Agenda Item 2__
CABINET
Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on Monday 12 March at the Council
Offices, Holt Road, Cromer at 10.00am.
Members Present:
Mrs H Eales (Chairman)
Mrs A Fitch-Tillett
Mr T FitzPatrick
Mr T Ivory
Mr K Johnson
Mr John Lee
Mr W Northam
Also attending:
Mrs L Brettle
Ms V Gay
Mrs P Grove-Jones
Mr P High
Mr E Seward
Mr B Smith
Mrs V Uprichard
Mr S Ward
Officers in
Attendance:
94.
The Chief Executive, the Strategic Director - Community,
the Strategic Director – Environment, the Monitoring Officer, the
Acting Financial Services Manager, the Coast and Community
Partnerships Manager, the Head of Planning and Building Control, the
Strategy Team Leader, the Revenues and Benefits Services Manager
and the Coastal, Localities and Assets Manager
CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENT
The Leader informed Members that Councillor Norman Smith was recovering well in
hospital. She thanked everyone on his behalf for their well wishes.
95.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Mrs A Fitch-Tillett, Mr J Lee
96.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 6 February 2012 were confirmed as a
correct record and signed by the Chairman.
97.
PUBLIC QUESTIONS
None
98.
ITEMS OF URGENT BUSINESS
None
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12 March 2012
99.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Member(s)
Mr T Ivory
100.
Minute
No.
Item
Interest
Introduction of fees for Preapplication advice and ‘Do I
need Planning Permission?’
enquiries
Personal and non
prejudicial as a
planning lawyer
MEMBERS TRAINING DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT GROUP
RESOLVED that
The minutes of the meeting of the Members’ Training, Development and Support
Working Group held on 7th December 2011 be received.
101.
PLANNING POLICY AND BUILT HERITAGE WORKING PARTY
Mr K Johnson, Portfolio Holder for Planning proposed that the recommendations be
adopted. He informed Members that all residents of Russell Terrace, Mundesley had
agreed to the terms of the Direction.
RESOLVED that
The minutes of the meeting of the Planning Policy and Built Heritage Working Party
held on 20 February 2012 be received the recommendations contained therein
adopted as follows:
MINUTE 24: RUSSELL TERRACE MUNDESLEY ARTICLE 4 DIRECTION
To agree to the confirmation of the Direction under Article 4 of the Town and Country
Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 at Nos 1-23 Russell Terrace,
Mundesley, to cover the following matters:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Alterations to elevations and architectural details
Satellite dishes
Roof and chimneys
Roof Windows
Doors and windows
Painting facades
Hardstandings and curtilage walls
Solar panels
and that formal notification of affected households be carried out and a press release
be issued.
102.
BUDGET MONITORING 2011/12 – PERIOD 10
Mr W Northam, Portfolio Holder for Financial Services presented the report. It
showed the budget monitoring position to the end of period 10 (31 January 2012).and
gave details of the capital programme for the same period. It also included a review
of the current capital programme. The position at the end of January 2012 showed a
projected underspend of £21,807. Treasury management had improved on the
position at period 9 due to the achievement of better than anticipated investment
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12 March 2012
rates on money market fund investments. The Portfolio Holder informed Members
that current forecasts showed that the revised budget remained achievable. He
added that all requests to carry forward year end underspends would be considered
as part of the final accounts process.
RESOLVED to
a) note the contents of the report and the revenue forecast for the current financial
year
b) note the current position in relation to the 2011/12 capital programme
103.
NORTH WALSHAM TOWN CENTRE: REGENERATION AND INVESTMENT
OPPORTUNITIES
Mr T Ivory introduced this item. He explained that the report was based on the
feasibility study of St Nicholas’ Court, North Walsham in 2011 by chartered surveyor,
Nigel Morgan and that two recommendations had arisen from this:
1. The procurement of a retail demand / capacity study – to establish whether there
was a need for additional capacity within the town and its catchment and whether
the town centre had the capacity to accommodate it.
2. The procurement of a commercial property advisor to help unlock potential and
realise opportunities and the commissioning of a design brief / architectural
feasibility study into the possible solutions to enhance the appearance of the
external areas of St Nicholas Court precinct.
Ms V Gay, Local Member for North Walsham West commented that there had been
several studies in the past into improving facilities in the town. She supported the
recommendations and hoped that the studies commissioned would be a prelude to
action and investment.
Mr E Seward, Local Member for North Walsham North and Chair of the Leadership of
Place project acknowledged the need for action. He expressed concerns that another
study was being commissioned but agreed that there was a pressing need to
address difficult and retractable sites within North Walsham.
RESOLVED to
give authority to procure the retail demand / capacity study, the property advisor
framework contract; and the design brief / architectural feasibility report outlined in
paragraph 1.9 of the report, within the budget limits identified
104.
