Agenda and minutes

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 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.

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 were no declarations of interest.

To consider any business which, by reason of special circumstances, the Chair proposed 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.  

Councillor Kemp attended under standing order 34 on Zoom.

If any.

There was none.

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The Regeneration Programmes Manager and Place Based Investment Officer presented the report which set out the proposed spending priorities for UKSPF in 2024/25 to facilitate both continued programme delivery and the introduction of new projects.

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

Councillor Morley suggested the Panel may wish to consider the potential for moving some of the New Anglia Growth Hub project money to community based projects.  The Panel was supportive of this approach and it was suggested the figure of 10% be put forward for consideration.

Clarification was sought on the progress of the West Norfolk Cycling Scheme, to which it was clarified that the delegated decision had been taken a month prior as advertised.

Councillor Devulapalli welcomed the access to E29 the Go Green (businesses) scheme.  She also urged consideration to be given to the provision of cycle parking in the borough to which it was confirmed that E7 was looking at cycle storage grants, where an expression of interest had been sent to parishes to ascertain the level and type of demand for cycle storage required in rural areas.

Councillor Ryves sought clarification as to whether the rural business grants were still open for applications to which it was confirmed they were.  He asked that a sheet be produced with the individual funds available, their target audiences and the deadlines.

Councillor Kemp asked about non parished areas access to the funds to which it was suggested that the rural community grant be the first port of call but that members could access the “magic map” under the rural fund which showed areas able to access the fund.

Councillor Devulapalli asked if any of the grants could be used to improve bus services in the borough.  It was explained that the projects supported by the funding needed to be sustainable, and with only 1 year of funding left it would not offer long term solutions.  However attention was drawn to the County Council’s Bus Service Improvement Programme which was a £50m capital and Revenue fund to improve the frequency of buses in the rural areas.

Councillor Kunes sought clarification on the footpath being constructed from the roundabout to the Crematorium in King’s Lynn, to which it was confirmed there had been a number of incidents along that stretch of road, so would provide a safe connection.

RESOLVED: That the Environment and Community Panel supports the recommendations to Cabinet, as set out below with the addition as set out in bold:

Cabinet be invited to consider the transfer of 10% of the funding from the New Anglia Growth Hub to community based projects.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.     Approve the projects for allocation of UKSPF funding of £1,062,709 for 2024/25 against the agreed interventions contained in the West Norfolk Investment Plan (WNIP) as set out in section 3 and 4.

2.     Approve the REPF funding  ...  view the full minutes text for item EC68:

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The Environmental Health Manager and representatives from the Environment Agency presented the update, as attached.

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

Councillor Squire as Portfolio Holder stated that she hoped the information given in the presentation would reassure the public that the Council, working with the Environment Agency, were not abandoning the coastline and were looking to protect it for the future.

Councillor Kunes asked if any action had been taken against those digging into the shingle ridge.  It was confirmed that letters had been issued to householders seeking removal of structures etc, and following a reasonable amount of time to permit the work to be carried out the Environment Agency would remove any remaining and recharge the householder.

Under standing order 34 Councillor Kemp asked what timeframes were being given and plans put in place for when work would be needed to be carried out.  It was confirmed that the timescales would be updated following the review of the Wash East Coast Management Strategy.

Councillor Parish informed the Panel that he had contacted the Government as agreed at Council to raise the issue of beach recharge.  He read the response which was in line with what the Environment Agency had informed members at the meeting, and re-iterated that the local authority and Environment Agency were best placed to understand the coastline.  He undertook to circulate the response.

In response to a question from Councillor Devulapalli it was confirmed that the technical review would be carried out to decide what work was required when, and the costings, and a reviewed Shoreline Management Plan prepared which would be made available to Councillors.  It was confirmed that any planning for providing coastal defence was based on reasonable predictions of climate change but also worst case scenarios, and would be kept under review.

Councillor Bullen asked what financial commitment was required of the Borough Council and how was information being communicated on the matter.  It was confirmed that a budget was in place for planned repairs/work, other funding was provided by the Environment Agency, Anglian Water, CIC and Beach Hut owners.    It was confirmed that many of the owners weren’t present at this time of year, but properties had been visited and information given out.

RESOLVED: That the update be noted.

