Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Beal, Collingham and Ring.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting.

RESOLVED: The minutes from the previous meeting were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Please indicate if there are any interests which should be declared.  A declaration of 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.

Those 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.

There was none.

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

There was none.

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chair of their intention to do so and what items they wish to be heard before a decision on that item is taken.  

There was none.

If any.

There was none.

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The Panel considered the amended Terms of Reference for the Transport Informal Working Group, which had been put forward by the Informal Working Group following their first meeting.

RESOLVED: The Panel approved the amended Terms of Reference for the Transport Informal Working Group.

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Officers presented an update on the Economic Strategy for West Norfolk, as included in the Agenda.  It was noted that the Panel had received regular updates on progess with the Strategy and this update provided information on consultation, engagement and next steps.

Officers set out the holistic, inclusive and sustainable approach that would be taken to economic growth which echoed the new Government’s approach to Growth Plans.  It was also noted that it would be a requirement for Devolution areas to have Growth Plans in place.

Information was provided to the Panel on the levers of growth, challenges, distinctive sectors and strengths.

The presentation also included information on the vision for 2045 against the strategic priorities and development of interventions.  The Assistant Director explained it was important to act collaboratively and get a range of organisations to feed into the process to help shape actions and investment opportunities.  The Economic Strategy for West Norfolk would be an important document to inform investment opportunities and to lever in private sector investment.

The Regeneration Programmes Manager explained that the document had been through extensive consultation and engagement across the Borough and the Strategy had been developed following feedback and data analysis.

The Panel was informed that the next step was to launch the consultation document on the draft vision and strategy.  There would be two consultations running, a high level one which was open to the public and a more detailed one which would be sent to all partners and shareholders and would also ask them for a call for projects including detail of investment plans and ideas on projects to achieve the outcomes and address the challenges in the draft scheme.

Following the consultation period the Strategy would go through the formal decision making process, likely to come to this Panel in November and Cabinet in December 2024.

The Chair thanked officers for the update and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.  The Chair was reassured that a lot of work and effort had been put into bringing this strategy forward and thanked all those involved.

Councillor Osborne echoed the Chairs comments and was pleased that a lot of engagement had taken place.  He referred to the figures relating to housing growth contained in the report and asked if this would need to be updated following the change in housing needs announced by Government.  The Assistant Director explained that work would be carried out to amend and add to the strategy to reflect the changes coming in with the new Government.  He also explained that it was important not to conflict or predetermine work carried out as part of the Local Plan process and explained that work would be carried out with the Local Plan Task Group as required.

Councillor Bubb commented that there was currently little incentive for new businesses to invest in the area and asked what would be provided through the Strategy.  The  ...  view the full minutes text for item RD35:

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The Assistant Director and Regeneration Programmes Manager delivered a presentation providing an overview and update on the progress being made at the Nar Ouse Regeneration Area in King’s Lynn.

A copy of the presentation is attached which provided detail of the history of the site, development to date including residential, commercial and the KLIC.  Information was also provided on the millennium community and future planned development on the site.

The Assistant Director offered the Panel the opportunity to tour the Speculative Units and light industrial units once contractors had completed on site.

The Chair thanked the Assistant Director for the presentation and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

In response to a question from Councillor Crofts it was explained that not all of the site had been decontaminated and work was being carried out as required during development.  Options were still being considered for the proposed Active Travel Hub site which was still contaminated.

In response to a further question from Councillor Crofts, the Assistant Director explained that contracts had been agreed for some of the speculative units and some expressions of interest had been received for the light industrial units.  The site had been marketed and the Council were in the process of carrying out a rebranding exercise and a wider marketing push.  The Regeneration Programmes Manager agreed to keep the Panel updated on the marketing of the site.

Councillor Colwell referred to the contamination that remained on site and asked if this area could be used as a car park to reduce the costs of decontamination.  The Assistant Director explained that the Council had to meet the requirements of the regulatory body and consultants had been engaged to look at a range of options to deal with the contaminated areas.

Councillor Lintern asked if solar panels would be fitted to the industrial units and the Assistant Director explained that the Council would work with tenants if they wished to install solar panels but the project did not have the Capital available to install panels, especially as it would be the tenants that would get the benefit from them.  He commented that it would be down to the individual tenants if they wanted to install solar panels.  Councillor Lintern commented that the Council should be doing more to provide solar panels on industrial units to prevent agricultural land being used for solar farms.  The Assistant Director referred the Panel to solar panels that had been installed on Council owned buildings, for example King’s Court and Lynnsport.

