Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mrs Wilkinson.

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 Chairman.

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 Chairman 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 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.

There was none.

If any.

There was none.

The Executive Director introduced Jo Maule from Community Action Norfolk and Michael Deakin from Shelter who had been invited to the meeting to provide an update on the provision of Advice Services.

A copy of their presentations are attached.

The Chairman thanked Jo Maule and Michael Deakin for attending the meeting and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

In response to a question from Councillor Moriarty, it was explained that Shelter could provide assistance on preparing budgets by going through customer’s bank statements.  If gambling was a problem this would be identified and if the person had a serious issue they would be referred on for the help they needed. 

Councillor Moriarty referred to the referral routes into CAN and the small amount of referrals from WNDIS and KLARS.  It was explained that this could be because issues could be resolved by the organisations own advice provision, or the service user could have gone direct to the Citizens Advice Bureau.  Jo Maule confirmed that WNDIS and KLARS were part of the advice hub so were aware of the services which could be provided through CAN and Shelter.

Councillor John Collop felt that some people could leave it too late before asking for help and could be taken advantage of.  He asked what assistance could be provided to people who did not understand basic financing.  Michael Deakin explained that budgeting advice was offered and could be provided when circumstances changed to try and prevent them getting into difficulties.  Shelter could also ask for creditors to freeze credit accounts whilst they planned finances.

The Panel was informed that there was an Advice Hub Partnership and regular forum meetings were held so that organisations could be kept up to date with upcoming issues and risks.

Councillor Mrs Westrop referred to the services available in Downham Market and explained that most residents tended to access services through the Library.  She asked if the library could be considered as a referral route through to CAN.  Michael Deakin explained that options, such as offering training on the use of the online advice network and referrals portal could be offered.  It was confirmed that work had been carried out in Downham Market as part of the outreach work.

RESOLVED: (i) The update was noted.

(ii) That a further update be received in thirteen months.

The Environmental Health Manager presented his report which outlined the roles and responsibilities relating to surface water flooding.  He provided information on the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.  He provided details on the roles and responsibilities of Norfolk County Council, Environment Agency, Anglian Water, Internal Drainage Boards and the Borough Council, as detailed in the report.

The Chairman thanked the Environmental Health Manager for the report and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

Councillor Hipperson raised concern regarding responsibility for small scale development which would include the filling in of dykes and use of pipes which were insufficient for the drainage required and could result in localised flooding.  The Environmental Health Manager explained that Planning Officers would be required to ask the relevant Internal Drainage Board or Norfolk County Council for advice and could place conditions on Planning Permissions as required.  He explained that it was important for the Planning Committee to ensure that proper advice had been received to prevent development going forward without adequate provision.  He suggested that if the Panel would like more information on the process they could invite representatives from Planning or Norfolk County Council to a future meeting as required.

Councillor Bubb raised issues regarding an area of localised flooding in his Ward.  The Environmental Health Manager advised that Councillor Bubb take photos of the problem area and send them to Norfolk County Council.  He could also ask the Parish Council to make representations or contact his Norfolk County Councillor.

RESOLVED: The update was noted.

The Policy, Performance and Personnel Manager provided the Panel with a presentation on the West Norfolk Strategy Group, as attached.  She explained that the West Norfolk Partnership had been operating, albeit in different formats, since 2001.  The overall understanding of the Partnership was the same since it was formed and the aim was to join up the public sector partners to look at joined up working and projects.  The Panel was provided with detail of the operation of the West Norfolk Partnership, projects which had been carried out and future plans.

The Chairman thanked the Policy, Performance and Personnel Manager for her presentation and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

In response to a question it was confirmed that a postcard had been produced which would include details of all the partners involved in the Partnership and details on working in West Norfolk, including the website address for the jobs site.  Work on refreshing the website would be carried out in the future.

The Vice Chairman, Councillor Bambridge asked for detail on the cost of the Partnership to the Borough Council.  The Policy, Performance and Personnel Manager explained that the Borough Council supported the Partnership through organisation and administration of meetings.  Projects would be supported through joint partners or grant funding if possible.

The Panel was informed of potential funding streams which could become available in the future and the Policy, Performance and Personnel Manager explained that the team kept a watching brief on potential funding streams.

In response to a question from Councillor Mrs Westrop regarding the Mental Health work stream and potential activities, the Policy Performance and Personnel Manager explained that this project was in its early stages and things like broad brush activities to raise awareness and specific ideas would be looked at.

The Chief Executive commented that in addition to the formal side, working together to support each other was a strength in West Norfolk and spin off benefits were achieved, for example the Borough Council’s handypersons service provided relief cover to the handyperson at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.  Meetings were also a good opportunity to talk through issues and future plans.

Councillor Bubb commented that there were not any ‘welcome to West Norfolk’ signs around the Borough and it was explained that this was something that the Branding Group could look at.

RESOLVED: The update was noted.

The Executive Director presented the Cabinet report which detailed the proposals for introducing a Local Authority Lottery.  The Panel were invited to make any appropriate recommendations to Cabinet, who would be considering the report at their meeting on 6^th September 2017.  

The Executive Director provided information on the company that could provide the Local Lottery model and other Local Authorities who had introduced a Lottery.  Those present were reminded that a review of financial assistance grants had been carried out and budgets had had to be reduced, the Local Lottery was an idea to supplement this and provide a route for organisations to raise funds.  The report set out the model which could be used and the Panel was informed that it would take at least sixteen weeks to get the necessary licences in place.  It was therefore proposed to launch the Lottery in 2018.

The Executive Director informed the Panel that the report also set out how people could play the lottery and how the money was distributed.  She also highlighted the Financial Implications as set out in the report.

The Chairman thanked the Executive Director for her report and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

Councillor Smith referred to recommendation four, which would require two named officers to hold Gambling Licences.  He asked that if officers would prefer not to hold Licences could they be held by a different member of staff.  The Executive Director confirmed that this would not be a problem.

In response to a further question from Councillor Smith, it was confirmed that the website design was a template and Members could look at examples from other Local Authorities if they wanted an idea on how the website would look.  It would be made clear on the website the percentage of funds which would go to the good causes.  The Executive Director explained that there was the opportunity for Lottery winners to donate their winnings back to the good causes.

Councillor Mrs Collop raised concern about the large management fee and that the top prize had never been won.  She also commented that people should be able to purchase tickets on the day instead of sales being stopped the day before the draw.  The Executive Director explained that people could buy tickets in 1, 3, 6 or 12 month blocks, however payments could be cancelled if required.  She explained that the model available from Gatherwell set out the percentage fees, including the management fee.  She explained that the Lottery provider would pay the money to the good causes on a monthly basis.

In response to a question from Councillor Bubb, it was explained that a client account would be operated so it would be protected if the company was to fail.

Councillor John Collop raised concern that people could get in debt through gambling, he also felt that the management fee was high.  He felt that the set up costs and annual costs should come from the management fee instead  ...  view the full minutes text for item EC37:

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.

It was noted that an update on the Sustainability Transformation Plan had been scheduled to come to the Panel in May 2017, but had been postponed because of the Election purdah period.  This would be rescheduled onto 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 10^th October 2017 at 6.00pm in the Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.

The next meeting of the Environment and Community Panel would be held on 10^th October 2017 at 6.00pm in the Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.