Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors S Collop and 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 an 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 were no declarations of interest.

To consider any business which, by reason of special circumstances, the Chair proposed 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 Beal – EC56

Councillor Moriarty – EC57

Councillor Rose – EC56

If any.

There was none.

Members will receive information on the above campaign from a representative from Friends of Horsey Seals.

Those present received information on the campaign to keep seals safe from Plastic Flying Rings.  A copy of the presentation is attached.

The Chair thanked Jennifer Hobson from Friends of Horsey Seals for her presentation and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

Councillor Kemp asked what, if any, powers the Council had.  The Leader of the Council, Councillor Long explained that the use of Public Space Protection Orders could be considered, however these were difficult to enforce and could not be used on private beaches.

Councillor Beal addressed the Panel under Standing Order 34.  He provided the Panel with information about an initiative he was leading on in his business whereby he would remove plastic packaging and netting from products he sold so that they were disposed of correctly and did not end up left on the beach.  He explained that he was trying to extend this to other businesses in the town.  With regard to the flying rings, Councillor Beal explained that he had contacted the makers of the products who were aware of the problems, but the product was popular.  He explained that some companies had now put a warning label on outer packaging.  Councillor Beal stated that he no longer sold the flying rings in his shop and he was encouraging others to be responsible and do the same.

Those present suggested the following in order to raise awareness of the issues:

·        An article be sent to the Norfolk Coast Guardian which was read by local people and tourists.

·        Inclusion of information in the Visit West Norfolk Brochure.

·        Signs at beaches and beach side businesses.

·        Leaflets available at Tourist Information Centres.

·        Stickers on bins.

Councillor Parish informed those present that he was Chair of the Single Use Plastics Informal Working Group and that the Group were looking at the type of information that was provided to tourists and in holiday lets.

Councillor Joyce commented that the campaign needed to be harder hitting in order to convey the damage that the flying rings could cause and the seriousness of the issue.

Councillor Kirk explained that he was a volunteer for Marine Divers and Seal and Shore watch and another problem was crabbing lines which could be easily purchased and then discarded after use.  He felt that control of theses would also be beneficial to marine life.

Councillor Squire asked if awareness had been raised inland as litter from inland which ended up in rivers could end up in the sea.

Jennifer Hobson thanked the Panel for their suggestions. 

RESOLVED: The information was noted.

All Councillors are invited to attend for this item to receive an update from the Waste and Recycling Manager.

All Councillors had been invited to the meeting for this item so that they had the opportunity to receive an update from the Waste and Recycling Manager on the Waste Collection Contract, receive an overview of the process and receive an update on the position in advance of the Special Cabinet meeting which was scheduled to take place on Friday 6^th December 2019.

The Waste and Recycling Manager explained that the new contract procurement had been a considerable piece of work.  The report provided detail of the joint procurement process, which had a long lead in to ensure that the new arrangements would be in place at the correct time.  He explained that new vehicles would have to be purchased and there could be up to a forty week wait for delivery of new vehicles.

He reminded those present that Cabinet had taken the decision to enter into the joint procurement process in order to take advantage of the financial and environmental benefits of joint arrangements.

The Waste and Recycling Manager explained that the final pricing for tenders had been received and these were currently being evaluated and would be presented to a special Cabinet meeting on 6th December 2019.

The Panel’s attention was drawn to the procurement process which was included in the report, legal implications, risks and requirements that bidders had to meet.  The Panel was also informed that the period of contract was based on the life of the collection vehicle, which was approximately eight years.  The cost of the vehicles could only be held for thirty days by the supplier.

The Chair thanked the Waste and Recycling Manager for his report and invited questions and comments from those present, as summarised below.

Councillor Kemp asked for clarification on how often bins would be emptied in unparished areas.  The Waste and Recycling Manager explained that this function was carried out by the Public Open Space team and did not form part of the contract, so would therefore remain unchanged.

Councillor Kemp raised concern that the new vehicles would be diesel and the Waste and Recycling Manager explained that consideration had to be given to the large geographical area that the vehicles would have to cover, meaning that the use of electric or hybrid vehicles was not an option because of the potential lack of range.

Councillor Kemp also made reference to the re-use of Bulky Waste.  The Waste and Recycling Manager explained that proposals for the re-use of Bulky Waste had been considered as part of the contract and proposals were being evaluated.

Councillor Joyce asked if the frequency of collections would change.  The Waste and Recycling Manager explained that they would not.

