Agenda item

In accordance with Standing Order 11, to receive reports from Cabinet Members moved en bloc, under Standing Order 11.2 Members of the Council may ask questions of Cabinet Members on their reports and Portfolio areas. The order of putting questions shall commence with a Member from the largest opposition group, proceeding in descending order to the smallest opposition group, followed by a non-aligned Member and finally a Member from the ruling group. This order shall repeat until the time for questions has elapsed or there are no more questions to be put. 

The period of time for putting questions and receiving responses shall not exceed 50 minutes for all Cabinet Members, excluding the Leader

The period of time for putting questions and receiving responses to the Leader shall not exceed 15 minutes.

(Councillors are reminded that this is a question and answer session not a debate.)

Corporate Services - Councillor B Long

Environment - Councillor P Kunes

Development - Councillor R Blunt

Finance – Councillor A Dickinson (to follow)

Property – Councillor A Lawrence

People and Communities – Councillor Sam Sandell

Deputy Leader and Business, Culture & Heritage – Councillor G Middleton

Leader - Councillor Stuart Dark

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Councillor Dark moved the Cabinet Members reports en bloc.

Cabinet Member’s questions

Councillor Ryves asked Councillor Dickinson a question on the underwriting of the Guildhall funding and consequence it would have on future budgets. Councillor Dickinson confirmed that the money was in the capital programme, but it was hoped that it wouldn’t need to be spent.   Councillor Middleton confirmed a positive meeting with the Heritage Lottery Fund, and the business plan was being worked up with the Town Board.

Councillor Howman asked for information on the numbers of penalty charges cancelled or sent for recovery.  Councillor Long agreed to send him some information.

In response to Councillor Spikings question on an update to Upwell cemetery, Councillor Long confirmed he had met with the parish who were looking at land adjacent to the current cemetery for an extension to it.

In response to a question from Councillor de Whalley, Councillor Middleton confirmed that an architect had not yet been appointed for the Guildhall project.

Following a question from Councillor Kemp regarding tree planting in the Winfarthing woods area, Councillor Kunes reminded Councillor Kemp that the land was allocated building land.

Councillor Bower asked Councillor Blunt the situation with Hunstanton Neighbourhood Plan and others in the Borough compared with the rest of Norfolk.  Councillor Blunt confirmed that a lot of work had gone into the Hunstanton Plan which was at examination stage.  He confirmed there were 11 fully adopted plans  and 3 more in the pipeline.  He confirmed the Borough’s numbers were very good in comparison to some others in the county.

Councillor Rust asked the number of staff monitoring CCTV in order to make women and girls feel safe.  Councillor Long confirmed that the numbers varied depending on the day and time and events, the recordings were held.  He undertook to provide her with some figures.

Councillor Sandell responded to a question from Councillor Nockolds on the ECF Food for Thought grant that Lily had been awarded.  She confirmed that the bid supported families in deprived areas on healthy eating on a budget.  Freebridge were providing the facilities and COWA were providing support staff.

Councillor Kunes confirmed to Councillor Squire that he had misinterpreted the Task Group on urban wildlife for a Biodiversity Task Group.

Councillor Crofts asked Councillor Blunt what the timings were for the next CIL applications.  Councillor Blunt  confirmed it would open on 1 January to 1 February, with the scheme simplified since the previous one.  The round after that would be 1 July to 1 August.  He undertook to email Councillors with information that had been provided to parishes.

Councillor Kunes undertook to investigate Councillor Parish’s query as to whether it was permissible for log burners to be specified in a new build.

Councillor Devereux asked Councillor Blunt for information on a strategy document from Transport East.  He confirmed that he had attended the launch of the draft document which covered all the transport needs the Eastern Region which would be open for consultation until 30 January 2022.  He undertook to send councillors a link to the document.

Following a question from Councillor Kemp, Councillor Middleton confirmed that surveys were being carried out on the old Argos building as to its condition, and necessary steps would be taken for the scheme. 

Councillor Nockolds asked on progress of the NORA site to which Councillor Lawrence confirmed that 2 offices and 2 light industrial units were being built, alongside the new IDB building.  Interest had been shown in the buildings.

Councillor Lawrence confirmed to Councillor Ryves that he considered that the KLIC  being fully let was a positive thing. 

Leader’s questions

Responding to Councillor Squire regarding opposition items being refused, Councillor Dark commented on those presented items at the meeting were not thought through.

Councillor Sampson asked about the MUCH consultation which was being carried out, to which Councillor Dark welcomed the £7m investment in King’s Lynn, and reminded members that it was clear there were no plans to do anything detrimental with the old library building.  He encouraged any evidence of the flats conversion which had been raised by a councillor to be brought forward.

In response to Councillor Ryves question as to the function of the KLIC building and whether it had failed, Councillor Dark commented that the commercially the building was doing very well.

In response to Councillor Joyce’s comments on the Administration being heartless, Councillor Dark rebuked the comment and drew attention to the work carried out by to date.

In response to Councillor Kemp’s comment on approaching the secretary of state to encourage a similar approach her to incineration elsewhere in the country, Councillor Dark re-iterated that if and when a planning application came in it would be reflected on at that time. 

In response to a question from Councillor Squire on whether the Borough council should improve its communications with parishes, Councillor Dark confirmed that any organisation should try to improve its communications.

Following a question from Councillor Howman regarding the concern by constituents about the future of the Gaywood library with the advent of the MUCH building in the town centre, Councillor Dark confirmed it was not a replacement for other libraries, and undertook to get clarification from the County Council.