Agenda and minutes

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RESOLVED: Councillor Bubb was appointed Vice Chair for the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Kirk.

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 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.  

Councillors Kemp and Morley. 

If any.

The Panel discussed the following correspondence received by the Chair:

Muntjac Deer

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Councillor Collop informed the Panel of an issue in her Ward relating to an increase in Muntjac Deer in Reffley Park and they were causing distress to people walking their dogs on leads and she asked if the Panel could assist with information and signposting on how to deal with this issue.

Councillor Bullen commented that it was important that people did not feed them, however there was lots of natural food available to them.

The Panel discussed the issue and reference was made to sensitive ways of dealing with the problem, signage to discourage people feeding them and specific issues in other Wards.

The Assistant Director agreed to look into the issue and report back to Councillors as required.

Following the meeting the Assistant Director has provided information on a recent DEFRA consultation on a Deer Management Strategy Deer management strategy - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) which could be considered in the future once the response to the consultation had been published.

Councillor Devereux Appointment to Elected Members Forum for The Wash Shoreline Management Plan

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Councillor Devereux informed the Panel that National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy was being implemented through Shoreline Management Plans.  Councillor Devereux explained that he had been appointed Chair of the Elected Members Forum for The Wash Shoreline Management Plan.  He explained that the Environment Agency were leading on an assessment of the Plans to ensure that they remained up to date and reliable.  The Elected Members Forum would provide Governance on all the work that was ongoing including a focus on reviewing the original actions and overseeing a ‘health check’ of the Shoreline Management Plan and was made up of Members from Councils across Lincolnshire, Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire.

The Chair congratulated Councillor Devereux on his appointment.

More information on what the presentation will cover is available at Motion for the Ocean – LGA Coastal SIG

A representative from the LGA Special Interest Group will present to the Panel.

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Dr Pamela Buchan attended the meeting for this item and presented Members with information on a ‘Motion for the Ocean’.  A copy of her presentation is attached.

The Chair thanked Dr Pamela Buchan for her presentation and invited questions and comments from the Panel as summarised below.  The Chair explained that the Council did already work with a number of partner organisations.

Councillor Squire indicated her support for the presentation and asked for examples of actions other Local Authorities that had implemented the Motion had taken.  Dr Pamela Buchan explained that it was early days and most Local Authorities would be reviewing their action plans in twelve months’ time and she was in the process of surveying Councils on what actions they had taken.  Example actions included adding supplementary planning documents relating to the preservation of access to water and the waterfront and some related to raising awareness and education.

The Chair commented that the Panel could note the information and consider it in the future as opportunities arose.

Clarification was provided on the Borough Council’s responsibility of The Wash, and it was explained that a range of organisations had responsibility for different aspects of The Wash, including the Environment Agency, the Wash and North Norfolk Marine Partnership, the Marine Management Organisation, and the Conservancy Board.

RESOLVED: The presentation was noted.

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 3 January 2023 at 4.30pm in the Town Hall, King’s Lynn.

The next meeting of the Environment and Community Panel was scheduled to take place on Tuesday 3 January 2023 in the Town Hall, King’s Lynn.

To consider passing the following resolution:

“That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act”.

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RESOLVED: That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

To consider the report and make any appropriate recommendations to Cabinet.

The Assistant to the Chief Executive presented the report which investigated future options for the Skatepark at Lynnsport with a view to providing a range of new facilities to enhance and improve the offer.  The next stage of the work would be to carry out the work to achieve cost certainty.

The Chair thanked the Assistant to the Chief Executive for her report and invited questions and comments from the Panel.

The Assistant to the Chief Executive and the Managing Director of Alive West Norfolk responded to questions from Councillors.  It was explained that Alive West Norfolk was reviewing their offer to look to reduce the leisure subsidy and the Kasset facility was currently operating at a loss. 

Information on the options for the facility were provided to members and it was explained that sustainable and popular activities would be considered.

Councillor Bullen commented that investment was also required in Downham Market and the Managing Director explained that this project was looking at options for an existing facility at Lynnsport, however Alive West Norfolk were committed to invest in Downham Market.

Councillor Kemp addressed the Panel under Standing Order 34 and indicated her support for investment in the younger generation.  She stated that she would like to see free facilities available and commented that young people should be consulted on what facilities they would like.  The Managing Director, Alive West Norfolk confirmed that a skate bowl would be made available as part of the development and there would be provision for people with disabilities.

Councillor Morley addressed the Panel under Standing Order 34 and commented that there needed to be a technical feasibility study.  Officers provided information on the research that had already been carried out as part of the feasibility study and the work that was still to be done.  Information was also provided on how the next stage of taking the project forward would be funded and Members were reminded that a further report would need to be brought to Cabinet for any development.

Councillor Squire commented that young people needed to be consulted on what facilities they would like to see and that with the cost of living crises families may not be able to spend money on leisure activities. 

The Assistant to the Chief Executive explained that the Business Case would be robust and the Council would ensure that due diligence was carried out and a further report would be brought to Cabinet to set out any proposals for development.

Councillor Crofts commented that this type of facility had been popular in other parts of the Country and it was important to undertake a commercial venture to reduce the amount of leisure subsidy.

Councillor Squire proposed an amendment to the recommendation so that it read: “Cabinet is requested to agree to support Alive West Norfolk to progress the work to form a full Business Case”.  This amendment was seconded by Councillor de Whalley and agreed by the Panel.

RESOLVED: That the Environment and Community Panel  ...  view the full minutes text for item EC39:

To consider the report and make any appropriate recommendations to Cabinet.

The Waste and Recycling Manager presented the Cabinet Report which set out details of the extension to the MRF contract.  He reminded the Panel that Cabinet had considered a report on the MRF contract at their meeting in August 2022 and this further revised report set out changes to the contract risks.

The Chair thanked the Waste and Recycling Manager for his report and invited questions and comments from the Panel.

The Waste and Recycling Manager responded to questions from Councillor de Whalley relating to national policy considerations and government proposals.

Councillor Squire asked for clarification on the implications should the Council not take forward the contract and any costs involved and this was provided by the Waste and Recycling Manager.

Councillor Morley addressed the Panel under Standing Order 34 and was provided with information from the Monitoring Officer and Waste and Recycling Manager on the contract, negotiations and management of risk.

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