Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor J Collop.

The Committee wished for their best wishes to him for a speedy recovered be recorded.  The Chairman advised that hopefully he would be discharged from hospital on Monday.

The Chairman also asked for the Committee’s thoughts and thanks be given to all the key workers and officers who had been at work during the pandemic and had worked hard behind the scenes to support the Council.

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

The minutes of the meeting held on 16 January 2020 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.

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.

Councillor A Ryves

There was no Chair’s correspondence to report.

To receive a presentation on LILY on the work carried out during COVID-19.

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The Committee received a presentation from Judith Berry, Careline and Community Services Manager, on work carried out during COVID-19, as follows:

·        Lily was already been established so could immediately respond;

·        2,500 vulnerable were identified and personally contacted;

·        40 volunteers supporting the response;

·        Over 1,900 doorstop welfare checks made by volunteers (by week ending 19 June 2020);

·        Over 2600 calls were made into the community hub;

·        Referrals to Lily 1,173

·        Over 200 food parcels to residents in West Norfolk were delivered;

·        Partnership working including local VCSE organisations.

The Chair stated that it was a relief to know that through the national crisis there was a network to support the local community.  He also added that residents in his area were really impressed with the contact made by Lily and other organisations.  He congratulated the Lily Team on the work carried out.

The Assistant Director explained that Council was still in the response phase and would move into recovery.  At the current time, the presentation was for the whole Borough as there had not been time to split the data up and look specifically at the King’s Lynn area, but this could be revisited in the future.

Councillor Mrs Wilkinson stated that she would like to offer her appreciation for all the support that she and her husband had received.  The phone calls were very gratefully received and in certain cases, she felt that the team went above and beyond.

Councillor Rust also echoed the comments from Councillor Mrs Wilkinson as her mother had been contacted several times and made a lot of difference to her.

Officers then responded to questions from the Committee.

The Chair thanked John Greenhalgh and Judith Berry for the presentation.

To receive an explanation on Special Expenses following a question raised at the last meeting.

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The Assistant Director gave a presentation on the breakdown of Special Expenses for King’s Lynn.  She presented last year figures for special expenses for the Committee to view.  It was agreed that the spreadsheet would be sent to the Committee.

Councillor Kemp referred to open spaces and level of street cleansing in West Lynn compared to the rest of the town.  The Assistant Director advised that this would be written into the contract and she would check the level of detail in the contract.

The Leader explained that there would be a schedule of works for the Town Centre and one for the outlying areas of King’s Lynn, but this would be less than what was provided for the town centre.

In response to a further question from Councillor Kemp, the Assistant Director explained that the level of detail in the contract needed to be established and whether this was being carried out.

The Chair referred to a bench that he would like to be installed and asked where this would fit in.  The Assistant Director undertook to find this out and respond to the Chair.

Councillor Howman asked whether the new bus shelter at Peckover Way came under King’s Lynn or South Wootton.  The Assistant Director undertook to find out this information and provide a response to Councillor Howman.

Councillor Kemp referred to the provision of litter bins and was concerned that she had not had a response.   The Assistant Director offered to follow this up.

Any further questions to be emailed to Michelle Drewery.  The Chair thanked Michelle for attending the meeting.

The Committee has been invited to submit bids again to the Parish Partnership Scheme for the financial year 2021/2022.  The closing date for submissions will be 4 December 2020.

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The Assistant Director explained that the letter from Norfolk County Council had invited the Council to submit bids to the Parish Partnership again.  The letter outlined the types schemes that would be acceptable and those which would not.

The Assistant Director reminded the Committee of the criteria and timescales for bids to be submitted.

Councillor Rust explained that she had put forward a bid for SAM signs which had been supported by both County Councillors which had been successful.

Councillor Mrs S Collop asked about timescales for installing the bus shelters and also outlined her scheme for traffic calming for Marsh Lane.

The Chair advised that he supported Councillor Mrs Collop’s proposal for traffic calming for Marsh Lane.

Councillor Mrs Kemp referred to the proposed play area at South Lynn Community Centre, and stated that she was very much looking forward to it and was much needed.

The Assistant Director advised that he would find out information when the bus shelters and the play area would be installed.

Councillor Mrs Wilkinson added that she had put forward a scheme for a bus shelter at Winston Churchill Drive.  She explained that she had experienced problems contacting her County Councillor for any schemes going forward.  She added that £1,000 had also been allocated for marketing of South Lynn Community Centre and Fairstead Community Centre.

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.

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

Councillor Howman asked whether the Committee should be able to make comments on the Parkway planning application.

It was explained that the application had been considered by the KLACC Sub-Group.  The Sub-Group had asked for the application to go back to them for consideration once further information had been received, and before it was due to be considered by the Planning Committee.

It was asked whether the Assistant Director for Corporate Projects could brief the affected Ward Councillors again.  The Democratic Services undertook to find out.

Councillor Howman explained that he was concerned that the public consultation had been cancelled due to Covid-19.  Councillor Rust explained that she had listened in on the Planning Sub-Group meeting where it was explained that there was no legal requirement to carry out a public consultation event, but the public could still make their written comments on the application.