Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs J Collingham, M Shorting and A Tyler.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting.

RESOLVED: The minutes from the meeting held on 6 January 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 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.

There was none.

If any.

There was none.

To receive comments and recommendations from other Council bodies, and any responses subsequent to recommendations, which the Panel has previously made.

At the Cabinet meeting on 12 January 2016, the following responses were made to the recommendations from the Regeneration and Development Panel Meeting on 6 January 2016, in respect of the following items:

RD20: Lynnsport Development

PANEL RECOMMENDED: That the Regeneration and Development Panel support the recommendations to Cabinet as set out in the report.

CABINET RESPONSE: The comments of the Panel were taken into account when Cabinet considered the item.

RD22: EXEMPT – Proposed Surgery Development King’s Lynn

PANEL RECOMMENDED: That the Regeneration and Development Panel support the recommendations to Cabinet as set out in the report.

CABINET RESPONSE: The comments of the Panel were taken into account when Cabinet considered the item.

RD23: EXEMPT – Nar Ouse Regeneration Area – proposed sale of land

PANEL RECOMMENDED: That the Regeneration and Development Panel support the recommendations to Cabinet as set out in the report.

CABINET RESPONSE: The comments of the Panel were taken into account when Cabinet considered the item.

RD24: EXEMPT – King’s Lynn Land Acquisition – Boal Quay and the Friars

PANEL RECOMMENDED: That the Regeneration and Development Panel support the recommendations to Cabinet as set out in the report.

CABINET RESPONSE: The comments of the Panel were taken into account when Cabinet considered the item.

RD25: EXEMPT – King’s Lynn Land Acquisition – Wisbech Road

PANEL RECOMMENDED: That the Regeneration and Development Panel support the recommendations to Cabinet as set out in the report.

CABINET RESPONSE: The comments of the Panel were taken into account when Cabinet considered the item.

The Panel noted the response made by Cabinet to the recommendations from the Resources and Performance Panel meeting held on 6 January 2016 in respect of the following items:

·         Lynnsport Development

·         Proposed Surgery Development – King’s Lynn

·         NORA – Proposed sale of land

·         King’s Lynn land acquisition – Boal Quay and the Friars

·         King’s Lynn land acquisition – Wisbech Road

The Regeneration Project Officer presented the report.  She reminded the Panel that they had previously received information on the project at their meeting in July 2015.  This report detailed the development of the stage 2 application for the Heritage Lottery Fund Parks for People funding programme for the Seafront Gardens and associated open spaces of the Green in Hunstanton.

The Panel were provided with plans of the scheme as attached.

The Chairman thanked the Regeneration Project Officer for the report and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

Councillor Bower thanked the officers involved in this project for their hard work in preparing the proposals.  She referred to one of the entrances to Esplanade Gardens opposite the Golden Lion and commented that she had noticed that sometimes it was difficult to access for people with wheelchairs or buggies. 

The Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and Health, Councillor Mrs Nockolds informed those present that she had visited the area recently and was surprised with the amount of people making use of the gardens, especially during the winter.  Therefore, it was important to ensure that the area remained fit for use with improvements to shelters and good quality seating areas.  She commented that the success of the Heritage Lottery Fund application was vital for the area.

Councillor Mrs Watson referred to the steps in the area and the current lack of handrails which could make access difficult.  The Regeneration Project Officer explained that, as part of the development work, an accessible route would be made available throughout the gardens.  Stepped areas would be improved and footpaths widened as required.

Councillor Crofts referred to the public conveniences outside of the café and asked what improvements would be carried out to them.  The Regeneration Project Officer explained that there were two sets of public conveniences within the area and both would undergo internal refurbishment along the same lines as the cliff top toilets.  Improvements would be made to the external façade and this was detailed within the Activities Plan.  The Executive Director, Commercial Services explained that £25,000 had been allocated for toilet refurbishment.  If the Stage 2 application was successful HLF funding could be levered in and £100,000 would be available for toilet refurbishment.

Councillor Bubb referred to a recent Safer Neighbourhood Action Panel meeting he had attended.  Issues relating to dog fouling and the need to keep dogs on leads in the area had been raised.  The Regeneration Project Officer explained that there were already dog bins in the area and on the clifftops and these were not in need of replacement.  The Executive Director, Commercial Services agreed to check the arrangements for dog control in the area. 

Following the meeting it was confirmed that the only area with a dog control zone was along the Seafront.  A plan showing the dog control areas in Hunstanton is attached to the Minutes.

In response to a question from Councillor Howland, it was confirmed that there were six sets of public conveniences  ...  view the full minutes text for item RD35:

To consider the Work Programme. 

In considering the Work Programme Members’ attention is drawn to the Cabinet Forward Decision List.

The Chairman referred to the Panel’s Work Programme and requested that Members of the Panel contact her if they had suggestions on items they would like to be considered.

RESOLVED: The Work Programme and forward decision list was noted.

To note that the next meeting of the Regeneration & Development Panel is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 24^th February 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 24^th February 2016 at 6.00pm in the Committee, Suite, King’s Court, Chapel Street, King’s Lynn, PE30 1EX.