Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED: Councillor Lesley Bambridge was appointed Vice Chairman for the Municipal Year.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Hopkins and Taylor.

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 Environmental Health Manager presented the Food Hygiene update, as attached.

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

Councillor Mrs Fraser asked the Environmental Health Manager if Nail Salons were required to be licensed.  The Environmental Health Manager explained that they had to adhere to Health and Safety Legislation, but were not required to be licensed by the Borough Council.  She explained that the Council could inspect premises and ensure that any chemicals were being used safely and properly.  She acknowledged that it was easy for anyone to buy equipment, chemicals and tattoo machines online which could be dangerous.

The Environmental Health Manager referred to the resources and staff available in the team and explained that they only had the resources available to react upon information.  She encouraged Members to let her know if they were aware of any premises or activity which they felt should be investigated.

In response to a question from Councillor Hipperson, the Environmental Health Manager explained that there was an age of consent of 18 for tattoos, but not one for piercings.  She explained that a fine of up to £500 could be issued if authorities were aware of underage tattooing.  The Environmental Health Manager explained that the Council had a tattoo hygiene rating scheme in place.

Councillor Parish asked about training and education.  The Environmental Health Manager explained that the Council did run Food Hygiene courses and did go into Primary Schools to teach the importance of hand washing.

RESOLVED: The update was noted and a further update would be scheduled on the Work Programme for approximately a years’ time.

The Waste and Recycling Manager presented the Panel with information on Single Use Plastics, as attached.

The Communications Manager explained that as well as the environmental impact of single use plastics, the Panel needed to consider issues such as littering, personal responsibility and behavioural change.  She explained that the Council did run campaigns to promote recycling, they also provided information such as bin calendars and details of what could and could not be recycled.  Work was also carried out in schools and face to face with the public to ensure that the right things were being recycled and to reduce contamination.

The Panel was informed that the Council preferred to educate and inform the public, however it was acknowledged that enforcement action could be taken as a last resort, for example for fly tipping.

The Panel was reminded that this item was brought to the Panel for consideration at the request of several Members.  Officers sought Members assistance in the way forward.

The Chairman thanked the Waste and Recycling Manager and the Communications Manager for their report and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

Councillor Mrs Wilkinson asked about recycling blister packs from medication.  The Waste and Recycling Manager explained that because blister packs were made up from multiple components they were often not recyclable.  However the cardboard box that they came in could be recycled. 

In response to a question from Councillor Mrs Bower it was explained that newspapers were sent to North Wales for recycling and there was a good market for this at the moment.  The Waste and Recycling Manager acknowledged that there was not a market for some grades of paper, however the recycling contractor had a ‘zero to landfill’ policy and this resulted in a cost to dispose of this material. 

Councillor Parish suggested that the Council should look at reducing the areas of waste which caused litter and contamination, for example single use plastics.  He felt that there was a lot of plastic used which was unnecessary.  He referred to a scheme running in Hunstanton in which businesses would refill water bottles and he asked if this could be extended throughout the Borough.  He also made reference to incineration and how it was a way of getting rid of waste and creating energy.

The Communications Manager explained that the Council could review their Procurement procedures and look at alternative ways of working.  She explained that Members needed to determine the Councils approach. 

Councillor Mrs Westrop suggested that the Panel needed to look at existing and future campaigns to reduce waste, procurement and Council Policies.  She explained that she had initially requested that the item be considered by the Environment and Community Panel after some Members had raised concern about the use of single use plastics in publicity campaigns.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Long referred to comments made about the incinerator and reminded those present that previously residents had not wanted an incinerator and therefore the Council had opposed  ...  view the full minutes text for item EC9:

RESOLVED: The Panel made the following Outside Body nominations, to be presented to Council:

Borough Council/College of West Anglia Liaison Board – Councillor Smith

King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Area Museums Committee – Councillors Bubb, Smith and Westrop

Norfolk Countywide Community Safety Partnership Scrutiny Sub Panel – Councillor Westrop and Fraser (sub)

Norfolk Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Councillor Fraser and Smith (sub)

West Norfolk Community Transport Project – Councillor Fraser

The following items were identified for possible inclusion on the Work Programme:

·        Update on the Docks

·        Hare Coursing

·        Grass Cutting

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 24^th July 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 24^th July 2018 at 6pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.