Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Beal and Whitby.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting.

RESOLVED: The minutes from the previous meeting were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Please indicate if there are any interests which should be declared.  A declaration of 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 simply observing the meeting from the public seating area.

There was none.

To consider any business which, by reason of special circumstances, the Chair proposes to accept as urgent under Section 100(b)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act, 1972.

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The Chair indicated that she would like to discuss the proposed hub as Urgent Business and set out the reasons as to why it was considered urgent.  The Panel agreed to this item being considered as Urgent Business and that it be considered in closed session.

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chair of their intention to do so and what items they wish to be heard before a decision on that item is taken.  

Councillor Hudson.

If any.

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The Chair read out the proposed Terms of Reference for the Guildhall and Creative Hub Task Group which the Panel agreed.  She explained that the Task Group would work closely with the Corporate Performance Panel and Membership of the Task Group would be sought from Group Leaders.

RESOLVED: The Regeneration and Development Panel agreed the proposed Terms of Reference for the Guildhall and Creative Hub Task Group.

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The Assistant Director, Regeneration Project Officer and consultant from WSP provided the Panel with a presentation on the Active and Clean Towns Fund, as attached.  Also present at the meeting for this item was Brendan Legrove, Member of the Town Deal Board and Chair of the Active and Clean Travel Project Board.

The Chair thanked officers for the presentation and requested that presentation be made available to Members in advance of the meeting in the future.  The Chair invited questions and comments from members, as summarised below.

Councillor Bone raised concerns about the location of the hub and the budget available for it.  He acknowledged that the railway bridge needed widening.  He also felt that more consideration and consultation was needed on the gyratory options.  The Assistant Director set out the next steps and timescales and explained that there would be more consultation as the project was in the early stages.  The next step would be to achieve Towns Fund Business Case approval for delivery by 2024/2025.  The Assistant Director also clarified that there would be engagement with large employers.

Councillor Bambridge questioned if the Nar Ouse Enterprise Zome site was the right place for the hub and that more businesses needed to be involved in the process to encourage take up.  She was also concerned about proposals for Norfolk Street and how this could affect businesses in the area if vehicles were prohibited.  She supported proposals to slow traffic down on Railway Road as she felt it was dangerous.  The Assistant Director reminded Members that options were currently being looked to find the best balance and nothing had been agreed as yet.  Wider consultation would be carried out.

Councillor de Whalley commented that the pathways and cycle ways did not seem good value for money and that the proposed location was not right for the active travel hub.  He commented that the Ferry Service was in desperate need of investment to provide an active route into the town centre.  The Assistant Director explained that the comments from the Panel would be considered during the consultation stage and also made reference to the Local Cycle and Walking Infrastructure Plan, which extended beyond the works proposed in this programme and included further projects to improve cycling and walking routes.

Councillor Crofts asked if Hardings Way would be considered as an alternative route into the Town and the Assistant Director informed Councillor Crofts that his comments would be considered.

Councillor Jones commented that the railway station or Hardwick would be a better location for the hub.  He also made reference to cycle routes in North Lynn and felt that different routes needed considering.

Councillor Moriarty hoped that large employers would engage and hoped that the Borough Council would be one of those employers.  He thanked Brendan Legrove for his work on this and asked if background information on the proposals could be made available on the Town Deal Board Website.  ...  view the full minutes text for item RD111:

This item would now be considered in closed session later in the meeting.

No questions had been submitted in advance of the meeting.

The Chair advised that the work of the Guildhall and Creative Hub Task Group would be scheduled into the Work Programme and a site visit to the Guildhall would be arranged.

RESOLVED: The Panel’s Work Programme was noted.

To note that the next meeting of the Regeneration & Development Panel is scheduled to take place on 14^th June 2022 at 4.30pm in the Assembly Room, Town Hall, King’s Lynn.

The next meeting of the Regeneration and Development Panel would be held on 14^th June 2022 at 4.30pm in the Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.

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 to Scheduled 12A to the Act.

The Senior Housing Development Officer presented a project update on Town Centre Re-purposing which included, overview of the progress to date, potential acquisitions and alternative uses for sites.

The Chair thanked officers for the presentation and the Senior Housing Development Officer responded to questions on feasibility studies, specific premises and uses for vacant buildings.

The Portfolio Holder for Business, Culture and Heritage provided information on the processes for dealing with potential sites, the Towns Fund and finding the right balance to bring investment back into the Town Centre.

Councillor Moriarty requested that relevant information be provided on the relationship between the Council and Town Deal Board on this project and information to be provided on the Town Deal Board website as appropriate.

The Panel discussed vacant units, areas in the town centre and funding opportunities for the future.

RESOLVED: The information was noted and comments from the Panel to be taken into consideration as appropriate.

Vince Muspratt from Norfolk County Council was present at the meeting and provided the Panel with information on the Norfolk County Council Hub Project and the stage that it was at.

The Vice Chair, Councillor Gidney presented information on an alternative location for the hub, which was discussed by the Panel.

The Portfolio Holder for Business, Culture and Health acknowledged the comments made by the Panel and reminded them that the Hub was a Norfolk County Council project and was in its final stages.