Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To approve the minutes from the Corporate Performance Panel held on 21 October 2019.

The minutes of the meeting held on 21 October 2019 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair, subject to Councillor Rose be added to the list of apologies.

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.

These declarations apply to all Members present, whether the Member is part of the meeting, attending to speak as a local Member on any item or simply observing the meeting from the public seating area.

Councillor Dark declared an interest in the Call in – Norfolk County Council Minerals and Waste Plan – Preferred Options as he had previous involvement in the silica sand project and led a successful campaign on behalf of several parishes which got 3400 acres of Area of Search removed.

Councillor Dark also declared an interest as a County Councillor and it was a Norfolk County Council policy.

Councillor Kemp declared an interest as a County Councillor and stated that she had been involved in stopping the incinerator in King’s Lynn.

Councillor Long declared an interest as a County Councillor and Vice Chair of Norfolk County Council Planning Committee

Councillor Humphrey declared an interest as a County Councillor.

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chair of their intention to do so and on what items they wish to be heard before a decision on that item is taken.

Councillors G Hipperson, M Howland, A Kemp, G Middleton, M de Whalley, A Ryves for Agenda item CP61 – Call in Norfolk County Council Minerals and Waste Local Plan Review – Preferred Options Consultation.

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.

Called In Item – Norfolk County Council Minerals and Waste Local Plan review – Preferred Options Consultation

The Chair thanked the members of public for attending to observe the debate on the called in item and outlined the procedure that would be followed.  The proposer and supporters of the call in would be allocated five minutes each to address the Panel.  It was noted that a written submission had been received from Councillor Rust, which had been included in the Agenda.

The Chair invited Councillor Hipperson to present the call in of Cabinet Members Delegated Decision – Norfolk County Council Minerals and Waste Local Plan Review – Preferred Options Consultation.

Councillor Hipperson addressed the Panel and outlined the reasons for the call in of the Cabinet Decision as set out in Appendix 2 of the report and concluded by stating that Shouldham Warren should not be included in the allocation.

The Chair invited Councillor Howland to address the Panel.

Councillor Howland addressed the Panel and concurred with the comments made by Councillor Hipperson and added that he was supporting the call in as both Councillor Hipperson and himself share the same ward and had issues of wider and greater concern.  The Panel was informed that inclusion of the site would lead to potential increased traffic congestion and carbon footprint and was not acceptable.

The Chair invited Councillor de Whalley to address the Panel.

Councillor de Whalley addressed the Panel and outlined his reasons for the call in as set out in Appendix 2 making specific reference to Policies WP10 and  MW4b) and site SIL01.  In conclusion, Councillor de Whalley supported the exclusion of Shouldham Warrant in NCC’s allocation.

The Chair invited Councillor Kemp to address the Panel.

Councillor Kemp addressed the Panel and outlined her reasons for the call in as set out in Appendix 2.  Councillor Kemp referred to Policy !0 in the preferred options plan at page 56 of the NCC document and highlighted that this placed West Norfolk at risk.  In conclusion, Councillor Kemp stated that the Borough Council’s response should state:

·        That the plan must state the incineration as a form of residual waste facility was not acceptable in West Norfolk where 65,000 residents voted against incineration in the Borough Poll.

·        The borough council’s response does not mention material considerations of the risks relevant to West Norfolk of fracking and should say that the plan should exclude fracking certainly in West Norfolk.

After emphasing the above two comments, Councillor Kemp stated that if required she would attend the examination and advise the Inspector accordingly.

The Chair invited Councillor Ryves to address the Panel.

Councillor Ryves addressed the Panel and concurred with the comments made by Councillor Hipperson and outlined the reasons why he had called in the decision as set out in Appendix 2 make specific reference to Policies WP10, WP3, MW2 and MIN74, 77 and 206 and the threat posed to Shouldham Warren.

The Chair invited Councillor Middleton to address the Panel under Standing  ...  view the full minutes text for item CP62

There was no Chair’s correspondence.

The Panel received an annual update from the Communications Manager, Assistant Director and ICT Web Manager (copy attached).

Officers present responded to questions and comments from the Panel, a summary of which is set out below.

In response to a question on Sail the Wash, the ICT Web Manager explained that the Sail the Wash website contained three areas:

·        Marketing/promotion to encourage visitors to come and sail the wash.

·        Economic aspect – to enable visitors to stay and boost the local economy.

·        Specific technical pilot information including mapping.

Following questions on the number of visits to the website and how these were priorities, the ICT Web Manager explained that the number of visits were monitored and the items on the front page of the website could be re-ordered if required.

