Agenda and minutes

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The Chair invited nominations for the position of Vice-Chair of the Panel for the forthcoming year.

Councillor de Whalley seconded by Councillor Mrs Wilkinson proposed Councillor Squire.

Councillor Kirk seconded by Councillor Bubb proposed Councillor Mrs C Bower.

On the vote being taken for each nomination, Councillor Mrs Bower was approved Vice Chair on the Chair’s casting vote for the forthcoming year.

RESOLVED:  Councillor Mrs C Bower be appointed Vice Chair for the forthcoming year.

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting.

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RESOLVED: The Minutes from the previous meeting were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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 Chair 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 Chair of their intention to do so and what items they wish to be heard before a decision on that item is taken.  

Councillor A Holmes and J Rust were present under Standing Order 34.

If any.

There was none.

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RESOLVED:  1) That the Homelessness and Housing Delivery Task Group continued to operate and the Democratic Services Officer be instructed to seek Membership of the Task Group from the Group Leaders for the 2021/2022 municipal year.

2) Membership of the Informal Working Groups to continue as per the current membership.

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RESOLVED:  The following Councillors were nominated to participate in the outside bodies set out below:

Borough Council Council/College of West Anglia Liaison Board (1 representative) – Councillor J Lowe

King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Area Museums Committee (3 representatives) –

Councillors Bubb, de Whalley and Kemp

Norfolk County Council – Norfolk Countywide Community Safety Partnership Scrutiny Sub-Panel (1 representative and substitute) Representative – Councillor A Kemp

Substitute – Councillor A Bubb

Norfolk Health Overview Scrutiny Committee – Cllr Kemp

West Norfolk Community Transport Project (1 representative) –

A new representative to be appointed.

King’s Lynn Football Club Board (observer) – Democratic Services to contact Mr P Bland to ascertain if he wished to continue the role as observer.

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Councillor A Bubb on behalf of the Climate Change Information Working Group addressed the Panel and provided an overview of the work which had been undertaken to date.

The Panel received a presentation from the Environmental Health Manager and Climate Change Officer.  Officers responded to questions and comments, a summary of which is set out below:

·         Norfolk Climate Change Partnership.

·         Importance of public interest and being as open and transparent as possible.

·         Concerns in relation to district emissions – industrial and commercial, peat area, some housing provision not being energy efficient, woodland areas, fuel poverty.

·         Phase 2 to be developed as soon as possible in order to receive funding.

Councillor de Whalley commended the Council and officers for the work which had been undertaken to date.

Councillor J Rust addressed the Panel under Standing Order 34.

The Environmental Services Manager highlighted the document was currently in draft format.  Members were invited to forward any comments to the Environmental Services Manager which would be considered by the Council.

The Chair thanked officers for the presentation.

RESOLVED:  That the Panel considered the Strategy and Action Plan.

To consider a request from Councillor Bullen.

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The Panel received a presentation from Councillor Bullen (copy attached).

Councillor Bullen proposed:

·         That the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk adopt a formal policy of encouraging and supporting urban wildlife for the benefit of residents and wildlife.

·         As lead developer the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk take the initiative to install swift, bee bricks and bat boxes in Borough Councill property and developments and install “hedgehog highways.”

The Panel supported the above proposal.

The Chair thanked Councillor Bullen for his presentation.

RESOLVED:  1) An Informal Working Group be established to look at this subject in more detail and report back to the Environment and Community Panel in August.

2) Consider the Terms of Reference for the Informal Working Group.

3) Members interested in participating in the Informal Working Group to inform the Chair and Democratic Services via email.

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The Principal Environmental Health Officer presented the report and responded to questions and comments in relation to:

·         Housing – energy efficiency.

·         Compliant electricity safety certificates.

The Chair thanked the Principal Environmental Health Officer for providing an update.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

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The following items were suggested for the future work programme to be  considered at the next sifting meeting:

·         Tidal Rivers Quarterly Bathymetric Survey Overview.

·         Chalk Streams.

·         EA Future of the Fens Study Phase 1.

·         Anti-Social Behaviour.

·         Assistance to sufferers of domestic abuse.

·         Modern slavery.

RESOLVED: The items listed above would be discussed at the next sifting meeting.

To note that the next meeting of the Environment and Community Panel is scheduled to take place on 13^th July 2021 at 3.00pm in the Assembly Room at the Town Hall.

The next meeting of the Environment and Community Panel would be held on 13 July 2021.