Agenda item

Cabinet considered a report which proposed an additional element to the Terms of Reference of the King’s Lynn Area Consultative Committee (KLACC), allowing the Committee to make recommendations to Cabinet about potential match funding proposals put forward through the Parish Partnership Scheme, or other similar Parish funding schemes.

Councillor Long presented the report which explained that the Norfolk County Council Parish Partnership Programme had been running for 5 years, aimed at delivering small co-funded highway improvements for local communities. It was open to all Town/Parish Councils in Norfolk, with the deadline for the submission of bids for 2017/18 being 16 December 2016. The scheme required match funding, with a maximum County Council contribution of £25,000. The scheme had been expanded by the County Council, to allow bids for schemes in the unparished areas of the County.

The KLACC had considered the issue and had recommended that Cabinet approve the following wording as an addition to their terms of reference:

“To make recommendations to Cabinet on proposed highway improvement schemes, which have been supported by a business case and are within the unparished areas of King’s Lynn and West Lynn, for match funding through the County Council’s Parish Partnership Programme, or similar parish funding schemes.”

Cabinet discussed the proposals and sought clarification as to who would work up and submit the schemes and how any accepted proposals would feed into the Council’s budget process.  It was agreed that any proposals should initially be brought and worked up by the Ward Members, then submitted by Borough Council officers.  The deadline for the submissions was 16 December which would then feed into the Council’s budget process in time for the Special Expenses decisions to be taken. 

It was agreed that in order to ensure all applications fed into the Council’s budget timeframes the appropriate wording be added to the terms of reference.

Under Standing Order 34 Councillor Pope questioned the lifespan a project would be allocated for to which it was explained that the life span would be set as appropriate for the item which would be considered on its merit.

RECOMMENDED:      That the consideration of items under the Parish Partnership Programme or other similar funding scheme be added to the King’s Lynn Area Consultative Committee terms of reference with the following wording:

“Within the deadlines of the Scheme and in a timely fashion to feed into the Council’s budget process make recommendations to Cabinet on proposed highway improvement schemes, which have been supported by a business case and are within the unparished areas of King’s Lynn and West Lynn, for match funding through the County Council’s Parish Partnership Programme, or similar parish funding schemes.”

Reason for Decision

To provide a mechanism which will allow for funding bids under the Parish Partnership Programme, for small-scale highway improvement schemes, to come forward within the unparished areas of King’s Lynn & West Lynn. KLACC has supported the recommendation to amend its terms of reference.

The budgetary element of the recommendation is added to ensure that any recommendations co-ordinate with the preparation and agreement of the Council’s budget.