Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

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Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Hodson and Kirk.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 3^rd September 2024.

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RESOLVED: The Minutes from the previous meeting held on the 3^rd September 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.

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.

There were no declarations of interest.

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.

There was none.

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.  

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Councillor de Whalley, Rust, Barclay and Sandell were present under Standing Order 34.

If any.

There was none.

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The Licensing Service Manager presented the report.

She outlined to the Panel the Gambling Act, Statement of Principles was a statutory requirement to be published every three years, in accordance with the Gambling Act 2005. She highlighted to the Committee the policy was drawn up in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Gambling Commission and would come into effect from 31^st January 2025.

The Licensing Service Manager highlighted without the Statement of Principles being adopted the Borough Councill would not be able to conduct any statutory functions such as issue licenses, permits and enforcements.

She brought to the Panel’s attention appendix A which was the list of prescribed consultees and explained the consultation ended on the 16^{th of} September 2024. She advised from the consultation; South Wootton Parish Council had given support to the Statement of Principles.

The Licensing Service Manager highlighted to the Panel the wording changes included in the report.

The Chair thanked the Licensing Service Manager for the report and invited questions and comments from the Panel.

Councillor Kemp thank the Licensing Service Manager for the report and sought clarification that the Gambling policy was working and protecting the vulnerable both online and in shops.

The Licensing Service Manager clarified the Statement of Principles regulated Gambling Premises and not Gambling online. She confirmed there had been no incidents reported which indicates the policy was effective.

Councillor Devulapalli referred to page 33, the Public Health and Gambling section and asked if there was an input from Public Health.

The Licensing Service Manager confirmed Public Health was on the prescribed list of consultees however there had been no response and therefore no direct input to the Statement of Principles.

RESOLVED: The Environment and Community Panel supports the recommendation to Cabinet as set out below:

That the Council be invited to adopt the Statement of Principles in accordance with the requirements of the Gambling Act 2005

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The Assistant Director, Environment and Planning presented the report.

He provided the background to the Biodiversity Task Group which was created because of the notice of motion in 2020. He added the Task Group had met on 5 occasions and section 2 of the report outlined what was discussed during those meetings.

He added Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) had come into force as part of Planning and advised of the responsibility the Council had as part of the Environment Act 2021. He brought to the Panel’s attention as part of the Biodiversity Task Group the idea of a community competition came forward.  

The Assistant Director, Environment and Planning outlined the recommendations to the Panel. He highlighted to the Panel the second recommendation specified the appointment of the Biodiversity Project Officer for a fixed period of two years with funding from the climate change budget. The Assistant Director, Environment and Planning explained to the Panel the requirement for resource was identified and current officers did not have the capacity to fulfil the Biodiversity Project Officer role.

The Chair thanked the Assistant Director, Environment and Planning for the report and invited questions and comments from the Panel.

Councillor Heneghan sought clarification that current Officers did not specialise in Biodiversity.

The Assistant Director, Environment and Planning highlighted the Borough Council had an Ecologist within planning however they did not have capacity or resource to take on additional work therefore the Biodiversity Project Officer was required.

Councillor Heneghan commented further the Biodiversity Project Officer was an essential role and asked if the Officer would help plan more effectively on where plants and trees were planted.

The Assistant Director, Environment and Planning explained the role would include a wide range of responsibilities and could be described as a Ranger who would liaise with the Ecologist and the Public Open Space Team. He added the Officer would also implement the recommendations from the Urban Wildlife Group.

Councillor Kemp commented that promoting wildlife needed to be done as there had been loss of wildlife in previous years. She asked if there was potential for Councillors to go into Schools with a birdbox to educate and encourage children to engage and respect nature. She added was this something which could be done now or would the Biodiversity Project Officer be able to help when appointed.

The Assistant Director, Environment and Planning referred to 2.3 of the report and the recommendations from the Urban Wildlife which included promoting urban wildlife in wards and parishes. He added if Councillors wished to do this already then- they could ahead of Biodiversity Project Officer being appointed.

