Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Long, A Tyler 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.

Councillor Smith declared an interest in RD25: Derelict Land and Buildings Update.

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.

There was none.

If any.

The Chairman informed the Panel that he had received correspondence from Borough Councillors and County Councillor Kemp regarding the King’s Lynn Transport Study.  The correspondence had been copied to Members of the Regeneration and Development Panel and would be passed onto the relevant officers.

The Chairman of the Business Improvement District will be attending the meeting.

A copy of the Business Improvement Districts Business Plan is attached for background information.

The Business Manager introduced Darren Taylor, Chairman of the Business Improvement District (BID) to the meeting. 

Darren Taylor provided Members with information on how the BID was formed and the work that it had been doing (as attached).  He also outlined the importance of the BID and the Borough Council working together for the benefit of the town centre.

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

Councillor Crofts commented that he felt that bus trips into the town centre should be promoted more.  He provided examples of bus trips to other locations, but commented that there were not many that came into King’s Lynn.  He asked if this was something that the BID had been looking at.  Darren Taylor explained that the BID had not looked into this, but he would ask the BID Manager to carry out some research.

In response to a question from Councillor Smith regarding empty shops and new businesses, Darren Taylor explained that compared to some areas King’s Lynn was not doing too badly with regards to the amount of empty units, however it was important to continually encourage new businesses into the area and ensure that the town centre was vibrant and busy in order to retain existing businesses.

Councillor Baron Chenery of Horsbrugh referred to the rail services and Darren Taylor explained that, on behalf of the BID, he was pushing for the more frequent services and longer trains into King’s Lynn. 

The Panel made comments about the importance of continuing to promote King’s Lynn.  Darren Taylor agreed that promotion and marketing was very important and this was something that the BID was looking at.  He commented that King’s Lynn had a lot to offer, had been invested in and held very good events. 

RESOLVED: The update was noted.

An update will be provided to the Panel before the Panel is invited to take part in a Workshop Session to identify ideas and issues relating to the King’s Lynn Transport Study.

The LDF Manager provided the Panel with information on the progress of the King’s Lynn Transport Study.  He explained that the Borough Council and Norfolk County Council were working together on transport issues.

Ian Parkes from Norfolk County Council was present at the meeting and he explained that the project had been jointly funded by the Borough Council, Norfolk County Council and the Business Rates Pool.  He explained that the study would last approximately one year, and the start had been slightly delayed because of the roadworks to the Saddlebow Interchange.  Ian Parkes informed the Panel that the study was nearing the end of the evidence gathering stage.  A Stakeholders Workshop had been held and at the meeting this evening Members of the Regeneration and Development Panel would be given the opportunity to put their comments and suggestions forward for consideration.

Ian Parkes explained that issues would be broken down into three themes; walking/cycling, public transport and private vehicles.  He explained that issues and suggestions raised by the panel would be added to the list of evidence and the next stage would be to assess all proposals and model testing.

The Panel made comments as follows:

(i) Walking/Cycling

·        King’s Lynn Ferry was important and car parking should be increased and improved on the West Lynn side.

·        The King’s Lynn side of the Ferry might be better at its old location where better access arrangements could be provided.

·        Some difficulties were experienced crossing busy main roads like Extons Road and Tennyson Road.

·        Southgates roundabout was not particularly pedestrian friendly.

·        Need more pedestrian crossings including signalised ones.

·        Issues of HGV using Wisbech Road and damaging verges.

·        Requirement for secure cycle parking located near CCTV cameras.

·        With regard to the King’s Lynn NCC cycle map there needed to be more done to encourage cycling.

·        Need cycle parking at the King’s Lynn Ferry.

·        Need cycle hire scheme.  Members were informed that there was a hire company running in Norwich and more information could be provided to Members.

·        An underpass under the railway at Tennyson Avenue to provide quick walking and cycling links to Morrisons to reduce car trips.

(ii) Public Transport

·        Not enough taxis on the rank at the Railway Station when a train arrives.

·        Need for a double track on a railway line and faster and more frequent trains.

·        Need a railway line to Hunstanton.

·        Need schools and hospitals to alter shift patterns to spread peak periods and possible earlier school start times.

·        Consider Park and Ride

·        Need later buses to serve the night time economy.

·        Improvements to Sunday bus services.

·        Better reliability of rail timetable.

·        Lines to be marked for cyclists on the busier routes in the Walks.

·        Park and Ride which used a heritage railway or tourist attraction.

Private Travel

·        Factor in the uptake in electric vehicles as this would help address air quality issues.  Look at charging provisions.

·        Bottlenecks on the network often give rise to gridlock so need emergency plans.

·        Add new roads into the network to reduce the  ...  view the full minutes text for item RD22:

The Regeneration Programmes Manager provided the Panel with a progress update on the NORA Enterprise Zone (as attached).

The Chairman thanked the Regeneration Programmes Manager for the update and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

In response to a question from Councillor Smith, the Regeneration Programmes Manager explained that the buildings had been designed to be as flexible as possible, for example they could be extended, floor heights could be modified and mezzanine floors added.

The Vice Chairman, Councillor Kunes asked if the Internal Drainage Board would be moving to the site.  The Regeneration Programmes Manager explained that their plot was outside of the Enterprise Zone and they had planning consent.  Access would be from Horsleys Field.

In response to a question from Councillor Mrs Collingham, the Regeneration Programmes Manager clarified that the Enterprise Zone was focussed on growing and new businesses and businesses would be required to demonstrate this to be eligible for Business Rates relief. 

The Chairman, Councillor Gidney commented on the design of the site.  The Regeneration Programmes Manager explained that the density of the site was lower than originally planned and there was a mix of uses.  The layout had been designed so that it could be as flexible as possible.  The architects used were specialists in this type of design.

The Regeneration Programmes Manager explained that the planning consent would be subject to a travel plan being submitted to demonstrate cycleways, bus routes and access to the site.  It was also explained that the layout of the roads had been created by the use of specialist software and would be tested by a safety audit.

The Chairman, Councillor Gidney, requested that landscaping and planting be looked at to ensure that the site, which was close to the town centre, was attractive.

RESOLVED: The update was 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 paragraphs 1, 2 or 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 Programmes Manager presented the update.  She provided information on the work of the Derelict Land and Buildings Group, the processes involved and provided examples of high priority cases.

The Regeneration Programmes Manager encouraged Members to inform her if they were aware of any problem sites within their Ward.

The Chairman thanked the Regeneration Programmes Manager for the update.

RESOLVED: The update was noted.

The Chairman requested an update on the Railways be added 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 31^st July 2018 at 6.00pm 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 31^st July 2018 at 6.00pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.