Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Long.

Click here to view the recording of this item on YouTube.

The Chair, Councillor Beales highlighted the following amendments;

Under the EZ NORA wording to be added to clarify the issues between the Borough Council and Norfolk County Council were operational issues.

Clarification of the Board being Member Major Projects Board under Florence Fields discussions.

Under Valentine Park, additional wording to be added to clarify Councillor Ring and Beales comments in relation to homes allocated for private rent on Florence Fields and Valentine Park.

The Chair questioned the point needed to clarify if aggregation of the number of private rented home across Florence Fields and Valentine Parks, was able to be done under the delegated authority and commented the policy needed to be checked.

Finally, under Rail to River, the Chair asked for the point to be clarified in relation to contamination of the Purfleet and explained the baseline of contamination did not change after the fire and building works.

RESOLVED: The minutes from the previous meeting were agreed as a correct record following the above amendments being made.

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 Moriarty declared he was the Norfolk County Councillor for West Winch and the Chair of the Stakeholder’s Group in relation to West Winch Growth Area.

Councillor Heneghan declared she was the Ward Member in relation to Southgates.

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

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

None.

None.

Click here to view the recording of this item on YouTube.

The Programme Management Office Manager presented the report and explained to Members, a review had been taken of the projects process and was being taken to Corporate Leadership Team for agreement next month.

Major Project Highlight Reports

P-21.02 EZ Nora

P-21.05 Florence Fields

P-21.08 Styleman Court

P-21.09 West Winch

P-21.10 Southgates

P-21.10b – STARS

P-23.08 – Valentine Park

Town Deal Highlight Reports

P-21.11 Guildhall

P-21.12 ACC

P-21.14 Riverfront

P-21.15 Rail to River

P-21.16 MUCH

Click here to view the recording of this item on YouTube.

The Assistant Director for Regeneration, Housing and Place presented the report.

Major Project Highlight Reports

P-21.02 EZ Nora

The Assistant Director for Regeneration, Housing and Place highlighted the dispute with Norfolk County Council was to be discussed in the exempt session later in the meeting but highlighted a cabinet report on the Western Access Road was forthcoming.

P-21.05 Florence Fields

Updates included decisions on foundation changes due to ground conditions, progress on completions and reservations, and ongoing discussions about additional PRS units, with emphasis on expediting legal processes to address housing demand

The Chair, Councillor Beales questioned if the Assistant Director for Regeneration, Housing and Place had the flexibility in delegated decision to respond to market conditions. He referred to the recent delegated decision which had been taken in relation to the private rented sector (PRS).

The Assistant Director for Regeneration, Housing and Place commented a further decision needed to be made including further detail.

The Chair, Councillor Beales requested this was done as a matter of urgency as there are homes empty which needed to be occupied. He added that there are approximately 1200 people on the housing waiting list and there was demand for PRS accommodation locally. 

Councillor Morley questioned the loan facility for West Norfolk Property Limited and urged this was taken forward.

The Chair, Councillor Beales commented the Council transfers the freehold and there was a question of affordability which had to be considered and the Council’s policy reviewed.

The Vice – Chair, Councillor Ring questioned if there had been a review in market rents.

The Chair, Councillor Beales requested a profit and loss per house type to illustrate if market rent would cover the Councils interest costs as well as Housing Company and management costs etc. Thought should also be given to a reservation of rent to build up a sinking fund for future maintenance.

The Assistant Director for Finance and Deputy Section 151 Officer clarified there had been recent correspondence with the Council’s solicitors and the loan agreement was nearly finalised and would be brought to the Shareholder Committee. He explained the financial modelling needed to be updated in line with agreement to forecast the increases in rent.

The Chair, Councillor Beales commented on the position identified by the Assistant Director for Finance and Deputy Section 151 Officer was not as expected and highlighted this needed to be resolved so the that the Council and the Housing Companies were able to react quickly to a fall in interest rates.

The Assistant Director for Regeneration, Housing and Place highlighted to Members, there was further progress with the loan facility with West Norfolk Housing Company as compared to West Norfolk Property Limited. He commented that the £15 million which had been referred to was grants and debt from the Council.

The Chair, Councillor Beales commented further progress on this project needed to be made.

P-21.08 Styleman Court

Despite lifting occupancy restrictions and changing sales agents,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

Click here to view the recording of this item on YouTube.

The Assistant Director for Finance and Deputy Section 151 Officer presented the report. He presented a detailed financial summary covering all major projects, highlighting variances such as the West Winch legal costs, Riverfront Regeneration contingencies, and increased costs for active travel hubs within the Active & Clean Connectivity project, with members discussing transparency, funding sources, and nomenclature for reporting.

The Chair invited questions and comments from Members of the Board.

The Chair, Councillor Beales sought clarification on the cost for the Active & Clean Connectivity (ACC) project.

The Assistant Director for Regeneration, Housing and Place explained this cost increased during the RIBA 3 stage and review.

The Chair, Councillor Beales commented the funding for the library was £7.4 million from the Towns Fund, via the Neighbourhood Board, not Borough Council funding and this needed to be made clear on future versions of the report.

Councillor Morley commented the Town Deal funds naming needed amending to the Neighbourhood Board or Towns Fund programme.

The Assistant Director for Regeneration, Housing and Place explained the name of Town Deal Board had changed to Neighbourhood Board to reflect the Pride in Place Programme, but the King’s Lynn Town Deal agreement remained from the Towns Fund.

Click here to view the recording of this item on YouTube.

The Assistant Director for Regeneration, Housing and Place presented the report. He introduced the Housing Development Steering Group as a non-decision-making body to enhance governance and oversight of the Council's housing programme, and Members discussed the need for broader engagement, and integration with asset management and shareholder committees.

The Chair invited questions and comments from Members of the Board.

The Chair, Councillor Beales highlighted the need for wider member engagement and transparency in the housing developments programme, suggesting regular updates and integration with broader Council strategies. He highlighted the new steering group was designed to bring together elected members and officers to discuss tactical and strategic considerations in the Council's commercial housebuilding activities, without making formal decisions. He added a further update would be brought to the next meeting.

Councillor Morley emphasised the importance of including property acquisition, asset management, and shareholder committee responsibilities within the group's remit.

The Chair, Councillor Beales explained policies remain to be reviewed as part of the democratic process for Panels to engage and scrutinise. He discussed with Members of the Board the need for better data flow and operational efficiency.

Councillor Ring echoed Councillor Morley’s comments on the importance of property acquisition and asset management and the inclusion of the housing companies.

Councillor Morley commented last year 220 affordable homes were completed and built by the authority which was 40% of the Local Plan figures. He added developers would not be able to deliver affordable housing such as these properties. 

The Assistant Director for Regeneration, Housing and Place commented plans were made to align the steering group's work with the forthcoming housing delivery strategy and local plan targets, ensuring a coherent approach to affordable and social housing delivery. He added the steering group was to engage members.

The Board noted the Officer Major Projects Board Minutes.

Click here to view the recording of this item on YouTube.

The Board noted the Work Programme.

11^th May 2026 at 9:30am in the Council Chamber, Town Hall.

11^th May 2026 at 9:30am in the Council Chamber, Town Hall.

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”.

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 Board took a recess at 11:10am and reconvened at 11:24am.

Members of the Board made comments and asked questions to which officers responded.