Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors R Blunt, I Devereux, P Hodson, B Long, P Kunes, T Smith and Mrs E 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.

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.

Councillor L Bambridge – RD100 and RD102

Councillor T Bubb – RD102 and RD103

Councillor Mrs S Fraser – RD103

Councillor G Hipperson – RD102 and RD103

Councillor D Pope – all items.

If any.

The Chairman referred to the exempt item which would be considered by the Panel later on in the meeting – Report of the Guildhall Informal Working Group.  He also referred to an item in the press highlighting that the item was to be considered in closed session.  He reminded all those present that no decisions would be made on the future of the Guildhall at this meeting and the report being presented was an interim report of the Informal Working Group; they had not yet finished their work. The report was being discussed in closed session as there were businesses and organisations associated with or using the site and financial matters may also be discussed.  A final report would be presented in due course which would be considered by the relevant Portfolio Holder.  The Executive Director explained that a press release would be issued after the meeting.

The Senior Policy and Performance Officer presented the report which monitored progress against agreed performance indicators for the year.  The Panel was reminded that in January 2018, following recommendations from the Scrutiny Structures Task Group, Cabinet had agreed that Panels should consider their own indicators.  The Senior Policy and Performance Officer explained that twelve performance indicators were within the remit of the Regeneration and Development panel and these were included in the report.  There were two indicators which had not met target as follows, and a mitigation plan was in place to address issues:

-        CO4 - % of rent arrears on industrial estates

-        CO6 - % of rent arrears on retail/general units.

The Chairman thanked the Senior Policy and Performance Officer for his report.  There were no questions from the Panel.

RESOLVED: The Panel agreed the actions outlined in the Action Report.

A copy of the draft Cultural Prospectus is included in the Agenda.  Officers will give a short presentation to set out the context for the document.

The Executive Director presented the Cultural Prospectus, a copy of which had been circulated with the Agenda.  A copy of his presentation is attached.

It was explained that the trigger for the Prospectus was the failed HLF bid for the Guildhall.  The Prospectus would be used to assist with engagement with key partners and potential co-investors and assist with an application to become a National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) through the Arts Council.

The Executive Director explained that following consideration and comments from the Regeneration and Development Panel, the Cultural Prospectus would then be presented to Cabinet.

The Chairman thanked the Executive Director for his presentation and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

Councillor Bambridge addressed the Panel under Standing Order 34.  She commented that there was no mention of local organisations running activities, the work carried out with existing organisations and work in Schools.  She also commented that the Prospectus needed proofing before it was finalised.  The Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and Health, Councillor Mrs Nockolds explained that, with Arts Mark, a Board was being set up with representatives from Secondary and Primary Schools, Museums and other groups who worked with young people.  She also explained that work was ongoing with Festival Bridge and Garage with hard to reach young people.  The Portfolio Holder also made reference to financial assistance grants which had been provided to local organisations.

In response to a question from Councillor Middleton, it was explained that NPO’s ran for a four year period.  There was other funding which was available from the Arts Council, and additional funding opportunities could be looked at alongside the NPO.

Councillor Mrs Collingham referred to Look Sideways East.  The Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and Health, Councillor Mrs Nockolds explained that this was a New Anglia LEP Cultural Board initiative to develop cultural tourism across Norfolk and Suffolk.  The Borough Council and the Festival had been identified as one of the areas to benefit from the development of the cultural economy across the tourism and culture sectors.

The Vice Chairman, Councillor Mrs Wright commented that no mention had been made to how big houses such as Houghton made a contribution to Heritage and the Arts and suggested that case studies could be included in the Prospectus.

RESOLVED: The Panel supported the Cultural Prospectus.

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 items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

The Regeneration Programmes Manager provided the Panel with a presentation on options for potential development/improvement of the Pontoons.

The Chairman thanked the Regeneration Programmes Manager for her presentation and invited questions and comments from the Panel. 

Councillor Hipperson addressed the Panel under Standing Order 34.  He referred to other ports in the area, the lack of facilities in King’s Lynn, inland waterways and ideas for future development.

The Panel discussed potential enhancements to the Pontoons, links to the Waterfront Development, potential investment/funding opportunities, tourism and the riverfront.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Projects and Assets, Councillor Beales, explained that options would be developed and a feasibility study would be carried out.  He thanked the Panel for their input.

The Chairman suggested that an Informal Working Group be established to look at potential future enhancements to the Pontoons, Sail the Wash, use of the river and inland waterways.  The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Projects and Assets welcomed this proposal. 

RESOLVED: 1. The Panel supported Option 3 as detailed in the presentation, which was to develop the facility/service.

2. An Informal Working Group be established to look at the use of the River with its Terms of Reference being to investigate the future of the Pontoons, Sail the Wash, use of the river and inland waterways.  Councillors Mrs Collingham, M Howland and G Hipperson to be appointed to the Informal Working Group and any other Members interested in participating in the Group to contact the Chairman, Councillor Gidney.

Councillor Mrs Wright, Chairman of the Informal Working Group presented the report.  She explained that this was an interim report of the Informal Working Group as their work was still ongoing.  Councillor Mrs Wright thanked officers, the Portfolio Holder and the Members of the Informal Working Group for all of their input.  She explained that the Informal Working Group had met regularly and had invited organisations involved in the Guildhall to meetings to put forward their ideas and vision for the future of the Guildhall.  Councillor Mrs Wright summarised the work of the Informal Working Group and some of the ideas they had come up with so far. 

The Principal Project Surveyor had summarised the preferred options of the Informal Working Group in a Presentation, which was presented to the Panel.

The Chairman thanked Councillor Mrs Wright, Members of the Informal Working Group, and officers for the work carried out and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

The Panel discussed the preferred options and it was explained that a disability access audit was carried out as part of the last HLF bid and any proposals would be accessible.  It was also explained that there was sufficient car parking in the town centre should activity on the site increase, as it would mainly be during the evening, and there was car parking provision on Common Staithe Quay which was not usually full in the evening.  It was also explained that the National Trust would be involved in any development and consent would be required from them and Historic England if a lift was to be added to the Guildhall.

It was also explained that the Cultural Prospectus had links to the future of the Guildhall and could help to lever in funding and increase activity on the site.  The Panel was informed that proposals were broad at the moment and preferred options would be investigated for feasibility, before any further bids for funding were considered. 

Members of the Informal Working Group thanked the Chairman of the Informal Working Group, Councillor Mrs Wright and explained that the main focus of the group was to look at a vision of the site and do something different on the site. 

RESOLVED: 1. The Panel noted the update from the Informal Working Group and that a final report would be presented to the Panel in due course.

2. That the Informal Working Group can continue to meet until its work is completed.

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.

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 Tuesday 22^nd May 2018 at 6pm, in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.

The next meeting of the Regeneration and Development Panel would be held on Tuesday 22^nd May 2018 at 6.00pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.