Agenda and decisions

To approve the Minutes of the Meetings held on 11 April and  8 June 2022  (previously circulated).

RESOLVED:  The Minutes of the meetings held on 11 April and 8 June 2022 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider any business, which by reason of special circumstances, the Chair proposes to accept, under Section 100(b)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

None

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.

None

To receive any Chair’s correspondence.

None

To note the names of any Councillors who wish to address the meeting under Standing Order 34.

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.

Councillor J Moriarty attended under standing order 34 for items 10 and 11.

To report on any Cabinet Decisions called in.

None

A copy of the Forward Decisions List is attached

The forward decision list was noted.

To receive any comments and recommendations from other Council bodies some of which meet after the dispatch of this agenda. 

Environment and Community Panel Meeting - 22 March 2022

EC74: Support In Safe Accommodation For Norfolk 2021/2024

Cabinet had received minute extracts from the meetings of panels considering cabinet reports as follows

Environment and Community Panel Meeting - 22 March 2022

EC74: Support In Safe Accommodation For Norfolk 2021/2024  - the Panel supported the recommendations.

Regeneration And Development Panel Meeting - 14 June 2022

RD15: Cabinet Report – Local Development Scheme – the Panel supported the recommendations.

Corporate Performance Panel Meeting– 16 June 2022

CP14  Cabinet Report – Resourcing development Management

CP15  Cabinet Report – Planning Scheme of Delegation

The Panel supported the recommendations in the reports.

RESOLVED:  1)         That the attached revised policy, produced from scratch following the last IPCO inspection to reflect the comments of the inspector, and through consultation with a professional training and policy development provider be agreed.

2)    That as per section 5.2 of the policy the Council will report its use, or non-use of these powers to the Corporate Performance Panel in line with the guidance provided by IPCO to enable members to determine the effectiveness of the RIPA policy each year.

3)    That any minor amendments (such as formatting, layout, amendments to Appendix A roles and officers assigned to roles) to be a delegated decision with liaison with a member / portfolio holder as decided by this Cabinet.

4)    That any relevant or serious errors highlighted contrary to this policy MUST be reported to IPCO and furthermore it is recommended any such occurrences are fed into the Annual Governance Statement.

5)    That delegated Authority is granted to the Assistant Director for Legal Services in consultation with the Leader to make any amendments to the policy as recommended by IPCO.

6)    That training be carried out for officers and members on the subject.

Reason for Decision

To ensure compliance with current legislation, to replace the previous policy which has become out of date and does not provide sufficient or up to date information / details to officers or members of the public on the full requirements for RIPA and Non-RIPA

RESOLVED:            1)         That the recruitment of the following new posts be approved:

·           1 x Principal Planner

·           6 x Planning Officers

·           1 x System and Performance officer

·           1 x Ecologist

·           1 x Cil Officer

·           1 x Technical Support Team Leader

·           1 x Technical Support Officer

·           1 x Arboricultural assistant/officer

·           1 x Enforcement Officer

·           1 x Enforcement Support Officer

2)    That the planning fee income in the budget be increased from £1.1 million to £2 million to more accurately reflect the income received over the past 3 years and the increase in planning fees set out in the Levelling up and Regeneration Bill.

Reason for Decision

To provide sufficient capacity and expertise to enable the DM team to respond to the number and complexity of planning applications and to provide sufficient resilience within the team; and

To enable planning applications to be determined more speedily and to achieve the performance measures that will be outlined in the Bill

RECOMMENDED:     1)         That the scheme of delegation be amended as set out in the report, and as attached to the report.

2)         That the operation of the scheme be reviewed in summer 2023, to assess the impact of the changes.

Reason for Decision

To ensure the scheme of delegation provides that balance between taking planning decisions under officer delegated powers and taking decisions at planning committee, and that is allows for an efficient and effective service for all customers

RESOLVED:That the revised Local Development Scheme as set out in Appendix 1 to the report to come into effect from the 21 June 2022 be approved.

Reason for Decision

It is a legal requirement that local plans are prepared in accordance with the Local Development Scheme. The Inspectors for the Local Plan Review have requested an up-to-date Local Development Scheme which shows the correct submission date and corresponding changes to the timing of the Examination, receipt of Inspectors Report and adoption of the Plan.

RESOLVED:  To  Norfolk County Councils Safe in Accommodation Strategy for Norfolk 2021-2024 be endorsed and the requirements of the Domestic Abuse Bill, 2021 be noted.

Reason for Decision

Endorsement of the Strategy by the Councils Cabinet is necessary as it will inform the Councils Homelessness & Rough Sleeper Strategy 2019-2024 and approaches to wider areas of work in relation to Domestic Abuse.  It will also ensure that the  Council is fulfilling its role in supporting victim-survivors of domestic abuse.

RESOLVED: That the item be deferred to the next ordinary meeting of Cabinet.

Reason for Decision

To give suitable time to consider all the items on the agenda.

RESOLVED:            1)        That the Cabinet appoints representatives to serve in an Executive capacity on the outside bodies and partnerships requiring appointment in the Appendix attached.

2)        That the reporting arrangements be noted, as shown in section 3 of the report.

3)        To note that all other appointments to Outside Bodies will be made at the Council meeting on 14^th July 2022.

Reason for decision

To ensure continued involvement in the community by the Council.

RESOLVED:            1)         That officers be instructed to seek membership from Group Leaders for the Cabinet Committees and Task Groups for 2022/23.

2)         That the Membership of the Joint Safety and Welfare Committee and Joint Employee Committee for 2022/23 remain as the previous year.

Reason for Decision

To allow the business of the Council to continue into 2022/23.