Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor de Whalley.

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.  

Councillor Moriarty.

If any.

There was none.

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The report proposed the establishment of a Tourism Informal Working Group to deal with the number of Tourism related issues scheduled on the Work Programme and previously discussed at meetings of the Regeneration and Development Panel and Environment and Community Panel.

The Chair invited questions and comments from the Panel as summarised below.

Councillor Bower supported the Informal Working Group and indicated that she would like to be involved in its work, however she was happy to let other Members take the role of Core Members.

Councillor Beal indicated that he would like to sit on the Informal Working Group and provided the Panel with detail of the issues he would like to bring to the Group relating to Hunstanton, including car parking, events, an area for campervans and attractions.

Councillor Crofts commented that he would like to see the Informal Working Group investigate attracting coach trips to King’s Lynn and West Norfolk.

Councillor Bone indicated that he would like to sit on the Informal Working Group and asked about the frequency and timing of meetings.  The Chair explained that the Group would have the flexibility to meet remotely or as a hybrid and that she would sort arrangements with officers to get the Group established and arrange the first meeting.  She also reminded Members that it was proposed that there would be six Core Members on the Group, however it was anticipated that a wide range of Councillors would be invited to input into the work of the Group through brainstorming and workshop sessions.

Councillor Rose explained that he used to work for England Tourist Board and would be willing to help out as required.

Councillor Jones also indicated that he would like to be involved in the Group.

Councillor Moriarty addressed the Panel under Standing Order 34 and hoped that a Member of the Informal Working Group would come from a Rural Ward and that issues relating to rural tourism would be addressed.

The Chief Executive explained that once the Group had created a Work Programme they would be able to ensure that the relevant Councillors were asked for input at the right time.

The Chair explained that the proposal was for the Informal Working Group to be Chaired by an external facilitator which would be good for allowing all Councillors involved to make contributions.  She also commented that it was important for Rural Wards to be represented.

The Panel indicated their support for the establishment of the Informal Working Group and the Chair explained that she would meet with the relevant officers to take arrangements forward and keep the Panel updated via email as appropriate.

The Chair invited the Panel to put forward their initial thoughts for the Informal Working Group to consider as listed below:

·        Parking for coaches and visitors.

·        Rural bus Services.

·        Village Halls.

·        Mini Guides for West Norfolk areas.

·        Encouraging coach trips including liaising with tour operators.

·        Improved signage and being more  ...  view the full minutes text for item RD62:

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The Senior Project Manager for the Guildhall Project provided the Panel with an update following the unsuccessful National Lottery Heritage Fund (NHLF) Application to support the St George’s Guildhall and Cultural Hub project and project next steps.

The Senior Project Manager provided feedback from the NHLF which included the ambitiousness of the project, associated risks and tight timescales for delivery.  It was also noted that local objections to the proposals had been factored into their decision.  The Panel was informed that the NHLF were still interested in maintaining dialogue with the Council and it was possible that smaller future bids could be submitted for different elements of the overall project.

It was confirmed that Town Deal Funding had been secured and it was important to continue to the next stage of the process.  RIBA Stage 3 completion was due in September 2023 and at this stage the project would be reviewed and brought back to Cabinet for consideration on the way forward.  The Activity Plan was also in the process of being reviewed and other funding sources were being looked at.

The Guildhall and Creative Hub Task Group had recently met to consider the CIO’s Constitution and would also meet to consider the Governing Documents.

The Chair thanked the Senior Project Manager for the information and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

In response to questions from Councillor Bone, it was explained that the setting up of the CIO was a long process and it could take up to twelve months to go through the Charity Commission processes.  The Panel was reminded that the CIO had three founding Members who were working on the submission to the Charities Commission.  The Guildhall and Creative Hub Task Group would be involved in establishing processes for the recruitment of longer standing Trustees in due course.

Councillor Morley asked for clarification on if the Town Deal Funding had been secured.  It was explained that the first payment had been received for this financial year and as long as the Council kept up momentum of the project in accordance with the business case programme and financial profile the other tranches of funding would be released annually as programmed.

The Portfolio Holder for Business, Culture and Heritage explained that regular updates would be made available to the Task Group and Panel as appropriate and the Cabinet Report due in September 2023 would be brought through the Regeneration and Development Panel for consideration.

The Chair sympathised with officers who had worked so hard on the NHLF bid and commented that she was disappointed that local objections had been a factor.  She asked officers to bring details of the budget of the project to the Panel’s next meeting.  The Panel was advised that the budget had not changed from that which had been included in the Business Case and officers would bring this to the next Panel meeting in January.

Councillor Moriarty  ...  view the full minutes text for item RD63:

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The Vice Chair, Councillor Gidney has requested this discussion item for the Panel and presented the Panel with information on Climate Change and reaching Net Zero.  He explained that it was important to look at Building Control and Planning to ensure that there was a joined up approach to addressing issues.

A copy of his presentation is attached.

The Chair invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

The Vice Chair responded to questions explaining that timber was a sustainable material for development as it could be reused and recycled.  There was however, issues with the cost of materials.

Councillor Bone commented that the actions of decades past needed to be reversed and there needed to be a change in attitudes.

The Panel discussed wind, photo voltaic panels and solar farms.

Councillor Jones referred to the Solar Together project and commented that the cost made it preventative to many and that there needed to be schemes to help with upfront payments of installation.

Councillor Morley referred to Hydrogen power and that there needed to be a collective will to solve issues.

Councillor Gidney explained that tree planting was an easy win and the Chair further commented that it was also important to have better protection of existing trees.

The Chair commented that best practice needed to be incorporated into future planning regulations and conditions and that there needed to be more cohesion between Planning and Building Control. 

The Chair commented that this was an important issue that the Panel should not lose sight of and she would be discussing ways for the Panel to take this forward with officers at the next Sifting meeting.

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

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There were no Portfolio Holders present at the meeting for this item, however the Vice Chair, Councillor Gidney raised concern at the condition of some of the Railway Gates in King’s Lynn including the one near the Retreat Pub and near the Docks.  The Panel concurred that the gates had a negative impact on routes into the town centre.

The Assistant Director agreed to liaise with Norfolk County Council colleagues on this issue and report back to the Panel as appropriate.

RESOLVED: An update be presented to the Panel at its next meeting

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The following items were identified for consideration by the Panel:

·        Guildhall project costs and budget – January 2023

·        Tourism Informal Working Group – updates to be emailed to the Panel as appropriate.

·        Town Deal Board Projects Update – January 2023.

RESOLVED: The Panel’s Work Programme was noted.

To note that the next meeting of the Regeneration & Development Panel is scheduled to take place onTuesday 10^th January 2023 at 4.30pm in the Town Hall.

The next meeting of the Regeneration and Development Panel would be held on Tuesday 10^th January 2023 at 4.30pm in the Town Hall.