i) To consider the following Notice of Motion (11/23), submitted by Councillor Everett
This Council notes the Department of Transport and train operators are pushing ahead with plans to close local Railway Station ticket offices.
This Council further notes a rail prospectus carried by Norfolk County Council indicated for many people the absence of station staff and ticket offices acted as a barrier to using the railway.
This Council shares the concerns of Norfolk County Council that these closures could affect the most vulnerable people in society, who rely on ticket office staff to help them and who could struggle to use ticket machines.
Therefore, this Council agrees to lobby all local Members of Parliament to stop the closure of local ticket offices and to support Norfolk County Council in lobbying to stop the closure of all ticket offices in Norfolk.
ii) To consider the following Notice of Motion (12/23), submitted by Councillor Osborne:
This Council believes in equality for all regardless of natural or cultural origin, and supports equality, diversity and inclusion being at the heart of its policies and procedures.
This Council seeks to support all organisations that share these same values.
And the Borough to include promotions of Pride events alongside others held in West Norfolk annually.
iii) To consider the following Notice of Motion (13/23), submitted by Councillor Kemp:
Getting It Right in West Norfolk
Strategic Infrastructure in West Norfolk Motion
This Council believes in the right infrastructure, in the right place, at the right time. More than 13,000 new homes will come forward in the Local Plan, 4,000 in West Winch, West Norfolk's largest ever development.
So, this Council affirms its responsibility and intent, to do its utmost to influence and achieve timely delivery of the right strategic infrastructure underpinning new development, including doctors and dentists surgeries, sufficient hospital beds in the new QEH rebuild, necessary roads and cycle paths, energy efficient homes and Biodiversity Net Gain.
The Council will write to the Highways Authority to request a strategic highway assessment of the impact of new development on the circulation of traffic around King's Lynn and West Norfolk, including the A10 and the A149.
Minutes:
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i) Councillor Everett proposed the following Notice of Motion (11/23), seconded by Councillor Dark.
This Council notes the Department of Transport and train operators are pushing ahead with plans to close local Railway Station ticket offices.
This Council further notes a rail prospectus carried by Norfolk County Council indicated for many people the absence of station staff and ticket offices acted as a barrier to using the railway.
This Council shares the concerns of Norfolk County Council that these closures could affect the most vulnerable people in society, who rely on ticket office staff to help them and who could struggle to use ticket machines.
Therefore, this Council agrees to lobby all local Members of Parliament to stop the closure of local ticket offices and to support Norfolk County Council in lobbying to stop the closure of all ticket offices in Norfolk.
In proposing his motion Councillor Everett spoke in support of his Motion drawing attention to the much used and popular service which did more than just selling tickets, and the fact that its proposed closure was discriminating against those who were not able or willing to use the ticket machines. He drew attention to the complexity of the ticketing machines. Ticket office staffing was not regulated so rail companies were reducing those costs and leaving vulnerable people without their assistance.
In seconding the motion Councillor Dark spoke in support of the motion and drew attention to the fact that the County Council had taken a view on the proposed closures. He hoped all would get behind the Motion.
Councillor Bone drew attention to the fact that the ticket staff made the rail service much more accessible to all and were a vital service as the electronic was of booking seats was very complex.
Councillor Rust encouraged people to participate in the campaign to save the ticket offices and respond to the consultation. She considered that the rail company had not done its equality impact assessment on the proposals, as their removal impacted on the safety of lone women and vulnerable passengers, and the elderly. She raised that the office was being closed by stealth as when staff were sick or had left the job they closed them rather than replacing them. She drew attention to the fact that the Council had already issued a statement in support of the ticket offices.
Councillor Long as Chair of the Norfolk Rail Group at the County Council condemned the timing of the consultation in the middle of the summer holidays, he explained that there hadn’t been time to call a meeting of the Group, but that a response had been sent by the County Council in line with this motion submitted. He suggested that Parliament and the Minister be lobbied on it.
Councillor de Whalley drew attention to the requirement to shift from cars from a carbon reduction point of view. He considered that by shutting ticket offices it drove people to cars.
Councillor Ring commented that the ticket office was needed, he drew attention to the fact that not only people with disabilities bought tickets from the ticket office as these people helped the travelling public.
Councillor Colwell commented that it was about profit hungry companies making closures. He agreed that MPs should be lobbied and the rail operators.
Councillor Collingham raised the issue that the only way to park on the rail station was to use a smart phone, which was totally unacceptable, even if someone was IT literate, as phone batteries often died and many people weren’t able to use it.
Councillor Parish supported the motion and drew attention to the letter being sent from District Leaders. He drew attention to the continuing conversion at shops to self service which he was not in support of.
Councillor Ryes encouraged the further promotion of the consultation and supported the motion.
Councillor Devulapalli drew attention to the fact that the Rail Operators did not need to cut costs. She considered the proposed closures outrageous and scandalous.
Councillor Joyce drew attention the fact that without ticket office staff there may not be staff present on the station. He gave an example of his good experience of using the ticket office.
Councillor Collop drew attention to the fact that better deals could be found through the ticket office.
On being put to the vote the motion was agreed.
RECOMMENDED: That the Motion be approved.
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ii) Councillor Osborne proposed Notice of Motion (12/23), seconded by Councillor Bartrum:
This Council believes in equality for all regardless of natural or cultural origin, and supports equality, diversity and inclusion being at the heart of its policies and procedures.
This Council seeks to support all organisations that share these same values.
And the Borough to include promotions of Pride events alongside others held in West Norfolk annually.
In proposing his Motion, Councillor Osborn spoke in favour of the motion and spoke of the progress made for the equality for LGBTQ people and the number of crimes against them. He drew attention to the support of Pride in the area.
In seconding the Motion Councillor Bartrum supported the Pride event.
