Agenda and draft minutes

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Councillor Beales was appointed Chair for the municipal year 2024/25.

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Councillor Ring was appointed Vice- Chair for the municipal year 2024/25.

To receive any apologies of absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

To agree the minutes from the meeting held on the 13^th May 2024 as a correct record.

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RESOLVED: The minutes from the previous meeting were agreed as a correct record.

The Chair, Councillor Beales referred to the previous minutes and asked for a progress update on the project management software at the next meeting when the Programme Management Office Manager will be able to attend.  

The Chair, Councillor Beales referred to previous discussion on projects being removed or added to the agenda and if this was within the powers of the Board or required to be decided by Cabinet. The Chair, Councillor Beales asked that this be clarified at the next meeting when the Monitoring Officer should be able to attend.

The Chair, Councillor Beales sought further clarification on the timescale of the Show Home at Florence Fields being completed. He also asked for a progress update on the Brownfield funding at the South Gates.

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 any 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 no urgent business under Standing Order 7.

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chair 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 Chair.

There was no members present pursuant under Standing Order 34

If any.

There was no Chair’s correspondence.

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The Executive Director, Place presented the Action Log to the Board and highlighted it included the overview of progress and definitions of projects and the briefing of all Councillors on the Parkway (Florence Fields) site for November/December.

Councillor Moriarty sought clarification that this would be included in the Boards meeting in November with the site visit and then returning back to meeting. 

The Executive Director confirmed he would need to clarify the best way of delivering the site visit and briefing and advised members.

The Chair, Councillor Beales queried the timing of the site visit and suggested November may not be practical due to the weather and raised late September as a potential time for the site visit.

Councillor Long agreed with the Chair comment regarding the weather and advised it needed to be practical.

Councillor Blunt commented the site visit could be done and the briefing held back in the Council Chamber.

The Chair, Councillor Beales advised that unless a large number of Councillors attend, the site office is big enough to accommodate a briefing which would benefit from being on site.

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The Executive Director presented the Overview Report and advised this item would be merged with item 11 on the agenda, Project Highlight Report.

The Executive Director explained the overview report showed the current status of projects. The report identified the key highlighted changes and progression of each project.

He outlined that the report highlighted three projects currently had a red status, five amber and six were on green status. He brought to the Board’s attention there were fewer projects with an amber status and more projects with a green status. 

Further detail of the projects was presented in the Highlight Reports.

P-21.02- EZ NORA Infrastructure

P-21.03a - EZ NORA Spec Units Phase 1

P-21.05 - Parkway (Florence Fields)

P-21.06 - Salters Road

P-21.08 - Southend Road

P-21.09 - West Winch Growth Area

P-21.10a - Southgates Place Making

P-21.10b - STARS

P-21.11 - Guildhall

P-21.12 - ACC

P-21.14 - Riverfront

P-21.15 - Rail to River

P-21.16 - MUCH

P-23.08 - Lynnsport 1 (Valentine Park)

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The Executive Director presented the Highlight Reports following the Overview Reports.

ACC

The Executive Director brought to the Board’s attention this project had an overall red status. He highlighted the key reasons the status had moved to red included the crossing at Tennyson Road was time constrained and the way contamination was dealt with on the NORA site. The Executive Director stated to the Board, different options and clarification needed to be considered on the contamination being dealt with for the project to move forward.

Councillor Long sought clarification on the change in regulations and what needed to be done to mitigate the contamination. He queried further if there was any government funding for the project to continue following the change in regulations.

The Chair, Councillor Beales advised the Board the site was purchased with a discount due to the contamination. He provided assurance that the Assistant Director, Property and Projects was actively talking to the Environment Agency. The Chair, Councillor Beales, advised the Board the reserve had been spent on NORA Spec Units Project.

Councillor Long commented it needed to be progressed with higher management at the Environment Agency as it has been unsuccessful with local representatives.

The Chair, Councillor Beales encouraged Officers to go direct to the Head Office of the Environment Agency however from the Environment Agency’s point of view the question has been resolved. He invited the Board’s view on trying to politically contact the local Environment Agency representatives or to look at alternative sites.

The Vice- Chair, Councillor Ring agreed with the comments from Councillor Long and commented further other sites would need to be considered or the project be withdrawn.

Councillor Morley sought clarification on the cost implications on removing the contamination. 

The Chair, Councillor Beales confirmed it was included in the initial costings of the project and it would not be affordable.

The Assistant Director, Resources and Section 151 Officer clarified the figure £850,000 was set aside as a contingency which had all been utilised. 

The Chair, Councillor Beales confirmed the reserves had therefore been used. He advised he will get a summary of the situation from the Assistant Director, Property and Projects.

Councillor Morley referred to the report and asked for an explanation on the achievements during this period and the story board mapping.

The Executive Director confirmed he will clarify and advised Councillor Morley.

NORA Infrastructure & Enterprise Zone

The Executive Director brought to the Board’s attention this project had an overall red status due to being behind on timescales and the financial impact as Norfolk County Council reported an overspend. He advised on the other hand there had been progress made on the site.

The Chair, Councillor Beales provided a further update on Norfolk County Council and informed the Board of conversations with them about the infrastructure and overspend.  He confirmed the conversations had not delayed the project. 

Councillor Long commented to the Board the sooner the units are occupied  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

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The Board noted the minutes.

To discuss the work programme for 2024/2025

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The Board noted the work programme.

The next meeting was scheduled to take place on 11^th November 2024 at 9.30am in the Town Hall

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11^th November 2024, 9:30am in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, 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 paragraph 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 paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

To receive a verbal update.

The Assistant Director Regeneration, Housing and Place provided an update to the Board.

The Assistant Director responded to questions and comments made by the Board.