Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Suite, King's Court, Chapel Street, King's Lynn. View directions

Contact: Kathy Wagg 

Note: Special Meeting 

Items
No. Item

1.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 143 KB

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 26 June 2017.

Minutes:

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 26 June 2017 were agreed as a correct record.

 

It was asked whether any progress had been made in relation to a meeting with the Practice Manager at St James Surgery.  It was agreed that a reminder would be sent to the Property Services Manager.

2.

Declarations of Interest

Please indicate if there are any interests which should be declared.  A declaration of an interest should indicate the nature of the interest (if not already declared on the Register of Interests) and the agenda item to which it relates.  If a disclosable pecuniary interest is declared, the Member should withdraw from the room whilst the matter is discussed.

 

These declarations apply to all Members present, whether the Member is part of the meeting, attending to speak as a local Member on an item or simply observing the meeting from the public seating area.

 

 

 

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

3.

Urgent Business

To consider any business which, by reason of special circumstances, the Chairman proposes to accept as urgent under Section 100(b)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act, 1972.

 

 

Minutes:

There was no urgent business.

4.

Members Present Pursuant to Standing Order 34

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chairman of their intention to do so and on what items they wish to be heard before the meeting commences.  Any Member attending the meeting under Standing Order 34 will only be permitted to speak on those items which have been previously notified to the Chairman.

 

 

Minutes:

There were no Members present pursuant to Standing Order 34.

5.

Chairman's Correspondence (if any)

Minutes:

Reference was made to the email which had been sent out regarding Recycling Green Points, asking the Committee to put forward any charities or good causes.  It was agreed that the Democratic Services Officer would resend the email to the Committee.

6.

Public Open Space - including Grass Cutting, Allotments and Open Space pdf icon PDF 58 KB

The Committee will receive a report on all aspects of Public Open Space in King’s Lynn.

 

Maps will be provided on individual wards.  Please note these were produced in 2015 but little will have changed in terms of the areas which are maintained.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Public Open Space Manager introduced the report and explained that in relation to Play Areas, there had been no significant changes in the previous information supplied regarding play areas.  However, the Friends of Peppers Green managed to secure WREN funding, which meant that the area could be refurbished with a new layout and equipment being installed.  The park reopened on Friday 11 August 2017. 

 

There was no major play area refurbishments planned for this financial year.

 

In relation to allotments, it was reported that there were now 422 plots across 7 allotment sites within King’s Lynn which were managed by the Borough Council, charged to Special Expenses.

 

It was explained that North Lynn Allotments had now become an association, which had reduced the managed stock by 135 allotments and had resulted in an income reduction of £4,725, which was slightly off-set by an income from the association of £1,250.00.  There would also be a reduction in the management and administration of allotments, due to the association being formed.

 

In relation to dog waste bins, it was reported that there were now 126 dog waste bins within King’s Lynn, an increase of 12 since the last report; these additional bins were emptied on a weekly basis.

 

A full review of the grass cutting regime across the Borough was carried out in late 2015 and came into force from March 2016 and was continually reviewed and revised throughout the year, with a full review carried out in late 2016, in preparation to the 2017 season.

 

It was explained that a log had been established to record any service requests so the situation could be monitored and revised as necessary, to date there have been 6 service requests.

 

Councillor Mrs Wilkinson made reference to the play area at Woodside on the Fairstead estate and explained that the swings had been removed for the older children, and the matting needed to be replaced. 

 

Councillor Mrs Wilkinson also explained that the position of the goal posts had been changed and she was receiving complaints that the ball was going into the road and people were worried about their cars.

 

The Public Open Space Manager responded that the matting would be replaced and the swings reinstated.  In relation to the goal posts being moved, the Public Open Space Manager advised that nets had been installed however these only lasted for two weeks.  They had been moved as the balls were going up against a neighbouring property.  He suggested that one of the goal posts could be removed and the other one moved to face the allotments.  He would keep Councillor Mrs Wilkinson updated.

