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 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.)

Climate Change and Biodiversity – Councillor M de Whalley

Planning and Licensing – Councillor J Moriarty

Environment and Coastal - Councillor S Squire

Finance – Councillor C Morley

Events and Open Spaces– Councillor B Anota

People and Communities – Councillor J Rust

Deputy Leader Business and Culture – Cllr S Ring

Leader - Councillor A Beales

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Before Councillor Beales moved the reports, Councillor Moriarty gave an update to his report.  He informed members that the Local Plan Task Group on 12 September would contain an update of the Council’s response to the NPPF, the response to consultation on the Local Plan elements, and Neighbourhood plans.

Councillor Moriarty also informed members that the CIL Panel arranged for the following week had been postponed in order to review the paperwork.

Councillor Beales moved the Cabinet Members reports to council.

Councillor Long asked a question on penalty notices for the fly posting of notices tied to street furniture, Councillor Squire agreed that they were unsightly and she would look at the response to it.

Councillor Morley responded to a question from Councillor Collop on where the remainder of the Councillor Community grant which she asked for a proportion of it to go towards the security required for the Gaywood Remembrance ceremony.  He suggested a request be made so it could be considered.

Councillor Kemp asked Councillor Moriarty about changes to CIL scoring.  He responded that he had informed council that the meeting was postponed to review the paperwork.

Councillor Parish asked about the public consultations carried out in the planning process, and asked if the public’s views on the changes to the NPPF dictated by the Government would be taken into account in responding to the consultation documents.  Councillor Moriarty confirmed some of the information was on the agenda for the Local Plan Task Group.  He confirmed parishes had been contacted regarding the changes.  He re-iterated the importance of having a robust Local Plan.

Councillor de Whalley confirmed to Councillor Kunes that the Carbon Audit would be published the following week. 

Councillor Kemp asked about the Eco 4 Government Scheme which had some issues for some householders in South Lynn.  She asked who at the Council they should contact.  Councillor Rust explained that the housing standards team administered the scheme, but the installer was responsible for the fitting so it should be raised with the installer in the first instance.

Councillor Nash asked for any feedback on the audit of the environmental impact of the council’s recycling.  Councillor de Whalley undertook to respond in writing.

Councillor Coates asked if it was possible to give more publicity to dog breeders needing to be licensed.  Councillor Moriarty made reference questions previously answered.

Councillor Everitt asked what measures were being taken to encourage Freebridge Community Housing to turn round its voids.  Councillor Rust confirmed that the council was working with Freebridge to turn these round by the end of the year.  She also made reference to those properties which Freebridge would dispose of because the area was not popular.

Councillor Ryes asked if the Council was to adopt a policy for dealing with renewable energy.  Councillor Moriarty confirmed it would be considered as part of the new Local Plan.

Councillor Crofts asked if Councillor Anota wished to thank the Grounds Teams on behalf of the whole Council for the work they carried out in the Borough.  Councillor Anota confirmed he would do so.

Councillor Long asked what the situation was with additional cemetery space at Gayton Road with the high water levels in the existing cemetery.  Councillor Anota confirmed work was underway to find new land and would keep council informed.

Leaders Questions

Councillor Beales responded to a question from Councillor Crofts on the conditions on the development at Southend Road Hunstanton. Councillor Beales explained that the Best Value implication of the conditions were a concern he had flagged, but the properties may sell quickly but the properties were not yet built for people to see their preferred property.

Councillor Kemp made reference to her lobbying of Government on the funding for the West Winch road.  She asked the Leader to lobby Government to get the funding for the road.  Councillor Beales confirmed that after the county council Cabinet meeting he would be happy to do so.

Councillor Ryves asked the Leader about thoughts on ensuring the hospital would be the right hospital for King’s Lynn.  The Leader reminded members that lobbying had been taking place and made reference to a meeting he attended at the hospital where they had indicated that the view of the borough council was important.  He confirmed he had put questions to them including about proposed and suggested sites to which he had received an invitation for councillors to come to the hospital to ask questions in person.   The Hospital Chief Executive was optimistic for funding for the hospital.  He encouraged members to attend the tour, and undertook to send round his notes of the meeting to members.

Councillor Long made reference to the Government plans of pay by mile tax which he considered would have an adverse effect on Council finances due to the size of the Borough, he asked the Leader if he would lobby the Government through the Rural Services Network  on the matter.  The Leader confirmed it was a pertinent point and undertook to do so, also through the MPs, alongside the lobbying for the funding for the IDB funding.

Councillor Kemp made reference to the funded bus from south lynn to the new doctors surgery was only funded for a further 2 years.  The Leader agreed to do so..

Councillor Sayers asked how the Borough was working to ensure a cohesive strategy for active travel across the schemes in King’s Lynn.  The Leader responded that he was working hard to ensure there was linkage between the regeneration schemes in the town.  He reminded members that a special scheme needed to be delivered for the Southgates area.  He informed members that a meeting would be hosted next week for the County Council representatives to see the area.