Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Kirk, Wilkinson and Kunes.

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.

Councillor Manning declared an interest in EC78: Update from the Borough Council’s Representative on King’s Lynn Football Club as  Director of Linnets in the Community.

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.  

Councillors Manning, Moriarty and Morley.

If any.

There was none.

To receive an update on the work of the Outside Body.

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Paul Bland, the Borough Council’s representative on King’s Lynn Football Club was present at the meeting and provided an update on the Club highlighting the following:

-        There were still some more games to play, but there was a chance that the Team could get promoted.

-        The recent resignation of the Manager was currently in the hands of the clubs Legal Department.

-        A National League Trust U11’s cup had been run over two days.  Over 25 Primary Schools in the area had taken part.  South Wootton had had success regionally and were now onto the north and south national league regional finals.

-        The award of a Norfolk Community Foundation Grant had meant that a coffee morning could take place every Friday between January and March with over 100 local people attending.

-        Soccer schools were ongoing over Easter and Mini Kickers for 3 to 5 year olds would be trialled.

-        Women’s only work outs were being run twice a week in partnership with Alive Lynnsport.

-        Easter activities had been arranged.

-        Girls only football was proving really successful and plans were in place for academy pathways.

-        Walking football had been successful in Ely and it was hoped that this could be brought into King’s Lynn.

-        The ladies team were starting to climb the league.

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

Councillor Bullen reminded those present that there were also Football Clubs in Heacham and Downham Market.  He also expressed concern about the unrest at the ground and antisocial behaviour on match days.  Paul Bland explained that although he was not involved in security issues he was aware that body cameras had recently been purchased which would hopefully act as a deterrent and could be used to provide evidence.

Councillor de Whalley was pleased to see a focus on football in the community and girl’s football.  Paul Bland explained that girl’s football had really been popular, especially after England’s success in the World Cup.  In response to a further question from Councillor de Whalley, it was explained that a recent inspection of the Stand had meant that repairs were required.

In response to a question from Councillor de Whalley, Paul Bland explained that the facilities available in schools varied.

Councillor Morley addressed the Panel under Standing Order 34 and asked if the ground catered for those with additional needs.  Paul Bland explained that a local Estate Agents covered the cost of entry to the grounds for an individual and their carer and accessible facilities were available. 

RESOLVED: The update was noted.

To consider the report which has been prepared following a request from the Climate Change Informal Working Group.

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The Corporate Performance Manager presented the report which had been prepared following a request from the Climate Change Informal Working Group.

He provided background on the Partnership, current issues and work that had recently taken place to prioritise and refocus activities.

The Chair thanked the Corporate Performance Manager for his report and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

Councillor Devereux stated that the Council should remain a Member of the Partnership and felt that it was a strength to have access to information and work together with other organisations for the common goal.  He felt that the Partnership had been fundamental to the progress and success so far and was forum for identifying complex problems at a strategic level.  He asked the Corporate Performance Manager if he thought it would be detrimental to the Council if they left the Partnership and the Corporate Performance Manager commented that he felt it would be a retrograde step to withdraw.

Councillor Bubb, Chair of the Climate Change Informal Working Group explained that the Working Group had requested that this report be brought to the Panel for consideration as there did not seem to be much action coming from the Partnership, however he did think that things were now starting to move on.  He explained that the Informal Working Group had requested that all Councillors be kept updated on the work of the Partnership via the Members Bulletin going forward.

Councillor de Whalley asked how access to funding could be accelerated for the Partnership.  The Corporate Performance Manager explained that the Partnership now had the resources available to appoint a Partnership Manager who would be looking at grant funding opportunities and would be an invest to save post.  He stated that the collaborative approach to working and applying for funding would be an advantage.

Councillor Bullen commented that it was vital that the Council remained in the Partnership and asked if lessons had been learnt from other Partnerships.  The Corporate Performance Manager explained that practice across the Country had been looked at and there was ongoing dialogue with Suffolk Climate Change Partnership who were well established and had been running for over ten years.

Councillor Morley addressed the Panel under Standing Order 34, commenting that it was vital that the Council remain in the Partnership.  He commented that the Strategic Plans and Actions referred to annual reporting, which he could not find.  The Corporate Performance Manager agreed to check, but believed that reporting had taken place through the Portfolio Holder’s Report to Council.  The Corporate Performance Manager informed Members that a Climate Change Briefing session had been scheduled as part of the Members Induction Programme post Election.

Councillor Hipperson asked if the Partnership were looking at the consequences of any decisions they took and the Corporate Performance Manager explained that the Partnership’s recent work had include refocussing efforts and priorities and there were also Working Groups that  ...  view the full minutes text for item EC79:

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

To note that the next meeting of the Environment and Community Panel is scheduled to take place on 6^th June 2023 at 4.30pm in the Town Hall.

The next meeting of the Environment and Community Panel was scheduled to take place on 6^th June 2023 at 4.30pm.

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”.

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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 or 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act

To consider the report and make any appropriate recommendations to Cabinet.

The Assistant Director presented the Cabinet report as included in the Agenda and highlighted the proposed changes to an existing delegation.

The Chair thanked the Assistant Director for the report and invited questions and comments from Members relating to the transaction fee, processing arrangements, economies of scale and risks.

Councillor Moriarty proposed an amendment to the recommendation requesting that the Portfolio Holder for Finance be consulted in addition to the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services.  The amendment was seconded by Councillor Morley and agreed by the Panel.  The Portfolio Holder for Finance informed the Panel that she had been consulted on the proposals.

RESOLVED: That the Environment and Community Panel support the recommendations to Cabinet as set out below, with the amendment highlighted in bold.

That Cabinet:

1.    Accept the extension of the delegation of civil parking enforcement functions from Norfolk County Council in relation to on-street car parking as set out in the report, subject to paragraph 2 below.

2.    Authority is delegated to the Chief Executive, Executive Director – Development Services and Assistant Director – Operations and Commercial in consultation with the Section 151 Officer where finance issues to resolve and the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services and Finance Portfolio Holder to agree the terms of the extension of the Delegation Agreement originally entered with Norfolk County Council dated 9^th January 2012, as amended.