Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

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Apologies of absence were received from Councillor Bartrum, Sayers and Wilkinson

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on the 20^th June 2024.

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RESOLVED: The minutes from the meeting held on the 20^th June 2024 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 declarations of interest.

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.

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Councillor Collop was present under Standing Order 34.

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The Chair advised the Committee he had received correspondence from Councillor Rust for support for Springwood School and an application for a Bus Shelter to be moved.

For the Committee to discuss an Informal Working Group.

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The King’s Lynn Area Committee discussed a Funding Opportunities Informal Working Group. 

Councillor Rust commented that this item should not be deferred further as this was already deferred to this meeting and an informal working group should be established.

Councillor Jones suggested to the Committee, this could be a Standing Item on the Agenda going forward.

Councillor Rust commented some areas would be prioritised over others therefore this needed to be agreed.

The Vice Chair, Councillor Everett endorsed Councillor Jones suggestion of a Standing Item which would be exempt.

The Assistant Director clarified the funding opportunities meeting would be exempt and the funding applications would be scored and assessed.

The Chair, Councillor Bone put forward to the Committee that all members would attend an Informal Working Group to discuss further.

Councillor Rust asked the Committee if each member of KLAC will be on the Informal Working Group then each member will commit to look for funding sources or just await to see if a budget is given to the Committee. She commented that the funding budget and prioritises needed to be exact and decided.

Councillor Heneghan asked for support and training with applying for funding.

The Assistant Director confirmed he would provide training for members to have a better understanding of funding.

Councillor Colwell asked if the Informal Working Group could be attended remotely to accommodate all members.

The Chair, Councillor Bone confirmed the Informal Working Group could be hybrid, both in person and remotely however in person meetings are more productive.

Councillor Kemp, commented in relation to Funding Opportunities, Officers needed to be present at the meeting and referred to statutory functions.

Councillor Heneghan advised the Committee she was opposed to a Zoom Meeting for the Informal Working Group and believe the funding opportunities should be in discussed in person.

Councillor Rust commented if the Informal Working Group was immediately prior to the next KLAC meeting then all members should be in person. She further commented the funding opportunities did not include statutory services as these are provided by the Borough Council.

Councillor Ware referred the Committee back to the minutes of the previous KLAC meeting. She commented one member from each ward to be on the Informal Working Group rather than all members of KLAC.

Councillor Rust stated it was fair for all members to have the opportunity to participate in the Informal Working Group.

The Assistant Director referred the Committee to the Terms of Reference which sets out how funding is scored therefore it needed to be decided what KLAC’s funding priorities were.

Councillor Kemp referred the Committee to the statutory functions and commented it was not clear what they were, and it needed to be highlighted in which entity funding was being applied for.  

RESOLVED: All members of KLAC to attend an Informal Working Group prior to the next KLAC meeting on the 26^th September 2024.

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The Principal Planner gave a presentation to the Committee on a Neighbourhood Plan. The Principal Planner highlighted to the Committee a Neighbourhood Plan was local produce and a non-strategic development plan and the wider framework was the Local Plan. He provided details of a Neighbourhood Plan which included it was introduced in 2011 by the Localism Act. He added to the Committee that 19 Neighbourhood Plans have been successfully made in the Borough.

The Principal Planner clearly highlighted to the Committee a Neighbourhood Plan was not suitable for King’s Lynn due to being unparished and the complexity of a Neighbourhood Plan however individual parts of King’s Lynn could apply, for example West Lynn, South Lynn, and North Lynn.

The Principal Planner explained that for unparished areas or those without constituted Parish Councils. He added Titchwell Parish Meeting had also expressed an interest in preparing a Neighbourhood Plan, which would require the setting up of a Neighbourhood Forum, and additional process. The Parish Meeting had also identified a recent example in Lindsell (Uttlesford District Council); https://www.uttlesford.gov.uk/lindsell-np.

The Chair, Councillor Bone, thanked the Principal Planner for the presentation and appreciated the challenges with setting up a Neighbourhood Plan. He highlighted for some Wards a Neighbourhood Plan would be beneficial for the community.

Councillor Kemp highlighted to the Committee that a Neighbourhood Plan cannot override or lessen the development. She added where a Neighbourhood Plan included business they would need to be consulted and asked the Principal Planner if this would be the case for the town or North Lynn.

In response to Councillor Kemp, the Principal Planner advised he had never directly experienced a business Neighbourhood Plan but provided an example of a designated business Neighbourhood Plan in Corby which he was aware of through his previous employment.

Councillor Kemp referred to an additional referendum for the business community and the detail which was included in this and wanted to ensure the Committee were aware.

Councillor Rust thanked the Principal Planner on the useful presentation and recognised that a Neighbourhood Plan wouldn’t work for the King’s Lynn Area and understood the realism of their ambitions.

The Principal Planner provided an example of a hypothetical Neighbourhood Plan including Clenchwarton and West Lynn as if working together a Neighbourhood Forum would not be needed. He provided a further example of a Neighbourhood Plan being Roydon, Grimston and Congham.

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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RESOLVED: That the Committee’s Work Programme and Cabinet Forward Decision List be noted.

The next King’s Lynn Area Committee meeting is to be held on 26^th September 2024 at 5:15pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall

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The next meeting of the Committee was scheduled for 26^th September 2024 at 5:15pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall.

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 the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act”.

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RESOLVED: That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business 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 Assistant Director Regeneration, Housing and Place present the Long-Term Plan Brief and provided an explanation.

The Regeneration Manager provided a further explanation to the Committee.

The Committee participated in a Workshop regarding the Long Term Plan.