Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King's Lynn PE30 5DQ. View directions

Contact: Emma Briers, Democratic Service Officer, Email: Emma.Briers@West-Norfolk.gov.uk, 01553 616377 

Link: View Live Stream

Items
No. Item

19.

Appointment of Chair for the meeting

Minutes:

RESOLVED: Councillor Long was appointed Chair for the meeting.

20.

Appointment of Vice Chair for the meeting

Minutes:

RESOLVED: Councillor Collop was appointed as Vice-Chair for the meeting.

21.

Apologies for absence

To receive any apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies of absences were received from Councillor Bland, Collingham, Kunes and Sayers.

22.

Declarations of Interest pdf icon PDF 128 KB

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

Minutes:

There was none.

23.

Urgent Business

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.

Minutes:

There was none.

24.

Members Present Under Standing Order 34

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

Minutes:

Councillors Kemp, Colwell, Bearshaw, Ryves, Ware, Bone (on Zoom) and Councillor Parish were present under Standing Order 34.

25.

Minutes from the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 291 KB

To approve the minutes of the Joint Panels Meeting held on the 3rd December 2024.

Minutes:

RESOLVED: The minutes from the meeting held on the 3rd December 2024 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the chair.

26.

Cabinet Report- Financial Plan- 2024-2029 pdf icon PDF 911 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

The Assistant Director for Resources and Section 151 Officer gave a presentation to the Panel to accompany the report. A copy of the presentation is attached.

 

The Chair thanked the Assistant Director for Resources and Section 151 Officer and invited questions and comments from the Panel, a summary of which is set out below.

 

In response to Councillor Parish, under Standing Order 34, the Assistant Director for Resources and Section 151 Officer confirmed there was additional grants to prevent homelessness along with the work carried out through the Homelessness Strategy. She added the second home premiums would be beneficial as this income would be used to support homelessness.

 

Under Standing Order 34, Councillor Parish sought clarification on the position of the budget in two years following the Local Government re-organisation announcements and it was explained that work would continue on delivering a budget for the council up to until the re-organisation and work would also begin with the merging Council’s finance teams to create a new budget for any new council going forward.  

 

Under Standing Order 34, Councillor Parish referred to the Internal Drainage Board (IDB) and asked for confirmation on the estimated income.  

 

The Assistant Director for Resources and Section 151 Officer confirmed the Council had received £205,000 for 2023/2024 and £254,000 for 2024/2025 and this was measured on the most significantly impacted Council’s which varies from year to year. She explained an estimated amount of £150,000 was included as the Council were expected to receive an amount, but the exact amount was unknown.

 

In response to Councillor Parish question on the new home’s bonus ending, the Assistant Director for Resources and Section 151 Officer advised the bonus had lost the incentive element due to it being included within the settlement formula. She explained the government were considering whether to replace it with a new scheme.

 

Under Standing Order 34, on Zoom, Councillor Kemp asked if the Council could retain income received from renewable energy. Additionally, she sought clarification on the income generated from industrial units that were fully occupied along with the income from car parks, both the Council and shared services.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Councillor Morley advised the Panel that with the Local Government Reorganisation, the Council would not be excessively spending and have a tight forecast. He added the process had tried to be inclusive and encourage other parties to submit bids. He explained further Officers had made extra effort to ensure they brought forward net figures based upon efficiency and increased charges. He finally added, income included, fees, business rates, council tax, grants and reserves.

 

In response to Councillor Blunt’s question, the Assistant Director for Resources and Section 151 Officer confirmed the forecast programme had allowed for 300 new homes but recognised the requirement had now been increased and discussions needed to be held with the Planning department to review this.

 

Councillor Blunt commented 300 new homes was too low and a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

27.

Cabinet Report- Capital Programme and Resources 2024-2029 pdf icon PDF 870 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

The Assistant Director for Resources and Section 151 Officer presented the report accompanied by a presentation.

 

The Chair reminded the Panel that the appendix was exempt and if there were any questions a resolution to exclude the press and public would be required.

 

The Chair thanked the Assistant Director for Resources and Section 151 Officer, and the Panel had no questions or comments on the report.

 

Portfolio Holder for Finance, Councillor Morley highlighted to the Panel, previously the contract management on the capital projects had been considered as the delivery had not met expectations. He explained, with a new appointee in Finance, it was hoped the data would now be up to date and therefore more accurate.

 

RESOLVED: The Joint Panel supports the following recommendations to Cabinet:

 

1)    Cabinet recommends to the Council the amendments to capital schemes and resources for the 2024-2029 capital programme as detailed in the report.

 

2)    Cabinet recommends to Council that new capital bids as set out in section 5 table 6 are to be funded from available capital resources and included in the capital programme 2024-2029 as detailed (subject to pending approval from SLT).

28.

Cabinet Report- Capital Strategy pdf icon PDF 397 KB

Minutes:

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

 

The Assistant Director for Resources and Section 151 Officer presented the report.

 

The Chair thanked the Assistant Director for Resources and Section 151 Officer for the report. There were no questions from the Panel.

 

RESOLVED: The Joint Panel supports the following recommendation to Cabinet:

 

The Cabinet approve the Capital Strategy 2025/2026 as attached to this report.

 

29.

Cabinet Report- Treasury Management Strategy pdf icon PDF 2 MB

Minutes:

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

 

The Assistant Director for Resources and Section 151 Officer presented the report.

 

The Chair thanked the Assistant Director for Resources and Section 151 Officer and invited questions and comments from the Panel, a summary of which is set out below.

 

The Chair, Councillor Long referred to borrowing and lending within Treasury Management and sought clarification if a clause needed to be included to restrict borrowing and lending due to Devolution.

 

The Assistant Director for Resources and Section 151 confirmed the report only referred to 2025/2026 however there would be consideration of the status of the authority going forward. She reminded the Panel the Treasury Management Strategy could be amended by full Council throughout the year if needed.

 

In response to Councillor Crofts, the Assistant Director for Resources and Section 151 confirmed the Council were currently borrowing £6.5m from Middlesbrough Teeside Pension Fund (£3.5m payable 7th February 2025 and £3m payable 24th February 2025). She added the Council had £4m invested with South Ayrshire Council until October 25.

 

RESOLVED: The Joint Panel supports the following recommendation to Cabinet:

 

Cabinet is asked to recommend the Council approve:

·         The Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2025/2026, including treasury indications for 2025-2029

·         The Minimum Revenue Provision Policy 2025/2026

·         The Investment Strategy 2025/2026

30.

Date of the next meeting

The next Joint Panel meeting is scheduled to take place on the 18th March 2025 at 4:30pm.

Minutes:

The next Joint Panel meeting was scheduled to take place on 18th March 2025 at 4:30pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall.