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

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Councillor Beales moved the Cabinet Members Reports.

By way of an update, Councillor Ring informed Council that contracts had now been exchanged with Whitbred regarding the Hotel in Hunstanton which demonstrated the desire to widen the tourism season in Hunstanton.

In response to a question from Councillor Heneghan, Councillor Squire explained that the booking system for the waste disposal centre had caused issues and she was aware that there had been less visits since the booking system had been introduced.  Incidents of fly tipping were also being investigated.

Councillor Parish read out a letter that he stated had been sent out regarding Heacham Beach Huts and asked if the change in lease was the mechanism for easing future sale of the site and Councillor Ring responded no.

In response to a question from Councillor Sandell, Councillor Ring encouraged Councillors to speak to their Parishes with regard to small pieces of land and register an interest with the Council if they had a community need for it, as part of the wider asset management work.

Councillor Osborne requested an update on events at Downham Market and Councillor Lintern explained that the Council offered help and advice through the Tourism department and would assist to promote with events if the organisation contacted the Council and provided up to date information.

In response to a question from Councillor Long, Councillor Beales offered to visit the sites that were impacted by flytipping.  Councillor Beales also agreed to work with Cllr Long regarding of the closure of the gate at Horsley Fields Industrial Estate.

In response to a question from Councillor Parish regarding Heacham Beach Huts Councillor Ring explained that a briefing on this matter would be sent to Councillors in due course.

Councillor Kunes thanked Councillor Beales for visiting sites with him where there had been illegal waste and hoped that the Council would keep putting on pressure.  Councillor Beales explained that the Council were looking at actions to be taken forward and would keep Councillor Kunes updated.

In response to a question from Councillor Ratcliffe, Councillor Ring confirmed that the room at Downham Market was available to host Community Bookings and could be booked through Alive West Norfolk.

Councillor Blunt referred to the bid for the town of culture and Councillor Lintern explained that the framework and background to this was being put together and then an expression of interest would be submitted for 2027/2028.

In response to a question from Councillor Everett regarding the briefing to members on Heacham Beach Huts, Councillor Ring stated he would inform Councillors of when a briefing would be available as soon as he knew.

In response to a question from Councillor Spikings, Councillor Ring confirmed that the Council was in discussion with the administrator dealing with NCP car parks and noted that the land was within the Masterplan area.

In response to a question from Councillor Bubb, Councillor Squire confirmed that unfortunately the MRF could not accept plastic flowerpots for recycling.

Councillor Blunt asked about the local plan call for sites and the need to double the number of sites.  Councillor Moriarty explained that the responses to the call for sites would be analysed and he encouraged Councillors to speak to their Parishes to keep them informed of the Local Plan Process and more details would be made available to Councillors throughout the process.

Councillor Spikings referred to a Planning Committee Government Consultation that had been issued today and Councillor Moriarty agreed to find out more information and report back to Members.

After the meeting, Councillor Moriarty provided the following response:

The draft statutory instrument for the Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026 were published yesterday. I was not aware that they were again being consulted on, as the link to the consultation had been sent to me after I had left to attend the Full Council meeting.

The draft Statutory Instruments followed a previous consultation which was the subject of a special meeting of the Planning Committee, upon which the Council's responses were based. That previous consultation had 17 questions. The current consultation has been honed down to the three questions, and the time period within which to respond to four weeks. 

Officers will again speak with the Chair (and possibly the Vice Chair, not my call) on how they wish to approach responding to the consultation, bearing in mind the limited number of questions, the technical nature of one of them, and the limited time period within which to frame a response.

In response to a question from Councillor Collop, Councillor Ring explained that the new spaces would be double plots if possible and Environment Agency guidelines would need to be followed.

Councillor Long referred to the format of Cabinet Members Reports to Council and the list of meetings attended section.  Councillor Beales informed Council that the Democratic Services Manager would look at improvements to the report template.

In response to a question from Councillor Blunt, Councillor Moriarty explained that enforcement action did take time and live planning applications and other issues could cause delays.  If Members had any issues, they were encouraged to report these directly to Councillor Moriarty.

Councillor Nash referred to the West Winch development and the withdrawal of Hopkins Homes.  Councillor Moriarty reminded Council that the planning permission and conditions went with the land, not the developer and the landowner.

In response to a question from Councillor Kunes, Councillor de Whalley agreed that it was good news that the Air Quality Management Area was to be withdrawn due to improvements and he informed Council that this decision would come through the decision-making process shortly.

Councillor Long referred to issues with a pathway at Watlington.  Councillor Moriarty confirmed that he had responded to the residents that had contacted him on this matter to provide them with an update.

Councillor Devulapalli asked if Councillor de Whalley had heard about ‘trees for the streets’ and Councillor de Whalley agreed to look into this.