Agenda item

In accordance with Council procedure rule 8, to receive reports from Cabinet Members to be moved en bloc.  Members of the Council may ask up to four 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, then non aligned members, 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 and the Leader

 

Climate Change and Biodiversity – Councillor M de Whalley

Culture and Events – Councillor S Lintern

Planning and Licensing – Councillor J Moriarty

Environment and Coastal - Councillor S Squire

Finance – Councillor C Morley

People and Communities – Councillor J Rust

Deputy Leader and Business – Cllr S Ring

Leader - Councillor A Beales

 

Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube.

 

Councillor Beales moved the Cabinet Members Reports.

 

By way of update Councillor Moriarty explained that he had met with Heritage Live and impacted organisations regarding Sandringham Events and there had been positive engagement and lessons learned.  He had also met regarding the RHS event in July.

 

Councillor Rust referred to a recent SNAP meeting at Gaywood Library which she was unable to attend.

 

Councillor Kunes referred to a recent Norfolk County Council press release relating to Electric buses which had been partly funded through the Bus Service Improvement Plan Grant and asked if there were any plans to introduce electric buses in this area.  Councillor de Whalley explained that bus companies were looking into feasibility of this, but range was also an issue.

 

In response to a question from Councillor Collop, Councillor Ring confirmed that the Gaywood Nursery site had been withdrawn from sale, pending the recommendations from the Cemeteries Informal Working Group.

 

Councillor Kemp asked Councillor Rust relating to Hardwick Bridge Caravan Park.  Councillor Ring stated this question should be directed at him and reminded Councillor Kemp that she should not be releasing confidential information.  Councillor Kemp stated that it was in the public interest.

 

The Mayor advised Councillor Kemp that she should not be disclosing confidential information and asked her to stop.

 

Councillor Kemp stated that this was a very sad day for this Council and we were living in a dictatorship here.

 

Councillor Beales asked Councillor Kemp to confirm what she meant by a dictatorship and asked that the Monitoring Officer note the comment made by Councillor Kemp.

 

Councillor Beales called a point of order reminding Councillors that the Mayors ruling could not be challenged at the meeting.

 

Councillor Kemp attempted to question Councillor Ring further and was asked by the Mayor to stop.  Councillor Kemp stated again that we were living in a dictatorship if the Cabinet were not talking about the things that they were doing.

 

The Deputy Mayor referred to Council Procedure Rule 19.1 and asked for Councillor conduct to improve.

 

Councillor Parish referred to the meeting with Sandringham Estate and felt that the consultation should be wider.  Councillor Beales agreed to make that suggestion and confirmed that Sandringham Estate would be treated in exactly the same way as any other licensed event. 

 

Councillor Long asked if consideration would be given to holding a civic event to mark the retirement of the Chief Executive of King’s Lynn IDB, Norfolk Rivers and WMA.  Councillor Beales commented that he would pass on this request to Mayor and it could be used as an opportunity to meet the new post holder.

 

In response to a question from Councillor Kemp, Councillor de Whalley referred to his response to the public question relating to the Ferry.

 

Councillor Heneghan stated that the Mens Shed would have to move shortly due to the Council selling the land and sought assurance that the Council would support them as needed.  Councillor Ring stated that this information was not correct and stated he suspected this had been created by a Councillor.  He referred to the Asset Management Policy and the principles within in.

 

Councillor Kemp asked Councillor Ring which Councillor he was talking about and if he was referring to her.

 

The Mayor asked Councillor Kemp to not interrupt.

 

Councillor Kemp stated that she felt this was disgusting, the allegations that the Council had been making about her and she wouldn’t put up with it.

 

The Mayor asked Councillor Kemp to stop interrupting.

 

Councillor Kemp said that people shouldn’t lie about her.

 

The Mayor paused the Meeting and asked Councillor Kemp to leave the meeting.

 

Councillor Kemp left the meeting at 7.31pm.

 

Councillor Ring continued with his response to Councillor Heneghan explaining that social value and community importance would be considered.

 

Councillor Ryves asked Helen Mead’s Public Question as set out below:

 

“Public records indicate that the estimated cost of the Guildhall renovation and regeneration has increased from an original figure of £15 million to in excess of £30 million, with the final cost still subject to change due to the obligations arising from the Full Repairing Lease.

