Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor J Moriarty (J Collop substituting) and M Shorting.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting.

RESOLVED: The minutes from the Regeneration, Environment and Community Panel Meeting held on 25 March 2015 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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.

Those 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 simple observing the meeting from the public seating area.

Councillors C Crofts, M Hopkins, M Chenery of Horsbrugh and D Whitby declared and interest in item RC&EC8 – Presentation on Internal Drainage Board Boundary Changes as Members Internal Drainage Boards.

Councillor Mrs Watson declared an interest in RC&EC8 – Presentation on Internal Drainage Board Boundary Changes as she was a member of the Norfolk Rivers Board and the Water Management Alliance.

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 none.

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 was none.

If any.

There was none.

To receive comments and recommendations from other Council bodies, and any responses subsequent to recommendations, which the Panel has previously made.

At the Cabinet meeting on 31 March 2015, the following responses were made to the recommendations from the Panel on the 25 March 2015, on the following items:

CABINET REPORT – NORA JOINT VENTURE

PANEL RECOMMENDED: That the Regeneration, Environment and Community Panel supported the recommendations to Cabinet as set out in the report.

CABINET RESPONSE: The comments of the Panel were taken into consideration when Cabinet considered the item.

CABINET REPORT – AIR QUALITY ACTION PLAN

PANEL RECOMMENDED: That the Regeneration, Environment and Community Panel supported the recommendations to Cabinet as set out in the report.

CABINET RESPONSE: The comments of the Panel were taken into consideration when Cabinet considered the item.

EXEMPT CABINET REPORT –  KING’S LYNN INNOVATION CENTRE

PANEL RECOMMENDED: That the Regeneration, Environment and Community Panel supported the recommendations to Cabinet as set out in the report.

CABINET RESPONSE: The comments of the Panel were taken into consideration when Cabinet considered the item.

The Panel noted the responses made by Cabinet to the recommendations from the Regeneration, Environment and Community Panel on 25 March 2015, on the following items:

·         NORA Joint Venture

·         Air Quality Action Plan

·         King’s Lynn Innovation Centre

To receive a presentation on Internal Drainage Board Boundary changes.

Phil Camamile, Chief Executive of the Water Management Alliance presented the Panels with information on the King’s Lynn Drainage Board proposals to extend the Drainage District.

He explained that the proposals were to extend the drainage district to the hydraulic watershed catchment boundary.  The benefits of this would be a catchment based approach so that upland areas could be addressed, which would assist with problems before they reached the current Internal Drainage Board area.

Phil Camamile provided an overview of the work that the Internal Drainage Board intended to do in the upland area which included:

·         carrying out detailed investigations to scope known drainage problems by working with key partners.

·         Prioritising and creating a programme of works.

·         Maintenance operations to improve conveyance which could include jetting pipelines, unblocking culverts and removing obstructions, de-silting and weed control.

·         Other work which may be required including river narrowing, wetland creation and re-meandering, designed to slow the flow of water moving downstream to the existing district.

·         Regulation of development through the use of Byelaws.

The Panels were informed that if the proposals to extend the drainage district were progressed they would be paid for by capital grants, commuted sums and developer contributions, drainage rates and the existing special levy paid by the Borough Council.  Phil Camamile explained that it was proposed that more work would be carried out for the same amount of money.

In taking the proposals forward a full consultation would be carried out with the following:

·         The Borough Council

·         Norfolk County Council

·         The Environment Agency

·         All Parish Councils

·         Occupiers of agricultural land in the upland area.

·         Neighbouring Local Authorities

·         The General Public

The Internal Drainage Board would be putting together a full consultation plan which would take approximately three months to complete.  Following the consultation process a business plan would be created with the Borough Council and Norfolk County Council.  Once agreed in principle by the relevant officers another round of consultation would take place involving all those likely to be affected by the proposals.

The Anglian RFCC would then start the statutory process to agree and implement the proposals.  Phil Camamile explained that no application to extend the existing boundary would be made unless the Internal Drainage Board received letters of support from the Borough Council, Norfolk County Council and the NFU following the consultation process.  Phil Camamile expected that the new arrangements could come into effect in April 2016 if no major objections were received.

The Chairman thanked Phil Camamile for his presentation and invited questions and comments from Members of both Panels, as summarised below.

In response to a question from Councillor Tilbury, Phil Camamile explained that he was unsure of what objections could be received until the consultation process was carried out.  He explained that there was a risk to the Borough Council and ratepayers in that if the Internal Drainage Board were unable to keep costs down the special levy could increase.  Phil Camamile explained that all feedback he had received so far had been positive  ...  view the full minutes text for item RD&EC8

To receive an update from the Corporate Project Officer.

The Corporate Project Officer provided the Panels with an update on Black Bin Recycling.

He reminded those present that the Council had previously entered into a contract with Material Works, but as the contract progressed concerns had been raised over their ability to deliver the required technology.  The contract had been extended by three months, after which no further progress had been made and the Council had then ended the contract.

The Chairman thanked the Corporate Project Officer for the update and invited questions and comments from Members of both Panels, as summarised below.

Councillor Crofts asked if there was a need for the Informal Working Group – Black Bin Recycling which had been set up by the Regeneration, Environment and Community Panel to continue to meet if the Material Works Contract had ended.  Councillor Sampson who was a Member of the Informal Working Group commented that he felt the Informal Working Group had served its purpose and recommended that it be disbanded.

The Chairman reminded those present that they would be considering membership and continuation of Informal Working Groups later on in the meeting.

RESOLVED: That the update be noted.

To consider any Cabinet Reports on the Cabinet Forward Decision List for 10

June 2015 which have been identified by the Chairman for consideration by

the Panel.

The Panel are requested to consider the reports and make any appropriate

recommendations to Cabinet.

Cabinet reports will be sent to follow.

Cabinet reports are now attached as follows:

·         Fields in Trust

·         King’s Lynn surface water and highway infrastructure improvements and Major Housing Development at Lynn Sport and Marsh Lane – Compulsory Purchase Orders

·         Exclusion of the Press and Public:  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”.

·         EXEMPT - Acquisition of Morston Assets Land at Nar Ouse Regeneration Area

The Chairman has requested that Members of the Panel read the relevant Cabinet reports in advance of the meeting.

(i) Cabinet Report - Fields in Trust

The Chief Executive presented the Cabinet report which sought approval to enter into a Deed of Dedication with Fields in Trust (formerly the National Playing Fields Association) for Sports Pitches on the Lynnsport Site.

He explained that further to the work that had taken place to take forward the Major Housing development on the Lynnsport site the Council had agreed that no development would take place on the River Lane sports pitches.  The site fitted the eligibility criteria for a Field in Trust and this would ensure that the area was permanently protected.  Ownership of the site would remain with the Borough Council.  It was proposed that the site would be included within the Fields in Trust Centenary Fields project which was aimed at securing recreational spaces in honour of the memory of those who lost their lives in World War I.

The Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Industrial Assets, Councillor Beales reminded those present that he had moved an amendment at Full Council to protect the area in question.

The Portfolio Holder for ICT, Leisure and Public Space, Councillor Pope explained that he supported the proposals which would create a permanent green space in the area which could be enjoyed by local residents.

The Chairman thanked the Chief Executive for the report and invited questions and comments from the Panels, as summarised below.

In response to a question from Councillor Bambridge, the Portfolio Holder for ICT, Leisure and Public Space explained that the report only dealt with the area at River Lane.  Other areas would need to be considered on their own merits if it was felt that they should be protected.

In response to a question from Councillor Smith, the Chief Executive confirmed that a plaque would be erected on site to inform the public that it was a protected field and would recognise those who lost their lives in World War I. 

