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 – TO FOLLOW

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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Councillor Beales presented the Leader and Cabinet Members reports en bloc. 

Councillor de Whalley gave an update on the second phase of the street light contract tender.  He undertook to provide Councillor Long with information on whether the new equipment was delivering savings.

Councillor Squire, in responding to Councillor Everett’s question on flytipping following the introduction of appointments and collection of data by the County Council to that end, confirmed that so far fly tipping had not increased, and if it did there was no method to re-claim the clean up charges from them if it did.  She suggested the question regarding data collected should be passed to the County Council.

Councillor de Whalley confirmed to Councillor Kemp that the work to the Ferry landing identified in the recent report would be undertaken.

In response to Councillor Parish’s question re if the additional Traveller’s sites being identified would follow the current planning guidance and Development Plan, Councillor Moriarty confirmed that planning policies must reflect the relevant national obligations.

In response to Councillor Heneghan’s question on the water from the Gaywood River in the Walks, Councillor Anota explained that the pump wasn’t working, but it was in the process of being fixed or replaced.

Councillor Anota also gave a response to Councillor Devulapalli that further testing of the herbicide free weed removal system was being further examined for potential use.

Councillor de Whalley confirmed that the 2023/24 carbon audit report was awaited.

Councillor Squires undertook to provide Councillor Ryves with the detail on the Council’s policy on assisting land owners with fly tipping.

Following a question from Councillor Dark, Councillor Ring undertook to look into whether the increase in fees and charges for weddings at the town hall had affected bookings.

Councillor Crofts asked if there was likely to be a change in CIL application arrangements for the next round.  Councillor Moriarty responded that the January 25 round would go ahead as usual and following that a review of the Governance arrangements would come forward to a Panel and Cabinet for consideration.

Councillor Parish asked Councillor Morley what options the council had budget wise in 3 years with the IDB funding formula and second homes council tax not yet agreed except aiming for a unitary authority.  Councillor Morley confirmed that the budget plan still had to be shared with members, the plan was to ensure the fees and charges recovered costs, and restructuring would take place where possible.  He reminded members that the reserves were required to develop Capital in order to invest to develop.  He also highlighted that the long term empty homes issue had just been slipped for now.

Councillor Moriarty in responding to Councillor Coates gave a breakdown of the planning appeals statistics and undertook to provide them in writing.

Following a question from Councillor Sayers on whether the Council would utilise the powers under the Regeneration and Levelling Up Act on auctions on vacant shops, Councillor Ring drew attention to the news that King’s Lynn CCTV was one of the best in the country.  Up to now there was not ability to force private owners to rent their commercial properties, but an auction could soon be forced.  He drew attention to the fact that the town’s vacant shop numbers were less than the national average.  There were also people waiting for the pop up shops which were planned.

In response to a question from Councillor Devulapalli on the decrease in housing support costs by the County Council, Councillor Rust encouraged members to fill in the consultation survey from the county and cautiously welcomed the fact that the council was not as dependent on that  fund as others.

Councillor Blunt asked about the impact of the fact that this Authority was the Host Authority for the National Infrastructure Project.  Councillor Moriarty explained that although the Host Authority it was not the decision maker, he also hoped that a Stakeholders Group could be set up.

Councillor Ware asked if the withdrawal of the 3G pitch application at River Lane meant the site was now out of the frame, to which Councillor Ring confirmed it was.

Councillor Ring confirmed he would lobby the Government for a national skills hub at the CITB, to which Councillor Ring confirmed he would.

Leader’s Questions

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In response to a question from Councillor Long on whether the Leader would fight against bids that weren’t right for west Norfolk, the Leader expressed the view that he would wait to see what came out of the white paper and then consider the response.  He confirmed there was a meeting of Norfolk and Suffolk Leaders to discuss it.

Councillor Ware asked if the Leader had considered ceasing use of the social media platform X due to some of the content which was being published on it.  The Leader commented that concerning content was not confined to X, and consideration had to given to freedom of speech, but he would give it consideration.

Councillor Kemp asked if it was possible to return the Tuesday Market to it former levels of occupation, to which the Leader responded that with social and cultural changes it was very unlikely, although some towns had retained a market. 

Councillor Parish asked the Leader if the Council should express a corporate view in the issue of inheritance tax on farmers taking into account the potential economic impact on this agricultural area.  Councillor Beales expressed the view that the proposed levels were wrong and that the proposals would prompt farmers to shelve plans for expansion.