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The Environmental Health Manager presented the update, as attached.

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

Councillor de Whalley thanked officers for the presentation and welcomed the consultation on the updated Air Quality Action Plan which would be open to consultation until 1 March 2024.

Councillor Kunes asked if, when there was no exceedance over a period of time, did an air quality management area cease.  It was confirmed that the data would be reviewed over a period of time and if the readings warranted, it could be revoked.

In response to a question from Councillor Lintern it was confirmed that data was still being collected in Stoke Ferry.  The Environmental Health Manager confirmed that if there were to be changes to location of the monitors in the village the Ward Councillor and Parish Council would be consulted.

In response to questions it was confirmed that readings were taken in places where dwellings were in close proximity to the area of high traffic.

The Panel was informed that there would be additional monitoring in the Gaywood Clock/Parkway area prior to the commencement of construction, during and after.

Councillor Morley suggested that the King’s Lynn Area Consultative Committee should be consulted on the proposed new plan. He questioned whether some of the areas should continue to be monitored and commented that he felt that the costs should be included.

Councillor Devulapalli asked about measuring emissions along the A10 to which it was explained that generally there were houses right up to the road, The Environmental Health Manager explained they had looked at the stretch at the post office which hadn’t reached the levels recorded elsewhere, but he could potentially look again.  Councillor Devulapalli also commented that if all children were bussed to school rather than in individual cars there would be lower pollution.

The Environmental Health Manager agreed to send the link to the summary of the Plan to members.  https://www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/info/20137/air_quality/1093/air_quality_action_plan_consultation

Under standing Order 34 Councillor Kemp commented on the predicted increase in cars in the coming 20 years and expressed concern about the potential for increased pollution at the Southgates, and asked for the North and South Lynn Industrial areas to be monitored in residential areas.

The Environmental Health Manager confirmed that transport had the greatest impact on air quality within the air quality management areas, he explained he had input on that front to the Local Plan, he also drew attention to the anticipated increase in numbers of EVs on the roads over the coming years. 

Councillor Moriarty asked if the work being undertaken for the Southgates proposals was desk/computer based. The Environmental Health Manager explained that he fed into proposals and once options were considered the air quality impact was assessed, the information would sit alongside the Southgates Masterplan and Gyratory system proposals. 

RESOLVED: That the update be noted.

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Officers presented the report which brought forward a proposal for designation of a Village Green on the land to the west of Hardings Way, South Lynn.  The report also detailed proposals for the establishment of a community orchard which would form part of the Village Green and Beuys’s project on land to the north of the proposed village Green.

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

Councillor Kunes sought confirmation on the reference to the ineligibility of part of the area to be registered.  It was explained that part of the area still featured within the Local Plan during the life of the existing Plan and therefore could not be registered as a village green.  

Under standing order 34 Councillor Kemp welcomed the proposal and asked why the section of land had not been taken out of the Local Plan.  The explanation was given as above.

Councillor Squire commented that it was important to buy trees and hedgerows for the wood from a bio secure stock.

RESOLVED: That the Environment and Community Panel support the recommendations to Cabinet, as set out below.

It is recommended that Cabinet:

1.     Agrees to proceed with the Community Orchard at Wisbech Road/Harding’s Way as detailed in the report.

2.     Agrees to enter into a form of agreement with the Harding’s Pits Association which continues the current operational arrangements for the Harding’s Pits Door Step Green.  Authority to be delegated to the Assistant Director Property & Projects in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Property and Corporate Services to agree appropriate terms and length of agreement.

3.     Supports the proposed Beuys’s Acorns Project, potentially as part of the proposal for the Harding’s Pits Door Step Green, with this are being extended to accommodate the Beuys’s Project.

Cabinet recommend to Council:

4.     To resolve that the land identified in the attached plan (the red shaded area to the west of Hardings Way) be designated as a Village Green.

Councillor Lintern asked for a presentation on the analogue to digital switchover and its effect on Careline and older people.  She agreed to complete the request form.

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

To note that the next meeting of the Environment and Community Panel is scheduled to take place on 27^th February 2024 at 4.30pm in the Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.

The next meeting of the Environment and Community Panel would be held on Tuesday 27 February 2024 at 4.30pm in the Town Hall, King’s Lynn.