Please Contact: Mary Howard
Please email: mary.howard@north-norfolk.gov.uk Please Direct Dial on: 01263 516047
Committee Administrator: Alison Argent: alison.argent@north-norfolk.gov.uk
14 September 2012
A meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee of North Norfolk District Council will be held
in the Council Chamber at the Council Offices, Holt Road, Cromer on Tuesday 25 September
2012 at 9.30a.m.
At the discretion of the Chairman, a short break will be taken after the meeting has been running
for approximately one and a half hours. Coffee will be available in the staff restaurant at 9.30 a.m.
and at the break.
Members of the public who wish to ask a question or speak on an agenda item are requested to
arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of the meeting. It will not always be possible to
accommodate requests after that time. This is to allow time for the Committee Chair to rearrange
the order of items on the agenda for the convenience of members of the public. Further information
on the procedure for public speaking can be obtained from Democratic Services, Tel: 01263
516047, Email: democraticservices@north-norfolk.gov.uk
Sheila Oxtoby
Chief Executive
To: Mrs A Claussen-Reynolds, Ms V R Gay, Mrs A Green, Mr B Jarvis, Mr P Moore, Mr J H PerryWarnes, Mr R Reynolds, Mr E Seward, Mr B Smith, Mr N Smith, Mr R Smith and Mr P Terrington.
All other Members of the Council for information.
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 & Steve Blatch
Tel 01263 513811 Fax 01263 515042 Minicom 01263 516005
Email districtcouncil@north-norfolk.gov.uk Web site northnorfolk.org
AGENDA
1.
TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
2.
SUBSTITUTES
3.
PUBLIC QUESTIONS
To receive questions from the public, if any
4.
MINUTES
(Page 1)
(9.30 – 9.45)
To approve as correct records, the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny
Committee held on 24 July 2012.
5.
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.
6.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
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.
7.
PETITIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
To consider any petitions received from members of the public.
8.
CONSIDERATION OF ANY MATTER REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE BY A MEMBER
To consider any requests made by non-executive Members of the Council, and notified to
the Monitoring Officer with seven clear working days notice, to include an item on the
agenda of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
9.
RESPONSES OF THE COUNCIL OR THE CABINET TO THE COMMITTEE’S REPORTS
OR RECOMMENDATIONS
To consider any responses of the Council or the Cabinet to the Committee’s reports or
recommendations.
10.
THE FORWARD PLAN AND MANAGEMENT OF COUNCIL BUSINESS
(Page 9)
To discuss the Forward Plan and to consider the programme of business for Cabinet,
Overview and Scrutiny, Audit and Full Council.
11.
12.
BUDGET MONITORING 2012/13 PERIOD 4
(Cabinet agenda, 10 September, 2012 page 35)
(Appendix A – page 44, Appendix B – page 45, Appendix C – page 48, Appendix D – page 52)
(9.45 – 10.05)
Summary:
This report summarises the budget monitoring position for
the revenue account and capital programme to the end of
July 2012 (period 4).
Conclusions:
The overall position at the end of period 4 shows a forecast
overspend of £69,074 for the current financial year on the
revenue account. The forward financial projections for the
period 2013/14 to 2016/17 are currently being worked upon
for the financial strategy that covers the same period and
will be presented to Members in October.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
1) Cabinet note the contents of the report and the
current forecast for the current financial year;
2) Cabinet note the current position on the approved
capital programme and approve the recommended
amendments.
Cabinet Member(s)
Cllr Wyndham Northam
Wards affected
Contact Officer,
telephone number
and email:
All
Karen Sly
01263 516243
Karen.sly@north-norfolk.gov.uk
PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT–DELIVERY OF ANNUAL ACTION PLAN QUARTER 1
(Cabinet agenda, 10 September 2012, page 77)
(Appendix 1 – page 84, Appendix 2 – page 111, Appendix 3 – page 120)
(10.05 – 10.35)
Summary:
This report covers the performance of the Council
against the priorities set out in the Annual Action
Plan 2012/13.
Recommendations:
a) That Cabinet note the current position with
the waste and cleansing contract as set out
in the briefing note shown at appendix 3.
b) That two additional planning assistants be
recruited on a temporary basis for a 12
month period pending the outcome for the
peer challenge, to be funded from a
combination of the HPDG earmarked reserve
and the proposed national fee increase from
October 2012. That additional support for
planning enforcement, is progressed with the
Borough Council Kings Lynn & West Norfolk.
Cabinet Member(s)
Ward(s) affected
Cllr Keith Johnson
All
Contact Officer, telephone number and email:
Sheila Oxtoby, 01263 516000, sheila.oxtoby@north-norfolk.gov.uk
13.
COMMUNITY ASSET TRANSFER POLICY
Summary:
Conclusions:
(Page 14)
(Appendix A – page 17)
(Appendix B – page 32)
(10.35 – 11.00)
The draft Community Asset Transfer Policy was
submitted to Cabinet on the 14th May 2012 as a means
of the Council responding to requests from community
groups wishing to take over the Council’s assets. The
Policy was also considered at the Overview and
Scrutiny Committee meeting on the 23rd May which
agreed to Cabinet’s resolution of approving the draft
policy as a basis of consultation with relevant
community groups, parish and town councils, together
with considering support for capacity building and posttransfer care.
The consultation period closed on the 20th July 2012
with eight returns having been received. A copy of the
amended draft policy and the consultation returns are
attached under appendix A and B respectively.
