Agenda and draft minutes

To appoint a Chair for the Municipal Year 2021/22.

RESOLVED:  Councillor A Tyler be appointed Chair for the Municipal Year 2021/2022.

To appoint a Vice-Chair for the Municipal Year 2021/22.

RESOLVED:  Councillor J Collop be appointed Vice-Chair for the Municipal Year 2021/2022.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors F Bone, Mrs A Dickinson, G Howman and C Joyce.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting.

The notes of the meeting held on 9 November 2020 were agreed as a correct record.

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 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 Chairman proposes to accept as urgent under Section 100(b)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act, 1972.

There was no urgent business.

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 on before a decision on that item is taken.

There were no Members present pursuant to Standing Order 34.

There was no Chair’s correspondence to report.

To receive an update from the Police.

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The Committee received an update from Inspector Ben Jarvis on:

·         Neighbourhood Crime

·         Domestic Abuse

·         Serious Violence and Knife Crime

·         Serious Sexual Offences

·         Criminal Exploitation.

Inspector Jarvis responded to questions and comments from the Committee in relation to:

·         Bicycle thefts before and after the lockdown period. No noticeable increase or decrease.  It was noted that bicycle thefts in the area was low and there was no specific trend. 

·         The policy to undertake random checks, for example, stopping a member of the public in a vehicle or in the street and request ID.  It was noted that police officers received both diversity and stop search training and use of Road Traffic Act to stop any vehicle in order to check documents, etc.  The Committee was advised that audits were undertaken to check that Police Officers dealt with the public in a courteous manner.

·         Concerns raised by the Ward Councillor in the South Lynn area – visible increase anti-social behaviour impacted on sheltered housing, HMO’s and drug dealing in residential parts of the ward.  Inspector Jarvis advised that residents should report incidents direct to the police when they occurred and this would enable the police to investigate and undertake preventative work.

·         Police presence in the town centre and South Lynn –there were 5 response teams in King’s Lynn each one has a different area in South Lynn and undertook foot patrols in excess than those which would be carried out by vehicle.

·         When a call was made to the Police, the caller would be signposted to the correct organisation if it was not a police matter.

·         Concerns relating to increase in domestic abuse, serious crime and sexual offences.  It was highlighted that the Police were totally victim led and those victims would get the appropriate support required.

·         Continuation of local good news tweets.

·         SNAP meetings/Drop in engagement events to continue in a similar format on-line, next one scheduled for 21 July 2021.  It was noted the Borough Council would work with the police to engagement events.

The Chair thanked Inspector Jarvis for attending and providing an interesting and informative update.

RESOLVED:  That the update report be noted.

To receive an update on the Informal Play Areas Working Group.

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The Committee received a report from N Johnson and the Chair invited the Committee to forward any questions via email to J Greenhalgh, Democratic Services or to N Johnson and responses given at a future meeting.

In response to questions raised by Councillor Mrs S Collop regarding the £30,000 in the capital programme approved by Cabinet for the play areas in King’s Lynn, the Assistant Director explained that the Committee had previously voted and agreed the amount in the capital programme.  He explained that the working group had been a positive experience for both Members and officers and that the working group ought to be reinstated, which could then look at Fairstead, Gaywood and other areas.

Councillor Kemp proposed that in for next year and going forward Cabinet allocated £30,000 in the capital budget  to look at new or replacing play equipment in play areas in the Gaywood ward.  In response, the Assistant Director explained that Michelle Drewery, Assistant Director – Resources would be attending the next meeting and clarification would be sought prior to a discussion in more detail at the next meeting.

RESOLVED:  That the update report be noted.

To receive an update from the Assistant Director – Regeneration, Housing and Place.

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The Committee received a verbal update from the Assistant Director - Regeneration, Housing and Place, a summary of the key points is set out below:

Process

·         Borough Council awarded full funding of £25m.  Government also requested that a final project be submitted, which was approved and therefore exceeded the total amount of funding.

·         Government view was that all bids submitted met the objectives of the fund.

·         Heads of Terms had been accepted and signed by Towns Deal Board the Chief Executive and Government.

·         Next stage - confirmation of final list projects. Heads of Terms had requested more details to be completed by 31 August 2021.

·         12 months to complete a Business Plan for each project.  It was noted that the document was very prescribed and that the Government’s Treasury green book appraisal framework had to be used, prior to signing off each business case. 

·         Government would require a summary of business cases within 12 months.

·         4 year programme to completed by 2024/2025.

In response to questions on the impact of the Council receiving £25m and not the full £33m and re-consultation of projects to achieve better value for money, etc, the Assistant Director - Regeneration, Housing and Place explained that following last minute discussions with Government, the Council was invited to submit one project which had been de-prioritised – Innovation, Collaboration and Incubation provision. It was noted that the Council would look to engagement with the Regeneration and Development Panel and wider community engagement to look at the details going forward.

Following questions on the announcement of the funding, how this would be received and celebration events, the Assistant Director - Regeneration, Housing and Place explained that the funding would be released once the summary of each business case was available.  It was highlighted that if focus was not placed on the preparation of the business cases within the timescale there was a risk funding would not be secured.

Projects

The Committee received an overview of the projects set out below:

·         Town Centre repurposing £1.75m

·         Youth Pledge £450,000.

·         Improvements to Public Realm in the town £250,000

·         Guildhall and Creative Hub £4.85m

·         Active and Clean Connectivity £7.5m

·         Multi use Community Hub £4.36m

·         Riverfront Regeneration £5.85m

·         King’s Lynn Innovation, Collaboration and Incubator provision demand assessment being undertaken and in final stages of completion.

The Assistant Director - Regeneration, Housing and Place responded to questions in relation to:

·         Amenity provision - shower and toilets for visitors to the pontoons.

·         Provision of business start-up space.

·         Location of proposed Multi-Use Hub.

·         Mechanism in place to adapt circumstances where required.

The Chair thanked the Assistant Director - Regeneration, Housing and Place for the interesting update.

RESOLVED:  That the update report be noted.

To appoint Members to the KLACC Planning Sub-Group.  The current Members are:

Cllr S Collop (Chair)

Cllr L Bambridge

Cllr B Jones

Cllr A Kemp

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RESOLVED:  That Councillors L Bambridge (subject to her confirmation), Mrs S Collop,  A Kemp and J Rust be appointed to the KLACC Planning Sub-Group.

Following the meeting, Councillor L Bambridge confirmed she would continue as a representative on the KLACC Planning Sub-Group.

The Committee is asked to consider items for a future Work Programme for

The Committee is also asked to consider the Cabinet’s Forward Decision List.

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The Committee was invited to email future items to the Chair or Democratic Services Officer.

RESOLVED:  The following item was put forward which would be discussed at a future sifting meeting:

·         Increase in accidents in King’s Lynn.

It was noted the regular update reports from the Police and Towns Fund would be added to the work programme.

The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled for Monday 27 September – time to be confirmed.