Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED: That Councillor Howland be appointed Vice Chairman for the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs K Mellish and A Tyler.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting.

RESOLVED:  The minutes from the Regeneration and Development Panel meeting held on 27 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 were 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 were none.

If any.

There was none.

None.

There were none.

To receive an update from representatives from Norfolk County Council Highways.

The Chairman welcomed Quentin Brogdale, Resident Engineer from Norfolk County Council to the meeting, who provided the Panel with an update on Highways works.

A copy of the Resident Engineers presentation is attached.

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

The following issues and queries were raised by Members of the Panel and the Resident Engineer agreed to investigate and feedback responses to the Panel:

·         Councillor Kunes asked for clarification on what the cameras, which had recently been installed along the A17, would be used for.  Following the meeting it was confirmed that they were average speed cameras and would be deployed shortly.

·         Councillor Whitby asked why some kerbs had been reset shortly after a pedestrian crossing scheme on Castle Rising Road in South Wootton.  Following the meeting the Resident Engineer explained that the resetting could be the alteration works to the radii following complaints and an Audit.

·         Councillor Crofts referred to the Highways Ranger scheme and asked if they were responsible for clearing polythene out of bushes, which often looked unsightly.  The Executive Director explained that this was the responsibility of the Borough Council.  He explained that resources available were an issue, but perhaps certain problem areas could be targeted.

·         Councillor Mrs Collingham commended the regular updates she received from Norfolk County Council on Highways Works.  The Democratic Services Officer agreed to pass on all Borough Councillor email addresses to Norfolk County Council Highways, so that Members who did not already receive the updates could be added to the distribution list.

·         Councillor Mrs Watson commented that Ragwort was more prevalent on verges and felt that it needed controlling as it was poisonous to horses.

·         Councillor Mrs Watson informed those present that the Coast Hopper Service Schedule did not fit in with services from the Railway Station.  The Resident Engineer commented that it was a shame that services were not co-ordinated and agreed to investigate.

·         Councillor Mrs Watson referred to the slip road at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital roundabout.  The Resident Engineer informed the Panel that County was considering how to improve driver visibility.

·         Councillor Baron Chenery of Horsbrugh asked if free road closures would be available for the Queen’s 90^th Birthday Celebrations.  The Executive Director reminded the Panel that a small grant scheme was available within the Borough and agreed to investigate if road closures would be available.

·         Councillor Baron Chenery of Horsbrugh referred to weeds growing down the middle of rural roads and the Resident Engineer explained that only weakened substances could be used to spray on the weeds due to potential run off and contamination of water courses.

Various Members commended the work carried out by the Highways Rangers.

The Chairman thanked the Resident Engineer for attending the meeting.

RESOLVED: The update was noted.

The Chairman invited the Panel to put forward any suggestions of training or updates which could be provided in the future.

Councillor Tilbury commented that it would be important to arrange training following the introduction of new Scrutiny arrangements.

The Chairman, Councillor Mrs Wright referred to the Induction Sessions which had been arranged following the Borough Election in May and commented that she found them very useful.  She suggested that refresher sessions could be held.

Councillor Kunes reminded the Panel that several IT Training Sessions had been arranged throughout March 2016.

Councillor Baron Chenery of Horsbrugh commended the training which had already been offered to Members and commented that Members needed to make the effort to attend the sessions which he had found very useful.

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.

Councillor Tilbury referred to the report of the Scrutiny Structures Task Group which would be considered by Cabinet in April and requested that the report be presented to the Panel for consideration prior to consideration by Cabinet.

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 23^rd March 2016 at 4.00pm 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 23 March 2016 at 4.00pm in the Research Room, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.