Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Collingham and Portfolio Holders Councillors Beales and Moriarty.

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 were no declarations of interest.

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.

There was none.

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 Ratcliffe was present remotely under Standing Order 34B.

There was none.

For the Chair to sign the Scrutiny and Audit Relationship Protocol.

RESOLVED: The Chair signed the Scrutiny and Audit Relationship Protocol.

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The External Representative from Discover King’s Lynn presented the Business Improvement District (BID) Business Plan outlining the BID’s achievements, proposed changes for the next term and the process for the upcoming ballot.

The Chair thanked the External Representative from Discover King’s Lynn for the report and presentation and invited questions and comments from Members, as summarised below.

The Chair asked a question about the service level agreement's continuity with future councils and the External Representative from Discover King’s Lynn confirmed the service agreements were reviewed annually.

Councillor Bone thanked the External Representative from Discover King’s Lynn for the presentation and for all their work.

Councillor Bubb queried the visibility of the Town Rangers, adding that he had not seen them in the town centre for over a year.  The External Representative from Discover King’s Lynn advised that the Rangers were regularly on duty, generally working from Tuesday to Saturday.  She explained that they spent the majority of their time out in the community, including visiting local businesses and addressing issues directly, and were therefore not always visible on the streets.  She confirmed that the Rangers had been on patrol that afternoon.

In response to comments from Councillor Bubb, the External Representative from Discover King’s Lynn advised they could investigate the feasibility of implementing self-funded town centre business maps at car park exits, similar to the Penrith model.

Councillor Hodson asked why footfall had increased.  The External Representative from Discover King’s Lynn explained that King's Lynn benefited from a number of factors which supported town centre activity.  These included its role as an important service centre with a large catchment area, a strong programme of events throughout the year, and a good mix of national retailers and independent businesses.  It was also noted that the town retained a number of banks, which distinguished it from many other towns and contributed to its ongoing attractiveness and footfall.

The Vice Chair, Councillor Osborne thanked the External Representative from Discover King’s Lynn for their work.  In response to a question from the Vice Chair, the External Representative from Discover King’s Lynn clarified that a voluntary fee of around £150 per year would grant access to subsidised training, market stalls, and continued use of BID services, with details to be finalised.

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Business commended the work of the Business Improvement District (BID), highlighting its significant contribution to the vibrancy and safety of King's Lynn town centre.  He added that the services provided represented good value, including through access to discounted training opportunities.  The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Business welcomed the reported retail crime detection rates and suggested that this achievement should be more widely promoted.

RESOLVED: That the Regeneration and Development Panel support the Business Improvement District Business Plan.

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The Planning Policy Manager presented the report on the Local Plan Scoping Consultation and outlined the new legislative framework and consultation process.

Members were advised that the new local plan system, introduced through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 and Local Plan Regulations 2026, required plans to be prepared within a 30-month period.  This process incorporated three stages of consultation (scoping, draft plan, and submission) alongside three gateway assessments to ensure progress remained on track.  It was noted that the Council had published its Notice of Intention and timetable, formally commencing the four-month plan preparation period.

The Chair thanked the Planning Policy Manager for the report and invited questions and comments from Members, as summarised below.

Members of the Panel highlighted the importance of providing member briefings to ensure all councillors were fully informed and able to support the consultation process.  

Councillor Blunt also emphasised the need for strong engagement with parish councils.

In response to questions from Councillor Bone, the Planning Policy Manager highlighted that particular emphasis was being placed on engaging groups that had historically been underrepresented in planning consultations, including young people, economically active residents and those experiencing deprivation.  The Planning Policy Manager explained officers had worked with colleagues in Communications to develop a programme of engagement activities including events at educational establishments, food banks and community venues, to maximise participation.  The Planning Policy Manager confirmed they would be engaging with community organisations as well.

In response to comments from the Chair, the Planning Policy Manager confirmed that officers were continuing to engage with Anglian Water regarding water infrastructure requirements, that a local housing needs assessment had been commissioned, and that the Council would continue to respond to emerging national planning policy and legislative changes as the Local Plan progressed.

RESOLVED: That the Regeneration and Development Panel support the recommendations to Cabinet, as set out below.

Cabinet resolves to:

1)    Agree that the Local Plan Scoping Consultation takes place for 4 weeks, from 1 to 29 September 2026 (inclusive), to comply with the legislation, Government direction, and the Borough Council’s Local Plan Timetable.

2)    The final Scoping Consultation material be agreed by the Assistant Director for Planning under delegated powers in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Licensing.

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The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Business introduced the item and reminded Members that it had previously considered the matter on two occasions, most recently in March 2026 when the recommendations were approved.  The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Business explained that, during its consideration of the application, the Planning Committee had raised questions relating to operational matters and requested that the item be referred back to the Panel for further scrutiny.  It was explained that this additional review had been undertaken in the interests of openness and transparency and provided the Panel with a further opportunity to examine the proposals before progressing the matter.

The Principal Project Manager presented an update on the Kings Lynn Enterprise Zone Active Travel Hub which addressed planning committee concerns about usage, design, safety, and operations.

The Principal Project Manager advised Members that the presentation being delivered was substantially the same as the version published with the agenda.  It was noted that only minor amendments had been made to the circulated presentation, and Members were informed that the final version would be included with the minutes.

The Chair thanked the Principal Project Manager and the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Business for the report and presentation and invited questions and comments from Members, as summarised below.

Councillor Heneghan asked whether it was possible to expand the site and raised concerns around antisocial behaviour and additionally asked whether CCTV would be installed.  The Principal Project Manager confirmed that the initial phase of the Active Travel Hub would provide 43 parking spaces, with capacity for additional spaces to be delivered in the future should demand increase.  Comprehensive CCTV coverage, secure access controls and automatic entry systems would be installed to deter anti-social behaviour and protect users' property.

The Assistant Director for Environment and Planning reminded those members of the Regeneration and Development Panel sitting on the Planning Committee, to remember the rules around predetermination, and to take care in any comments made.  In addition in response to a question from Councillor Blunt, he also advised that if there was a vote on the matter, his view was that they ought to err on the side of caution, and not take part in any vote.

Members raised concerns about the impact of parking charges on hub usage and the Principal Project Manager confirmed that charging and membership models, were still under development.

Councillor Heneghan expressed the need for integrated bus services.

In response to questions and comments from Members, the Principal Project Manager explained the project was designed to be well-positioned for future funding opportunities, with flexibility for expansion, coach parking, and integration with bus and cycle hire schemes.

In response to questions and comments from Councillor Bubb, the Principal Project Manager confirmed that operational details such as cleaning regimes, car park dimensions and provision for larger vehicles were still under development.

Councillor Colwell expressed support for the application.  Councillor Colwell suggested that  ...  view the full minutes text for item RD22:

RESOLVED: The Panel’s Work Programme and the Forward Decisions List was noted.

To note that the next meeting of the Regeneration & Development Panel is scheduled to take place on 30^th September 2026 at 6.00pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall.

The next meeting of the Regeneration and Development Panel was scheduled to take place on 30^th September 2026 at 6.00pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.