Agenda item

In accordance with Council Procedure 8, to receive reports from Cabinet Members moved en bloc, under Council procedure 8 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 60 minutes for all Cabinet Members.

(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

People and Communities – Councillor J Rust

Deputy Leader Business and Culture – Cllr S Ring

Leader - Councillor A Beales – A verbal update will be given at the meeting.

Councillor Beales moved the Cabinet Members reports and gave an update on Local Government Review including a letter from the Minster which set out that the LGR would have an outline of a support plan going forward. The final submission would be made in September.

Councillor Ring gave an update on the award of the Rural Prosperity Fund which showed a 40% drop on the previous year.  The King’s Lynn SPF also showed a 50% drop on previous years.

Councillor Squire gave an update on the contamination being washed ashore on the west Norfolk beaches following the ship collision in the Channel.  A large quantity of plastic nurdles were washing up and were being cleared by a joint task force, including the Borough Council.  She explained that there would be an option for volunteers to get involved in due course. She praised the work being carried out.  In response to a question, she confirmed a claim would be made to the insurers of the ships.

Councillor de Whalley gave an update on the Ferry where officers continued to work with the contractors to bring it back into use.  He thanked the officers and the operators for their continued diligence.

Councillor Moriarty gave an update on a letter received from the Minister for Housing and Communities regard the Planning Housing Delivery Test figures which had been challenged by the authority as incorrect.  The letter now acknowledged that the figure issued by the Ministry was incorrect and the Council’s figures had been re calculated.

Cabinet Members responded to questions on the following subject areas:

·         The further engagement of key people and groups on the issue of the riverfront redevelopment.

·         The work going on to re-open the ferry for business

·         The potential for the imposition of a condition on licensed premises regarding Crime and Disorder, which could be requested for consideration by a Panel.

·         The potential for the transfer of council assets into the new authority once agreed, which it was pointed out were in public ownership, but along with all other issues would need to be looked at in due course.

·         The increase in costs of dog bins in parishes which was notified after the budgets were set, following which it had been agreed to distribute a draft figure in future years.

·         The next steps to combat the health inequalities in King’s Lynn, to which it was explained that the gaps in health inequalities were being identified and a raft of measures already in place were being identified linking with Marmot Place work.

·         Update on the Youth Council was that a recent meeting was held with the Youth Advisory Board where a number of queries had been raised, with a further one the following week.

·         Following the Heathrow substation fire incident, whether there was an emergency plan in place should something happen with the Walpole sub station.  The Leader undertook to ascertain what plans were in place.

·         Any conditions being imposed on The Garage taking over the lease of the Carnegie Library to prevent it being sold in future times to which it was explained that the protection of assets was paramount.

·         The encouragement of MPs to attend the debate on incinerators, a letter would be sent to them.  It was hoped that the government proposals on deposit schemes and recycling would help improve proper recycling and mitigate need for incinerators.

·         The accessing of funding by bus companies for routes, to which it was explained that companies like the West Norfolk Community Transport ran pilot schemes and could make a strong case to the county council for funding.

·         The number of vacancies to industrial and office spaces in the council’s new builds within its estate was 2 light industrial units which may be repurposed to suit a different dynamic. Two interim appointments had been made. A list of vacancies would be circulated.

·         What was the delay in holding Neighbourhood Planning Referendums, to which information would be sought on the timings.

·         Regarding the payment for the solar panel installation on the KLIC building which budget was it coming from, to which it was explained that the cost benefit ratio had been undertaken and it was understood that it was to be funded from the Invest to Save budget.