1) To consider the following Notice of Motion (8/22), submitted by Councillor A Kemp:
Tourism and Heritage Assets
This Council supports King's Lynn's heritage that defines Lynn as an international tourist destination. The Carnegie Library is one of Lynn's most prominent heritage assets that was built by the Council, on land belonging to the Council, on Tower Field near the Greyfriars Tower, in 1904 in Tudor Gothic architecture, with a turret that was used as an observation tower in the First World War and which houses the town's two book collections dating from Medieval Times.
Head Librarian Ray Wilson's book, History of Lynn Library, says : The site was excellent for library purposes, being situated centrally in the town, amongst Medieval surroundings, with ease of access from all parts of the town and the outlying Districts.
The previous Administration formed a plan to move the library to the old Argos shop.
The Library was acquired by statute by Norfolk County Council under local government reorganisation in 1974.
The County Council intends to consult the community for a community function for the building.
However, if community groups do not come forward that can afford to buy the Carnegie, or take on a full repairing lease, NCC says it would reassess the situation. This would put the future of the Carnegie at risk as a public building open to all.
If the library moves out of the Carnegie, Norfolk County Council will cease to fund its upkeep and repair.
If NCC declare the building is surplus to service requirements, the Council policy is disposal.
The law says disposals of local government property should be at market value, and leases are at full market rent.
NCC recently expressed the intention to save holt Hall Education Centre for a community use, but then sold it off to the highest bidder for private use.
This Council does not want to Lynn to lose a key heritage asset open to the public, residents and tourists and asks the Cabinet to make a formal agreement with Norfolk County Council to safeguard its future as a heritage asset.
2) To consider the following Notice of Motion (9/22), submitted by Councillor A Tyler
‘This Council is very saddened by the recent loss of John Collop, an effective, principled and long-standing councillor and friend to many here.
Therefore, at the first formal Council meeting since his untimely passing this Council initiates a lasting and befitting tribute to pay our respects to him and his family and give thanks for his years of service to the people of West Norfolk.
This Council therefore agrees steps will be put in place to ensure that one of the roads, community recreation or green spaces on a new Council related development in or near the ward he served so well coming forward will be named in his honour as a lasting tribute and reminder for all’
3) To consider the following Notice of Motion (10/22), submitted by Councillor Sandell:
‘Like many other organisations, this Council recognises diversity training, like other training, is vitally important. It helps us understand the many varied communities, businesses and visitors we serve better, it inputs relevant legislation and evolving best practice and reassures people looking in that we as their Councillors are open to such important personal development.
We instruct officers to bring forward developmental diversity training at the earliest opportunity and agree to attend. This is not for some ethereal purpose, but to have real world benefit, helping us as a council make better strategies, policies and decisions for all.’
4) To consider the following Notice of Motion (11/22), submitted by Councillor Joyce:
"This Council recognises that the cost-of-living crisis is adversely affecting many local people, especially people on very low incomes.
This Council additionally notes that it has a very high General Reserve Fund of over £8 million above the recommended level.
This Council further notes to increase the Council Tax Support Scheme to 100% to every eligible Council Taxpayer based on last year's figures will run to less than £30,000 to this Council.
Therefore, this Council approves increasing its Council Tax Support Scheme to 100% to every eligible Council Taxpayer."
Minutes:
Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube
Council agreed to take Notice of Motion 9/22 first.
1) Councillor A Tyler proposed the following Notice of Motion (9/22), seconded by Councillor Dark:
“This Council is very saddened by the recent loss of John Collop, an effective, principled and long-standing councillor and friend to many here.
Therefore, at the first formal Council meeting since his untimely passing this Council initiates a lasting and befitting tribute to pay our respects to him and his family and give thanks for his years of service to the people of West Norfolk.
This Council therefore agrees steps will be put in place to ensure that one of the roads, community recreation or green spaces on a new Council related development in or near the ward he served so well coming forward will be named in his honour as a lasting tribute and reminder for all.”
Councillor Tyler spoke in support of the Motion and fondly about the late Councillor John Collop and his roles and life which Councillor Tyler had been closely associated with.
Councillor Dark also spoke in support of the motion and drew attention to the fact that the Council buildings had been lit in red and the flags lowered as a mark of respect for John. He also informed Council that as a mark of respect to John Collop the Conservative Group would not be calling for a by election to fill his vacancy or if one was called would not be putting a candidate forward at this stage.
Councillor Joyce, as a long standing friend and colleague also paid tribute to Councillor Collop. A number of other Councillors including the Mayor and Deputy also paid tribute to him, and confirmed that his funeral had been touching and meaningful. A vote was taken on the Motion which was agreed unanimously.