In response to a question on how payments could be made when the website was unable, the ICT Web Manager explained that other payment methods were available and a message had been published on the front page of the website.

Following a question on the Council’s Facebook account only to publicise events and not for news items, electoral registration purposes, the Communications Manager advised that the Council did use Facebook and social medial for a number of items and gave examples of news releases and consultation exercise, not just events and undertook to check this was correct and that notifications were received by those who signed up to receive alerts.

In response to a question regarding the web chat facility, the Assistant Director Central and Community Services confirmed that the customer was given the opportunity to be provided with a transcript of the conversation.  It was noted that the Borough Council retained a copy which could be attached to the customer’s records.

Following a question on the number of internal and external visitors to the website, the ICT Web Manager explained outlined an internal and external visit and added that the IP address was recorded.

In response to questions on the importance of maintaining face to face and telephone contact with customers when required, the Assistant Director, Central and Community Services explained that it was important to be able to use technology in the correct way but also to maintain the face to face contact with customers and provide a telephone facility.

Following questions on a pre-Council briefing when a mapping tool for maps was demonstrated, the ICT Web Manager explained that the council was complaint with usage limits and that the mapping system was a extract from the council’s GIS system which had a licensing agreement.

It was noted that reporting a fly tipping incident on line was now live and news releases had been issued and copied to parish councils.  However, the Communications Manager undertook to liaise with the Assistant Customer Information Manager to provide further communications to parish councils in 2020.

The Communications Manager advised that the Borough Council worked with other partner agencies if it was necessary to target a specific audience.

The importance of communicating  ...  view the full minutes text for item CP64

The Revenues and Benefits Manager presented the report and reminded the Panel that the council must review and agree its 2020/2021 Council Tax Support (CTS) scheme for working age people by January 2020.  It must consult with the major preceptors then publish a draft CTS scheme for public consultation.  The draft CTS Scheme was agreed by delegated decision and the public consultation ran from 7 October 2019 to 15 November 2019.  The final CTS Scheme must then be agreed by full Council.

It was explained that the report detailed the results of the consultation and the recommended final CTS scheme for working age people for 2020/2021.

The key issues were outlined as set out in the report.

In response to a question on the how the consultation exercise was undertaken, the Revenues and Benefits Manager explained that a number of channels were used and gave examples of a press release, twitter, facebook, local press, email to Parish Clerks and the Members’ Bulletin.

Councillor Moriarty commented that to encourage a higher response rate, could officer look at the form to ascertain if it was possible to make it mandatory to provide a comment to which the Revenues and Benefits Manager agreed to investigate.  It was highlighted that a paper copy could be requested and provided if required.

The Chair thanked the Revenues and Benefits Manager for attending and presenting the report.

RESOLVED:  The Panel agreed that the draft CTS scheme for 2020/2021 which went to public consultation is recommended to Cabinet and Council as the final CTS scheme for 2020/2021.

In presenting the report, the Senior Policy and Performance Officer reminded Members that the Corporate Business Plan set out the broad framework for the council’s work over the next four years.  Following the borough elections, it was timely to review the four year plan and the report sets out a summary of feedback and a final version of the proposed priorities and objectives for the panel to consider.

The key issues were outlined as set out below:

·        Current Corporate Business Plan ended in 2019/20.

·        Member induction identified a range of potential issues.

·        Initial draft priorities and objectives developed for member consideration.

·        Panels consulted in October cycle of meetings.

·        Final version of the priorities for consideration ahead of approval by Cabinet.

The Chair invited questions from the Panel.

There were no questions from the Panel.

The Vice Chair thanked the Senior Policy and Performance Officer on the work undertaken to produce the Corporate Business Plan 2020 – 2024 which was reiterated by the Chair.

RESOLVED:  The Panel endorsed the draft Corporate Business Plan in Appendix A.

The Panel noted the Cabinet Forward Decisions List.

Councillor Moriarty referred to the recent Chairs and Vice Chairs meeting when it had been raised that including information on the Forward Decision List so that it was clear which Panel an item should go to, should Members request that the item is considered by a Panel. 

To note the Panel’s Work Programme.

The Panel identified the two items below to be included in the future work programme:

·        Planning Sifting Panel (May 2020).

·        Unreasonably Persistent Complaints Policy (November 2020).

To note that the date of the next meeting of the Corporate Performance Panel will take place on 13 January 2020 at 6 pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.

The next meeting of the Corporate Performance Panel will be held on 13 January 2020 at 6 pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.