Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King's Lynn PE30 5DQ. View directions

Contact: Rebecca Parker, Democratic Services, 01553 616632 

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Items
No. Item

RD65:

Apologies for absence

To receive any apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Collingham, Lintern and Ratcliffe.

RD66:

Minutes pdf icon PDF 279 KB

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting.

Minutes:

RESOLVED: The minutes from the previous meeting were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

RD67:

Declarations of Interest pdf icon PDF 128 KB

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.

Minutes:

There was none.

RD68:

Urgent Business

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.

Minutes:

There was none.

RD69:

Members Present Pursuant to Standing Order 34

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.  

 

Minutes:

There was none.

RD70:

Chair's Correspondence

If any.

Minutes:

There was none.

RD71:

Cabinet Report - Conservation Areas Advisory Panel pdf icon PDF 180 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube.

 

The Conservation Officer presented the report which presented a proposal to disband the Conservation Areas Advisory Panel, set up by Cabinet in 1994, highlighting that it was no longer a requirement to have a Panel, the changes in rules and legislation and the requirements set out in the National Planning Policy Framework.

 

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

 

The Chair and the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Licensing thanked the Members of the Conservation Areas Advisory Panel for their work over the years.

 

RESOLVED: That the Regeneration and Development Panel support the recommendations to Cabinet, as set out below.

 

Cabinet is recommended to accept officer recommendation and disband the Conservation Areas Advisory Panel.

RD72:

Update on the work of the Transport Informal Working Group

Minutes:

Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube.

 

The Chair provided an update on the Work of the Transport Informal Working Group.  The Group had held meetings on the following topics to date, with further meetings scheduled prior to the Group formulating their recommendations back to the Panel.  The Chair provided a summary of items discussed at each meeting:

 

-        Scene setting and setting the Group’s Work Programme.

-        Overview of the Local Plan.

-        King’s Lynn Area Transport Strategy

-        Rail Prospectus

-        The Ferry

-        Sustainability of Bus Services

-        Bus Service Improvement Plan Funding

-        Walking and Cycling.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Biodiversity and Climate Change provided an update on the Ferry and explained that officers from the Borough and County Council were working together to determine the work required and timescales.

 

Councillor Beal asked the Group to consider extending bus services late into the evening in Hunstanton.

 

In response to a question from Councillor Hodson it was confirmed that repair works to the Ferry would be carried out during the closure to minimise impact.

 

Councillor Hodson suggested that the Group investigate moving King’s Lynn Railway Station to a vacant piece of land behind King’s Lynn Academy.

 

Councillor Hodson suggested that the Group investigate increasing the car parking provision at Downham Market Railway Station and suggested a piece of land that could be used.  Councillor Crofts commented that there was an empty green area next to the Charity Shop that could be considered.

 

In response to a question regarding funding the Ferry repairs it was explained that the remaining funding from the feasibility study was being utilised and discussions were ongoing between the Borough and County on funds required for any additional works required.

 

Councillor Blunt, who was a Member of the Transport Informal Working Group commented that the Group still had work to do and needed to see the Car Parking Strategy and discuss how all elements could be integrated.

 

In response to a question from Councillor Colwell, the Regeneration Programmes Manager explained that work in West Norfolk had taken place during the first round of the Bus Service Improvement Plan including increasing services in some urban areas, and support was required from operators to make these services sustainable beyond the initial funding period.  It was noted that there was a further round of Bus Service Improvement Plan funding and a survey had recently been sent to Borough Councillors, so that priority areas could be identified and fed back to Norfolk County Council.

 

The Chair explained that the Informal Working Group had more meetings scheduled and would then look to formulate their recommendations back to the Panel.  The Panel were advised that the Agendas and Minutes from the Group were available on the Mod Gov Intranet system for Councillors to view.

 

RESOLVED: The Panel noted the update and the ongoing work of the Informal Working Group.

 

 

RD73:

King's Lynn Cultural and Heritage Strategy Update

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Business and Culture addressed the Panel explaining the purpose of the Strategy, its importance and that it had been part funded by the Arts Council.

 

The Regeneration Programmes Manager presented the update to the Panel.  A copy of the presentation is attached.

 

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

 

Councillor Colwell commented that the Strategy was important to help with funding opportunities and he asked about the Norfolk Way Art Trail at the Boal Quay.  The Regeneration Programmes Manager explained that this had been put forward, but unfortunately permits required and timescales meant that it had not been progressed.

 

Councillor Bubb asked how the Cultural offer would be taken to rural areas and the Cultural Officer explained that this Strategy focussed on King’s Lynn, with a Borough wide Strategy to follow in the future.  He explained that work was carried out in the Community and provided an example of an event at Leziate, with more events to be planned in the future.

 

The Chair highlighted the engagement work which had been carried out to produce the Strategy and thanked all those involved for bringing the Strategy forward.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Business and Culture summarised the importance of the Strategy as a mechanism to lever in funding, the benefits to cultural organisations and commercial and volunteering opportunities and thanked all those involved in bringing the Strategy forward.

 

The Panel were informed that the Strategy would be presented to the Environment and Community Panel at a future meeting, prior to being submitted to Cabinet.

 

RESOLVED: The update was noted.

RD74:

Work Programme and Forward Decision List pdf icon PDF 252 KB

To receive an update from officers on forthcoming items to be added to the Work Programme.

 

Members of the Panel are also invited to bring suggestions to the meeting on items for the Panel to consider adding to their Work Programme.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube.

 

Officers provided an update on potential items to be added to the Work Programme as follows:

 

-        Car Parking Strategy – March 2025

-        Guildhall – June/July 2025

-        King’s Lynn Town Masterplan

-        Housing Delivery Strategy

-        King’s Lynn Transport Strategy

-        Long Term Plan for Towns

 

The Panel were informed that once the Local Plan had been received from the Inspectors it would be brought to the Panel for consideration prior to being considered by Cabinet and Council.  Dependent on when the plan was received an additional meeting may have to be arranged.

 

Councillor Bubb asked if the Panel could conduct a review Section 106 agreements to ensure that they were fit for purpose.  The Chair explained that he would discuss this with officers.

 

RESOLVED: The Panel’s Work Programme and Cabinet Forward Decisions List was noted.

RD75:

Date of the next meeting

To note that the next meeting of the Regeneration & Development Panel is scheduled to take place on 18th February 2025 at 6.00pm in the Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.

Minutes:

The next meeting of the Regeneration and Development Panel would be held on 18th February 2025 at 6.00pm in the Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.