Councillor Joyce also asked about monitoring of the contract and if there was a break clause.  The Waste and Recycling Manager explained that there was the option to extend the initial eight year contract if arrangements were working.  Default notices would be reported to the Council as required and the Environment and Community  ...  view the full minutes text for item EC57:

The Senior Policy and Performance Officer presented the report which provided an update on the Corporate Business Plan.  The Panel was reminded that previously they had been given the opportunity to comment on what should be included in the Corporate Business Plan by way of a workshop session.  The draft plan had also been based on feedback from Members during the Members induction process.  Feedback from Councillors had been collated and included in the report at Appendix B.

The Panel was reminded that all Panels received quarterly performance monitoring reports and the Corporate Performance Panel monitored the Corporate Business Plan.

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

Councillor Parish commented that there was a conflict between growth and the environment and any Climate Change policies would need to take this into consideration.  The Senior Policy and Performance Officer acknowledged that there would be lots of tensions to deal with and this would be monitored through quarterly reports to the Corporate Performance Panel.  He also informed the Panel that report authors were now required to complete an ‘Environmental Implications’ box on the report templates and give consideration to how impacts could be mitigated. 

Councillor Joyce referred to improving health and wellbeing and the impact of pollution.  He asked for consideration to be given to environmental improvement measures which would have little impact on the Council, for example requiring all new developments to put in electric vehicle charging points.  The Senior Policy and Performance Officer reminded the Panel of the Climate Change work that was being carried out and explained that lots of options would be explored and best practice and examples from other countries would be looked at.

Councillor Kemp commented that this was a good starting point, but it needed sharpening up and Policies would need to be introduced relating to flooding, infrastructure and health and wellbeing.  She stated that it was important to be an enabler.  The Leader of the Council, Councillor Long reminded Councillor Kemp that some of the functions she was referring to were the responsibility of Norfolk County Council.  Councillor Kemp referred to the King’s Lynn Transport Strategy and Councillor Long reminded her that this was a joint exercise with Norfolk County Council. 

Councillor Long reminded Members that they had previously had the opportunity to input into the Corporate Business Plan through workshops at all three Panels, the report which was now being considered had incorporated previous comments raised by Members and was now a final draft.

Councillor Squire asked if the Plan would be regularly updated as new policies and practices emerged.  The Senior Policy and Performance Officer confirmed that it would be a ‘living document’ and reviewed on a regular basis.

Councillor Bambridge commented that the Housing Strategy should be included and the Senior Policy and Performance Officer stated that the Corporate Business Plan was overarching and all other Policies sat underneath this document.

RESOLVED: The Panel endorsed  ...  view the full minutes text for item EC58:

The Senior Policy and Performance Officer provided Members with an update on the climate change work completed to date and ongoing work.  He introduced Henry Saunders, Climate Change Officer, to the Panel who was from the University of East Anglia and was assisting the Council with Climate Change issues.

The Senior Policy and Performance Officer referred to the report which set out what research would be carried out during the evidence gathering phase.

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

Councillor Parish asked if the Council had been in contact with the Tyndall centre and it was explained that they had not been contacted yet, but it would be worthwhile seeing what they could offer in terms of assistance.

Councillor Kemp raised concern that the Council was basing their audit on Norwich City Council’s Audit as they were two different types of area.  The Climate Change Officer explained that the Audit was based on standardised techniques to carry out the assessment and would be based on the Borough Council’s area.

Councillor Kemp commented that the whole geographical area needed to be looked at, not just the Borough Council.  The Senior Policy and Performance Officer clarified that an analysis of the whole geographical area would be carried out.  The Council would also work with the New Anglia Local Enterprise Area and Norfolk County Council to ensure that areas of work were not duplicated and that information was shared.

Councillor Kemp stressed the importance of a clear baseline for the Borough and the Climate Change Officer confirmed that the overall Borough would be looked at and then what could be influenced and what would make a difference would be investigated.

The Chair referred to peatlands and the impact that this had on carbon emissions.  The Portfolio Holder for Environment, Councillor Devereux provided information on this and explained that it was a complex situation.

RESOLVED: The Panel noted the update.

Members will receive a presentation from officers.

This item had been withdrawn from the Agenda and would be considered by the Panel at a later date.

The Work Programme was noted.  Members of the Panel were encouraged to contact the Chair or the Democratic Services Officer if they had items which they would like added to the Work Programme.

RESOLVED: The Panel’s Work Programme was noted.

To note that the next meeting of the Environment and Community Panel is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 21^st January 2020 at 6.00pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.

The next meeting of the Environment and Community Panel would be held Tuesday 21 January 2020 at 6.00pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.