Agenda item

This item had been brought to the Committee at the request of the Chairman, Councillor Gourlay.

Councillor Gourlay made reference to the fact that the report and proposal was working with the New Anglia LEP, and commented that he believed the Council was also working with the Greater Cambridge & Greater Peterborough LEP, he asked why they were not included in this proposal.  Councillor Daubney confirmed that the Council was working with both LEPs because of the links with both sides of the Borough, but this request had come from the New Anglia LEP.

Councillor Gourlay asked why when the Council was working in the scientific corridor from Cambridge the proposal was for “heavy industry base”.  Councillor Daubney responded that King’s Lynn and its businesses were growing and the Enterprise Zone was particularly for “advanced engineering”, rather than heavy engineering.  He drew attention to the fact that the advanced engineering element of business inward enquiries for the Borough comprised over 60% of the enquiries made, and made up a large amount of the business in the Borough with companies such as BaE, Williams Refrigeration and Bespak, with the Enterprise Zone forming a small element of it.  He further explained that the biggest challenge for the Borough was to retain that industry in West Norfolk by maintaining and improving on skills levels and training in the Borough.

Under Standing Order 34, Councillor McGuinness asked if there was a danger that a company would move from an existing site in the Borough for the attractive business rates in the enterprise zone, leaving a vacuum from where they moved.  Councillor Daubney confirmed this was a potential situation which had been raised as a potential issue, but a judgement had to be made.

Councillor Joyce asked if any investigation had been undertaken with the pharmaceutical industry due to the need for large amounts of sugar in their industry and the proximity of the sugar beet factory. He also asked why the Broadband for the area was limited to 100 megabites.  Councillor Daubney shared frustrations around the digital infrastructure and its limitations, but explained that he had just signed off an initiative with the County Council to help towards this, he acknowledged that there was still more to do.

Councillor McGuinness asked if the level of enquiries set out in the report were distinct enquiries or several from the same companies.  It was confirmed that they were distinct.

Councillor Gourlay asked if the Council had the £3m required to pay for the project, to which Councillor Daubney explained that the Council had a requirement to make the land fir for purpose, and it would access funding available to make it happen.  The Chief Executive further explained that the NORA development had stalled due to the level of funding required to install the infrastructure on the site up front of selling plots to companies, and the Enterprise Status would enable to LEP  to borrow to fund the work against future income.  The situation with the 5 years of no Business Rates was attractive to businesses.

Councillor McGuinness asked if a bridge would be installed over the railway track from South Lynn which he believed had been discussed at the time of the Tesco development. Councillor Daubney recalled some discussion on the matter some time ago, but was not aware if this had been an undertaking or requirement.

Councillor Collingham expressed delight that the profile of the industry was as set out in the report as she considered that a lean to the science park would not necessarily lead to sustainable jobs in companies that would stay in the area.