Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Humphrey and Ratcliffe.

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 Colwell declared an interest in item EC56: Gaywood River and Habitat Restoration as a Member of Gaywood River Revival.

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 Bullen (remotely) and Councillor Everett.

If any.

There was none.

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Dr Sarah Taigel GIS and Fluvial Specialist helping develop citizen science projects on the Gaywood River presented information to the Panel relating to research conducted, what was causing issues with the river, channel morphology and the impacts on wildlife.  She explained that evidence was being collated to highlight issues and action that could be taken and provided detail of the role that the Borough Council could play.  A copy of the presentation is attached.

Andy Millar, Nature Recovery Partnership Manager for Norfolk and Suffolk County Council presented information to the Panel relating to the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS).  He explained the Government legislation and the need to work to find a solution to restore and deliver nature whilst maintaining flood management requirements.  Information was provided on what nature recovery could achieve and options to restore ecosystems.

Andy Millar provided information on the tools that Local Authorities had at their disposal including influence through Planning Policy and during the consideration of planning applications and he reminded the Panel of the Biodiversity Net Gain requirements which were soon to be introduced in 2024.

The Chair thanked Andy Millar and Dr Sarah Taigel for their presentation and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

Councillor Colwell thanked Andy and Sarah for attending the meeting and hoped that Members had found the presentations informative.  He explained that his takeaway from this presentation was that it was crucial for Councils to know where the problems in the catchment were so that they could focus on these areas.  He also commented that the ten step plan was useful and there was a need for flood modelling.

Councillor Kunes asked about contamination issues and Councillor Colwell commented that investigations were ongoing.

In response to a question from the Portfolio Holder for People and Communities, Councillor Rust, it was clarified that the landscape had historically been dredged but this year there had been a change in management and procedures and it was likely that de-silting had been carried out by the Internal Drainage Board.

The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Coastal, Councillor Squire, clarified that the Council did have representatives on Norfolk Rivers and assumed that the Council and other related organisations would be engaged in the Nature Recovery Work being undertaken by Norfolk and Suffolk County Council.  She asked how far along the mapping work was, as the Borough Council had not been invited to take part as yet.  Andy Millar explained that all Norfolk and Suffolk Districts would shortly receive a formal invitation to be involved in the process.  Currently project planning work and engagement strategies were being worked on, although the LNRS was unlikely to be adopted until early 2025.

Assistant Director, Stuart Ashworth informed the Panel that the LNRS would be crucial to the Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements that were being introduced, and made reference to the timescales.  Andy Millar explained that there were still areas and  ...  view the full minutes text for item EC56:

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The Climate Change Manager presented the report which provided an update on the selection process and Norfolk project for the Norfolk Net Zero Communities pilot project.

The Net Zeros Innovation and Delivery Manager, Jonathan Ward, provided members with a presentation on progress with the project.  A copy of the presentation is attached.  He reminded Members that the Norfolk Climate Change Partnership had been successfully awarded funding from the Fast Followers Fund to deliver a community themed project focussing on citizen preparedness and clean growth.  Information on project governance and delivery was outlined in the presentation and the project would be delivered through Norfolk Climate Change Partnership who had established a Project Steering Group and Advisory Group to oversee the project.

The Norfolk Climate Change Partnership had been carrying out a selection process for one community in each of the seven Norfolk Districts for the pilot project.  Selection decisions would be informed by themes including community and households, routes to engagement and the potential for Carbon reduction.

The Corporate Performance Manager explained that information had been sent to all Parishes and 22 responses had been received.  Background data for each area was then looked at as part of the shortlisting process.  An announcement on the preferred option would be made to Councillors soon.

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

The Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Biodiversity, Councillor de Whalley thanked officers for their work on bringing this opportunity forward and commented that this was an exciting project and the beginning of the journey in carbon reduction in communities.

In response to a question from the Portfolio Holder for People and Communities, Councillor Rust, it was confirmed that there was a link with Borough Council’s Energy Efficiency Officer.

The Vice Chair, Councillor Devulapalli commented that all communities needed to work to become net zero and asked if this project would be sustainable going forward.  Jonathan Ward explained that this pilot project would create a template which could be rolled out further across communities and other funding opportunities were being looked at through the Norfolk Climate Change Partnership.

Councillor Kunes commented that he was disappointed that only 22 Parishes had responded.

Councillor Bullen commented that it was vital to engage with isolated and rural households that were not part of a community.

RESOLVED: The Environment and Community Panel noted progress with the project and would receive periodic update reports.

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The Corporate Governance Manager presented the report which considered the approval of an amended policy and statutory process for Assets of Community Value and the Community Right to Bid.  It was explained that the refresh was required following the transfer of Legal Services back in-house and it was hoped that the revised document was now more user friendly and less technical.  The document had been completely rewritten, however the fundamentals had not changed. 

The Corporate Governance Manager highlighted the amendments to the delegations to authorise Assets of Community and make non-material amendments to the policy, as set out in the recommendations.

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

Councillor Bhondi commented that this policy was a good tool to protect co0mmunity assets and he had used it to protect an asset in his Ward.  He encouraged Councillors to consider protecting assets of community value as required.

In response to a question from the Vice Chair, Councillor Devulapalli, the Corporate Governance Manager explained that religious use was not a criteria and the definitions were cultural, sporting and recreational uses that provided social value.  The Corporate Governance Manager agreed to confirm if religious buildings fell into the definition of social value within the scheme.

Following the Meeting the Corporate Governance Manager confirmed that any land or building could potentially be listed as an Asset of Community Value and it is for the nominating group to make the case, provide the evidence and proof as to how the particular piece of land or building meets the criteria of the act.

Councillor Bubb asked if there were limitations on what could be included and it was confirmed that it had to be an asset that was in current use for the benefit of the community and needed to be protected for social wellbeing.

RESOLVED: That the Environment and Community Panel supports the recommendations to Cabinet, as set out below.

a) Cabinet is recommended to agree the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk policy and statutory process for Assets of Community Value, as attached and recommend to Council for approval.

b) The material update to the policy is changing the delegation to authorise Assets of Community Value from council officer to Portfolio Holder in consultation with the Executive Director of Place and relevant ward members.

c) Cabinet is recommended to give delegated authority to the Monitoring Officer to make future non-material updates to the policy (non-material definition – amendments which will not significantly change the policy by will update in line with legislative changes or will achieve improvements to the process).

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

To note that the next meeting of the Environment and Community Panel is scheduled to take place on 3^rd January 2024 at 4.30pm in the Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.

The next meeting of the Environment and Community Panel would be held on Wednesday 3^rd January 2024 at 4.30pm in the Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.

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”.

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

Officers presented the report, as included in the Agenda which set out the Framework Agreement for the Care and Repair Handyperson Prevention Service.  It was explained that the tender process had been carried out and contractors would be appointed from January 2024.

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

The Portfolio Holder for People and Communities, Councillor Rust commented that this was an important service that the Council provided to help with independent living and enabling people to stay in their homes for longer.

RESOLVED: That the Environment and Community Panel supports the recommendations to Cabinet as set out in the report.