Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

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Apologies of absence were received from Councillor Lowe, Kemp and Wilkinson.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting on the 11^th July 2024.

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RESOLVED: The minutes from the meeting held on the 11^th July 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 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 none.

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Inspector Jarvis welcomed the Committee and gave a presentation to the Committee on Policing in King’s Lynn.

Inspector Jarvis provided an overview of the figures in the King’s Lynn town area for neighbourhood crime, domestic abuse and serious violence and knife crime and serious sexual offences. He highlighted there had been increases and decreases in these areas and he confirmed the overall crime rate was low in King’s Lynn.

He brought to the Committee’s attention the crime recording standard and charging standards were different and crime should be recorded at the earliest opportunity. He provided further explanations and context to the definitions.

Inspector Jarvis highlighted the improvement in the figures provided in the presentation could be down to introduction of the new reporting system as it was easier to report crimes to the police in an easier format. He reflected further by advising of the delays in reporting along with supporting evidence, forensic, CCTV and witnesses.

He outlined that opportunities needed to be considered on how the Police were diverting offences rather than dealing with them by an arrest. He commented other ways needed to be considered on how offending was managed and stressed the importance of early intervention.

Inspector Jarvis highlighted the improvement at the Bus Station with the extra patrols which had been put in place and work would continue as the operational partnership team had considered other options such as civil orders and injunctions.

He referred to projects in King’s Lynn such as the clear, hold, build and events held to provide information to stakeholders on this project. Additionally, Inspector Jarvis referred to the Beacon in King’s Lynn and the London 2 Lynn walk which started to the Rise North Lynn project.

Councillor Jones referred to the purple flag award which was awarded in Cambridge for managing evening and nighttime economy and asked if this was being worked towards in King’s Lynn.

Inspector Jarvis confirmed the purple flag award was being worked towards in King’s Lynn and was in conversations with BID on ways for this to be achieved.

Councillor Heneghan asked for further details on serious sexual offences which had occurred and questioned what else could be done to prevent these crimes from happening. She referred to Ask for Angela, a safe haven for women and better lighting in the town.

Inspector Jarvis advised the where and when were variable and stranger violence and nighttime economy crimes were low. He added venues were being contacted to be made aware of the resources available. He referred to the SOS van in King’s Lynn and outlined what they had done to provide support. He added further the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk and the Police needed to continue to work together in different aspects to provide a safer area.

Councillor Heneghan sought clarification on actions being taken to improve street drinking.

Inspector Jarvis acknowledged street drinking was still an issue and encouraged this to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

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The Interim Financial Services Manager presented the report on special expenses which identified the outturn for 2023/2024 and the monitoring position and projected outturn for 2024/2025.

He explained to the Committee the special expenses are received as part of the Council Tax. He added the Borough Council contribute as part of the special expenses. He added the over expenditure of the special expenses was paid for by the Borough Council.

The Interim Financial Services Manager confirmed the year end position for 2023/2024 resulted in a lower spend of £36,406. He added there were areas in the special expenses that had over and under expenditure.

He brought to the Committee’s attention the underspend on Community Centres for 2023/2024 was £43,171. He explained Fairstead Community Centre had received additional income for 2024/2025 which resulted in an under spend on the special expenses.

The Interim Financial Services Manager outline the overspend on play areas for 2024/2025 due to general increase in repairs, replacement, and removal of play equipment. He added for 2024/2025 it was expected special expenses was to be inline with the budget at the end of the year.

The Interim Financial Services Manager highlighted that included in the current monitoring position in 2024/25 was £2,000 forecast outturn for the Gaywood Remembrance Service.

Councillor Colwell sought clarification on dog waste bins and highlighted there was no proposed increase in the special expenses budget for this .

The Interim Financial Services Manager confirmed the special expenses budget was determined by what was considered as needed in specific area but advised can come back and confirm further details.

Councillor Rust added, the item dog bins had been on the forward work programme and commented Councillors were not familiar with the process of hot to apply for dog waste bins.

Councillor Everett questioned the amount of underspend of Councillors grants and if this was included in the KLAC Budget.

He additionally questioned, in relation to the Fairstead Community Centre contribution of the special expenses should be spent in Fairstead as this was where the money came from.

The Interim Financial Services Manager responded that he would find the information and figures and come back to Councillor Everett.

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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Councillor Rust asked for the item dog waste bins to be scheduled in the next coming meetings as this was outstanding.

Councillor Bone provided information on a Youth Bus and highlighted the benefits for the Borough. He advised a Youth Bus was seen at Enfield Council and requested this to be added to the Work Programme and funding be considered.

Councillor Rust provided the Committee with an update on the Changing Places location and progress.

RESOLVED: The Committee’s Work Programme and Cabinet Forward Decision List was noted. 

The next King’s Lynn Area Committee meeting is to be held on 14^th November 2024 at 5:15pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall.

The next meeting of the Committee was scheduled for 14^th November 2024 at 5:15pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place.

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”.

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 Principal Project Manager introduced and provided an explanation on the item to the Committee.

The Principal Transport Planner from Norfolk County Council gave a presentation on the STARS Schemes that facilitated the Southgates Masterplan.

The Chair invited questions and comments from the Committee.

Members of the King’s Lynn Area Committee asked question and made comments and the Principal Project Manager and Principal Transport Planner responded.