RESOLVED: That the Motion be approved.
Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube
2) Councillor A Kemp proposed the following Notice of Motion (8/22), seconded by Councillor de Whalley:
“Tourism and Heritage Assets
This Council supports King's Lynn's heritage that defines Lynn as an international tourist destination. The Carnegie Library is one of Lynn's most prominent heritage assets that was built by the Council, on land belonging to the Council, on Tower Field near the Greyfriars Tower, in 1904 in Tudor Gothic architecture, with a turret that was used as an observation tower in the First World War and which houses the town's two book collections dating from Medieval Times.
Head Librarian Ray Wilson's book, History of Lynn Library, says: The site was excellent for library purposes, being situated centrally in the town, amongst Medieval surroundings, with ease of access from all parts of the town and the outlying Districts.
The previous Administration formed a plan to move the library to the old Argos shop.
The Library was acquired by statute by Norfolk County Council under local government reorganisation in 1974.
The County Council intends to consult the community for a community function for the building.
However, if community groups do not come forward that can afford to buy the Carnegie, or take on a full repairing lease, NCC says it would reassess the situation. This would put the future of the Carnegie at risk as a public building open to all.
If the library moves out of the Carnegie, Norfolk County Council will cease to fund its upkeep and repair.
If NCC declare the building is surplus to service requirements, the Council policy is disposal.
The law says disposals of local government property should be at market value, and leases are at full market rent.
NCC recently expressed the intention to save holt Hall Education Centre for a community use, but then sold it off to the highest bidder for private use.
This Council does not want to Lynn to lose a key heritage asset open to the public, residents and tourists and asks the Cabinet to make a formal agreement with Norfolk County Council to safeguard its future as a heritage asset.”
Councillor Kemp spoke in support of the Motion. Councillor Middleton drew attention to the previous debates on the issue where this Council and Norfolk County Council’s support of the old library was well documented.
Councillor Parish urged support for the motion so that it would be actioned in the event circumstances were to change. Councillors Joyce and Rust spoke in support of the motion.
Councillors Long and Dark spoke against the motion reminding members of the County Council ownership, and of the often documented comments made.
Councillor Ratcliff stated support for the motion, and also for the proposed MUCH project.
Councillor Morley supported the motion. Councillor Hudson expressed the hope that the reassurances given would be acted upon. Councillor de Whalley made reference to the cost of the MUCH, the lack of maintenance to the existing library which he considered should be a community asset.
Councillor Kemp summed up. With the required number of supporters a recorded vote was taken on the motion.
|
For |
Against |
Abstain |
|
Bhondi |
Ayres |
Howland |
|
Bone |
Bambridge |
Hudson |
|
Bullen |
Blunt |
|
|
Collop |
Bower |
|
|
Holmes |
Bubb |
|
|
Howman |
Collingham |
|
|
Jones |
Dark |
|
|
Joyce |
Devereux |
|
|
Kemp |
Dickinson |
|
|
Lawton |
Gidney |
|
|
Morley |
Hipperson |
|
|
Nash |
Humphrey |
|
|
Parish |
Kunes |
|
|
Ratcliff |
Lawrence |
|
|
Rust |
Long |
|
|
Ryves |
Manning |
|
|
A Tyler |
Middleton |
|
|
De Whalley |
Nockolds |
|
|
Wilkinson |
Rose |
|
|
|
Sampson |
|
|
|
Sandell |
|
|
|
D Tyler |
|
|
|
Whitby |
|
|
19 |
23 |
2 |
RESOLVED: The Motion was lost.
Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube
3) Councillor Sandell proposed the following Notice of Motion (10/22), seconded by Councillor Dark :
‘Like many other organisations, this Council recognises diversity training, like other training, is vitally important. It helps us understand the many varied communities, businesses and visitors we serve better, it inputs relevant legislation and evolving best practice and reassures people looking in that we as their Councillors are open to such important personal development.
We instruct officers to bring forward developmental diversity training at the earliest opportunity and agree to attend. This is not for some ethereal purpose, but to have real world benefit, helping us as a council make better strategies, policies and decisions for all.’
An amendment was proposed by Councillor Morley to include Council in its entirety in the training. The amendment was seconded by Councillor Bone which was accepted by Councillor Sandell and became part of the substantive motion.
Council debated the new substantive motion.
Councillor Nash proposed a further amendment that the Motion be amended to include “contractors of the Council”. Councillor Ryves seconded the amendment and further suggested that “employees of the Council’s wholly owned subsidiaries” also be included in the amendment. Councillor Nash accepted the addition to his amendment. The amendment was not accepted by Councillor Sandell.