The Policy should be amended to reflect observations
made by the Asset management board, together with
the Right to Bid and Right to Challenge provisions under
the Localism Act 2011.
Recommendations: For the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to
approve the return of the amended draft Policy to
Cabinet following the consultation responses
received.
Cabinet Member(s)
All
Ward(s) affected All
Contact Officer, telephone number and email: Martin Green 01263 516049
Martin.green@north-norfolk.gov.uk
14.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE NORTH NORFOLK INTEGRATED APPROACH TO COASTAL
MANAGEMENT
(Cabinet agenda, 10 September 2012, page 23)
(11.15 – 11.40)
Summary:
The Council is embarking on developing an integrated
approach to coastal management. The approach will
involve developing appropriate ways of managing the
coast with reference to the communities’ needs, coastal
processes, policy context and the availability of funding.
The approach will offer improved coastal information,
development of funding opportunities and
implementation of a broad spectrum of initiatives and
schemes for managing the coast across the frontage.
Conclusions:
The coast is a priority for this Council and it is vital that
an integrated coastal approach is adopted.
The approach will recognise the importance of protecting
the coastline, where possible, and will seek to realise the
resources to achieve this. It will also develop tools and
methods to assist communities affected by coastal
change and will seek to sustain and manage coastal
infrastructure. The approach will not be confined by a
boundary, but will be guided by the issues faced by our
coastal communities.
The integrated coastal approach will be delivered
through capital and revenue coast protection works,
partnership funding initiatives, implementation of the
Shoreline Management Plan Action Plans, development
of adaptive management measures and long term
infrastructure planning, all within the context of wider
coastal issues.
Throughout all the work streams, effective stakeholder
engagement will be essential; the Coastal Issues Forum
will be instrumental in achieving this as well as the
establishment of web based ‘Coastal Hub’. Where
required further specific engagement activities will be
undertaken.
Recommendations:
1. That the integrated approach to coastal
management, in particular the work schemes set out
in Table 1 of this report be endorsed.
2. That the remaining unallocated coastal Pathfinder
budget (approximately £65,000 revenue) and receipts
including the Coastal Erosion Assistance Grant
(£60,000 capital) and any income from successful
Pathfinder replacement housing are incorporated
into a new integrated coastal budget for the purpose
of funding specific coastal projects and resources in
line with the integrated approach.
3. That the allocation of the integrated coastal
budget is delegated to the Chief Executive in
consultation with the Coastal Portfolio Holder.
Cabinet Member(s)
Cllr. A. Fitch-Tillett
Contact Officer:
Rob Goodliffe 01263 516321
Rob.Goodliffe@north-norfolk.gov.uk
13.
NORTH NORFOLK HOUSING STRATEGY 2012-15 (MAKING BEST USE OF THE
EXISTING HOUSING STOCK)
(Page 63 )
(Strategy Document – page 66)
(11.40 – 12.25)
Summary:
Conclusions:
The North Norfolk Housing Strategy 2012-2015 will consist
of 3 separate documents reflecting the key areas of
supporting the delivery of new housing and infrastructure,
making the most effective use of the existing housing stock
and supporting independence. The first document on
Housing and Infrastructure has been completed and was
adopted by the Council in July 2012. The second of these 3
documents considers how to make the best use of the
existing housing stock in North Norfolk and contains a
detailed action plan for the period 2012/2015 setting out the
Council’s objectives.
The North Norfolk Housing Strategy 2012-2015 is a suite of
3 documents which address the following specific areas:
•
Supporting the delivery of new homes and
infrastructure
• Making best use of the existing housing stock
• Supporting
Vulnerable
Residents
to
Live
Independently in the Community.
Each document sets the context for the area it relates to
and includes a dedicated action plan. The second
document of the North Norfolk Housing Strategy 2012-2015
is now completed and is presented to Cabinet prior to
adoption by the Council.
Recommendations:
Cabinet recommends the adoption of the North Norfolk
Housing Strategy (Making Best Use of the Existing
Housing Stock) document to Full Council.
Cabinet Member(s)
Ward(s) affected
Keith Johnson
All
Contact Officer,
telephone number
and email:
16.
Karen Hill
01263 516183
karen.hill@north-norfolk.gov.uk
OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY UPDATE
Summary:
(Page 33)
(Appendix C – page 39)
(Appendix D – page 43)
(Appendix E – page 44)
(Appendix F – page 50)
(12.25 – 12.35)
This report updates the Committee on progress with topics in
its agreed work programme (attached at Appendix C) and
invites Members to identify any arising items for future
meetings. The Scrutiny Committee’s working style and role is
attached at Appendix D.
Conclusions:
That progress is being made in some areas,
others need to be monitored and opportunities
for scrutiny should be discussed.
Recommendations:
That Members should consider any followup actions required on these topics and
suggest any amendments to the Overview
and Scrutiny Committee Annual Review 2011
- 2012.
Cabinet Member(s)
Mr T J FitzPatrick
Ward(s) affected
All
Contact Officer, telephone number and email: Mary Howard, Democratic Services Team
Leader, Tel.01263 516047, mary.howard@north-norfolk.gov.uk
17.
EXCLUSION OF THE 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 items of business on the grounds that they
involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph _ of Part I of
Schedule 12A (as amended) to the Act.”
18.
TO CONSIDER ANY EXEMPT MATTERS ARISING FROM CONSIDERATION OF THE
PUBLIC BUSINESS OF THE AGENDA