Agenda and minutes

The Chair informed the Panel that the meeting was being broadcast live on You Tube.

The recording of the meeting is available here.

To receive any apologies for absence.

There was none.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting.

RESOLVED: The minutes from the previous meeting were agreed as a correct record.

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 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.  

Councillors Holmes, Sampson, Rust and Ryves.

If any.

There was none.

To receive information from the Regeneration Programmes Manager and the Lead Project Officer from Norfolk County Council.

Click here to view the recording of this item.

The Regeneration Programmes Manager and officers from Norfolk County Council presented the Panel with information on the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan.  A copy of their presentation is attached. 

The Chair thanked the officers for the information and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

In response to questions from Councillor de Whalley, Matt Haywood outlined the opportunities for cycling and walking for commuter journeys.  He also explained that design guides would be used which could include segregations, traffic calming and priority crossings as necessary.  Each route would be looked at to see what infrastructure was possible and what met the standards. 

It was also explained that the plan was currently being finalised and that further consultation could be held on the details of specific schemes within the plan, as appropriate.  It was hoped that the plan would be finalised by the end of the financial year.

In response to a question from Councillor Bambridge, it was explained that the specific detail on infrastructure for areas would come later once the overall plan had been finalised.

Councillor Rust addressed the Panel under Standing Order 34.  She made comments that workplaces did not always have adequate changing facilities for those who wanted to walk or cycle to work.  She also referred to lighting along routes and Matt Haywood explained that lighting would be looked at as part of the plan. 

Councillor Morley asked when the next level of detail would be available, including costs.  Matt Haywood explained that future work would set out indicative costs and cost benefits.  He also explained that the plan would be used in order to make the most of any potential future funding opportunities.

Councillor Holmes addressed the Panel under Standing Order 34.  He raised concern that the plan was very King’s Lynn centric.

Councillor Ryves addressed the Panel under Standing Order 34.  He asked what would be considered as part of the cost benefit analysis and Matt Haywood provided detail of the aspects that would be considered as part of the appraisal.

The Chair, Councillor Collingham raised concern that funding was not guaranteed, but acknowledged that it was important to have the plan developed in readiness for future funding opportunities.  Matt Haywood explained that it was unknown what funds would be available from Government in the future and if the bid process would be competitive, however plans were encouraged by the Department for Transport in readiness for future funding opportunities.

RESOLVED: The update was noted and the Panel requested to be kept up to date when further detail was available.

To receive a verbal update on progress.

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The Planning Policy Manager presented the update.

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

Councillor Parish, Chair of the CIL Governance Task Group addressed the Panel and raised concerns that although the model for delivering CIL was in place, it had not yet been launched because of advice, which was awaited, on how monitoring would take place.

Councillor Blunt, Portfolio Holder for Development, explained that he would chase the issue up, request advice on the establishment monitoring panel and look to launch the scheme as soon as possible.

Councillor Bone suggested that Members of the CIL Task Group should be involved in the Monitoring Panel.

Councillor Manning commented that it was important to get the system launched so that Parishes could benefit from funds.

Councillor Spikings commented that it could be frustrating to landowners and developers who had paid CIL and Parishes had been unable to utilise the funds.  She hoped that the system would launch as soon as possible.

Councillor de Whalley commented that it was important to engage with Parishes so that they were aware of the opportunities available to them.

Councillor Blunt explained that he would take the comments from the Panel forward and work to obtain the relevant advice on the establishment of the Monitoring Panel to get the scheme launched as all the work to enable the scheme to be launched had been completed and agreed by Cabinet.

RESOLVED: Councillor Blunt, on behalf of the Panel, to ensure that the CIL system was launched as soon as possible and the Monitoring Panel was established, to enable the scheme to deliver CIL to commence and report back to the Panel as necessary.

To receive information from the Regeneration Programmes Manager.

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The Regeneration Programmes Manager provided the Panel with information on Tourism Support Grants as attached.

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

Councillor Spikings thanked officers for their hard work, and raised concerns relating to Hunstanton. 

Councillor Bambridge raised concerns relating to access to the toilets at Old Hunstanton and ownership of the area.  

The Regeneration Programmes Manager agreed to pass onto the Operational Team as appropriate.

Councillor Morley felt that there was a disparity in where the money was spent in the Borough.  Councillor Nockolds, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and Health informed the Panel that the grants had been promoted to all businesses.

In response to a question from Councillor Patel it was confirmed that European funding was used in the project and the appropriate logos were displayed on the posters.  She also confirmed that the posters would be offered to Parishes, businesses and used in Borough Council areas as appropriate.

RESOLVED: The update was noted.

To receive a verbal update following the session the Panel held at the previous meeting, putting forward suggestions for the Action Plan.

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The Regeneration Programmes Manager provided the Panel with an update on the Public Realm Action Plan.

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

Councillor Bambridge commented that trees could cause problems with the historical drains in the town centre.  She also asked if Norfolk County Council would contribute to paving repairs.  The Regeneration Programmes Manager explained that the Council was working with Norfolk County Council.

Councillor Morley asked if there was a backup plan if funding was unavailable.  The Regeneration Programmes Manager provided information on funding opportunities available now and in the future. 

RESOLVED: The update was noted.

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 23^rd February 2021.

The date of the next meeting was to be confirmed as it was noted that some meetings may need to be cancelled to enable the Council to deal with the Covid-19 response.

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 12 A to the Act.

To receive a verbal update from officers.

The Assistant Director and Regeneration Programmes Manager provided the Panel with an update and responded to questions from Members.

The Portfolio Holder for Business Development also addressed the Panel.

RESOLVED: The update was noted.