The Chair asked about the gates proposed for Horsley Fields to prevent it becoming a rat run for traffic.  The Assistant Director explained that the barrier would be accessible to the emergency services and there was the option for a plan to be put in place to potentially opening it up as an alternative route if required.

In response to a question from Councillor Colwell, the Assistant  ...  view the full minutes text for item RD36:

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The Principal Project Manager and Tom Rudd from BDP consultants presented the update to the Panel.

The presentation provided information on the background of the project, introduced concept designs for development plots, landscaping and public realm.  Information was also provided on consultation and engagement going forward.

Tom Rudd from BDP invited comments from the Panel on the design concepts.

The Chair thanked officers for the update and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

In response to a question from Councillor Crofts it was confirmed that the Savage Statue was outside of the Masterplan area and would not be affected.  It was noted that the plan would note impact heritage assets near the site. The Regeneration Programmes Manager commented that interpretation and signage would be used to showcase and explain the history and heritage of the area.

Councillor Bubb commented that car parking needed to be provided to encourage people to visit Southgates.  Tom Rudd explained that active travel to the site would be encouraged and the Regeneration Programmes Manager reminded the Panel that the Active Travel Hub was proposed to be sited just south of the site which could serve the area.  It was also noted that work would be carried out to strengthen the route between Boal Quay and Southgates.

The Chair also reminded the Panel of the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan and the cycle and bus routes which served the area.

Councillor Colwell suggested that the town wall be rebuilt in innovative ways and promoted as a heritage asset and walking route.  Tom Rudd commented that there were many factors, including archaeology which could make this a costly project, however there were innovative opportunities available such as tree planting along the route, recreation and reinterpretation to tell the story of King’s Lynn.

The Chair commented that it was important that work did not prevent future opportunities for showcasing heritage and the town wall.

Councillor Colwell commented that it would be good to reconnect the town moat.

The Chair commented that further consideration needed to be given to the proposal for affordable housing in the area and that there were other uses which could be considered to act as a draw to the area.

RESOLVED: The update was noted and the comments from Members would be considered, as appropriate.

RESOLVED: The Panel’s Work Programme and Cabinet Forward Decision List was noted.

To note that the next meeting of the Regeneration & Development Panel is scheduled to take place on 15^th October 2024 at 6.00pm in the Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.

The next meeting of the Regeneration and Development Panel was scheduled to take place on 15^th October 2024 at 6.00pm in the Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.

To consider passing the following resolution:

“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 paragraphs 1, 2 or 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act”.

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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 items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2 or 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

The Panel adjourned for a comfort break from 7.48pm to 7.55pm.

The Panel received information on STARS and the Southgates Masterplan from officers from Norfolk County Council.  A copy of the presentation had been included in the Agenda and the presentation covered the options considered, an update on the STARS project, the outline business case and scheme costs.  It was noted that the County Council would be considering the proposals at their Cabinet Meeting in November and after that a further update could be provided to the Panel.

The Chair thanked officers from Norfolk County Council for the update and invited questions and comments from the Panel.

Officers from Norfolk County Council responded to questions from the Panel relating to the location of cycleways and it was noted that traffic modelling work was still ongoing and more information could be provided once this had been completed.

The Panel were reminded that the work on STARS related to the Southgates and gyratory system and other work coming forward relating to car parking and transport would be considered as part of the Borough Councils Car Parking Strategy and King’s Lynn Area Transport Strategy, both of which would be considered by the Regeneration and Development Panel in due course.

RESOLVED: The update was noted.

The Assistant Director presented the Cabinet Report which set out a proposed land and property acquisition in King’s Lynn.  The Panel were informed that the Chair of the Corporate Performance Panel had agreed that, because of the urgent nature of the decision, that it would not be available for call-in.

The Assistant Director responded to questions from the Panel.

RESOLVED: The Panel supported the recommendations to Cabinet as set out below:

The acquisition of the property interests set out within this report is approved by Cabinet, and that Delegated Authority is given to the Assistant Director Property & Projects, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, to finalise the transaction.