Decisions

RESOLVED:

2. Approve the £600,773 UKSPF investment programme for 2025/26 as set out in Table 2, Section 3 in line with the indicative budget allocations in Appendix 1 (EXEMPT).

Reason for Decision:

To ensure timely and impactful delivery of the additional year of UKSPF funding stream in line with government guidance, the West Norfolk Economic Strategy, the West Norfolk Investment Plan and Corporate Business Plan objectives. To also enable swift commencement of a REPF investment programme should additional funding be allocated. Delivery of prosperity funding will continue to support residents and business to; build pride in place, provide high quality skills training, support employment opportunities, growth in productivity and increase life chances.

Cabinet considered recommendations 1, 3 and 4 in open session and resolved to exclude the press and public for consideration of recommendation 2.

RESOLVED:

1. Approve alignment of 2025/26 UKSPF investment with the West Norfolk Economic Strategy.

3. Approve proposals in Section 4 for investment of REPF funding for 2025/26 should an additional allocation be awarded.

4. Delegate authority to the Assistant Director for Regeneration, Housing & Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Business to approve budget allocation variations (including removal of any ongoing funding for at risk projects) of UKSPF funding for 25/26 to ensure fulfilment of spend.

Reason for Decision:

To ensure timely and impactful delivery of the additional year of UKSPF funding stream in line with government guidance, the West Norfolk Economic Strategy, the West Norfolk Investment Plan and Corporate Business Plan objectives. To also enable swift commencement of a REPF investment programme should additional funding be allocated. Delivery of prosperity funding will continue to support residents and business to; build pride in place, provide high quality skills training, support employment opportunities, growth in productivity and increase life chances.

RESOLVED:

1. Endorse the King’s Lynn Culture & Heritage Strategy as set out in appendix 1.

2. Establish the new governance structure and recruitment of steering group as set out in section 3.

3. Delegate authority to the Assistant Director for Housing, Regeneration & Place in consultation with the Deputy Leader & Portfolio Holder for Business to review existing Service Level Agreements with cultural organisations to align their activities and outputs in line with the priorities identified in the Strategy.

4. Delegate authority to the Assistant Director for Housing, Regeneration and Place in consultation with the Portfolio holder of Business to agree resourcing requirements to support and implement the strategy, subject to appropriate organisational processes.

Reason for Decision: The C&HS provides the strategy policy and framework for the Council and a wide range of partners including cultural organisations, communities, education institutes and the private sector. The strategy will guide use of resources and funding which will open up opportunities for investment in our cultural sector in line with the corporate priority to support growth and prosperity and the priorities from the West Norfolk Economic Strategy.

RECOMMENDED:

1. That the IDC Terms of Reference should be amended as follows:

                           i.          Paragraph A.5 should be deleted.

                          ii.          Insert new A.12: “The Monitoring Officer is nominated to assess the allegation to determine whether it falls within the remit of the procedure, or whether it is clearly unfounded or trivial or can best be dealt with under some other procedure (the Initial Filter Exercise). Either of the Deputy Monitoring Officer or the Head of Personnel is delegated authority to carry out this role if it is not possible or appropriate for the Monitoring Officer to do so. The Monitoring Officer (or substitute officer above) shall report to the Chair of the IDC if they determine that an allegation does not fall within the remit of this procedure.”

                         iii.          Insert new A.13: “For the purposes of the Initial Filter Exercise above, the Monitoring Officer is delegated authority to carry out any preliminary inquiries that are needed. Either of the Deputy Monitoring Officer or the Head of Personnel is delegated authority to carry out this role if it is not possible or appropriate for the Monitoring Officer to do so.”

2. That the Standards Committee Terms of Reference should be amended as follows:

Insert new E.17: “Act as Grievance Committee where required in grievance matters concerning the Chief Executive, in accordance with the JNC Model Code. For this purpose, five Standards Committee members shall be convened with political proportionality (or three members if this is not possible), none of whom shall be members of the IDC or the Appeal Committee.

For the purposes of fulfilling the Council’s adopted grievance procedures in accordance with the JNC Model Code, Standards Committee nominates the Monitoring Officer to act as Receiving Officer. Where the Monitoring Officer cannot so act, qualifying members of the Standards Committee (i.e. non-members of the IDC and Appeals Committee) shall nominate a Monitoring Officer from a neighbouring authority to act as the Receiving Officer.”

Reason for Decision:

To clarify the relevant arrangements and to maintain consistency with national best practice.

RESOLVED: Cabinet considered and approved the funding for applications for CIL Infrastructure Funding.

Reason for Decision: To ensure that the CIL monies collected are being spent on appropriate infrastructure projects to reflect the growth of population occurring in West Norfolk.

RECOMMENDED: That the new planning member code of conduct, attached to the report be adopted.

Reason for Decision: To ensure that in their dealings with planning decisions, councillors act in accordance with the law, best practice and guidance.

RESOLVED: Cabinet reviewed the Performance Management Report and commented on delivery against the Corporate Strategy.

Reason for Decision: Cabinet should use the information within the management report to review progress on the agreed actions and indicators and satisfy themselves that performance is at acceptable level.  Where progress is behind schedule members can seek additional information to explain variances.

RESOLVED: That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

The Forward Decisions List was noted.

RESOLVED: That the 2 items below be clarified prior to the amended Articles being agreed:

·         legal clarification be sought on the question of the ability to prevent the transfer of shares if the Shareholder Committee wished to do so, and

·         whether capitalisation of profits - para 17- is the right intention for the company, without approval of the Shareholders.

Reason for Decision

To enable West Norfolk Property to file the updated Articles of Association with Companies House.

RESOLVED:           That Kate Blakemore, Chief Executive be appointed as a Director of Alive Management Ltd whilst the company is formally wound up.

RESOLVED:            That the contents of the report be noted, and the Grant Thornton risk premium be re-visited. 

Reason for Decision

To provide an update regarding funding arrangements for the Council’s wholly owned housing companies including details of existing arrangements, interim measures and new facilities to be put in place.

RESOLVED:   That the progress on the transfer of Alive West Norfolk back to the council be noted.

Reason for Decision

To provide assurance to the Shareholder Committee that the project is progressing on schedule and there are no significant risks to the transfer taking place on 1 April 2025.

RESOLVED: That the contents of the Annual Assurance Report be noted, with future reports to include progress against Business Plan.

Reason for Decision

To ensure the Shareholder Committee is kept up to date on the work of West Norfolk Housing Co.

RESOLVED: That the contents of the Annual Assurance Report be noted with future reports to include progress against Business Plan.

Reason for Decision

To ensure the Shareholder Committee is kept up to date on the work of West Norfolk Property Co.

15 April 2025 at 4pm

RESOLVED:   That the Forward Plan be noted with the addition of the following items:    

·       Invitation of Company Board Members to the next meeting.

·       Final version of Articles following queries at the meeting.

·       Finance reports

·       Revised Business Plans

·       Alive transfer Progress report

There was none.

There were none.

There was none.

There were none.

RESOLVED:   The Minutes of the meeting held on 26 November 2024 were approved as a correct record.

Matters Arising

It was noted that the Directors of the Housing Companies would be invited to the next meeting of the Committee.