 

Can the Council clearly explain how this significant increase in expenditure will be funded, and provide explicit reassurance to residents that meeting these additional costs will not require the diversion of funding from other services, nor adversely affect the delivery of those services?”

 

Councillor Ring responded as follows:

 

“I would again note that this question follows a narrative that has been actively promoted primarily by the same lone Councillor rather than reflecting widespread concern. The suggestion that this represents the collective anxiety of “the people of King’s Lynn” is, in my view, a gross mischaracterisation.

 

Turning to the substance of the question: the Council is already progressing asset disposals, ahead of the formal adoption of an Asset Management Plan and Asset Disposal Policy. In doing so, we are operating in accordance with the principles that will underpin that policy.

 

Those principles are clear and consistent: the Council will dispose of poor-performing assets and assets that do not deliver social, community or strategic value. Capital receipts will be used responsibly, either to support current and future capital projects across the authority or to reduce debt.

 

No assets are earmarked for any particular scheme, including the Guildhall. Decisions are taken through the Council’s approved decision-making framework, which in some cases sits short of full Council but remains subject to proper governance, transparency and scrutiny.

 

I can also reassure members and residents that the Guildhall project will not be funded at the expense of other committed projects, including the West Lynn Ferry scheme.”

 

In response to a question from Councillor Crofts, Councillor Lintern agreed to investigate the potential of the Allotment Competition returning and potential links with the Garden Competition.  Councillor Crofts indicated he would like to be involved in the judging.

 

Councillor Sayers asked a question about the use of drones instead of fireworks.  Councillor Lintern explained that the cost of drone displays had been looked at, but were too expensive.  She also highlighted the benefits of people attending organised firework displays over using fireworks themselves.

 

Councillor Nash asked Ermine Amies Public Question as set out below:

 

“Has the council reviewed and revised policies including safeguarding and data policies and procedures following the 2025 For Women’s Supreme Court Judgement to ensure that single-sex spaces and services for women and girls are protected and all policies and procedures are compliant with the Equality Act?”

 

Councillor Rust stated that the Council kept all of its policies and procedures, including Safeguarding and Data Protection, under regular review to ensure they remained lawful, proportionate and compliant with the Equality Act 2010 and other relevant legislation.

 

Following significant legal judgements, including those of the Supreme Court, officers consider any implications for local authority practoce and take legal advice where appropriate.  Where clarification or updates were required to ensure policies remained compliant with the law, these are addressed through the Council’s established governance and review processes.

 

Councillor Rust stated that the Council remained committed to meeting its duties under the Equality Act, including the Public Sector Equality Duty, and to ensuring that services were delivered safely, fairly and lawfully for all service users, including women and girls.  If specific policy documents were revised as a result of legal developments, these would be progressed through the appropriate decision-making and scrutiny arrangements.

 

Councillor Kunes requested a meeting with Councillor Beales on polluted countryside between Clenchwarton and King’s Lynn.

 

Councillor Coates asked if there had been any interest in the properties at Styleman Court, Hunstanton since the local restriction had been removed.  Councillor Ring stated that there had been no sales, but there had been interest.

 

In response to a question from Councillor Nash, Councillor de Whalley stated that the Council were working with re-fit to ensure that they met the requirements relating to the heat pumps at King’s Court.

 

In response to a question from Councillor Devulapalli, Councillor de Whalley agreed to look at the Government Report on Biodiversity that Councillor Devulapalli had referred to and would work with officers to investigate the implications for West Norfolk.

 

Councillor Long referred to a Facebook Post from the Council encouraging residents not to use their wood burners on a certain day in January and asked if this was sensible, given that it was winter.  Councillor de Whalley stated that this had been done for a number of years and was to raise awareness of pollution.

 

Councillor Blunt raised concern relating to the number of all Councillor emails which had been sent and asked Councillor Beales if he had noted an increase.  Councillor Beales commented that it was frustrating that Councillors were not following due process in putting things through the correct routes, for example submitting an item for scrutiny.  Councillor Beales explained that the Monitoring Officer would be providing Councillors with information on the proper use of the Councillor email address.

 

Councillor Nash referred to the question asked by Councillor Long relating to wood burners and asked if the social media post was targeted at smoke control areas.  Councillor de Whalley commented that it was about raising awareness of air pollution.