Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Suite, King's Court, Chapel Street, King's Lynn. View directions

Contact: Rebecca Parker 01553 616632 

Items
No. Item

EC69:

Apologies for absence

To receive any apologies for absence.

Minutes:

None.

EC70:

Minutes pdf icon PDF 93 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 Chairman.

EC71:

Declarations of interest

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.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

EC72:

Urgent Business

To consider any business which, by reason of special circumstances, the Chairman proposed to accept as urgent under Section 100(b)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act, 1972.

Minutes:

There was none.

EC73:

Members Present Pursuant to Standing Order 34

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chairman of their intention to do so and on what items they wish to be heard before the meeting commences.  Any Member attending the meeting under Standing Order 34 will only be permitted to speak on those items which have been previously notified to the Chairman.

Minutes:

There was none.

EC74:

Chairman's Correspondence

If any.

Minutes:

There was none.

EC75:

Norfolk Waste Partnership Work Streams pdf icon PDF 87 KB

Minutes:

The Waste and Recycling Manager presented the report which provided an update on waste related issues, the current work of the Norfolk Waste Partnership, the Waste and Recycling Behaviour Change programme and other waste and recycling issues.

 

He reminded the Panel that following a successful bid for funding to the DCLG, the Local Green Points Scheme had been implemented.  He explained to the Panel that the scheme had resulted in an increase in dry recyclables and garden waste.  The Waste and Recycling Manager informed the Panel that the contract for the Local Green Points scheme had been extended for a second year.

 

The Waste and Recycling Manager reminded the Panel that they had received an update on the Local Green Points scheme last year and comments made by the Panel had now been taken forward including the Community Rewards Scheme which could enable Parish Councils and King’s Lynn Area Advisory Committee to nominate schemes for funding.  It was hoped that this scheme would encourage greater take up and promotions of the Green Points Scheme and promotion of the scheme within Parishes as it would be the local community that could benefit from the Community Rewards Scheme.  To be eligible for the Community Rewards Scheme the area would have to be one of the greatest performing areas under the Green Points Scheme. 

 

The Waste and Recycling Manager referred to market conditions, as set out in his report, and commented that they were improving slightly.  The Waste and Recycling Manager explained that if Members were interested in visiting the Materials Recycling Facility that they should let him know and this could be arranged.

 

The Waste and Recycling Manager referred to the review of infrastructure and collection regimes work stream as included in his report.  He explained that the Borough Council had the best pricing value for collection compared to any other Local Authority in Norfolk.  He explained that it was important to try and sustain this and investigations would take place into what would happen beyond the existing contract arrangements.

 

The Panel was informed that currently the Council was losing money on the food waste collection service, but the loss could decrease if more people starting using their food waste caddies.  It was hoped that rewards through the Local Green Points scheme could assist in encouraging take up. 

 

The Waste and Recycling Manager informed the Panel that the Council were currently trialling a new collection vehicle for food waste, which could result in cost savings and this had been promoted by social media and a press release.

 

The Panel was informed that a technical report on contract arrangements and how all Norfolk Authorities could go forward was being produced by the Norfolk Waste Partnership.  Delivery and service options would be looked at.  Trials and alternative ways of working could be investigated along with partnership working.

 

The Waste and Recycling Manager referred to the contamination of bins and explained that this was still a huge problem.  He explained that 16% of material in  ...  view the full minutes text for item EC75:

EC76:

Homelessness pdf icon PDF 61 KB

Members of the King’s Lynn Area Consultative Committee have been invited to attend the meeting for this item.

Minutes:

Members of the King’s Lynn Area Advisory Committee had been invited to attend the meeting for this item of business.

 

The Housing Services Manager provided an update on homelessness and rough sleepers.  He informed the Panel that the Council had a statutory requirement to conduct a rough sleeper count on an annual basis and the last count had taken place in November 2016.  The count had identified 42 rough sleepers, which was a huge increase compared to previous years when there had only been three or four.  He explained that the figures had been checked and information had been provided by other agencies and the figure of 42 was correct.

 

An analysis of people on the list had been carried out and information gathered as appropriate.  People were sleeping rough on Council and privately owned land and it was happening in the rural areas as well as in the Town Centres.  The Housing Services Manager explained that, due to the increase in the amount of rough sleepers, a problem had been identified and work would now be carried out by the Council, in partnership with other organisations, to look at ways to decrease the amount of people sleeping rough.

 

The Housing Services Manger explained that there were some common characteristics of the people who were sleeping rough.  He explained that 80% had mental health issues or complex needs and some had problems with drug and alcohol misuse.  In some cases tenancy arrangements had failed, which had made subsequent housing choices hard.  The Housing Services Manager explained that some people simply did not want to engage or receive help and assistance.

 

The Housing Services Manager explained that the Council needed to look at what they could do within their limited resources.  He explained that it was important to work in partnership with others such as the police and public health.  The Housing Services Manager explained that the problem was apparent across the whole of Norfolk.  The Housing Services Manager explained that it would be a challenge to deal with issues and there was not an outreach service available.  Work was ongoing to determine if it would be achievable to commission an outreach service and what resources would be required.  

 

The Chairman thanked the Housing Services Manager for the updated and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

 

Councillor Tyler asked what the Council’s statutory obligations were in terms of homelessness.  The Housing Services Manager explained that the team worked within the Homelessness Legislation and had a duty to try and prevent homelessness.  Help was provided to those outside of the statutory framework where possible to try and prevent them from becoming a priority need.  The Housing Services Manager responded to a further question from Councillor Tyler and explained that on private land the owner was responsible for rough sleepers; however the Council would assist if possible.  On Council owned land, the Council would need to look at the circumstances and follow the necessary procedure for unauthorised encampments which  ...  view the full minutes text for item EC76:

EC77:

Residential Caravan Site Licensing pdf icon PDF 84 KB

Minutes:

The Housing Services Operations Manager presented the report which provided information on the progress made in relation to Residential Caravan site Licensing and issues which had arisen in the first year of operation of the framework.

 

She explained that there was still a lot of work to do to identify sites and licence breaches.  The Panel was informed that a fees policy had been introduced and was reviewed on an annual basis.  The Housing Services Operations Manager explained that the amount of licensed sites had increased from 41 to 67 between 2014 and 2016. 

 

The Housing Services Operations Manager explained that investigations would be ongoing as it was believed that there were more sites yet to be discovered in the Borough.  The Housing Services Operations Manager explained that one option to identify sites could be aerial surveillance.

 

The Chairman thanked the Housing Services Operations Manager for her report and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

 

The Chairman, Councillor Sampson commented that he felt that aerial surveillance was the way forward as it would be the best way to cover the whole area.

 

Councillor Hipperson asked if discussions had been held with Parish Councils, so that if they were aware of any sites within their Parish they could be reported and investigated.  The Housing Services Operations Manager explained that if anyone was aware of any potential unlicensed sites they could report them to the Council.  She advised individuals not to approach individual sites and instead report them for investigation.  The Housing Services Operations Manager also agreed to look at how information could be made available to Parish Councils. 

 

The Housing Services Operations Manager explained that she was in discussion with the Council’s Communication Team regarding publicity of the services provided by the Housing Team in general and looking at different ways to get messages out to people.

 

Councillor Smith commented that he thought that some caravans had restrictions on how long they could be lived in during the year and the Housing Services Operations Manager stated that this was dependent on the Planning Permission.  Holiday Caravans often had residential restrictions and occupancy conditions on them and should not be the principal home.  The Housing Services Operations Manager informed the Panel that a list of licensed sites was available to view on the Borough Council’s website and the site needed to have Planning Permission before it could be licensed.

 

The Housing Services Manager explained that the Council had to take a risk based approach, due to the limited resources available.  Sites would be prioritised and if there was a risk, for example, people living in caravans that are not designed for permanent living or renting out caravans to vulnerable people, would be investigated as a priority.

 

RESOLVED: (i) The update was noted.

(ii) Updates be presented to the Panel as appropriate.

EC78:

Long Term Empty Homes Strategy

For more information please see the current Long Term Empty Homes Strategy at:

 

https://www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/info/20001/housing/269/housing_strategy_policies_and_information

 

The Housing Services Operations Manager will provide a presentation to the Panel.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Housing Services Operations Manager presented the update (as attached).  She highlighted that the number of empty homes fluctuated and was monitored on a regular basis.  Focus was on homes which had been empty for over six months and had a detrimental impact on the surrounding environment.  The number of long term empty homes had reduced from over a thousand in 2013, to 836 in January 2017.  The trend was for approximately 800 to 900 to be empty at any given time.

 

The Council had a Long Term Empty Homes Strategy which was available on the Borough Council’s website and if a property was empty for over 24 months it would be subject to 150% Council Tax.

 

The Housing Services Operations Manager explained that there was a variety of reasons why a property could be empty and each case was looked at individually.

 

The Chairman thanked the Housing Services Operations Manager for the update and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

 

Councillor Moriarty referred to the Government White Paper which had recently been published and asked if this would have an impact.  The Housing Services Operations Manager explained that she was still digesting the information in the White Paper, but it was not thought that it would have a significant impact above what the Council was already doing.

 

Councillor Moriarty referred to information which indicated that loans could be made available to bring empty homes back into use and the Housing Services Operations Manager explained that this had been looked at, but there was little interest in comparison to the amount of work which would be required by the Council and the complex process involved so this had not been taken forward.

 

Councillor Mrs Westrop referred to empty shops with flats above them and asked if the strategy covered this.  The Housing Services Operations Manager explained that some of these properties were not classed as residential or were not registered as habitable.  She explained that work was ongoing to increase the housing supply and flats above shops were something that could be investigated.  The Housing Services Manager explained that he had recently met with Freebridge Community Housing to look at opportunities for flats above shops.

 

In response to a question from Councillor Tyler, the Housing Services Operations Manager explained that it was good that the amount of empty homes had decreased, but it would continue to be monitored on a monthly basis so that issues could be addressed early.

 

RESOLVED: (i) The update was noted.

(ii) Updates be presented to the Panel as appropriate.

EC79:

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 52 KB

Minutes:

Members of the Panel were reminded that an eform was available on the Intranet which could be completed and submitted if Members had items which they would like to be considered for addition to the Work Programme.

 

RESOLVED: The Panel’s Work Programme was noted.

EC80:

Date of the next meeting

To note that the next meeting of the Environment and Community Panel is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 15th March 2017 at 6.00pm in the Committee Suite, King’s Court, Chapel Street, King’s Lynn, PE30 1EX.

Minutes:

The next meeting of the Environment and Community Panel would be held on Wednesday 15 March 2017 at 6.00pm in the Committee Suite, King’s Court, Chapel Street, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 1EX.