Council
Please Contact: Emma Denny
Please email: emma.denny@north-norfolk.gov.uk
Please Direct Dial on: 01263 516010
13 July 2015
A meeting of the North Norfolk District Council will be held in the Council Chamber at the
Council Offices, Holt Road, Cromer on Tuesday 21 July 2015 at 6.00 p.m.
Please note
change of day
Sheila Oxtoby
Chief Executive
To: All Members of the Council
Members of the Management Team, appropriate Officers, Press and Public.
If you have any special requirements in order
to attend this meeting, please let us know in advance
If you would like any document in large print, audio, Braille, alternative format or in a
different language please contact us
Chief Executive: Sheila Oxtoby
Corporate Directors: Nick Baker and Steve Blatch
Tel 01263 513811 Fax 01263 515042 Minicom 01263 516005
Email districtcouncil@north-norfolk.gov.uk Web site northnorfolk.org
AGENDA
1.
PRAYER
Led by Reverend Andrew King, Fakenham Methodist Church
2.
CHAIRMAN’S COMMUNICATIONS
To receive the Chairman’s communications, if any.
3.
TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS FROM MEMBERS
Members are asked at this stage to declare any interests that they may have in any
of the following items on the agenda. The Code of Conduct for Members requires
that declarations include the nature of the interest and whether it is a disclosable
pecuniary interest.
4.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
To receive apologies for absence, if any.
5.
MINUTES
(attached – page 5)
(Minutes Appendix – p.10)
To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 24 June 2015.
6.
ITEMS OF URGENT BUSINESS
To determine any other items of business which the Chairman decides should be
considered as a matter of urgency pursuant to Section 100B (4)(b) of the Local
Government Act 1972.
7.
PUBLIC QUESTIONS
To consider any questions received from members of the public.
8.
APPOINTMENTS
To consider any appointments
9.
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM CABINET 6 JULY 2015
a)
AGENDA ITEM 13: ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM PROCUREMENT
(Cabinet Agenda – 06 July 2015 Page 32)
3) Cabinet recommends to Full Council the approval of a capital budget of £150,000
for system implementation.
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE 15
JULY 2015
The Overview and Scrutiny Committee will consider the recommendation at their
meeting on 15 July 2015 and the Chairman will provide an oral update at the Council
meeting.
10.
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE CONSTITUTION WORKING PARTY 13 JULY
2015
To consider any recommendations from the Constitution Working Party meeting of 15
July 2015.
(Please note this meeting was held after the agenda was published and a copy of
any recommendations will be circulated prior to the Council meeting)
11.
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE 15
JULY 2015
To consider any recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee
meeting of 15 July 2015.
(Please note this meeting was held after the Council agenda was published and a
copy of any recommendations will be circulated prior to the Council meeting)
12.
TO RECEIVE THE APPROVED MINUTES OF THE UNDERMENTIONED
COMMITTEES
Members are requested to note that the minutes of the undermentioned committees
have been approved. Copies of all the minutes are available on the Council’s website
or from Democratic Services.
a)
b)
c)
d)
13.
Cabinet – 08 June 2015
Development Committee – 28 May 2015
Licensing & Appeals Committee – 2 March 2015
Overview & Scrutiny Committee – 26 March 2015
REPORTS, UPDATES AND BRIEFINGS FROM THE CABINET OR MEMBERS OF
THE CABINET
To receive reports, updates or briefings from Members of the Cabinet.
14.
QUESTIONS RECEIVED FROM MEMBERS
Councillor Nigel Lloyd has submitted the following question:
'What plans are there to increase resources for enforcement to deter the small
number of irresponsible dog owners who permit their pets to foul public spaces,
beaches and footpaths in the district?’
15.
OPPOSITION BUSINESS
The following motion has been proposed by Councillor Andrew Wells, seconded by
Councillor Eric Seward:
‘This Council:
Notes that after five years of careful fiscal management by the Conservative-Liberal
Democrat Coalition, National Debt is projected to fall as a proportion of GDP from the
next financial year;
Welcomes the Chancellor’s announcement of a minimum wage of £9.00 an hour for
those over 25 by 2020 and an increase in the Personal Allowance to £11,000 in
2016-17;
Recognises the impact on the poorest working families of the proposed changes to
Working Tax Credit in the Chancellor’s 2015 Summer Budget;
Notes that many of the poorest working families in North Norfolk will lose net income
as a result of these changes;
Resolves to:
- explore the financial impact for the Council of implementing a £9.00 minimum wage
for all NNDC employees ahead of the Chancellor’s proposed timescale;
- write to the Council’s commercial contractors encouraging them to explore
implementing a £9.00 minimum wage for their employees ahead of the Chancellor’s
proposed timescale.’
16.
NOTICE(S) OF MOTION
None received
17.
EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC
To pass the following resolution – if necessary:
“That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public
be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds
that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in
paragraph(s) _ of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) to the Act.”
18.
PRIVATE BUSINESS
Circulation:
All Members of the Council.
Members of the Management Team and other appropriate Officers.
Press and Public
COUNCIL
Minutes of a meeting of North Norfolk District Council held on 24 June 2015 at the Council
Offices, Holt Road, Cromer at 6.00 pm.
Members Present:
Officers in
Attendance:
Mr M Knowles
Mr J Lee
Mr N Lloyd
Mrs B McGoun
Mr W J Northam
Mrs J Oliver
Miss B Palmer
Mr N Pearce
Mr J Perry-Warnes
Mr R Price
Ms M Prior
Mr J Punchard
Mr J Rest
Mr R Reynolds
Mr E Seward
Mr R Shepherd
Mr B Smith
Mr D Smith
Mr N Smith
Mr R Stevens
Mrs V Uprichard
Mr A Wells
Mr G Williams
Mr A Yiasimi
Mr D Young
The Chief Executive, The Corporate Directors, the Monitoring Officer, the
Head of Organisational Development and the Democratic Services Team
Leader
None
Press:
24.
Mrs S Arnold
Mrs S Butikofer
Mrs A ClaussenReynolds
Mr N Coppack
Mrs H Cox
Mr N Dixon
Mrs A M Fitch-Tillett
Mr T FitzPatrick
Ms V R Gay
Mrs A Green
Mrs P Grove-Jones
Mr B Hannah
Mr S Hester
PRAYERS
The Chairman invited Bob McKay, Senior Pastor, Fakenham Baptist Church to lead prayers.
25.
PRESENTATION ON THE ROLE OF THE CHAIRMAN
The Monitoring Officer gave a presentation to Members on the role of the Chairman of the
Council.
26.
CHAIRMAN’S COMMUNICATIONS
The Chairman said that she had had a very busy start to her year in office. She had recently
attended a presentation to commemorate Mr Fish of Letheringsett who had been a parish
councillor for 63 years. For some of this period he had also been clerk to the parish council.
The Chairman had also recently attended the launch of ‘Ben’s Workforce’ which was a service
for people over 65 who need someone to undertake small maintenance and repair jobs around
the home.
The Chairman went onto say it had been a great honour to receive the certificate for Pier of
the Year 2015 on behalf of the Council for Cromer Pier. She said that it was a wonderful
accolade that would boost tourism to the District.
5
On Monday 22nd June the Council had hosted the unveiling of the ‘Poppies in Steel’
commemorative sculpture by Major General Sir William Cubitt. The ceremony had been led by
the Chairman and had concluded with a fly past of a Tornado from RAF Marham.
The Chairman thanked everyone for their hard work in making the event such a success. In
particular she mentioned Rob Young, Sonia Shuter and Sharon Garth and Councillors Hilary
Cox and Angie Fitch-Tillett for their excellent readings. She concluded by reading out a few of
the many messages of thanks. In response to a comment from Mr W Northam, that the
Council should formally recognise the generosity of the sculptor, Nigel Bartlett, the Chief
Executive confirmed that this was in progress.
The Chairman then went onto announce her two nominated charities for the year; The
Wensum Centre in Fakenham and the Benjamin Foundation. Both provided support and
assistance to vulnerable people. Information sheets on the work of the charities were
distributed to all Members.
27.
TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST FROM MEMBERS
None
28.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Mrs J English, Mr V FitzPatrick, Mr P High, Mrs A
Moore, Mr P W Moore, Miss B Palmer, Mr S Shaw and Mr S Ward.
29.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 20 May 2015 were approved as a correct record and
signed by the Chairman.
30.
ITEMS OF URGENT BUSINESS
None
31.
PUBLIC QUESTIONS
None
32.
APPOINTMENTS
The Leader confirmed that there was a change to the appointments to the Police and Crime
Panel. He said Mr N Dixon would become the substitute and Mr R Shepherd would be the
appointed representative on the Panel.
Mr A Wells confirmed that he was now the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group.
33.
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM CABINET 08 JUNE 2015
a) AGENDA ITEM 09: 2014/15 OUTTURN REPORT
Mr W Northam, Portfolio Holder for Finance introduced this item. He explained that the report
presented the provisional outturn position for the revenue account and capital programme for
the 2014/15 financial year. He confirmed that the outturn position on the revenue account at
31 March 2015 showed an underspend and that the final position allowed for a number of
underspends to be rolled forward within earmarked reserves to fund ongoing and identified
commitments such as coastal repair work. Some of the underspend was due to increased car
parking income and legal services income and employee-related costs such as vacant posts.
6
Mr Northam then informed Members that approximately half of the variance in expenditure on
the capital programme was in relation to the Cromer Coast Protection Scheme. He said that all
underspends would be reviewed to inform financial projections. Mr Northam concluded by
thanking the Head of Finance and her team for all their hard work.
In the absence of the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the Vice-Chairman,
Mr N Smith, informed Council that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had supported the
recommendations.
RESOLVED to approve:
a) The provisional outturn position for the general fund revenue account for 2014/15;
b) The transfers to and from reserves as detailed within the report (and appendix C) along
with the corresponding updates to the 2015/16 budget;
c) Transfer the surplus of £431,525 to the restructuring/Invest to save reserve;
d) The financing of the 2014/15 capital programme as detailed within the report and at
Appendix D;
e) The balance on the general reserve of £2,289,024 at 31 March 2015 and forecast balance
of £2,082,065 at 31 March 2016;
f) The updated capital programme for 2015/16 to 2016/17 and the associated financing of the
schemes as outlined within the report and detailed at Appendix E.
b) AGENDA ITEM 10: DEBT RECOVERY 2014-2015
Mr W Northam, Portfolio Holder for Revenues and Benefits introduced this item. He explained
that it was an annual report detailing the Council’s collection performance and debt
management arrangements for 2014/15. Mr Northam said that high targets were set for
collection for both council tax and business rates and the Council worked very hard to achieve
them. Debt write-offs were kept to a minimum and such cases were treated as exceptions and
the amount of debt written off had decreased in value from the previous year. Mr Northam
concluded by thanking the officers for their continued hard work.
Mr N Smith confirmed that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had supported the
recommendations.
Mr T FitzPatrick requested a recorded vote for this item. This is attached at Minutes Appendix
A.
RESOLVED to
Approve the annual report giving details of the Council’s write-offs in accordance with the
Council’s Debt Write-Off Policy and performance in relation to revenues collection.
c) AGENDA ITEM 11: TREASURY MANAGEMENT ANNUAL REPORT 2014/15
Mr W Northam, Portfolio Holder for Finance introduced this item. He said that the report set
out the treasury management activities undertaken during 2014/15 compared with the
Treasury Management Strategy for the year. Mr Northam referred to the Council’s £5m
investment in the LAMIT pooled property fund which had generated a return of 5.97%. He
concluded by reminding Members that the Council remained debt-free and always invested
wisely. He thanked the Technical Accountant for his continuing hard work.
Mr N Smith confirmed that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had supported the
recommendations.
7
Mr T FitzPatrick requested a recorded vote for this item. This is attached at Minutes Appendix
B.
34.
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE 18 MARCH 2015
Mr N Smith confirmed that there were no further recommendations from the meeting of the
Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 17th June 2015.
35.
REVISED PAY POLICY STATEMENT 2015/16 AND CHANGES TO MANDATORY
STANDING ORDERS
The Leader, Mr T FitzPatrick introduced this item. He explained that the report covered two
items relating to employees of the Council:


The revised Pay Policy Statement 2015/16; and
Proposed changes to mandatory Standing Orders
Regarding the Pay Policy statement, Mr FitzPatrick said that Sections 38 to 43 of the Localism
Act 2011 required relevant authorities to prepare an annual pay policy statement. Pay policy
statements were intended to be public documents which could be used as an information
source to enable local taxpayers to understand how local taxpayers money is spent on pay
and reward of local authority staff.
Full Council approved the current Pay Policy Statement on 25 February 2015. That statement
and appendices incorporated the pay awards that had been agreed nationally at that point.
The pay award for Chief Executives remained outstanding and was subsequently agreed on
25 March 2015. As a result of that national agreement, the Pay Policy Statement for the
Council needs to be amended to reflect that change. Mr FitzPatrick reminded Members that
salary information was contained on the Council’s website as a public document under the
transparency agenda.
Moving onto the second item, Mr FitzPatrick explained that recent amendments to the Local
Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) Regulations 2001 required local authorities to make
some changes to their standing orders. One of these changes related to the dismissal of
certain chief officers (chief finance officer, head of the authority's paid service or monitoring
officer). In summary, instead of engaging a “designated independent person” to provide an
independent external view on any proposed dismissal, the Council would now use a panel
composed of at least two of the independent persons appointed under the Localism Act 2011.
RESOLVED:
a) To adopt the amended Pay Policy Statement and to publish the statement for 2015/16
on the Council’s website.
b) To instruct the Monitoring Officer to make the changes to the Council’s Standing
Orders to comply with the change in the law.
36.
TO RECEIVE THE APPROVED MINUTES OF THE UNDERMENTIONED COMMITTEES
The minutes of the meetings below were noted as a correct record.
a) Cabinet – 20 April 2015
b) Development Committee – 23 April 2015
c) Standards Committee – 10 March 2015
37.
REPORTS FROM THE CABINET OR MEMBERS OF THE CABINET
8
The Leader, Mr T FitzPatrick welcomed Mr A Wells as Leader of the Opposition and said that
he hoped they would be able to work together in the best interests of the Council.
38.
QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS
The following question had been received from Mr E Seward:
‘Given the important role that the Bittern Line has to play in the economic and social life of
North Norfolk what plans do the Council have to monitor and provide input to the
arrangements for the new operating franchise for the line commencing in October 2016?’
The Leader, Mr T FitzPatrick confirmed that the Council was engaging with work
commissioned by Broadland District Council examining the capacity of the Bittern Line and the
needs of Norwich’s northern and eastern outskirts, which were undergoing rapid growth. The
latter could lead to two new stations being constructed at Broadland Business Park and
Rackheath. The study was being undertaken so that a case could be presented to all the
bidders for the rail contract which was expiring in October 2016. Mr FitzPatrick went onto say
that Mr N Dixon, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth and Tourism was the appointed
representative on the Bittern Line Working Group (Community Rail Norfolk) and would be
ensuring that the Council’s voice was heard. He said that the Bittern Line was very important
to the District.
Mr E Seward replied that he welcomed the opportunity to work with Broadland District Council
and the chance to engage with bidders at an early opportunity. He said that it was very
regrettable that the Council had not taken part in the consultation on the rail franchise and it
was also a pity that the Council’s previous appointed representative had not attended the
March meeting of the Norfolk Rail Policy Group when the matter was discussed. He sought
assurance that these meetings would be attended in future.
Mr FitzPatrick said that he noted the points made by Mr Seward and confirmed that nonattendance would not be an issue in the future. He said that he was happy to provide a full
written response if required.
39.
OPPOSITION BUSINESS
None
40.
NOTICE(S) OF MOTION
None
41.
PRIVATE BUSINESS
None
The meeting concluded at 6.45pm.
_________________________
Chairman
9
COUNCIL
RECORDED VOTE FORM
Motion: Agenda Item 10b – Debt Recovery 2014-2015
Date: 24th June 2015
For
Against
Abst
For
Arnold, s
X
Oliver, J
Butikofer, S
X
Palmer, B
ClaussenReynolds, A
Coppack, N
X
Pearce, N
X
X
Perry-Warnes, G
X
Cox, H
X
Price, R
X
Dixon, N
X
Prior, M
X
Punchard, J
X
English. J
X
Rest, J
X
FitzPatrick, T
X
Reynolds, R
X
Rice, P
Gay, V R
X
Seward, E
X
Green, A R
X
Shaw, S
X
Grove-Jones, P
X
Shepherd, R
X
Hannah, B J
X
Smith, B
X
Hester, S
X
Smith, D
X
High, P W
Smith, N
X
Jarvis, B
Stevens, R
X
X
Knowles, M
X
Uprichard, V
Lee, J H A
X
Walker, L
Lloyd, N
X
Ward, S
McGoun, B M
X
Wells, A
X
Moore, A
Williams, G
X
Moore, P W
Yiasimi, A
X
Young, D
X
Northam, W J
Abst
X
Fitch-Tillett, A
FitzPatrick, V
Against
X
recorded votes form
10
COUNCIL
RECORDED VOTE FORM
Motion: Agenda Item 10c Treasury Management Annual Report 2014/15
Date: 24th June 2015
For
Against
Abst
For
Arnold, s
X
Oliver, J
Butikofer, S
X
Palmer, B
ClaussenReynolds, A
Coppack, N
X
Pearce, N
X
X
Perry-Warnes, G
X
Cox, H
X
Price, R
X
Dixon, N
X
Prior, M
X
Punchard, J
X
English. J
X
Rest, J
X
FitzPatrick, T
X
Reynolds, R
X
Rice, P
X
Gay, V R
X
Seward, E
X
Green, A R
X
Shaw, S
X
Grove-Jones, P
X
Shepherd, R
X
Hannah, B J
X
Smith, B
X
Hester, S
X
Smith, D
X
High, P W
Smith, N
X
Jarvis, B
Stevens, R
X
X
Knowles, M
X
Uprichard, V
Lee, J H A
X
Walker, L
Lloyd, N
X
Ward, S
McGoun, B M
X
Wells, A
X
Moore, A
Williams, G
X
Moore, P W
Yiasimi, A
X
Young, D
X
Northam, W J
X
Abst
X
Fitch-Tillett, A
FitzPatrick, V
Against
recorded votes form
11