Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bhondi, Collingham and Ryves and from Portfolio Holders Councillors de Whalley, Moriarty and Squire.

To approve the minutes from the Corporate Performance Panel held on

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Councillor Spikings referred to CP23: 2023-2024 Full Year Performance Management Report and her request that targets relating to established permanent posts and sickness absence should include long term sickness absences and temporary posts.  The Assistant Director explained that all of the comments made by the Panel at the previous meeting would be incorporated into the next Corporate Performance Monitoring Report which would be presented to the Panel in October.

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.

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.

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 were none.

There were none.

There were none.

Members are requested to submit questions in advance to democratic.services@west-norfolk.gov.uk.

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The Chair explained that he had requested this question and answer session so that the Panel had the opportunity to raise issues with the Portfolio Holders and for Portfolio Holders to help identify issues which could be included in the Panel’s future Work Programme.

It was noted that the issues raised would be forwarded to those Portfolio Holders who weren’t present at the meeting for a response.

(i)               Use of e-scooters, bikes and public safety along the promenade at Hunstanton.

Councillor Spikings was concerned about the safety of residents along the Promenade in Hunstanton as she had watched many people on e-scooters and bicycles riding through pedestrians, sometimes at speed and she felt that this was dangerous, especially at high tide.  Councillor Spikings informed the Panel that the Council had put up signage along the Promenade, but asked who was responsible for enforcement as a strong policy was needed on this.

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Business and Culture, Councillor Ring,  agreed with Councillor Spikings comments and agreed to take this back to Cabinet Members and officers for an update.

The Chair commented that e-scooters weren’t allowed on public highways, but he wasn’t sure what the Promenade would be classed as because it was Council land.

Councillor Osborne suggested that the matter be raised with the Hunstanton Police Priorities Panel so that the Police were aware of the issue.

Councillor Sayers commented that he had raised the issue of e-scooters with the Police and Crime Commissioner.

The Chair thanked Councillor Ring for agreeing to raise this with the relevant Portfolio Holder and awaited an update so that the matter could be referred to the relevant Panel for further consideration if required.

The Vice Chair suggested that a broadcast system be used in Hunstanton which could be used to broadcast safety messages, as well as messages for missing children etc.

Councillor Ring commented that he would raise the issues relating to Hunstanton at the next meeting of the Hunstanton Advisory Group.

(ii)              Budget Setting process

The Chair outlined the budget setting process followed at County and explained that it provided the opportunity for Members to get involved at an early stage.  The Chair asked the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Councillor Morley if there would be additional opportunities for the Panel’s to get involved in the budget setting process.

Councillor Morley commented that he was currently working on the timeline for budget setting and he would ensure that slots for this Panel to get involved would be included.

The Chair explained that this Panel could hold an additional meeting if required and invite Members of the other Panels to also attend.

In response to a question from the Chair, the Portfolio Holder for Finance provided an update on the Internal Drainage Board settlement and explained that t was likely that a settlement would be available for West Norfolk.  Further lobbying would take place to raise the issue of  ...  view the full minutes text for item CP38

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Councillor Spikings requested that the Panel receive an update on the Cycle Hire Scheme provided at Lynnsport.  The Chair agreed to add this to the Work Programme.

RESOLVED: The Panel Work Programme was noted.

RESOLVED: The Cabinet Forward Decision List was noted.

RESOLVED: The Shareholder Committee Work Programme was noted.

To note that the next meeting of the Corporate Performance Panel is scheduled to take place on 16^th October 2024 at 4.30pm in the Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.

The next meeting of the Corporate Performance Panel is scheduled to take place on 16^th October 2024 at 4.30pm in the Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, 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 paragraphs 1, 2 or 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.

The Panel received an update from the Assistant Director, Property and Projects on the performance of the KLIC building.  He provided an overview of the previous arrangements and the arrangements for when the Council had taken over possession of the building.

The Assistant Director explained that all units were let, the service was performing well and there was a waiting list.

The Panel was provided with detail of the review of the all-inclusive rent arrangements and that this would be changed to a rent plus service charge set up.

The Panel was also provided with information of repair costs because of vandalism and broken panes of glass.

In response to a question from the Vice Chair, the Assistant Director explained that before the Council were responsible for the building it had been fully occupied by businesses and when the Council took over, they continued with the existing arrangements.  It was noted that the initial purpose of the building was to accommodate small local innovative businesses, but the centre had become more of a managed office space.  The Assistant Director outlined future opportunities to develop innovation space including future plans for the NORA site.  The Assistant Director informed Members that he was bringing an update on the wider NORA site to the Regeneration and Development Panel on 12^th September 2024.

The Vice Chair, Councillor Blunt commented that the building was a commercial success and had provided a much needed service for businesses in King’s Lynn.  He commented that the success should be promoted.  The Chair agreed that success should be promoted and welcomed the possibility of additional units in the future.

Councillor Sayers asked how the Council supported businesses that wanted to expand and the Assistant Director commented that the KLIC was designed so that accommodation could be flexible, but it was currently full, so it was difficult to change layout because of demand.  He referred to the opportunities to develop further units in the future that may help with this.

Councillor Nash reiterated the comments made regarding promoting the success of the building, as he felt that the public had a negative perception of the site and were unaware of what was provided for local businesses and that it was commercially successful.

The Chair commented that the report that the Panel had received in advance of the meeting be redacted if required and then published publicly.

Councillor Spikings commented that although the building could not accommodate solar panels, there were ground solar panels that could track the sun which could be an option for the site.

Councillor Long proposed that he ask the Monitoring Officer to lift the exemption from the report so that it could be published publicly.  This was agreed by the Panel.

RESOLVED: 1.The update was noted.

2. The Panel agreed that the report should be made available to the public to promote the success of the facility.  The Chair to liaise with the Monitoring Officer regarding lifting the exemption.