented the report and explained that Councillor Kemp had requested that a new play area be provided close to Hillen Road in King’s Lynn.  It was considered that this could be provided at the South Lynn Community Centre, which could also help to generate more local use of the centre.

It was reported that in the case of this play area, if the scheme was costed at £30,000 (estimated typical cost of a Local Equipped Area of Play (LEAP)), then the cost of this could be £2,000 per annum for 15 years - £30,000.  The annual revenue cost of the capital would be charged as a Special Expense equivalent to approximately 19p per property per year.  There would also be a revenue cost for inspection and maintenance, which would add an estimated further cost of £350 per year, or 3p per Band D equivalent property.  The total cost would therefore be approximately 22p per year for 15 years on King’s Lynn Special Expenses.

The Chief Executive explained that the Committee could agree in principle to allocate the above capital sum to go forward in the budget process but may wish to give further consideration to what would be its priorities for capital schemes across the whole of the unparished area.  In order to agree priorities across King’s Lynn, the Committee could establish a Sub-Group to report back to the Committee at specified intervals.

Councillor Mrs S Collop asked for clarification, as she understood that South Lynn already had a play area.

Councillor Kemp explained that there was not provision for younger children in South Lynn.  She acknowledged that there was a play area along Wisbech Road, but this was not suitable for younger children.  There had been instances when young children were playing on the roundabout at Hillen Road.  Having the play area situated at South Lynn Community Centre would bring in additional benefits.

Councillor Rust added that in principle she supported play areas and added that she understood that a couple of play areas had been provided on the new development at South Lynn.  She added that it might be considered that South Lynn was well provided for.

Councillor Kemp added that the play area on the new development was not accessible for people from Hillen Road, and they did not feel comfortable using it.  In addition, there were no pieces of land along Hillen Road where a new play area could be provided.  Councillor Kemp referred to the proposed location of the new play area at South Lynn Community Centre, which was a Council owned facility, and considered that the provision of the play area would help to promote the Community Centre and increase its usage.

Councillor Howman added that he felt that everyone else would like additional facilities within their ward and supported the view that a Sub-Group should be established to look at capital schemes overall.

The Leader, Councillor Long suggested that the Committee should look to see if any external funding  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

The Committee is asked to consider and endorse the Special Expenses charge for 2020/2021.

The Chief Executive introduced the report and reminded the Committee that one of its Terms of Reference was “to act as a consultative forum on the funding raised by, and utilisation of the King’s Lynn Special Expenses, and to offer input on priorities for this expenditure and of appropriate the level of funds to be raised”.

The Chief Executive drew the Committee’s attention to the increase in the Council Tax base for King’s Lynn for 2020/2021 which stood at 10.672.1 which was an increase of 481.7 from 2019/2020.

Attention was drawn to the main movements between the special expenses charge for 2019/2020 and 2021, namely: 

·        An increase of £2,790 in footway lighting to over cover the cost of additional lighting and inflation.

·        Community centres had increased by £3,650 as a result of increased cost of repairs and maintenance, especially at Fairstead, due to the age of the building. 

The Committee was also informed that it had been anticipated that the Council would not receive revenue support grant in 2020/2021, however a one year extension had been granted.  The Council had taken the decision to continue with the Council Tax support grant passed on to parishes as it had done in recent years.

With regards to the new schemes previously considered by the Committee, it was explained that the Band D Charge was subject to increase by 10p if all the Parish Partnership Schemes were agreed by Cabinet and Norfolk County Council, and an additional 31p if the capital sum for the South Lynn Play Area was agreed.   This would still represent a decrease from last year’s special expense charge.

Recommendations:

(1)        That Cabinet be advised that the Committee endorsed the special expense charge for 2020/2021, including the amendments to take into account the Parish Partnership Schemes and the Play Area at South Lynn.

The Executive Director for Commercial Services will provide the Committee with an update on the Corn Exchange Proposals.

The Chief Executive provided the Committee with an update on the Corn Exchange proposals.  She explained that tenders for the work had been received and presented to Cabinet on 24 September.  An order had been placed for the works which were planned to start in January 2020.  The Corn Exchange would be closed from 11 January 2020 until the end of March 2020.  The cinema should be able to be used from the middle of May.

The Chief Executive/ Portfolio Holder responded to questions regarding:

·        The award of the contract and costing issues including contingencies;

·        How the two cinemas in the town would work together;

·        Why the cinema would be closed for 3 months.

The Chair thanked the Chief Executive for the update.

To consider passing the following resolution:

“That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for items (12) and (13) below on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act”.

That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for item 12 and 13, on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

The Executive Director – Commercial Services will provide the Committee with an update on the Future High Streets Fund.

The Assistant Director, Regeneration provided the Committee with an update on the Future High Streets Fund.

The Assistant Director responded to questions / queries from the Committee.

The Chair thanked the Assistant Director for the presentation.

The Executive Director – Commercial Services will provide the Committee with an update on the proposals at Boal Quay, King’s Lynn.

The Assistant Director, Regeneration provided the Committee with an update on the Boal Quay.

The Assistant Director responded to questions / queries from the Committee.

The Chair thanked the Assistant Director for the update.

The Committee is asked to consider items for a future Work Programme for

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

The Committee noted the Work Programme and Cabinet’s Forward Decision List.

A Special Meeting to consider the King’s Lynn Transport Study has been arranged for Monday 18 November 2019 at 6pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, King’s Lynn.

The next meeting of the Committee would be held on Monday 18 November 2019 at 6.00pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, King’s Lynn.