Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Collop, Lowe and Squire.

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.  

Councillors Kemp, Morley and Nockolds.

If any.

There was none.

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The Tourism Support Officer presented the Tourism Development Plan for 2022-2026.  A copy of the presentation is attached.

The Chair thanked the Tourism Support Officer for his presentation and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

Councillor de Whalley asked questions relating to threats to wildlife, promoting responsible tourism and low paid tourism jobs.  The Tourism Support Officer provided information on sensitive locations which needed to be protected and could not be promoted, but there would be a focus on promoting the natural environment including a ‘Visit West Norfolk Naturally’ campaign.  With reference to jobs, it was explained that the Tourism Support Officer linked in with Employer Forums as appropriate.

Councillor Devereux made reference to the Wash and North Norfolk Marine Partnership and the ‘Limits of Acceptable Change Study’.  The Tourism Support Officer provided more information on this piece of work and explained that it highlighted areas where they wanted to attract visitors as well as protecting vulnerable natural environments.

Councillor Bullen asked about promotion of the Fens, Downham Market and if West Norfolk was promoted as a sailing destination.  The Tourism Support Officer explained that the Fens were promoted in publications and through the Fens Biosphere Partnership.  Downham Market was also promoted and the Tourism Support Officer informed Members that he had meetings scheduled with Downham Market Town Council to look at further promotion.

The Tourism Support Officer provided information on the Sail the Wash project and that West Norfolk was promoted as a sailing destination.

Councillor Moriarty made reference to protecting the rural environment and he made comments on the Tourism Plan relating to visitor development plans, which the Tourism Support Officer agreed to clarify within the plan and explained to the Panel that the Tourism Department provided statistics, information and data to Parish Councils as required.

Councillor Moriarty also made reference to the section of the plan relating to visiting West Norfolk out of season and commented that villages sometimes needed respite from the busy summer season, so marketing needed to be targeted to places that could deal with the tourism and had facilities available.  The Tourism Support Officer explained that this aspect of the plan would be carefully approached and experiences that were right for the area would be looked at.

Councillor Moriarty asked how the Tourism Department minimised risks and the Tourism Support Officer explained that this could relate to if an area asked to stop being promoted then the Tourism Department would stop and ask others to stop as well, but this would need to be balanced against the impact it could have on local businesses.  The Tourism Support Officer explained that the Tourism Department had approached Parish Councils in recent times regarding promotions, and local residents had been surveyed in recent times by other organisations supported by the Tourism Department on how they saw tourism in their area.

Councillor Kemp addressed the Panel under Standing Order 34 and  ...  view the full minutes text for item EC23:

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Members who were representatives on Outside Bodies which fell under the remit of the Environment and Community Panel had been invited to present an update report to the Panel, which had been included in the agenda.

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

King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Area Museums Committee

Councillor de Whalley, who was a Member of the Area Museums Committee commented that the Kick the Dust project had been very successful, but needed to secure long term funding.  The Chair agreed with this, and the Panel suggested that Cabinet’s attention be drawn to the importance of this project and if any assistance was available. 

Councillor de Whalley commented that Lynn Museum had great rotating displays.

Councillor Bubb commented that it was important to continue to work to promote the Museums and increase visitor numbers.

Councillor Nockolds commented that as part of the Service Level Agreement with Norfolk Museums Service free admission to the Museum was offered from October to March.  She agreed that it was important to continue to work to increase visitor numbers and school trips to the Museum had increased.

Norfolk Countywide Community Safety Partnership Scrutiny Sub Panel

Councillor Kemp made reference to the Adult Safeguarding Board and work that was ongoing to relaunch the trigger process for antisocial behaviour issues.

West Norfolk Community Transport Project

Councillor Nockolds commented that attendances for dial-a-bus needed to increase, and that the Pandemic had impacted the service.  She explained that the project provided a critical service in West Norfolk and should continue to be supported.

Councillor Moriarty asked if the increasing petrol costs would impact the service and Councillor Nockolds commented that finances would be carefully monitored, and action taken as appropriate.

In response to a question from Councillor Bubb, it was explained that West Norfolk Community Transport had received CIL funding for an electric bus which was in use.  There were plans to introduce more electric vehicles in the future, but cost was an issue.

In response to a question from Councillor Bullen, Councillor Nockolds commented that the service was promoted, and West Norfolk Community Transport were now becoming more active on social media and appeared on tourism websites.

RESOLVED: The update reports were noted and the relevant Cabinet Members attention be drawn to the Panel comments relating to the Kick the Dust Project.

Questions should be submitted to democratic.services@west-norfolk.gov.uk prior to the meeting.

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There were no Portfolio Holders present at the meeting but Councillor Moriarty provided information on an issue that he would draw to the attention of the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Community relating to food waste and black bin waste being mixed kerbside and put into the same compartment of the refuse collection vehicle.  The Assistant Director requested that Councillor Moriarty send him details of the incident so that it could be investigated.

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The Chair invited Members to submit items for addition to the Work Programme to him as appropriate.

Councillor Bubb, Chair of the Climate Change Informal Working Group requested that a meeting of the Group be arranged in the near future.  The Democratic Services Officer agreed to set up a meeting.

RESOLVED: The Panel’s Work Programme was noted.

To note that the next meeting of the Environment and Community Panel is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 1^st November 2022 at 4.30pm in the Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.

The next meeting of the Environment and Community Panel was scheduled to take place on Tuesday 1^st November 2022 at 4.30pm in the Town Hall, King’s Lynn.