Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

An Apology for absence was received from Councillor Rochford.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting.

RESOLVED: The Minutes from the Environment and Community Panel Meeting held on 6 January 2016 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 was none.

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.

To receive comments and recommendations from other Council bodies, and any responses subsequent to recommendations, which the Panel has previously made.

At the Cabinet meeting on 12 January 2016, the following responses were made to the recommendations from the Environment and Community Panel on 6 January 2016 in respect of the following items:

EC21: Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Regulations

PANEL RECOMMENDED: That the Environment and Community Panel support the recommendations to Cabinet as set out in the report.

CABINET RESPONSE: The comments of the Panel were taken into account when Cabinet considered the item.

The Panel noted the response made by Cabinet to the recommendations from the Panel meeting on 6 January 2016 in respect of the following item:

·         Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Regulations.

The above Cabinet report is on the Forward Decision List for consideration by Cabinet on 2 February 2016.  The Panel is requested to consider the report and make any appropriate recommendations to Cabinet.

The LDF Manager presented the Cabinet report which set out the CIL draft charging schedule.  He referred to the Viability Assessment which set out the justification for the charging and the various rates of CIL which could be applied.  He explained that the maps contained within the report pertained to strategic sites and showed the different levels of CIL proposed to be charged within the area.

He reminded those present that Parishes with Neighbourhood Development Plans would receive a higher percentage of CIL than those without a Plan unless the area was within a zero level area.

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

In response to a question from Councillor Moriarty, the LDF Manager explained that Appendix 3 of the report showed a map of the different CIL levels which would be charged in each area.

Councillor Smith referred to the different levels of CIL proposed to be charged in the King’s Lynn area and asked if the different levels charged would deter development in areas where the CIL level was higher.  The LDF Manager explained that the boundary recommendations had been created by the Consultants and the CIL levels proposed reflected the land value and sale value of homes in the different areas.  He explained that there was a limit on how much properties could be sold for in certain areas.

Councillor Westrop accepted that there were limited values to how much properties could be sold for in certain areas, but asked what would happen if market conditions changed.  The LDF Manager confirmed that levels could be reviewed.  He referred to Appendix 1 which set out what CIL money could be used for.  Information had been used from Strategic Economic Plans to set out what would be required to cope with additional housing created in the Borough and included improved infrastructure, education and health.  He explained that political judgement would be required on how CIL contributions would be spent.  He clarified that the CIL regulations stated that CIL monies had to be spent and could not be used to achieve a surplus.

The LDF Manager confirmed that the CIL levels proposed were based on Land Registry data and selling prices.  The figures proposed by the Consultant had been tested and additional research conducted.  He explained that the levels proposed should stand for two or three years before a review would be required which would be presented to Members for consideration.

Councillor Bubb asked if consideration had been given to areas which were liable to flooding.  The Vice Chairman, Councillor Miss Bambridge referred to the Waterfront area in King’s Lynn and asked how urgent sea defence works were in this area.  The LDF Manager explained that the report outlined the infrastructure required to enable development to take place.

In response to a question from Councillor Moriarty, the LDF Manager explained that some Local Authorities had already been through the examination process.  He explained that the CIL  ...  view the full minutes text for item EC33:

The above report is on Cabinet Forward Decision List for consideration by Cabinet on 2 February 2016.  The Panel are requested to consider the report and make any appropriate recommendations to Cabinet.

The Executive Director, Commercial Services presented the Cabinet report which considered the introduction of charging points for electric vehicles and charges for the use of the service.

The Chairman invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

In response to a question from Councillor Bubb, the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Councillor Long explained that all electric vehicles, by default, had details of where charging points were available programmed into their Satellite Navigation system.  He explained that the charging points rapidly charged vehicles to 80% charge, but they could be fully charged if required.  The plug could be locked into the vehicle whilst it was charging so that others could not unplug it.  He explained that at the moment the usage pattern indicated that there were unlikely to be queues for the charging points.

RESOLVED: That the Environment and Community Panel support the recommendation to Cabinet as set out below.

Cabinet is recommended to agree a fixed charge based on parking costs up to a maximum of three hours and 25p per KWh charge for electricity.

To receive a verbal update from the Executive Director.

The Executive Director, Commercial Services reminded those present that they had previously received a presentation on a recycling project which was being carried out following a successful award of funding from the Department for Communities and Local Government.  He explained that the project would work to improve recycling levels and decrease the amount of contamination.

A tender exercise had recently been carried out and the tender had been awarded to take the project forward.  Work would commence in April and the company would attend a future meeting of the Environment and Community Panel to provide an update.

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

In response to a question from Councillor Moriarty the Executive Director explained that the company would have targets to work towards and in the first year the target was to move a thousand tonnes of waste out of the black bin.  This could include moving the waste to food waste or recycling.

RESOLVED: The update was noted.

To consider the Work Programme.

In considering the Work Programme Members’ attention is drawn to the Cabinet Forward Decision List.

The Chairman informed those present that if they had any suggestions for items to be added to the Work Programme they could email him at any time.

Councillor Bubb asked if the Panel could be kept up to date on items they had previously considered, for example ‘A’ Boards and Markets.  The Chairman agreed to take this into consideration.

The Executive Director suggested that updates could be provided through the Members Bulletin, or Cabinet Members reports to council.

In response to a question from Councillor Mrs Collop, the Executive Director informed those present that, as agreed at the previous meeting, individual ward maps relating to the grounds maintenance review would be sent to Councillors in due course.

RESOLVED: The Work Programme and Forward Decisions list was noted.

To note that the next meeting of the Environment and Community Panel is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 24^th February 2016 at 4.00pm in the Committee Suite, King’s Court, Chapel Street, King’s Lynn, PE30 1EX.

The next meeting of the Environment and Community Panel was scheduled to take place on Wednesday 24^th February 2016 at 4.00pm in the Committee Suite, King’s Court, Chapel Street, King’s Lynn, PE30 1EX.