Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Kunes, Long, Rochford and Tilbrook.

RESOLVED:  That Councillor M Howland be appointed as Vice-Chairman for the meeting.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting.

RESOLVED: The minutes from the Regeneration and Development Panel Meeting held on 27^th July 2016 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 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 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.

Councillor D Pope – items RD48, RD49, RD50 and RD52.

Councillor Mrs A Wright – item RD52.

If any.

The Chairman reported that a speaker Mike Barker had offered to give a talk to the Panel on Trees and Planning.  It was hoped that this would take place on 22 September 2016 at the Town Hall.  The Chairman added that the invite would be extended to all Councillors and he hoped that as many would attend as possible.

The LDF Manager explained that the report on the Examination into the King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Local Plan had been published  The report had been sent to all Councillors and published on the website. 

The report was in two parts – the Inspectors findings and then an appendix of his main modifications.  The Inspector had concluded that subject to the modifications contained within the appendix, the plan was ‘sound’.

The LDF Manager then went through some of the modifications and highlighted that the Inspector wanted the Council to confirm to a commitment of an early review of the local plan.  The Inspector also wanted the introduction of greater flexibility in the housing allocations policies.  In addition, 4 new allocations had been put forward.

The Inspectors report would be presented to Cabinet on 7 September 2016.  Once the Plan had been adopted by Council, it would be the starting point for decisions on planning applications and would give the Council added weight in relation to the 5 year land supply calculation.

The LDF Manager explained that the review of the Plan and Core Strategy was well under way.

The Portfolio Holder for Development commented that this was the end of long journey, which he had been a part of for the last 12 months.  He wanted to thank everyone who had been part of the process, in particular Councillor Mrs Spikings and the LDF Task Group, who had put in a lot of work in assessing all the sites.  He added that he had found the Inspector’s analysis intriguing and felt that the Council had done a good job resulting in the Inspector concluding that the plan was sound.  He reiterated that work had already started on reviewing the Plan.

In response to a question, the LDF Manager outlined to the Panel the timetable for the review of the Plan.

RESOLVED:  That the update be noted.

The LDF Manager explained that the minutes of the meeting held on 25 August 2016 had been published today.  He gave an update to the Panel of what had been discussed at the meeting.

The Portfolio Holder for Development explained that at the meeting on 25 August 2016 only 3 members attended.  He therefore suggested that the size of the Task Group should be increased to 9 members.

In response to question, the LDF Manager explained that self-build would be exempt from CIL, as directed by Government.

The Portfolio Holder for Development explained that the wording in the Act was not always that clear, there was a lot of information to go through and it was very early days.  He hoped that there would be more to report in 2 months’ time.

RESOLVED: (i) The Regeneration and Development Panel increase the size of the Task Group from five Members to nine Members.  This would include 7 Conservative, 1 Labour and 1 Independent to be proportional.

(ii) The Custom Build and Self Build Policy Development Task Group’s Terms of Reference be amended to reflect the increase of membership.

(iii) That the Group Leaders be contacted by the Democratic Services Officer to ask for their nominations for additional Members to the Task Group.

The Regeneration Programmes Manager gave a presentation to the Panel on the HLF – Hunstanton Heritage Gardens Update.  A copy of the presentation is attached to the minutes.

The Chair then invited questions from the Panel, which are summarised below.

The Regeneration Programmes Manager explained that work would be carried out on a phased basis to avoid disruption to the peak tourist season.

In response to a question regarding toilets in Hunstanton, the Executive Director, Commercial Services explained that this was an item on the agenda for the Environment & Community Panel Meeting tomorrow night.  He confirmed that it was proposed to refurbish the Esplanade and Bowling Green Toilets.

In relation to the Butterfly Shelters, the Regeneration Programmes Manager explained that the structure of the shelters would have to remain as existing with parts refurbished or replaced subject to further investigation on their condition. However different roofing materials were being considered and the drainage would be looked at as part of the detailed design.

The Panel was informed that the siting of the statue was being looked into, as it had to be within the HLF boundary.

Under Standing Order 34, Councillor Pope made reference to cost of the scheme and that Hunstanton Town Council had contributed £3,020.

The Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Industrial Assets explained that this scheme was part of an allocated budget and part of the Hunstanton Master Plan.  He made reference to the fact that the town had been extremely busy day after day, and this was a purpose built Victorian resort.  He added that the regenerative and commercial impact would be increased, and he was delighted that this scheme would be going ahead.  He also thanked the community representatives and officers involved in the scheme and that the idea of the statue had come from the community and funded largely from them.

The Chair congratulated those involved in obtaining the funding from the HLF.

RESOLVED:  That, the update be noted.

The Regeneration and Economic Development Manager and Regeneration Programmes Manager gave a presentation to the Panel on the Riverfront Delivery Plan.

The Regeneration and Economic Development Manager explained that car parking, transport and access to the area would be part of the brief.

In relation to residents groups being invited as key stakeholders, the Regeneration and Economic Development Manager explained to the Panel that some local residents already had ideas as to what they would like to see, however, the idea was to inform people of the site constraints, etc and be able to put various options in front of them.

The issue of parking and marketing of the heritage area was raised, and the need for buses to be able to drop people off close to the heritage area rather than Austin Fields was essential, and the use of Boal Quay was suggested.  However, it was acknowledged that Boal Quay was earmarked for residential development in the Local Plan. 

The Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Industrial Assets disagreed with the comment that there was no marketing of King’s Lynn taking place.  He explained that Boal Quay was an allocated site but this would not be looked at in isolation.  He added that this was a real opportunity for this area of King’s Lynn.

The Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and Health explained that the Council did have a Tourism Department and King’s Lynn itself was being heavily promoted.  Lots of initiatives had taken place such as the Amiens Funding light projections, summer classical music festival and other outdoor events, all of which was making King’s Lynn being known as a festival town.  She assured the Panel that King’s Lynn was being marketed more than in the past.

The Chair welcomed the update and added that the north section of the riverfront should not be ignored.  He also stated that there had been places in the past where overdevelopment had taken place.

RESOLVED:  That, the update be noted.

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 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.

The Regeneration and Economic Development Manager presented a report which explained that in June 2016, Historic England launched the Heritage Action Zone (HAZ).  The aim of the HAZ was to stimulate economic growth in historic places and make heritage assets more productive.  The Regeneration and Economic Development Manager outlined the range of support, eligibility and key issues.

The Panel also had two options to consider:

Option 1 – submit a King’s Lynn wide proposal;

Option 2 – submit an area based proposal.

In accordance with Standing Order 34, Councillor Mrs Wright addressed the Panel and stated that this was an excellent opportunity for King’s Lynn. She asked whether the proposal could include areas of deprivation.

Councillor Pope addressed the Panel in accordance with Standing Order 34 and made reference to the Urban Renaissance Strategy.

RESOLVED:  (1)        That the Panel selected Option 1 – submit a King’s Lynn wide proposal for further consideration and debate.

(2)        That the comments of the Panel be noted.

Members of the Panel were reminded that there was an eform available on the intranet which could be completed and submitted if Members had items which they would like to be considered for addition to the Work Programme.

RESOLVED: The Panel’s Work Programmes was noted.

To note that the next meeting of the Regeneration & Development Panel is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 19^th October 2016 at 6.00pm in the Committee Suite, King’s Court, Chapel Street, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 1EX.

The next meeting of the Regeneration and Development Panel was scheduled to take place on Wednesday 19^th October 2016 at 6.00pm in the Committee Suite, King’s Court, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 1EX.

Further details about the talk scheduled for 22^nd September 2016 would be circulated.