In response to a question from Councillor Tyler, the Chief Executive and Portfolio Holder confirmed that publicity would also be carried out to raise awareness of the protected field.

RESOLVED: That the Regeneration & Development and Environment & Community Panel supports the recommendations to Cabinet as follows:

That Cabinet agrees to:

a) Enter into a Deed of Dedication with Fields in Trust for the open space shown in Appendix 2 in the report as a Centenary Field.

b) Delegate authority to the Executive Director, Commercial Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for ICT Leisure and Public Space to agree the Deed of Dedication with Fields in Trust.

(ii) Cabinet Report - King’s Lynn Surface Water and Highway Infrastructure improvements and Major Housing Development at Lynnsport and Marsh Lane – Compulsory Purchase Orders

The Chief Executive presented the Cabinet report which sought approval to facilitate the delivery of upgrades and improvements to the surface water infrastructure for King’s Lynn and the provision of additional surface water storage capacity.  He explained that the report considered two pieces of land  ...  view the full minutes text for item RD&EC10

The report invites Members to agree to continue with the operation of the Informal Working Groups and agree for the appointment of Members to serve on the following Informal Working Groups for 2015/2016.

-       Markets

-       Black Bin Recycling

The Chairman reminded those present that the Regeneration, Environment and Community Panel had established two Informal Working Groups – Black Bin Recycling and Markets.

Councillor Sampson, Member of the Black Bin Recycling Informal Working Group, commented that he felt that the Informal Working Group had now served its purpose and recommended that it be disbanded.  He commented that it could be reformed in the future if the need arose.

The Portfolio Holder for Environment, Councillor Long explained that Norfolk County Council were the waste disposal Authority and they were looking at alternative ways to recycle black bin waste.

RESOLVED:

(i) That the Panel agree to continue with the operation of the Markets Informal Working Group.

(ii) That the membership of the Markets Informal Working Group for 2015/2016 be:

Councillors Mrs Watson (Chairman), Bambridge, Bubb and Mrs A Wright.

(iii) That the Black Bin Recycling Informal Working Group be disbanded.

To nominate Members to serve on Outside Bodies which fall under the Scrutiny Category.

The Chairman invited the Panels to nominate representatives to participate in the outside bodies and partnerships which fall within the Panel’s remit.

The nominations would be presented to the Full Council meeting on 25 June 2015:

RESOLVED: That the following nominations be presented to the Full Council meeting on 25 June 2015:

·         Borough Council/College of West Anglia Liaison Board (1 member) : Councillor Mrs Watson

·         Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Area Museums Committee (3 members): Councillors Mrs A Wright, Wing-Pentelow and A Tyler

·         Norfolk County Council – Norfolk Countywide Community Safety Partnership Scrutiny Sub Panel (1 member plus substitute): no nominations put forward

·         Norfolk Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (1 member plus substitute): Councillor Mrs Young and no nomination put forward for substitute.

·         West Norfolk Community Transport Project (1 member): Councillor Moriarty

·         West Norfolk Disability Forum (5 members): Councillors Miss Sandell, Mrs Fraser, Bubb, Baron Chenery of Horsbrugh and Mrs Squire.

To note the Work Programme for 2015/2016.

In considering the draft Work Programme, Member’s attention is drawn to the Cabinet Forward Decisions List.

The Chairman invited Members of the Panel to contact her if they have any items that they would like to add to the work programme.

RESOLVED: The work programme and forward decision list was noted.

The next joint meeting of the Regeneration & Development and Environment & Community Panel is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 24 June 2015 at 6.00pm in the Committee Suite, King’s Court, Chapel Street, King’s Lynn, PE30 1EX.

The next joint meeting of the Regeneration & Development and Environment & Community Panel was scheduled to take place on Wednesday 24 June 2015 at 6.00pm in the Committee Suite, King’s Court, Chapel Street, King’s Lynn, PE30 1EX.