Agenda and minutes

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

Contact: Rebecca Parker, Democratic Services, 01553 616632 

Items
No. Item

RD86:

Appointment of Vice Chairman for the remainder of the Municipal Year

Minutes:

RESOLVED: Councillor Whitby was appointed Vice Chairman for the remainder of the municipal year.

RD87:

Apologies for absence

To receive any apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Beales, Blunt, Devereux and Long.

RD88:

Minutes pdf icon PDF 93 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 Chairman.

RD89:

Declarations of Interest

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:

Councillor Baron Chenery of Horsbrugh declared a non-pecuniary interest in item RD93 as he was the Norfolk County Council Rail Champion and a Member of the Rail Group.

RD90:

Urgent Business

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.

Minutes:

There was none.

RD91:

Members Present Pursuant to Standing Order 34

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.

Minutes:

Councillor Bird – RD93: King’s Lynn to Hunstanton Railway.

RD92:

Chairman's Correspondence

If any.

Minutes:

There was none.

RD93:

King's Lynn to Hunstanton Railway pdf icon PDF 4 MB

To receive a presentation from those involved in the campaign relating to the opening of the King’s Lynn to Hunstanton Railway.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Howard Johnson who was involved in the campaign for the King’s Lynn to Hunstanton Railway gave a presentation to the Panel, as attached.

 

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

 

In response to a question from Councillor Manning, it was explained that the campaign group ideally wanted a through service from Hunstanton to London.  He explained that tramways were an expensive option, however an electric railway was something that could be considered.  The overriding factor would be capital cost.

 

Councillor Smith commented that the historic railway had achieved a 10% return on investment.  He asked if the route of the railway had been planned.  Howard Johnston explained that there had been some ideas but the route was still unconfirmed.  He acknowledged that the route could not be exactly the same as historically because some areas had been developed. 

 

Councillor Tyler commented that the campaign group needed to get their message out and lobby the County Council.  He reminded the Panel that organisations were continuously lobbying for improvements to the rail service from King’s Lynn to London and Ely North Junction, however progress was slow.

 

Councillor Bird addressed the Panel under Standing Order 34.  He commented that he agreed with the content of the presentation.  He also referred to the Norfolk Greenways Project.  He commented that the Hunstanton Southern Seafront Masterplan was still awaited, but he felt that there needed to be a co-ordinated approach for the long term vision for Hunstanton which needed political buy in and joint working between the Borough and County Council.  He suggested that there should be a working party formed to look at the future of Hunstanton.

 

In response to questions from the Chairman, Howard Johnston explained that there were lots of organisations involved in the campaign for better transport.  He also explained that single track was cheaper to install, however in order to future proof any development, double track would be better.

 

The Chairman explained that he would consider the way forward at the next sifting meeting.

 

RESOLVED: The Panel noted the information.

RD94:

Report of the River Informal Working Group pdf icon PDF 119 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman of the Informal Working Group, Councillor Westrop, presented the findings of the Informal Working Group, as attached.

 

The Chairman thanked Councillor Westrop for her presentation and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

 

Councillor Manning commented that he supported the recommendations put forward by the Panel and hoped that they would link in with the Nelson Quay redevelopment to improve the area as a whole.  Councillor Westrop acknowledged that the work of the Informal Working Group was only a small part of improving the area and she felt that an overall strategy for the River was required. 

 

Councillor Smith explained that the use of the Sea Cadets building would provide much needed facilities.  He also asked if the facilities proposed for Saddlebow could be brought closer to the town centre.  Councillor Westrop explained that potential extension to the Pontoons, and discussions with the Conservancy Board, could result in more flexible operation of the Pontoons, for example longer stays and different types of craft could be accommodated, therefore there was perhaps no need to bring the facilities at Saddlebow closer, and instead the existing cycle paths and walkways from Saddlebow to the town centre could be better utilised.  It was explained that the benefit of Saddlebow was that it was not tidal, connected to inland waterways and there were small improvements which could be made to improve the facilities available.

 

Councillor Mrs Watson asked if the Informal Working Group had explored commercial activities such as a Chandlery.  It was commented that this had not been explored by the Group as it was felt that generating activity along the River needed to come before any commercial activities.

 

In response to a question from Councillor Crofts it was explained that the result of the CCF bid was expected in April 2019. 

 

Councillor Mrs Collingham commented that it was difficult to navigate the Wash, therefore people needed a reason to come to King’s Lynn.  She felt that more should be done to use the river as an amenity including leisure facilities and commented that the promotion of Saddlebow for inland vessels would be good to increase visitors.

 

RESOLVED: The Regeneration and Development Panel support the recommendations from the Informal Working Group, as set out below:

 

1.     That the Council endorse the vision and objectives set out in the Sail the Wash initiative and that the Council continue to support and encourage further marine leisure activity of the river and the Wash.

2.     Support longer term development of marine leisure activity at Boal Quay.

3.     Endorse the recommendations set out in the ‘Development of Marine Leisure Activity in the Wash’ by P D Harvey Consulting, 2018.

4.     Develop further the facilities at King’s Lynn Visitor Pontoons.  The Informal Working Group put forward options for this:

a.     Support the Stage 2 application to the Coastal Community Fund to:

                                                    i.     Extend the existing visitor pontoons to accommodate demand at peak times.

                                                   ii.     Install swing moorings to start the provision of permanent mooring  ...  view the full minutes text for item RD94:

RD95:

Exclusion of Press and Public

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 paragraphs 1, 2 or 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act”.

Minutes:

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 Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

RD96:

EXEMPT - Guildhall Update

To receive a verbal update from the Executive Director.

Minutes:

The Executive Director presented an update on the Guildhall.  He explained that a statement would be released to the press and public in the next month.

 

The Chairman thanked the Executive Director for the update.  The Executive Director and Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and Health, Councillor Mrs Nockolds responded to questions from the Panel.

 

RESOLVED: (i) The Panel noted their thanks to the officers and Portfolio Holder for the work carried out on the Guildhall.

(ii) The Panel noted the update.

RD97:

Work Programme and Forward Decision List pdf icon PDF 67 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members of the Panel were reminded that an eform was available on the Intranet which could be completed and submitted if Members had items which they would like to be considered for addition to the Work Programme.

 

RESOLVED: The Panel’s Work Programme was noted.

RD98:

Date of the next meeting

To note that the next meeting of the Regeneration & Development Panel is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 9th April 2019 at 6.00pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.

Minutes:

The next meeting of the Regeneration and Development Panel would be held on Tuesday 9th April 2019 at 6.00pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.