Agenda and minutes

Those present held a minutes silence in respect of Councillor Gourlay who was a Member of the Regeneration and Development Panel and had recently passed away following a long and hard fought illness.

RESOLVED: That Councillor C J Crofts be appointed Vice Chairman for the meeting. 

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs Buck, Hodson, Howland, Rochford and Mrs Watson.

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 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 was none.

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.

The Chairman informed the Panel that he had asked for an update on the Riverfront under urgent business.  The update would be held in closed session and the Press and Public were excluded from the meeting for the update.

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, Heritage and Economic Development Manager provided the Panel with an update on the Riverfront.  He responded to questions from Members of the Panel.  The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Projects and Assets addressed the Panel.  He thanked them for their comments and explained that the Panel would be kept up to date as appropriate.

The Chairman thanked the Regeneration, Heritage and Economic Development Manager for the update.

RETURN TO OPEN SESSION.

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 Moriarty – RD106 and RD107.

If any.

The Chairman informed the Panel that he had been copied into a letter from King’s Lynn Civic Society making comments on planning application 16/02227/FM: construction of 82 dwellings, associated access roads, footways and new areas of public open space and associated external works and Lynnsport 1, PE30 2NB.

The Panel was informed that the correspondence would be taken into consideration as part of the normal planning application process and if Members were interested in viewing the correspondence they could do so through the Planning Portal on the Borough Council’s website.

The Regeneration, Heritage and Economic Development Manager presented the report.  He explained that King’s Lynn had been awarded a Coastal Community Team by Government following an application to bid from the DCLG.  The team’s main task was to produce an Economic Plan for King’s Lynn and the Cabinet report which had been presented to Members outlined the key steps.

The Regeneration, Heritage and Economic Development Manager drew Members’ attention to the template within the report which set out the arrangements for the Economic Plan, what it should include and identified challenges and opportunities.  Members were informed that there were two elements to the plan, the strategic side and the delivery side.  The Regeneration, Heritage and Economic Development Manager explained that the Economic Plan had to be submitted by the end of March.  An employer and business survey would be carried out to inform the plan.  Workshops with specific groups and consultation would also be carried out.

Membership of the Coastal Community Team was highlighted in paragraph seven of the report and would also include a representative from the Heritage Forum.

The Regeneration, Heritage and Economic Development Manager explained that the Economic Plan could present new opportunities and benefits which would enable the Council to attract additional resources and funds. 

The Chairman thanked the Regeneration, Heritage and Economic Development Manager for his report.  There were no questions from the Panel.

RESOLVED: That the Regeneration and Development Panel support the recommendations to Cabinet as follows:

It is recommended that Cabinet:

1. Accepts the Coastal Community Team Award for King’s Lynn.

2. Approves the Coastal Community Team’s proposed membership.

3. Delegates authority to the Executive Director for Commercial Services and the Regeneration, Heritage and Economic Development Manager in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Systems and Economic Development to form the Coastal Community Team and prepare the Economic plan for King’s Lynn.

4. Receives the Economic Plan for endorsement.

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”.

The information within the Heritage Action Zone report was now in the public domain and therefore the following item was considered in open session.

The Regeneration, Heritage and Economic Development Manager presented the report.  He explained that the Borough Council had been awarded Heritage Action Zone status by Historic England.  The award had been granted on an ‘in principle’ basis, subject to submission of a detailed Delivery Plan. 

The Regeneration, Heritage and Economic Development Manager explained that following a visit from Historic England’s Urban Panel, the Council were advised to apply for Heritage Action Zone status.  He explained that this was a new initiative and only ten places in the country had been granted Heritage Action Zone status.

The Regeneration, Heritage and Economic Development Manager provided the Panel with more information on what a Heritage Action Zone was and the key benefits, as set out in the report.  He explained that Heritage Action Zone areas would be priority areas for funding, although a strong business case would still be required, and nothing was guaranteed. 

The Panel was informed that a Delivery Plan would need to be in place by March 2017 and the zones would be launched, nationally, on 20^th March 2017.  Work would now be carried out to put together the Delivery Plan and regular meetings would continue with Historic England.

The Panel was referred to governance and management arrangements as set out in Appendix 3 and the Panel was informed that the Heritage Champion, Councillor Mrs Wright would also be involved.

The Chairman thanked the Regeneration, Heritage and Economic Development Manager for his report and invited questions and comments from the Panel.

Councillor Mrs Wright thanked all the officers involved for achieving Heritage Action Zone status.  She explained that the aim of a Heritage Action Zone was to achieve economic growth by using the historic environment as a catalyst.  She explained that the Council would have better access to bids, which would be a huge help to King’s Lynn.  The Regeneration, Heritage and Economic Development Manager explained that a strong business case would still be required to support bids and nothing was guaranteed.

Councillor Tyler asked how the Heritage Action Zone would fit in with existing plans for King’s Lynn and the Regeneration, Heritage and Economic Development Manager explained that they would work in synergy and the Heritage Action Zone Board would need to prioritise and manage projects and initiatives.  The Council would work with Historic England on the delivery plan, which would be a live document and could be amended if priorities changed.

Councillor Beales, Portfolio Holder for Corporate Projects and Assets explained that the Council had a very good working relationship with the Local Enterprise Partnerships.  He also thanked Councillor Mrs Wright as she had been very involved in the process and had organised the visit to King’s Lynn by Historic England’s Urban Panel.

Councillor Mrs Wright commented that she had terrific support from officers.  She also explained that she would ensure that the Regeneration and Development Panel were kept up to date on progress as appropriate.

RESOLVED: That the Regeneration and Development Panel support the recommendations to Cabinet  ...  view the full minutes text for item RD106:

The Chairman explained that Councillor Collingham had prepared a short presentation to the Panel which was an example of how an item could be considered by the Panel.

Councillor Collingham presented her ideas on how Panel meetings could be structured.  She highlighted the following:

·         Creating a SWOT analysis for items.

·         Strategic considerations.

·         Breakout groups.

·         Tabling questions in advance of the meeting.

·         Vote on recommendations to be presented to Cabinet as appropriate.

The Chairman thanked Councillor Collingham for her presentation and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.  He reminded the Panel that the topic used within the presentation was just an example.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Projects and Assets explained that it was important not to look at things in isolation and be aware of what was already happening.  Councillor Beales suggested that the Panel be involved in policy development at an early stage.

Councillor Collingham commented that it was important for the Panel to have knowledge of the data and policies already available, especially if they were being asked to make recommendations.

Councillor Wright encouraged Members of the Panel to attend Cabinet meetings or other meetings of the Council so that they could gain an insight of how decisions were considered and taken.

Councillors were reminded that any Member could attend any meeting of the Council and if they wished to speak at the meeting they could do so under Standing Order 34.  It was also suggested that Chairman of Panels could attend the Cabinet meetings to present any recommendations made by their Panels.  The suggestions made by Councillor Collingham were not constitutional issues, but procedural ones and the Panel could set out procedures for considering items.

The Chairman reminded those present that all Members of the Panel could suggest items for inclusion on the Work Programme.  The Panel was also reminded that the opposition were entitled to add one item to each Panel meeting for consideration.

Members of the Panel were reminded that an eform was 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.

The following items were suggested for addition to the work programme:

·         Coach trips to King’s Lynn

·         Tree Strategy

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 Wednesday 22^nd March 2017 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 would be held on Wednesday 22^nd March 2017 at 6.00pm in the Committee Suite, King’s Court, Chapel Street, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 1EX.