Agenda and minutes

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

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Items
No. Item

RD91:

Apologies for absence

To receive any apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Beal, Crofts, Devereux and Sampson.

RD92:

Minutes pdf icon PDF 278 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.

RD93:

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:

There was none.

RD94:

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.

RD95:

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.

RD96:

Chair's Correspondence

If any.

Minutes:

There was none.

RD97:

Update on the Tourism Informal Working Group pdf icon PDF 111 KB

Minutes:

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

 

The Assistant Director provided the update, providing an overview of the workshop sessions, and the guest speakers that had attended the sessions.  Members were reminded that the notes from the workshop sessions and draft action plans were available to view on Mod Gov.  The draft action plans from each session would be developed into an overall action plan to be considered by the Panel.

 

Further workshop sessions would be scheduled after the Election.

 

The Chair reminded Members that the Informal Working Group had also been tasked with looking at the Notices of Motion and previous Panel comments relating to Campervan parking, Caravan Parking and a Tourism Levy and it was explained that these themes had been looked at in depth by the Informal Working Group and would be included in their final report.

 

Councillor Parish referred to sustainable tourism and it was explained that this had been considered by the Informal Working Group including looking at the type of options and offer provided, being sympathetic to those areas that could not accommodate an increase in tourism and available facilities.

 

In response to a comment from Councillor Parish, the Assistant Director explained that a future workshop session would be themed around experiential tourism which included management, control and the offer of the experiences and itineraries.

 

The Chair explained that the Informal Working Group had also considered encouraging all year tourism so that the peak period could be stretched out, balancing this with the effect it could have on residents.

 

Councillor Morley asked if a representative from an Employment Agency had been invited to one of the workshops.  The Assistant Director explained that the Working Group had looked at workforce issues in several of their workshop sessions.

 

Councillor de Whalley welcomed discussions on bus stops and waiting points and ensuring that they were accessible.  He referred to the Ferry and explained that this was an important tourism provision.  The Chair explained that transport had been considered as part of the Infrastructure Workshop Session and lots of options had been discussed.  The Assistant Director explained that the Borough Council were working with Norfolk County Council to look at opportunities for the West Lynn Ferry.

 

Councillor Morley suggested that the Informal Working Group look at ‘dog friendly’ tourism offers.

 

Councillor Bubb commented that the current economic climate needed to be considered when encouraging businesses to develop their offer.  He also referred to the resources required to keep a tourism area looking tidy and presentable and referred to a recent visit to Hunstanton.  Councillor Bower commented that Hunstanton was very well maintained and referred to the previous success of Hunstanton in Bloom. 

 

The Chair thanked the Panel for their comments which would be considered by the Informal Working Group and explained that the full report would be presented to the Regeneration and Development Panel in due course.

 

RESOLVED: The update was noted.

RD98:

Cabinet Report - Southgates Area Masterplan Delivery Plan pdf icon PDF 104 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

The Assistant Director presented the report and reminded the Panel that they had considered the Masterplan previously.  He outlined the recommendations within the report, the exploration of further funding opportunities and the STARS project, which was a Norfolk County Council led project with the Borough Council being part of the Project Team. 

 

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

 

Councillor Morley commented that the Masterplan was not sufficient to be a Supplementary Planning Document and the recommendations should be amended to reflect this.  He also commented that he felt it was the wrong time to take this through the democratic process and it should wait until after the election.  He referred to the STARS project and the additional funding which would be required.  The Assistant Director referred to the Levelling Up Fund Bid and further funding opportunities which would be explored.

 

Information was also provided on property acquisitions and the sitting tenants.  Reference was also made to the Community Shop which was currently using the old HSS Building.

 

Councillor Jones referred to traffic flow and felt that the merging and opening of lanes was dangerous and could cause bottlenecks.  He did not feel that the Masterplan alleviated this issue and more detail was required on traffic movement.  The Assistant Director commented that the transport side of the project was separate and the Masterplan focussed on making the Southgates a gateway to the town.  Councillor Jones also commented that some people had no option but to use a car, so this needed to be considered when encouraging active travel and alternative travel options.

 

Councillor de Whalley referred to the 128 survey responses, the risks of the Brownfield Fund, Devolution and Tree planting.  He was also concerned for the businesses and residents and the potential development in a flood zone area.  The Assistant Director explained that the survey was carried out by an external company.  The full responses were included in the consultation results.  He also explained that residential development and flood risk would be considered as part of the planning process.  The Project Support Officer explained that a landscape architect was involved in the project who would look at tree planting and meetings had been held with landowners of Wisbech Road.

 

Councillor Parish commented that progress of the Masterplan had been ongoing for years.  He acknowledged that the area did need improving, but was concerned about the cost and financial risks.

 

Councillor Morley reiterated that the Masterplan should not form part of Supplementary Planning Guidance, but the STARS project should get up and running as soon as possible.

 

The Vice Chair, Councillor Gidney commented that planning was essential as often public projects over spent and went over time.  He also had some reservations about the junction design.

 

Councillor Bone commented that he was concerned for residents of The Friars and the traffic light changes which he felt would  ...  view the full minutes text for item RD98:

RD99:

Riverfront Regeneration Town Deal Project Update pdf icon PDF 140 KB

Minutes:

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

 

The Assistant Director introduced the Panel to Heather Northey, Interim Project Manager who provided an update on the Riverfront Regeneration Town Deal Project and the recent workshop which had taken place.

 

She explained that the project was now entering RIBA Stage 3 and a design team would be appointed to take this forward.  A review of RIBA Stage 2 had been conducted.  It was explained that the project could be amended and reprioritised at this stage and a workshop session had been arranged to gain feedback on the way forward.

 

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

 

In response to questions from Councillor Morley it was confirmed that RIBA Stage 3 would deal with the specifics and what could actually be achieved, phases had been identified.  The Assistant Director reminded the Panel that the RIBA Stage 2 report had been presented to the Panel and considered by Cabinet in September 2022.

 

The Panel discussed the proposals relating to the tower, customs house and opportunities to attract tourists.

 

Councillor Bone commented that any development needed to represent the maritime heritage of King’s Lynn.

 

Councillor Bubb explained that there were railway lines underneath the surface of the Quay which would be a good tourist attraction if they were exposed.

 

The Vice Chair indicated that he would like to ask some questions which should be considered in exempt session and these were considered later on in the meeting.

 

RESOLVED: The update was noted.

RD100:

Work Programme and Forward Decision List pdf icon PDF 254 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

RD101:

Date of the next meeting

To note that the next meeting of the Regeneration & Development Panel is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 13th June 2023.

Minutes:

The next meeting of the Regeneration and Development Panel was scheduled to take place on Tuesday 13th June 2023 at 4.30pm.

RD102:

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 paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act”.

Minutes:

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

 

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 paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

 

RD103:

EXEMPT - Riverfront Regeneration Town Deal Project Update

Minutes:

Officers responded to questions and comments from the Panel relating to the Riverfront Regeneration Town Deal Project.

RD104:

EXEMPT - Cabinet Report - Asset Management - Land and Property - King's Lynn - Nar Ouse Business Park: Proposed Sale of Land.

Minutes:

Officers presented the Cabinet Report as included in the Agenda.  The Chair thanked the officers for the report and invited questions and comments from Members.

 

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