INTRODUCTION OF FEES FOR PRE-APPLICATION ADVICE AND ‘DO I NEED
PLANNING PERMISSION?’ ENQUIRIES
Mr K Johnson, Portfolio Holder for Planning presented this item. He explained that
pre-application advice and ‘do I need planning permission?’ enquiries were currently
provided free at the point of delivery. Several local authorities had already introduced
fees for this service and it was anticipated that about £15000 income would be
generated by the scheme. The report suggested a draft Schedule of Fees and they
had been set at a level that would not deter potential developers. He added that
consultations with local agents and developers had already begun and they had been
supportive of the proposals.
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12 March 2012
RECOMMENDED to Full Council
the adoption of the proposals following consultation with local agents, the
development industry , the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the consideration
of the outcome thereof by the Corporate Director and Head of Planning and Building
Control in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, prior to implementation with effect
from 1 May 2012.
105.
NORTH NORFOLK DISTRICT COUNCIL TENANCY STRATEGY
Mr K Johnson, Portfolio Holder for Strategic Housing introduced this item. He
explained that the Council was required to have a Tenancy Strategy within 12
months of the enactment of the Localism Act 2011. The Strategy set out three
objectives to be taken into consideration by social landlords in the district when
developing their policies on the granting and reissuing of tenancies:
• To maintain stable and sustainable communities especially in more rural areas
• To make better use of the existing social housing stock by enabling a reduction in
under occupation
• To ensure that specialist accommodation could be made available to households
most in need
These objectives would be achieved through the introduction of fixed term tenancies
in certain circumstances, the use of Affordable Rent tenancies in some newly built
social housing and market developments and the retention of tenant transfers within
the ‘Your Choice Your Home’ scheme or equivalent.
The Portfolio Holder informed Members that Housing Associations with properties in
the district had been consulted on the draft tenancy strategy and the responses had
been very positive and supportive.
A Member asked whether the Council was aware of the number of tenants who could
afford an increase in rent yet were not in receipt of housing benefit and whether
figures were also available on the number of tenants in properties that were too large
for their needs. The Portfolio Holder said that such information had been used when
the Strategy was drafted. He added that Victory Housing was working on dealing with
the under-occupation of its properties and were considering offering an incentive to
tenants to downsize. The Strategy Team Leader explained that the Affordable Rents
scheme was a flagship government policy. Slightly higher rents would be charged but
they would continue to be covered by housing benefit. Only a small proportion of
housing stock would be eligible for the scheme and it would be funded by the Homes
and Communities Agency (HCA), the Council and conversions of existing properties.
Regarding the issue of under-occupation, she explained that tenants wishing to move
to a smaller property would be given priority and if they chose to remain in a larger
property they could have their housing benefit reduced.
The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee asked when the Housing
Strategy was likely to be available for consideration by the committee. The Portfolio
Holder said that the draft version was almost ready and would be reported to the
Overview and Scrutiny Committee soon.
RESOLVED to
agree the North Norfolk Tenancy Strategy
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12 March 2012
RECOMMENDED to Full Council
to adopt the North Norfolk Tenancy Strategy
106.
COUNCIL TAX AND NATIONAL NON-DOMESTIC RATES – DELEGATION FOR
MAGISTRATES COURT PROCEEDINGS
The Portfolio Holder for Revenues and Benefits introduced this item. He explained
that suitably qualified and experienced officers from the Revenues Service
represented the Council at the Magistrates Court in respect of local taxation matters.
The list of approved officers needed to be updated as a result of staff changes and
additional responsibilities currently being undertaken by the existing court officer. The
authorisation needed to take place with immediate effect as officers were required to
show a copy of the authorisation document prior to a Court Hearing.
RESOLVED to
authorise the officers named in the report to appear in the Magistrates Court, to
prosecute or defend for the non payment of Council Tax and National Non Domestic
Rates on behalf of North Norfolk District Council
107.
NORTH NORFOLK CAR PARK ORDER
The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Assets presented the report. He explained that car
parking charges for 2012/13 were agreed at Full Council on 14th December 2011 and
a new car parking order consolidating the existing orders as well as introducing new
charges had been advertised. The closing date for objections was 23rd February
2011 and seventy four objections and two petitions had been received. The majority
of the objections had related to the removal of free car parking in North Walsham,
Fakenham and Wells. It was proposed that enforcement of the requirement for
season tickets on these car parks was waived for 3 months, pending any agreement
regarding the transfer of the management and financial support of these car parks to
the town councils. If during this period it was agreed that these car parks should
remain free, a variation order could be introduced.
Mrs V Uprichard, Local Member for North Walsham East and Mayor of North
Walsham said that the Town Council welcomed the opportunity to discuss the
transfer of the management of the free car park within the town but they were
disappointed that the petition regarding evening charges did not appear to have been
taken into account. The Portfolio Holder said that this was not the case and that there
would be an opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues and concerns when the
Council met with the town councils.
RESOLVED to
a) make the draft order without modification and introduce the car parking order on
1st April 2012 because the order as a whole reflects car parking demand and
directs vehicles to the most appropriate car park.
b) waive enforcement of the requirement to display season tickets on the currently
free car parks for three months at North Walsham, Fakenham and Wells, pending
further discussions regarding future management arrangements.
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12 March 2012
The Meeting closed at 10.28 am
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Chairman
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12 March 2012