Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Collop and Lowe.

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

RESOLVED: The minutes from the previous meeting held on the 18th June 2026 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 was none.

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 Chairman of their intention to do so and on what items they wish to be heard before the meeting commences.  Any Member attending the meeting under Standing Order 34 will only be permitted to speak on those items which have been previously notified to the Chairman.

Councillor Fry was present under Standing Order 34B.

There was none.

Councillors Rust and Ware arrived at the meeting at 6:12pm.

Councillor Colwell arrived at 6:14pm.

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The Operations Manager for Public Open Spaces and Play Area Inspector and Technician gave a presentation which outlined the condition, inspection, maintenance and investment needs of Kings Lynn’s play areas, while Councillors discussed prioritisation, accessibility, funding and community involvement.

The Operations Manager for Public Open Spaces reported that the borough managed 82 play areas and associated facilities, including 43 play areas and multi-use games areas in the unparished part of Kings Lynn. Sites were grouped as good, fair or worn; all equipment was described as serviceable and safe for use, although worn equipment may be nearing the end of its expected lifespan.

The Play Area Inspector and Technician explained that play areas received weekly routine visual inspections, monthly operational maintenance inspections and annual independent inspections. Checks covered equipment damage, litter, surfacing, corrosion, timber rot, worn components, fixings, safety clearances and standards compliance. He recorded operational findings through a mobile inspection app linked to an online database, while annual inspection findings could be viewed as soon as they were uploaded. Maintenance work included repairs to fixings, moving parts, damaged components, graffiti removal, jet washing and safety surfacing. Annual inspection findings were risk-scored, with higher-risk defects prioritised and any unsafe equipment isolated until repairs could be completed.

The Operations Manager for Public Open Spaces described recent investment at Parkway, where 18 pieces of equipment, new safety surfacing and bins were installed using community funding associated with the Florence Fields development. At Edma Street, 10 new pieces of equipment, improved surfacing and accessible-play elements were installed using funding linked to the Salters Road development.

The Operations Manager for Public Open Spaces confirmed that £120,000 had been included in the 2027 capital programme as a potential route to develop inclusive play facilities, possibly at The Walks. Earlier accessible-play funding had not been pursued because it was considered insufficient to deliver a meaningful scheme, so the final scope and further funding sources still needed to be established.

The future investment programme was intended to consider asset condition, safety, accessibility, inclusivity, community need and demand. Site-specific reviews would determine whether ageing equipment should be replaced like-for-like, redesigned, enhanced or rationalised, with funding potentially drawn from the capital programme, grants, developer contributions and partnerships.

Councillor Rust queried the presence of a Norfolk County Councillor at the meeting. In response, the Chair explained that the meeting was held in public and anyone was entitled to attend as an observer but would not be permitted to address or participate in the meeting.

The Chair thanked the Officers for the presentation and invited comments and questions from the Committee. Councillor Heneghan welcomed the planned £120,000 capital allocation for inclusive play in 2027 and highlighted prioritisation of how money was spent was important along with other funding streams were needed. She added the area around the play areas such as seating for parents was also important. 

Councillor Colwell thanked Officers for their work and referred to the removal of equipment  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

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The Assistant Director for Finance and Deputy Section 151 Officer presented the report. He reported on the financial outturn for the year ending 31 March 2026 and the monitoring position to August 2026 for 2026–27. The 2025–26 position produced a £24,000 underspend and therefore a lower contribution from the Council, which subsidises special-expense expenditure. Footway-lighting utility costs remained volatile and higher than anticipated, partly because the 2026–27 budget had been set before the 2025–26 outturn was known. Significant pavilion works had addressed central-heating and water-supply safety and regulatory compliance, with fire-alarm upgrades also undertaken; these works continued to affect the current year.

The Chair, thanked the Assistant Director for Finance and Deputy Section 151 Officer and invited questions and comments from the Committee.

Councillor Rust questioned how frequently pavilions were hired, what income they generated and where that income was allocated. The Assistant Director for Finance and Deputy Section 151 Officer did not have the figures at the meeting but agreed that the information would be circulated to all committee members and used to inform discussion of the 2027–28 special-expenses budget.

Councillor Kemp asked about the overspend on public conveniences and whether measures such as solar panels could reduce utility costs. The Assistant Director for Finance and Deputy Section 151 Officer explained utilities and safety certification must be maintained, while any solar-panel investment would require a business case and prioritisation against other capital projects.

The Chair enquired whether charging users for public conveniences could help subsidise maintenance and staffing. The Assistant Director for Finance and Deputy Section 151 Officer commented this was a policy decision for the Council and agreed to feed the suggestion into the autumn budget-setting discussions.

RESOLVED: The Committee considered the outturn for 2025/2026 and the monitoring position and projected outturn for 2026/2027 as detailed in the report. 

The Committee are reminded of the Parish Partnership Scheme 2027/2028.

Please see the below process and timeline;

• BCKLWN / Borough Councillor’s identify what they would like to consider under Parish Partnership Scheme Bid
• They discuss this with the Norfolk County Council Highway Engineer to determine if it is feasible, or whether other Norfolk County Council departments need to be brought into the conversation (Road Safety / Passenger transport, etc)
• Once agreed that something is feasible, the Highway Engineer (or other dept) will provide an estimate for costs and pass back to BCKLWN / Borough Councillor’s
• BCKLWN / Borough Councillor’s determines whether they have the funding and progresses below if so- Draft Bids will go to KLAC and agree which Bid’s will be put forward to Norfolk County Council
• BCKLWN / Borough Councillor’s fills in the Parish Partnership Scheme Bid form and sends to the relevant email in NCC before December of that financial year, with all information attached (conversations, emails etc)
• Norfolk County Council decides whether the Parish Partnership Scheme Bid is successful, and informs BCKLWN / Borough Councillor’s and Highway Engineer / other dept.
• Highway Engineer passes to design.
• BCKLWN pays the 50% to Norfolk County Council
• Norfolk County Council advises Highway Engineer / other dept, funds have been received
• Designer creates scheme and delivers it via suitable contractor, updating BCKLWN/ Borough Councillor’s as things progress.

The King’s Lynn Area Committee meeting will be held on the 12^th November 2026 and all Bids will be discussed and the Committee will agree which Bids will be put forward to Norfolk County Council. Therefore, please provide your Draft Parish Partnership Scheme Bid along with evidence you have liaised with Norfolk County Council, that the bid is feasible and costed to the Assistant Director, Health, Wellbeing and Public Protection and Democratic Services by the 26^th October 2026.

All bids to be submitted by 01 December 2026 to Norfolk County Council via email: ppschemes@norfolk.gov.uk by the Member.

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The Committee was reminded that applications for the 2027–28 Parish Partnership Scheme must be submitted to the Assistant Director for Health, Wellbeing and Public Protection and Democratic Services by 26 October for consideration at the 12 November meeting.

Councillor Bone asked whether installing waiting-restriction lines to keep emergency access clear could be funded through the scheme. The Chair commented, double yellow lines would generally require the County Highways Authority to introduce a traffic regulation order and complete consultation, so the matter was not a simple Borough Council installation. Officers agreed to investigate the scheme’s applicability and report back.

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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Councillor Colwell requested for the Kings Lynn Town Council and local government reorganisation to be included in the work programme so the committee could respond quickly to developments. The Chair noted that a pre-Council briefing and an update on the review conclusion were scheduled before the next full Council, with the Electoral Arrangements Committee leading work on progressing a town council.

Councillor Colwell requested the item on public toilets be brought forward specifically noting the public toilets at Gaywood.

Councillor Kemp requested more detailed information behind headline special-expenses figures, including inspection, maintenance, infrastructure and compliance costs, to help understand what a future town council might need to provide. The Assistant Director for Finance and Deputy Section 151 Officer explained the Informal Working Group had been established to examine costs and cost-reduction options in detail, with the resulting information to be published and brought forward for public discussion where appropriate.

The Assistant Director for Finance and Deputy Section 151 Officer explained further the timetable and statutory process for a possible town council were still being explored, and the finance team was preparing for either continuation of special expenses or development of a new town-council budget. Councillor Sayers added that potential transfers of civic buildings and other assets would bring both capital and revenue costs that should be included when considering any future precept.

Councillor Rust and Ware requested a future police update on town-centre anti-social behaviour, including whether reported figures match public perception and specific concerns about electric bikes.

The Committee noted the Work Programme and Cabinet Forward Decision List.

The next meeting of the Committee is to be held on the 12^th November 2026 at 5:15pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place.

12^th November 2026 at 5:15pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall.