To receive petitions and public questions in accordance with Standing Order 9.
Minutes:
The Mayor invited the following public questioners to pose their questions:
1) Amanda Bosworth
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In its letter of 29 June addressed to King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council and Hunstanton Town Council, the Hunstanton and District Civic Society outlined a number of serious local concerns about the sudden, unforeseen closure of the Tourist Information Centre and the decision to replace it with an unmanned space in the Coal Shed Gallery displaying a selection of free pamphlets.
Issues raised include access, monitoring, safety, hygiene - but the
fundamental issue for us as a coastal resort is the loss of a
service that provides information and advice both for local
residents and for the thousands of visitors to the town.
Hunstanton is lauded as the borough's "Jewel in the Crown" and it
simply does not make sense to close the highly valued, very well
used TIC at the exact moment when restrictions are being lifted and
the local economy is trying to recover post-Covid, particularly in
view of country-wide efforts to welcome tourism and encourage
staycations.
May I ask what steps this Council is willing to take to resolve the
issues highlighted in the letter?
Councillor Nockolds gave the following response:
“At the time of the meeting with Hunstanton Town Council on June 2nd, at which we supported the idea that the Town Hall is not suitable under COVID 19 regulations, it wasn’t clear which businesses such as the Oasis or Library would be open in time for housing the TIC.
At that meeting we had 2 Options
1. Just rely on visitors using our updated visit west norfolk web-site or phone App.
2. Set up a temporary Tourist Information Centre (T.I.C) in Hunstanton for this season.
A quick decision had to be made. We all agreed that although a huge majority of the visitors would use our web-site, we would transform the Coal Shed Gallery into a T.I.C, which is at the edge of the largest car park in Hunstanton.
Within the next few days after the meeting the building was inspected for Health & Safety issues, such as accessibility, cleanliness and security.
To prepare the building for opening, we expect it to be next week, has taken a while. The main reason is that many of our staff are redeployed into other departments to support the vulnerable or shielding and working from home.
A ramp has been ordered, CCTV is installed and signage is being produced which will includes information on social distancing, stay alert and protect yourself. Hand sanitizer will be available too. Our Tourism Manager has been producing literature especially designed for installing in the Gallery.
I totally understand your thoughts and comments about having an unmanned Tourist Information Point. We are in very difficult times which will have ongoing effects for at least a year. Some people are frightened to leave their homes after Being sheltered for 3 months. I often meet people who are very concerned about going back to work or shopping.
I firmly believe the scheme we are promoting, approved by Government and marketed by Visit Britain, 'Know before You Go', is the right and important one.
In view of the availability of our web-site and the wide public usage of digital information the TIC is at the moment a secondary source of information. The moving of the TIC into a new Library building in the future will establish it into a permanent location.
I would encourage every business in Hunstanton and around to publicise themselves on the visit west-norfolk web-site.
By way of supplementary Mrs Bosworth drew attention to the average age of the population and visitors of Hunstanton and the potential for no access to the internet. She asked for the Civic society to be consulted on any permanent move.
Councillor Mrs Nockolds drew attention to the number of TICs around the country that had closed, she was keen to produce leaflets for visitors and encouraged Hunstanton businesses to advertise via the visit west-norfolk website, which she was particularly grateful for during this time.
2) Daphne Sampson
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One spin-off of the pandemic is that we have seen major behaviour changes. Some of this will be short term but many people are at present prepared to change their habits in terms of using cars far less as president of the AA has pointed out. In January I had a conversation with the Leader of the Council where he was very positive about the council taking a real lead in promoting changes of behaviour, by running an advertising campaign linked to directly climate change, for example with posters on bus shelter hoardings.
While being very aware of the extra workload that the council
have had through the height of the COVID crisis and grateful for
all the work done, please could we have an update on whether this
advertising campaign is in the pipeline, or could be soon, through
the Borough Council alone or in conjunction with the County
Council- at a time when people have shown that they are prepared to
make changes and when it is so very urgent that we do so?
Councillor Long gave the following response;
“Thank you for your question. We are currently preparing our climate change strategy. This will come to Council in either September or October. If agreed, we will certainly be promoting this once we have the capacity following the Covid-19 pandemic.”
3) Robert Shippey
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West Norfolk must "build back better" in a post-Covid world, both in environmental and economic terms, while also facing the Climate Crisis.
2050 for net-zero is "too little, too late" to avoid the catastrophic effects envisaged by the likes of David Attenborough and countless climate experts. An optimistic target of 2030 would focus the council's energy and expertise towards a greener and fairer future for all people, positioning our area as 'leading the way'.
Do
the leaders of our council share in this ambition to make West
Norfolk a leader in the country in terms of tackling the climate
crisis?
Councillor Long gave the following response:
“Thank you for your question. I do not disagree with you. Our carbon strategy will come to Council in September or October as I have previously said. This will hopefully start us on a journey to achieve your requirements.”
4) Dr Pallavi Devulapalli – the question was read in her absence
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The Covid crisis has occupied us but the climate and biodiversity crisis is far from over, and is indeed making itself felt with greater urgency every passing year. If current trends continue unchecked, West Norfolk is at risk of flash floods, droughts, crop failures and water scarcity.
Will the council take the opportunity of Cllr Devereux's standing down as Cabinet member and Environment portfolio holder to replace him with someone who has a good grasp of this all-important issue which will become increasingly important in the foreseeable future?
The new candidate must be a knowledgeable and approachable person who is able to work with the very many concerned individuals, groups and bodies in West Norfolk, and work towards a greener, more habitable and pleasant West Norfolk that is fit for future generations to live in.
Councillor Long gave the following response:
Thank you for your question. I will be giving careful consideration to the appointment. In the interim I will be covering the environmental issues but I will consider creating a portfolio for carbon reduction working outside of our traditional environment portfolio.
5) Brenda Kent – the question was read in her absence
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I note that this meeting of the full council is due to start at 3pm on a weekday rather than in the evening. I would like to point out respectfully that other organisations have succeeded in holding virtual meetings in the evening so my question is as follows:
Has the council done an audit to check whether or not holding full council meetings during the day negatively impacts on local democracy by excluding, due to daytime work or other commitments, a disproportionate number of councillors from any section of the council, for example the opposition, thereby leaving wards unrepresented?
I am sorry that I am unable to ask my question personally via Zoom as I myself have an online teaching commitment at this time.
Councillor Long gave the following response:
“Thank you for your question. This change was taken
as an emergency measure
without
which no meeting could happen. Covid-19 has had a huge impact
on
how we have
to work as a council. Our meeting is now more accessible
than
before. It can be watched on You-Tube
repeatedly at your convenience.”