Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Hipperson, Taylor, Mrs Wilkinson and Richard Fisher, Arboricultural Officer.

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.

Councillor Parish – Items EC81 and EC82.

If any.

There was none.

The Partnership and Funding Officer presented the report and explained that the Council operated a Financial Assistance Scheme to support local community groups.  Local community groups must apply for funds and demonstrate that they met pre-set criteria.  The theme of the annual £4,000 fund was decided on an annual basis and the report requested that members consider the use of the themed fund for 2018/2019.

The recommendation was that the themed fund be used towards the commemoration of the end of World War 1.

The Chairman thanked the Partnership and Funding Officer for her report and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

Councillor Smith asked if this would be a good opportunity to compose a list of all War Memorials in the Borough.  Councillor Crofts commented that the Royal British Legion may already have a list and the Partnership and Funding Officer agreed to look into what records were already kept.

In response to a question from Councillor J Collop it was explained that certain criteria had to be met to access the fund and in the past it had been used for events, memorials and it brought communities and local groups together.  He also asked what would happen if the fund was oversubscribed. 

The Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and Health, Councillor Nockolds explained that she would meet with the Partnership and Funding Officer and the Executive Director to look at the applications for funding against the criteria.  Usually small amounts of up to £250 were awarded.  The Panel was informed that a delegated decision would be published with the outcome of the applications, which all Councillors would be able to view and it would be subject to the usual call in process.

RESOLVED: The Panel recommended that the themed fund for 2018/2019 be used towards the commemoration of the end of World War 1 as detailed in the report.

The Principal Environmental Health Officer presented the report which provided an overview of the legislation relating to dog fouling and littering, an update on how the team managed complaints and presented options for future work in these areas.

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

The Vice Chairman, Councillor Bambridge explained that she had worked with a Primary School on a PUP (Pick up Please) campaign and had carried out letter box drops and put up posters.  Councillor Bambridge referred to other Local Authorities that had introduced Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO’s) so that if dog owners did not carry a bag with them they could receive a fine.  She asked if this was something that could be considered in the Borough.  The Principal Environmental Health Officer explained that there was a PSPO in place in relation to dog fouling and restrictions on where dogs could go, for instance play areas and certain beaches.  The Principal Environmental Health Officer explained that the current PSPO was up for renewal at the end of the year and lots of options could be considered during its review.

In response to a question from Councillor Bubb it was explained that the majority of dog bins were in Parishes and the Clean Up team would be able to provide figures on how many bins were in the Borough.  Councillor Bubb explained that in Dersingham some of the dog bins were sponsored which helped to cover the cost and he suggested that this could be introduced in other areas.  The Principal Environmental Health Officer informed the Panel that dog waste could go in any bin.  Dog bins were more prominent in rural areas and popular dog walking areas.

Councillor Whitby highlighted problems within his Ward and explained that the Parish Council had been looking at options to try and reduce the amount of dog fouling.  The Principal Environmental Health Officer explained that Parish Councils were welcome to contact the team for advice and guidance.  He explained that Parish Councils would also be consulted during the review of the PSPO.

The Panel discussed fly tipping and it was explained that signage was used, but sometimes was not enough of a deterrent.  The Principal Environmental Health Officer explained that if people were caught fly tipping they would be prosecuted.  He explained that the Council could carry out investigations on private land, but it would be the land owner’s responsibility to clear the land. 

Councillor Mrs Collop raised concern that sometimes people could accidently drop litter without realising and provided an example of where someone had been fined for accidently dropping a receipt from their wallet.  The Principal Environmental Health Officer explained that enforcement officers should use common sense in cases like this and give the person the opportunity to pick up the litter if it was a genuine accident.

The Portfolio Holder for Environment, Councillor Devereux explained that the Borough Council had options  ...  view the full minutes text for item EC81:

The Chairman reminded the Panel that they had previously considered the Draft Tree Strategy.  The revised version was now presented to the Panel.  The Chairman invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

Councillor Bubb commented that the report made no mention of Mistletoe and he felt that in some cases it should be protected.  The Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and Health explained that the amount of Mistletoe in the Walks had increased and it could have a negative effect on the trees if there was too much.  She explained that some may have to be cut down and it could be donated to charity so it could be sold.  She explained that all trees in the Walks were checked annually. 

The Portfolio Holder for Environment, Councillor Devereux commended the strategy and felt that it was useful to have a vision for the future and an implementation plan. 

Councillor Parish addressed the Panel under Standing Order 34.  He explained that he would like to see the Tree Preservation Order process made simpler and more detail on how developers and land owners could be encouraged to plant trees should be included.  Councillor Parish commented that it would be good to have some sort of incentive for Parishes to plant trees, such as the ability to purchase discounted trees via the Borough Council. 

Councillor Parish commented that there needed to be more stringent checks on planting schemes which were conditions of planning permissions to ensure that the correct planting had been carried out. 

Councillor Mrs Collop and J Collop explained that they had an issue in their Ward with some large trees which were too big and out of control.  Councillor Mrs Collop commented that large roots could cause issues with pushing up pavements. 

Councillor Mrs Wright asked if community orchards were an option and it was explained that there were already several of these around the Borough. 

RESOLVED: The Panel supported the draft Strategy.

The Senior Housing Standards Officer presented the Panel with information on Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO’s) and future changes to legislation and requirements for HMO’s.

The Chairman thanked the Senior Housing Standards Officer for her presentation and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

In response to a question from the Chairman, the Senior Housing Standards Officer explained that the problem in King’s Lynn was not as bad as in some areas; however it was often difficult to get landlords to do the work to bring housing up to standard.  She explained that an informal approach was tried first and the background to the case was investigated.

Councillor Smith thanked the Housing Standards team for their work as poor standards could be very dangerous.  He asked if the Council could ‘name and shame’ bad landlords to warn the general public.  The Senior Housing Standards Officer explained that Government would be creating a rogue landlord database which the Borough Council could add to and it would be publicly available.

Councillor Mrs Westrop welcomed the changes to requirements for HMO’s including changing from a three storey house to a two storey.  She explained that often there could be a lot of people living in a small house which were currently hidden under the radar.  The Senior Housing Standards Officer explained that when the new conditions were introduced management regulations could be enforced even in a property that was unlicensed. 

Councillor J Collop felt that sometimes fines were too minor punishment for landlords and in serious cases they should be prosecuted.  He explained that the strongest punishment possible should be used for landlords who did not provide adequate living conditions.  The Senior Housing Standards Officer explained that landlords had been successfully prosecuted in this area.

The Chairman encouraged the Panel to share information with officers if they were aware of a potential unlicensed HMO so that it could be investigated.

RESOLVED: (i) The Update was noted.

(ii) A further update be presented to the Panel twelve months after the introduction of the new requirements for HMO’s.

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.

The following items were suggested for consideration to be added to the Work Programme:

-        Markets

-        Annual Cheese Fare

-        Update on the Docks

-        Pontoons

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 27^th March 2018 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 on Tuesday 27^th March at 2018 at 6.00pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.