Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Ware and Mrs Wilkinson, Lorraine Gore and Mark Whitmore.

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 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 Chair’s correspondence to report.

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The Monitoring Officer introduced the report and explained that at its meeting on 11 January 2024, the Committee had resolved:

(1)   That the Committee supports the creation of an Area Committee.

(2)   That the Terms of Reference for an Area Committee be drafted and presented to a future meeting.

(3)   That the frequency of meetings be considered further.

(4)   That further consideration be given to the name of the Committee.

(5)   That a suitable budget be identified for the Committee.

A draft Terms of Reference for an Area Committee had been attached to the report.  She was seeking views of the draft Terms of Reference in order for it to be considered by the Corporate Performance Panel at its meeting on 26 February and Cabinet on 5 March 2024.

The Monitoring Officer explained that the Area Committee would be subject to scrutiny so that needed to be added into the Terms of Reference. 

She also drew the Committee’s attention to 4.1 of the Terms of Reference, and explained that it should not just refer to reserves and this would be amended.

Also at 4.5 it should be financial year and not Municipal Year.

The Committee then discussed the draft Terms of Reference as put forward.

In terms of frequency of meetings, it was proposed by Councillor Heneghan and seconded by Councillor Jones that the frequency of meetings should be increased to 6 per year.

Councillor Everett asked whether the Vice-Chair of the Area Committee should have an allowance.  The Monitoring Officer explained that this would need to go forward to the IRP. 

In terms of the name of the Committee, it was agreed that it should be King’s Lynn Area Committee.

It was therefore agreed:

(1)   That the draft Terms of Reference be agreed, subject to the amendments detailed above.

(2)   That the frequency of meetings be increased to 6 per year.  Additional meetings could be called if necessary.

(3)   That the name of the new Area Committee be King’s Lynn Area Committee.

(4)   That the issue of the Vice-Chair of the Area Committee receiving an allowance be brought to the attention of the IRP.

The next merting of the Committee is scheduled for Thursday 14 March 2024 at 5.15 pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall.

The next meeting of the Committee would take place on Thursday 14 March 2024 at 5.15 pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall.