Agenda Item
FULL COUNCIL
Minutes of a meeting of North Norfolk District Council held on 21 September 2011 at the
Council Offices, Holt Road, Cromer at 6.00 pm.
Members Present:
Mr M J M Baker
Mr B Cabbell Manners
Mrs A ClaussenReynolds
Mr N D Dixon
Mrs A M Fitch-Tillett
Mr T FitzPatrick
Ms V R Gay
Mrs A R Green
Mrs P Grove-Jones
Mr T Ivory
Mr B Jarvis
Officers in
Attendance:
Mr K E Johnson
Mr G R Jones
Mr J Lee
Mr N Lloyd
Mr W J Northam
Miss B Palmer
Mr S Partridge
Mr J H Perry-Warnes
Mr R Price
Mr J Punchard
Mr R Reynolds
Mr E Seward
Mr R Shepherd
Mr B Smith
Mr N Smith
Mr R Smith
Mr R Stevens
Mrs A C Sweeney
Mr P Terrington
Mrs H Thompson
Mrs V Uprichard
Mrs L Walker
Mr S Ward
Mr R Wright
Mr D Young
The Chief Executive, the Deputy Chief Executive, the Strategic Director –
Community, the Strategic Director – Environment, the Strategic Director Information and the Democratic Services Team Leader.
44.
PRAYERS
The Meeting began with prayer led by Revd David Frederick, Curate, Cromer Parish Church
with St Martin’s.
45.
TO RECEIVE DECLARATION OF INTERESTS FROM MEMBERS
The following Members declared interests in the matters listed below:
Member(s)
Mr N Lloyd
46.
Minute
No.
Item
Interest
Questions received from Members
Personal - is employed
by a company based at
the Bacton Gas Terminal
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Mrs S Arnold, Mrs L Brettle, Mrs H Eales, Mr B
Hannah, Mr P High, Mrs B McGoun, Mrs A Moore, Mr P W Moore, Mr J Savory and Mr J
Wyatt.
Full Council
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28 June 2011
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47.
MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting of Full Council held on 28 June 2011 were approved as a correct
record, subject to an amendment of Minute 35 to show the correct date as 2010/11.
48.
ITEMS OF URGENT BUSINESS
There were no items of urgent business
49.
PUBLIC QUESTIONS
None received.
50.
APPOINTMENTS TO COMMITTEES AND OUTSIDE BODIES
a) Mr P High to the Joint Staff Consultative Committee
RESOLVED
that Mr P W High be appointed to the Joint Staff Consultative Committee
b) Mr T Ivory and Mr E Seward to North Walsham Leadership of Place Stakeholder Board
RESOLVED
that Mr T Ivory and Mr E Seward be appointed to the North Walsham Leadership of Place
Stakeholder Board
52.
REVIEW OF ELECTION POLLING ARRANGEMENTS
The Returning Officer was currently undertaking a four yearly review of polling districts, polling
places and polling stations within North Norfolk District. As part of the review process, it was
proposed that an informal group of five councillors representing different areas of the district
meet with the Returning Officer and Election Services Manager, to consider the responses
from the consultation exercise and to discuss any proposals for change.
AGREED
that the following Members would meet with the Returning Officer and Election Services
Manager to consider the responses from the consultation exercise on the review of election
polling arrangements:
Mrs H Eales
Mr T FitzPatrick
Mrs V Gay
Mr R Smith
Mr P Terrington
53.
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM CABINET 5 SEPTEMBER 2011
MINUTE 33 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ENFORCEMENT POLICY
RESOLVED
to adopt the Environmental Health Enforcement Policy
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28 June 2011
54.
RECOMMENDATION FROM THE AUDIT COMMITTEE 13 SEPTEMBER 2011
MINUTE 28: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2010/2011
It was proposed by the Chairman of the Audit Committee, Mr N Dixon that this item was taken
together with Agenda item 12, the Final Accounts. He explained that the Financial Statements
had already been presented to the Audit Committee. A considerable amount of work had gone
into preparing them to ensure that they complied with the requirements of the International
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). This had resulted in a change of format but not a
change in the figures. He added that the Council’s external auditor, PriceWaterhouseCoopers
were satisfied that the Final Accounts accurately reported the finances of the Council to the
standards required. He thanked the Financial Services Team for their hard work.
RESOLVED
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
55.
to receive the Financial Statements 2010/11
to hold discussions with the External Auditor (PriceWaterhouseCoopers) to ensure a
robust arrangement is in place to complete the audit work for 2011/12 within the
budgeted figure.
to delegate to the Deputy Chief Executive approval of the changes required to the note
to the accounts (number 39) in respect of the LSP
to accept the summary of uncorrected misstatements
to agree that the Authority has undertaken the work necessary to ensure that property
valuations included in the financial statements are free from material misstatement;
to agree the correction of the transactions relating to Housing Subsidy liability and
reclassification of Assets Held for Sale as identified in the summary of misstatements
THE FINAL ACCOUNTS
The Chairman of the Audit Committee, Mr N D Dixon, recommended approval of the Final
Accounts 2010/11.
RESOLVED
to approve the Final Accounts 2010 – 2011, subject to four amendments (attached at Minutes
Appendix A)
56.
NEW GOVERNMENT POLICY UPDATE
A Member commented on recent announcements concerning funding for social housing and
summer schools. He asked whether there would be a report to a future meeting of Full Council
on the likely benefits for the District. The Chief Executive said that when the Corporate Plan
was presented to Cabinet, there would be a background paper on the government’s key
initiatives and the likely impact on the work of the Council.
57.
TO RECEIVE THE MINUTES OF THE UNDERMENTIONED COMMITTEES
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
Full Council
Cabinet – 6 June 2011
Licensing and Appeals Committee – 20 June 2011
Overview and Scrutiny Committee - 22 June 2011
Development Committee – 23 June 2011
Cabinet – 4 July 2011
Development Committee – 14 July 2011
Overview and Scrutiny Committee – 20 July 2011
Development Committee – 21 July 2011
Standards Committee – 9 August 2011
Development Committee – 18 August 2011
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28 June 2011
It was RESOLVED that the above-mentioned minutes be noted.
59.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE LEADER OF THE COUNCIL AND PORTFOLIO HOLDERS
The Leader
The Deputy Leader read out a statement from the Leader.
The Corporate Plan was now complete. An Annual Action Plan would be produced from now
on and the first would focus on.achieving a balanced budget. This would be presented
together with the Corporate Plan. Both documents would go to Cabinet on 3 October,
Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 4 October and Full Council on 19 October.
The Deputy Leader
Changes to the waste collection rounds would start in October. All households would receive a
leaflet explaining why the changes were taking place and how it would affect them. Every
effort would be made to keep disruption to a minimum.
Mr T FitzPatrick
a) The North Norfolk Business Forum (NNBF) continued to work hard to support local
businesses. He thanked them for the opportunity to represent the District as a Director of
the NNBF.
b) Businesses in Fakenham continued to do well despite the recession.
c) The withdrawal of TAG from the former RAF Coltishall site was disappointing. It was
important that the Council worked with the neighbouring District of Broadland to find an
alternative solution.
d) An area of Sheringham had been identified by BT as suitable for an upgrade to highspeed
Broadband and work would start in 2012. This was a commercial decision and would not
affect the campaign to bring Broadband to the District.
e) Scira (owners of the Sheringham Offshore Windfarm) had been given planning permission
to build a new headquarters. It was hoped that this would generate employment.
f) Bittern Line: National Express would withdraw from 5 February 2012. A shortlist of three
potential operators would be drawn up by early November. It was intended that the initial
franchise would run until July 2014, followed by a further franchise for a period of 15
years. Stations along the line would be given a 99 lease to encourage investment and the
upgrading of facilities.
Mr T Ivory
a) Cabinet had recently approved funding for the Leadership of Place Project in North
Walsham. He thanked Councillor Seward for his continued commitment to the project.
b) A report had been commissioned on the future of the St Nicholas Court shopping precinct
in North Walsham.
c) The Atrium had recently opened at North Walsham. It was hoped that the new facility
would benefit the whole community.
d) North Walsham High School had expressed an interest in becoming involved with the
Leadership of Place Project.
e) The Council had offered to assist North Walsham Town Council with regards to
governance issues in the setting up of a community trust.
60.
QUESTIONS RECEIVED FROM MEMBERS
The following question had been received from Councillor Graham Jones:
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28 June 2011
“Will Councillor Wyndham Northam please provide me with information about the
Bacton Gas Terminal Liaison Committee. I request that the response covers the
following points:
1. Committee reporting arrangements including frequency.
2. The make up of the Committee, the organisations represented, and the
arrangements for council member appointment.
3. Members’ attendance record over the last 2 years.
4. Arrangements for publication of minutes or notes of meetings.
5. Dates of meetings over the past two years.
6. When the explosion occurred two years ago, for which the operators were fined,
the role played by the Committee and the record of its findings.
7. The cost to North Norfolk District Council of supporting the Committee for each
of the past two financial years.
8. The level of technical expertise amongst the current membership of the
Committee.
Could the Chairman of the Liaison Committee also advise me on the future role and
value to the Council and our local communities of the Committee and whether or not
the Committee was involved in discussions about the proposed major works at the
Terminal and, more importantly, arrangements for consultation with parishes likely to
be adversely affected by the suggested bus routes should the park and ride plans for
construction workers go ahead.”
Councillor Northam had responded in writing (attached at Minutes Appendix B). He added that
with regards to Members’ attendance at Liaison Group meetings, records showed that his own
attendance and that of Councillor B. Smith had been consistently high. It should be noted
however, that one of the previous representatives had attended only once and the other not at
all.
In response to a further comment from Councillor Jones about the Terms of Reference for the
Bacton Gas Terminal Liaison Committee (BGLC), the Strategic Director – Environment said
that safety issues at Bacton were enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). There
were security implications and consequently confidentiality was paramount, which meant that
some on-site safety issues were not discussed with the Committee.
Members discussed the question and the written response:
a) The value of the BCLG was questioned. Councillor Northam said that it was a useful
conduit between the operators of the terminal and local residents. It was due to pressure
from District Council representatives that parish councils now attended BCLG meetings.
b) A Member commented that he was surprised that no reports had been received from
NNDC representatives on the Liaison Group. Councillor Walker added that very little
information was passed on to parishes within her Ward that were adjacent to the gas
terminal.
61.
NOTICE(S) OF MOTION
The following notice of motion was proposed by Mr E Seward and seconded by Mr R Smith:
Bittern Railway Line
“The Council notes that the franchise for the current operator of the line comes to an
end in early 2012 and that it is the Government's intention to issues new franchises for
the operation of the line on an interim/permanent basis. Given the social and economic
Full Council
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28 June 2011
importance of the Bittern Line to North Norfolk the Council agrees that it should take an
active interest in the franchise process and in so doing lobby for an enhanced service
on the Bittern Line in the granting of a franchise. It also agrees that the North Norfolk
Member of Parliament should be asked to assist in this process”.
The motion was debated:
a) The importance of the Bittern Line in supporting business growth across the District was
highlighted. The line carried 600,000 passengers a year – an increase of 200% over the
last 10 years.
b) The Bittern Line was very important to Sheringham in particular. It supported the tourist
industry within the town and boosted local businesses.
c) Several issues would need to be addressed by potential operators. Fare structure, the
level of service in the winter months and station facilities were all priority concerns.
d) It was important that train services were co-ordinated with major events such as football
matches to avoid a long wait either before or after the event.
RESOLVED
To support the Motion, subject to the following amendment:
“This Council urges both of the District’s Members of Parliament to assist in this process”.
43.
LIST OF SEALED DOCUMENTS
RESOLVED that
the list of sealed documents be approved.
44.
BOUNDARY COMMISSION PROPOSALS
The Chief Executive reminded Members that the Boundary Commission was in the process of
reviewing all Parliamentary Constituency boundaries in England. The consultation period
would run until 5 December 2011. There was an exhibition in the foyer of the Council offices
explaining the proposed changes for the district. A report on the proposals would be presented
at the October meeting of Full Council. Any concerns or comments arising from this meeting
would then be considered at a public hearing in Norwich scheduled for early November.
The meeting concluded at 6.55pm.
____
Chairman
Full Council
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28 June 2011