Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs S Collop, M Hopkins, M Taylor and J Westrop.

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.

Rachael Williams, Learning and Engagement Officer from Stories of Lynn will be giving a presentation on the above project.

Rachael Williams, Stories of Lynn Learning and Engagement Officer presented the Panel with information on the World War 1 Soldiers Remembered project.  A copy of her presentation is attached.

The Chairman thanked Rachael Williams for her presentation and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

The Vice Chairman, Councillor Bambridge commented that she had attended one of the days and thought it was excellent.  She commented that all the children were engaged and the characters and activities which were available had been very well put together.  She congratulated Rachael Williams.

Councillor Hipperson explained that his daughter was involved in the event as one of the characters and she had commented that the presentation and organisation of the event had been excellent.  He congratulated Rachael Williams on the event. 

Rachael Williams thanked the Panel for their comments.  She explained that this was a good way to get children interested and for their interest and learning to continue in the classroom.  She provided examples of some of the follow up work completed by children after the event. 

Rachael Williams encouraged Councillors to come and have a look around Stories of Lynn.

The Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and Health, Councillor Mrs Nockolds commended the work which Rachael Williams had carried out and was pleased to announce that funding had been made available to extend her contract for another year.

RESOLVED: 1. The Panel noted the presentation.

2. The Panel congratulated Rachael Williams and all those involved in the successful project.

The Partnership and Funding Officer presented the report which proposed a change to the criteria on eligibility to apply to the Council’s small grants scheme.  The report sought approval to include Community Interest Companies and Social Enterprises to the list of organisations eligible to apply.

The Chairman thanked the Partnership and Funding Officer for her report.  There were no questions from the Panel.

RESOLVED: Members supported the proposal to amend the Borough Council’s Financial Assistance Scheme criteria to allow Community Interest Companies and Social Enterprises to apply for funds.

Claire Thompsett, Operations Manager presented the Panel with information on the 2018 grass cutting season.  A copy of her presentation is attached. 

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

Councillor Mrs Bower thanked the grounds maintenance team for all the work in Hunstanton and the Anglia in Bloom achievements.  She commented that she knew that they were short staffed and had other constraints, but they went beyond the call of duty in Hunstanton and had advised the Parish well.

Councillor Hipperson asked if officers had looked into co-operating with Parishes and individuals in assisting to maintain areas.  Nathan Johnson, Public Open Space Manager commented that this was something that officers could look into.  They did already actively work with partners such as Freebridge Community Housing and Norfolk County Council and could include Parishes and individuals in this as well.

Councillor Mrs Wilkinson explained that in her area it had been a bad start to the year and she had been disappointed, however the service had improved.  She acknowledged that the conditions at the beginning of the year had been challenging and there was a shortage of staff.  The Public Open Space Manager confirmed that the teams around Fairstead had been short staffed and resources had to be shared round. 

Councillor Parish commented that he would like to see more green corridors in the Borough.  The Public Open Space Manager commented that if Parishes identified areas where this would be appropriate they should contact the grounds maintenance team who could adjust the areas which were cut.

The Leader, Councillor Long asked for information on the machinery which was used and how it coped with different weather conditions.  It was explained that the machinery was on a ten year rolling replacement programme.  In 2016 flail mowers were introduced and these were easier to adjust, lift and raise.  Prior to this it was difficult to deal with long grass, but the flail mowers could deal with a variety of different lengths and conditions.

The Panel was informed that at the beginning of the season a lot of areas were waterlogged, which meant that the machinery could not access some areas as they would just sink in the mud. 

Councillor Bubb asked if cuttings could be collected and removed.  He commented that sometimes if it was windy cuttings could blow about, or if it was wet they could clump up and prevent growth underneath or raise the height of the verges.  The Public Open Space Manager explained that cuttings were collected and removed in formal areas, but not anywhere else.  He explained that to collect and remove cuttings would result in additional costs for removal and disposal and it would take up extra time.

The Chairman, Councillor Sampson referred to a recent incident when the nozzles on a weed sprayer had been pointed incorrectly and had killed some of the grass on the verges.  The Public Open Space Manager explained that  ...  view the full minutes text for item EC75:

To receive an update from Councillor Mrs Fraser.

Councillor Mrs Fraser provided an update on her Disability Champion role.  A copy of her presentation is attached.  Councillor Mrs Fraser explained that the Disability Champion role had been created following the disbandment of the West Norfolk Disability Forum and she started in the role in January 2018.  The Panel was provided with information on some of the successful projects she had been involved in and the ‘Yes I Can’ event, which had been well attended with 59 organisations taking part.

Councillor Mrs Fraser commented that she was working with the Communications Team and getting the message out on Social Media.  She commented that she enjoyed the role and hoped to continue doing more work and helping people.

The Leader, Councillor Long, thanked Councillor Mrs Fraser for all her hard work.  He highlighted that the Champion role was not a paid position.  He congratulated Councillor Mrs Fraser and commented that she should be proud of her work.

The Assistant Director commented that the Corporate Web Team could assist with getting information on the Borough Council’s website about the Disability Champion Role.  She also commented that she felt that the ‘Yes I Can’ event had been really well publicised. 

The Vice Chairman, Councillor Bambridge suggested that an article could be sent to Norfolk County Council for possible inclusion in their Norfolk Matters Magazine which would assist with promoting the role.

RESOLVED: 1. The Panel noted the update.

2. The Panel thanked and congratulated Councillor Mrs Fraser on her achievements.

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 22^nd January 2019 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 22md January 2019 at 6.00pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.