Councillor Colwell spoke in support of the Pride Event and celebrated the inclusivity and equality of the event. He suggested the Council should support, embrace and sponsor the event.
Councillor Bone confirmed that as secretary of the Pride Event he wouldn’t vote on the motion. He drew attention to the significant importance of the inclusivity for the town of the Pride event. He drew attention to his experiences growing up. He considered that having pride on the listing of events sent a message to all of the inclusivity of the area.
Councillor Ratcliffe spoke in support of the Motion and stated she would be proud if the Council spoke clearly in support of Pride.
Councillor Rust as an original supporter of Pride stated that the Motion was not asking for funding but support by the Council.
Councillor Kemp spoke in support of the promotion and potential funding of the Pride event.
Councillor Joyce drew attention to the change in society and encouraged the Council to put Pride on its agenda.
Councillor Parish drew attention to the change in society over the years towards the acceptance of LGBTQ people. He encouraged support for the motion.
Councillor Sandell supported the Motion.
Councillor Morley in supporting the motion drew attention to the changes in attitude over time and fortunate position of living in this country where diversity and equality was embraced.
Councillor Ring thanked Councillor Osborne for bringing the Motion, and expressed astonishment that the Pride event was not included on the Council’s list of events.
Councillor Dark commended the experiences being brought to the meeting which enlightened the issues people faced. He commented that the Motion was what should already be happening.
Councillor Long commented that he didn’t know why it wasn’t already on the list of events.
By way of clarification and summing up Councillor Osborne clarified that the motion was not seeking funding for the event, but the council had provided other support, for which he thanked everyone for their assistance.
On being put to the vote the motion was agreed. Councillor Bone did not vote.
RECOMMENDED: That the Motion be approved.
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iii) Councillor Kemp proposed the following Notice of Motion (13/23), seconded by Councillor Nash:
Getting It Right in West Norfolk
Strategic Infrastructure in West Norfolk Motion
This Council believes in the right infrastructure, in the right place, at the right time. More than 13,000 new homes will come forward in the Local Plan, 4,000 in West Winch, West Norfolk's largest ever development.
So, this Council affirms its responsibility and intent, to do its utmost to influence and achieve timely delivery of the right strategic infrastructure underpinning new development, including doctor’s and dentist’s surgeries, sufficient hospital beds in the new QEH rebuild, necessary roads and cycle paths, energy efficient homes and Biodiversity Net Gain.
The Council will write to the Highways Authority to request a strategic highway assessment of the impact of new development on the circulation of traffic around King's Lynn and West Norfolk, including the A10 and the A149.
In proposing her Motion Councillor Kemp spoke in favour of it drawing attention to the funding stages that the road building for the new West Winch road had to go through before it was built and drawing attention to the difficulty some residents had in getting across the road and the increase in costs to transport and business with the traffic delays along the road.
In seconding the Motion Councillor Nash considered the motion common sense to demonstrate proactivity and conscious of the needs of the community. He considered that the design of the road was concerning with the roundabouts which slowed down traffic. The issue of additional traffic if introduced before the road was built was of the most concern. He hoped that the council would do everything in its power to ensure sufficient and sustainable infrastructure was planned and ensured from the start of the project.
Councillor Moriarty proposed the following amendment:
That the last paragraph be deleted and replaced with “that the Council will work with the County Council including the Highways Authority and National Highways as appropriate to support the delivery of the right strategic infrastructure required to support the new development around Kings Lynn and West Norfolk.
He explained that the Local Plan Inspectors requested a review of the technical note on transport evidence – summarise the results and findings of traffic and transport modelling to assess the impact of the development, to explain the recommended transport infrastructure schemes and other interventions, to draw together and summarise the transport strategy’s programmes and measures relevant to the Plan and the West Winch area and to outline any other evidence which the local authority consider to be relevant.
The Council then commissioned NCC consultants to prepare a technical note which showed the impact of the development proposed in the plan and the West Winch Growth Area. Councillor Moriarty informed members that at the request of the Inspectors the document was still confidential but was due to be released for consultation purposes in the next 2 weeks for a six week period. He hoped Councillor Kemp would accept the amendment.
Councillor Parish seconded the amendment.
Councillors Kemp and Nash accepted the amendment.
The substantive motion was now amended.
Councillor Blunt confirmed that he was going to propose the same amendment and had spoken to Councillor Kemp earlier in the day. He was supportive of the proposal. He stressed it was a bigger issue than West Winch with the gridlock on occasions in the town centre. He encouraged all to work with the highway authority to continue to work on traffic issues in the area.
Councillor Dark sought confirmation from Councillor Kemp of the groups support. Councillor Kemp explained that she had sent it to a number of different recipients.
Councillor Lintern considered that the motion was critical as infrastructure needed to be secured and was an area where it needed to be right.
Councillor Joyce made reference to S14 where the highways authority didn’t permit use of a road which brought about the Kings Lynn Area Transport Strategy. He concurred on the issue of traffic gridlock in the town. The Local Transport Infrastructure Plan needed to be agreed. He supported the Motion.
Councillor Parish supported the motion. The issue of the crossing at West Winch would require traffic calming measures to be carried out within 12 months. The Authority was ensuring the right infrastructure was in place. He reminded members that the road and developments were chicken and egg situation, that there would be no funding for the road without development. He reminded members of the hard work taking place to ensure the correct things were in place.
Councillor Ratcliff expressed concern about the infrastructure in place for some development in Downham Market and drew attention to the difficulties making conditions which did not comply with national guidelines.
In order to ensure a vote was taken within the 3 hour time period Councillor Parish proposed moving to the vote which was seconded by Councillor Lintern. On being put to the vote this was approved.
On being put to the vote, the Motion, as amended was approved.
RECOMMENDED: That the Motion as amended be approved.