 

In response to a query from Councillor Joyce as to how much it cost to move the goal posts, the Public Open Space Manager advised that it would be around £30.00

 

Councillor Smith commented that the play areas at Peppers Green were looking so much better.

 

Councillor Smith referred to an issue in Reffley Woods where people had been hanging dog waste  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Presentation on Allotments

To receive a presentation on the current position with Allotments in King’s Lynn

Minutes:

The Committee received a presentation on allotments from Robert Wiseman, the Council’s Greenspace Officer.

 

The following issues were discussed:

 

·        Security;

·        Using allotments for other purposes;

·        Pricing structure;

·        Bonfires;

·        Formation of Associations;

·        Disposal costs;

·        Amount of hours spent on maintenance of the allotments.

 

The Chairman thanked Robert for the presentation.

8.

Presentation on Grass Cutting

To receive a presentation on the current situation regarding grass cutting in King’s Lynn

Minutes:

Robert Wiseman, the Council’s Greenspace Officer gave a presentation to the Committee on grass cutting in King’s Lynn.

 

In response to a query from Councillor Mrs Collop, the Greenspace Officer explained that Gayton Road cemetery received 12 cuts per year.

 

Councillor Joyce asked why the bowls club and football pitches in King’s Lynn were being cut and queried whether there was an income in relation to this.

 

The Executive Director explained that any income received would be credited to King’s Lynn Special Expenses.

 

In response to a further question from Councillor Joyce, the Executive Director agreed to supply the Committee with a breakdown of income/expenditure for sports pitches and open churchyards.

 

Councillor Collop asked how much grass did the Borough Council cut on behalf of Norfolk County Council which it didn’t get paid for and how much was the Borough Council spending.

 

The Public Open Space Manager explained that Norfolk County Council paid for 5 cuts but the Borough Council carried out 6 cuts.  The Public Open Space Manager agreed to circulate the up to date figures.

 

The Public Open Space Manager explained why the Borough Council carried out the extra cut, as in some cases it could result in only half of a verge being cut on the entrance into the town.   He also explained that the team would only cut an area of grass if it needed to be done.  If an area did not need cutting then the team would leave it and move on to another job.

 

He also explained that last year grass was still being cut in December.

 

The Chairman thanked the officers for their attendance and contribution to the meeting.

9.

Committee's Work Programme pdf icon PDF 67 KB

The Committee is asked to consider items for a future Work Programme for 2017/18.

Minutes:

The Committee noted the Work Programme.

 

Councillor Joyce asked for an item on street cleaning to be added to the Work Programme.  He asked why the Borough Council did not tender for weed control measures as the Council employed operatives who could carry out this work. 

 

It was suggested that the Councillor/Committee could talk to the relevant County Councillor who may be able to resolve the issue.

 

It was agreed that this item be added to the work programme for consideration at the meeting to be held on12 September.

 

Councillor Smith suggested that the Committee could carry out a review of the Christmas events carried out in the town centre.  Councillor Bambridge advised that the Business Improvement District would be responsible for that.

 

The Assistant Director advised that an annual report was prepared which reviewed all the events which had taken place.

 

Councillor Rochford asked whether the Committee should have the opportunity to put forward a recommendation on the proposed boundary changes.

 

Councillor J Collop advised that a cross party Task Group had been set up to oversee the proposals.  He added that the Committee needed to be mindful that if a ward was changed then this would affect the whole division.  He explained that the Task Group had held 3 meetings and that any Councillor could make a comment on the Boundary Commission’s website up until 4 September.

 

It was explained that the findings of the Task Group had been presented to a Special Cabinet meeting on 9 August 2017 and also full Council on 31 August 2017.

 

Councillor Smith asked whether the Parish Council was a statutory consultee on the boundary changes.  The Assistant Director agreed to clarify the situation.

10.

Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will take place on 12 September 2017 at 6pm in the Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.

Minutes:

The next meeting would be held on 12 September 2017 at 6pm in the Education Room, Town Hall.

 

A Special Expenses meeting would be held on Thursday 19 October 2017 to allow the Committee to make recommendations to Cabinet on the level of Special Expenses for next year.