The amendment was debated, with points raised by Councillor Long that there were potentially considerable financial implications in the amendment which had not been accounted for, and Councillor Dark that to point to the Motion that the Councillors were being held to account was being lost with the amendments being proposed.
Councillors Hudson, Humphrey, Joyce and Kunes commented that it was not the council’s responsibility to train its contractors, that fell to their employers. Councillor Rust suggested including as many employees as possible. Councillor Nash summed up the amendment.
With the required number of supporters a recorded vote was taken on the amendment:
|
Against |
Abstain |
|
|
Bhondi |
Ayres |
Hudson |
|
Bone |
Bambridge |
Jones |
|
Bullen |
Blunt |
Lawton |
|
Collop |
Bower |
Long |
|
Holmes |
Bubb |
Middleton |
|
Howland |
Collingham |
|
|
Howman |
Crofts |
|
|
Kemp |
Dark |
|
|
Nash |
Devereux |
|
|
Ratcliff |
Dickinson |
|
|
Rust |
Gidney |
|
|
Ryves |
Hipperson |
|
|
A Tyler |
Humphrey |
|
|
De Whalley |
Joyce |
|
|
M Wilkinson |
Kunes |
|
|
|
Lawrence |
|
|
|
Manning |
|
|
|
Morley |
|
|
|
Nockolds |
|
|
|
Parish |
|
|
|
Rose |
|
|
|
Sampson |
|
|
|
Sandell |
|
|
|
D Tyler |
|
|
|
D Whitby |
|
|
15 |
25 |
5 |
The amendment to the motion was lost.
The debate then ensued around the substantive motion.
Councillor Dark spoke in favour of the substantive which showed that the Council as elected councillors were open to development and learning in order to make the best decisions and policies as possible. Councillor Sandell briefly summed up.
With the required number of supporters a recorded vote was taken on the substantive motion which included the Council’s officers and employees of the Council.
|
For |
Against |
Abstain |
|
Ayres |
|
R Lawton |
|
Bambridge |
|
|
|
Bhondi |
|
|
|
Blunt |
|
|
|
Bone |
|
|
|
Bower |
|
|
|
Bone |
|
|
|
Bubb |
|
|
|
Bullen |
|
|
|
Collingham |
|
|
|
Collop |
|
|
|
Crofts |
|
|
|
Dark |
|
|
|
Devereux |
|
|
|
Dickinson |
|
|
|
Gidney |
|
|
|
Hipperson |
|
|
|
Holmes |
|
|
|
Howland |
|
|
|
Howman |
|
|
|
Hudson |
|
|
|
Humphrey |
|
|
|
Jones |
|
|
|
Joyce |
|
|
|
Kemp |
|
|
|
Kunes |
|
|
|
Lawrence |
|
|
|
Long |
|
|
|
Manning |
|
|
|
Middleton |
|
|
|
Morley |
|
|
|
Nash |
|
|
|
Nockolds |
|
|
|
Parish |
|
|
|
Ratcliff |
|
|
|
Rose |
|
|
|
Rust |
|
|
|
Ryves |
|
|
|
Sampson |
|
|
|
Sandell |
|
|
|
A Tyler |
|
|
|
D Tyler |
|
|
|
De Whalley |
|
|
|
Whitby |
|
|
|
Wilkinson |
|
|
|
44 |
0 |
1 |
The substantive motion was carried.
RESOLVED: That the following motion be adopted:
‘Like many other organisations, this Council recognises diversity training, like other training, is vitally important. It helps us understand the many varied communities, businesses and visitors we serve better, it inputs relevant legislation and evolving best practice and reassures people looking in that we as their Councillors are open to such important personal development.
We instruct officers to bring forward developmental diversity training at the earliest opportunity for the Council in its entirety, and agree to attend. This is not for some ethereal purpose, but to have real world benefit, helping us as a council make better strategies, policies and decisions for all.’
Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube
"This Council recognises that the cost-of-living crisis is adversely affecting many local people, especially people on very low incomes.
This Council additionally notes that it has a very high General Reserve Fund of over £8 million above the recommended level.
This Council further notes to increase the Council Tax Support Scheme to 100% to every eligible Council Taxpayer based on last year's figures will run to less than £30,000 to this Council.
Therefore, this Council approves increasing its Council Tax Support Scheme to 100% to every eligible Council Taxpayer."
Under standing order 14.6, Councillor Dark proposed the motion be referred to Cabinet, via the relevant Panel for consideration of the full and informed facts of the motion. Councillor Middleton seconded the proposal. This was accepted by Councillor Jones.
Council then debated the item being referred to the Panel and Cabinet, the proposal was put to the vote.
RESOLVED: That the motion be referred to the relevant Panel then to Cabinet for consideration.