Agenda and minutes

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RESOLVED: That Councillor Bone be appointed Vice Chair of the Panel for the municipal year 2023/2024.

To receive any apologies for absence.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Bubb.

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 Chair.

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.  

There was none.

If any.

There was none.

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The Panel considered the appointment of Members to serve on the Informal Working Groups and Task groups, which had previously been established by the Panel, for the municipal year 2023/24.

The Assistant Director provided the Panel with an update of the work of the Custom and Self Build Task Group which had been formed in 2016 and the Guildhall and Creative Hub Task Group.

The Panel agreed that the Terms of Reference for the Task Groups and Informal Working Groups should be reviewed and these would be presented to a future meeting of the Panel for consideration.

RESOLVED:

1. That the Custom and Self Build Policy Development Task Group continues to operate as a 5 Member Task Group and the Democratic Services Officer be instructed to seek Membership of the Task Group from Group Leaders for the 2023/2024 municipal year.

1. That the Guildhall and Creative Hub Task Group continues to operate as a 5 Member Task Group and the Democratic Services Officer be instructed to seek Membership of the Task Group from Group Leaders for the 2023/2024 municipal year.

3. That the Tourism Informal Working Group remain established and the Chair liaise with the Chair of the Environment and Community Panel to finalise Membership.  The following Members from the Panel were interested in sitting on the group:

-        Councillor Bone

-        Councillor Bearshaw

-        Councillor Heneghan

-        Councillor Collingham

-        Councillor Dickinson

-        Councillor Rust

-        Councillor Beal

4. That the Terms of Reference for the above Task Groups and Informal Working Group be brought to a future meeting of the Regeneration and Development Panel for review.

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Officers provided the Panel with an update on the Town Investment Plan and Town Deal Board Projects.  A copy of their presentation is attached.

The Panel were also reminded that a Town Deal Board briefing session for all Councillors had been scheduled for 27^th September.

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

Councillor Heneghan asked if any elements of the project could still be amended and officers explained that the detail of the projects and options could be, but they needed to meet the outcomes and outputs that had been agreed with Government.  It was explained that there was still detailed design and phasing work to be carried out and all funds had to been spent by the deadline of March 2026 as per Government requirements.

In response to questions from Councillor Colwell, it was explained that further reprioritisation could take place if necessary.  Design costs, in conjunction with phasing would also have to be agreed and a report would be brought to Cabinet early 2024.

In response to a further question from Councillor Colwell, the Regeneration Programmes Manager explained that in terms of the performance review process carried out by Government, this involved completion of a spreadsheet, which had just been submitted for the October to March period.  The 2022/23 performance review had passed and the 2023/24 tranche of payments would be released.

Councillor Heneghan referred to Programme Management Costs and it was clarified that these included Legal and Communications support and key staff costs, such as  a Project Accountant.

In response to a question from the Chair, it was confirmed that the Metro Dynamics Economic Data was still relevant, but could be reviewed and further work to put together a wider Economic Growth Strategy could be carried out if required.

The Cabinet Member for Development and Regeneration thanked officers for the presentation which he felt benefitted new and existing Councillors as a refresh.  He referred to the successful School of Nursing and suggested that a tour of the facility could be arranged for new Councillors.

Councillor Collingham referred to the Town Investment Plan and the figures contained within it.  Officers explained that the Town investment Plan had been prepared in 2021 and was correct at that point in time, but following the reprioritisation exercise costs had been amended.  Up to date financial information was available within the Business Case which was available to view at kings lynn guildhall and creative hub 240622 (visionkingslynn.co.uk)

Information was provided on the cost of the Guildhall and Creative Hub Project, the unsuccessful Heritage Lottery Fund Bid, and the previous agreement of Council to underwrite the shortfall.  Officers explained that alternative sources of funding were being explored and an options paper would be presented to Council in early 2024.

In response to a question from Councillor Rust, it was confirmed that the Council’s budget did include the underwriting provision  ...  view the full minutes text for item RD9:

Please submit any questions to democratic.services@west-norfolk.gov.uk in advance of the meeting.

No questions had been submitted in advance of the meeting.

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Members of the Panel put forward the below items for addition to the Work Programme:

-        Southgates Masterplan Development Plan.

-        Local Plan

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 25^th July 2023, time to be confirmed.

The next meeting of the Regeneration and Development Panel would be held on 25^th July 2023, time to be confirmed.