Councillor Bullen commented further that Schools were already engaging and provided an example of Nelson Academy in Downham Market. He acknowledges the good work and enthusiasm which had been carried out by the Open Spaces Team.

Councillor Devulapalli commented she welcomed the role of the Biodiversity Project Officer and sought clarification on how this role  ...  view the full minutes text for item EC42:

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The Housing Standards Officer (Energy Efficiency) gave a presentation to the Panel on Domestic Energy Efficiency, Project, and Cost of Living Support.

The Housing Standards Officer advised the Panel of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO 4) which was the fourth stage of the governments Energy Company Obligation scheme which had been extended for an extract four years meaning it would run until March 2026. He advised the ECO 4 scheme fully funds the implementation of wall insulation, loft insulation, lighting and clean heating and focused on low- income and vulnerable households.

He brought to the Panel’s attention the Borough Council’s Statement of Intent (SOI) which was published on the 27^{th of} February 2023 and this outline four qualification routes for applicants.

The Housing Standards Officer highlighted the significant increase from 8 to 252 declarations of eligibility to households issued within the Borough from the previous round of ECO. He added from the 252 declarations which were issued, 114 households had received a full retrofit.

He explained to the Panel the domestic carbon emission savings and signified King’s Lynn and West Norfolk was currently the highest emitter of domestic CO2 across Norfolk.

The Housing Standard Officer explained to the Panel another available scheme which the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) and this scheme was provided singular retrofit improvements to households within Council Tax Bands A-D that have an EPC between D-G. He added the Statement of Intend for this Scheme was published on 25^th September 2023.

Included in the presentation given by the Housing Standards Officer was information about the Local Authority Delivery (LAD) 3 and the final reports highlighted the success of the scheme. The Housing Standards Officer explained the Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) 2 scheme to the Panel and advised this scheme accommodates full retrofits and would run until March 2025.

The Housing Standards Officer advised the Panel of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) 2.1 which was being implemented by Freebridge Community Housing.

He explained the working relationship with the Integrated Care Board (ICB)- Working Together to data share information on eligible residents. He advised of the project with the College of West Anglia on working together moving forward to address the green skills gap.

He highlighted upcoming projects such as Warm Homes: Local Fund, which was expected to be delivered between 2025-2028. He added another upcoming project was the Social Housing Fund (SHF) 3 which was expected to be delivered from 2025-2027 and would accommodate full house retrofits. He summarised the final upcoming project was ECO 5, which was expected to run until 2030 after ECO 4 concludes in March 2026.

The Housing Standards Officer provided and update to the Panel on the following projects; Beat Your Bills, Cost of Living Working Group, Food For Thought and Lily

The Chair thanked the Housing Standards Officer for the presentation and invited question and comments from the Panel.

Councillor Heneghan commented she was impressed with the  ...  view the full minutes text for item EC43:

To agree the Work Programme for 2024/2025.

Members of the Panel were reminded that an eform was available on the Intranet which could be completed and submitted if Members had items which they would like to be considered for addition to the Work Programme.

RESOLVED: The Panel’s Work Programme for 2024/25 was noted.

To note that the next meeting of the Environment and Community Panel is scheduled to take place on 26^th November 2024 at 4:30pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place.

The next meeting of the Environment and Community Panel would be held on 26^th November 2024 at 4:30pm 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.”

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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 Care and Repair Service Manager presented the report to the Panel.

The Chair thanked Officers for the Report and invited questions and comments from the Panel.

Councillor Rust, Portfolio Holder for People and Communities commented on the report to the Panel.

The Care and Repair Service Manager answered questions from the Panel.

RESOLVED: The Environment and Community Panel supports the recommendations to Cabinet as set out below;

1.  Cabinet approves the signing of the framework agreements with the contractors named in this report, subject to completion of due diligence checks on these businesses.

2.  Cabinet approve authority for the Assistant Director Health, Wellbeing and Public Protection in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for People & Communities to substitute alternative contractors for any listed that ultimately fail the due diligence checks.