Agenda and draft minutes

RESOLVED: That Councillor Osborne be appointed as Vice Chair of the Panel for the 2025-2026 Municipal Year.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Beal and Colwell.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting.

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The Chair informed Members of a national announcement that from 2027 new builds would be required to be fitted with solar panels on their roof.

RESOLVED: The minutes from the previous meeting 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 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 was none.

To consider any business which, by reason of special circumstances, the Chair proposes 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.  

Councillors Bearshaw, Everett and Kemp.

If any.

There was none.

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The Panel discussed the Custom and Self Build Policy Development Task Group and if there was a need for the work of this Group to continue.

It was proposed that the matter be deferred until the next meeting and officers to provide an update of the work carried out by the Group and if it had fulfilled its Terms of Reference.

RESOLVED:

1.    Continuation of the Custom and Self Build Policy Development Task Group be discussed at the next meeting of the Panel.

2.    The Panel noted that the Transport Informal Working Group’s Report was on the Agenda for this meeting and would make a decision on its continuation once they had considered the final report.

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The Chair of the Transport Informal Working Group, Councillor Bearshaw, presented the report as included in the Agenda, outlining the topics discussed at the Informal Working Group Meetings.  He thanked officers and Members for their input.  He noted recommendation two within the report, which was to disband the Informal Working Group, and suggested that the Panel may wish to pause the work of the Group until there were further matters to consider, such as the new Local Plan.

The Chair thanked Members and officers for the report and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

Councillor Blunt, who was a Member of the Informal Working Group, commented that the Group should remain established as there was still more work to do, including consideration of the Car Parking Strategy.

Councillor Collingham agreed with the recommendations put forward by the Informal Working Group, but felt that affordability and funding could be a stumbling block.

In response to a question from Councillor Collingham, Councillor Bearshaw explained that the Informal Working Group had discussed railway stations and potential locations and worked with Norfolk County Council to link these through to the Norfolk Rail Prospectus.

The Chair requested that officers include Councillors in any relevant forthcoming meetings with Norfolk County Council that would provide the opportunity to influence and shape transport and infrastructure in West Norfolk.  The Regeneration Programmes Manager confirmed that she would liaise with Norfolk County Council.

The Regeneration Programmes Manager highlighted the valuable work carried out by the Informal Working Group and explained that their comments and recommendations would be fed into the draft Transport Strategy and other relevant emerging policies and strategies.

The Assistant Director reiterated the value of the work carried out by the Group and stated that Norfolk County Council had attended most of the meetings, found them useful and welcomed the opportunity to get views from the Group which would be used to inform policy and strategy as appropriate.

Councillor Kemp, who was a Member of the Informal Working Group, addressed the Panel and stated that it would be difficult to get additional railway provision until the upgrades to the Ely Junction had been completed due to increased journey times.

Councillor Kemp also made reference to the recommendations put forward relating to the Ferry, which stated that the recommendations included in the consultants report were unfeasible.  Councillor Kemp stated that the recommendations needed to support this important commuter route and ensure it was fully accessible.

Councillor Everett addressed the Panel under Standing Order 34 and stated that he attended the Norfolk County Council Rail Group and would push for King’s Lynn to be included in the Prospectus.  He commented that the Ely Junction upgrade should not impact a railway station in King’s Lynn and explained that there was central government funding available.

The Chair congratulated all those involved in the Informal Working Group including officers, Members and officers from Norfolk County Council.  He  ...  view the full minutes text for item RD9:

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The Chair encouraged those Members who were unable to attend meetings to send a substitute.

The Chair also encouraged the Panel to consider items that they would like adding to the work programme.

Councillor Collingham suggested tours of areas that the Panel were to look at and also the possibility of holding meetings in different venues around the Borough.

Councillor Blunt suggested that the Panel consider the Car Parking Strategy at an early stage.

The Chair provided an update on the Southgates Masterplan and issues with funding.

RESOLVED: The Panel’s Work Programme and Cabinet Forward Decisions List was noted.

To note that the next meeting of the Regeneration & Development Panel is scheduled to take place on 1^st July 2025 at 6pm in the Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.

The next meeting of the Regeneration and Development Panel was scheduled to take place on 9^th July 2025 at 6.00pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall.