Agenda Item 2__
CABINET
Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on Monday 4 March 2013 at the Council
Offices, Holt Road, Cromer at 10.00 am.
Members Present:
Mrs A Fitch-Tillett
Mr J Lee
Mr W Northam
Mr R Wright
Also attending:
Mrs A Claussen-Reynolds Mrs L Brettle
Ms V Gay
Mrs P Grove-Jones
Mr P High
Ms B Palmer
Mr J H Perry-Warnes
Mr E Seward
Mr R Shepherd
Ms V Uprichard
Officers in
Attendance:
117.
Mr T FitzPatrick (Chairman)
Mr T Ivory
Mr R Oliver
The Chief Executive, the Corporate Director (NB), the Corporate
Director (SB), the Head of Finance, the Coast and Community
Partnerships Manager, the Communications Manager and Policy and
Performance Management Officer.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
None received.
118.
MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 4 February 2013 were confirmed as a correct
record and signed by the Chairman.
119.
PUBLIC QUESTIONS
None received.
120.
ITEMS OF URGENT BUSINESS
None received.
121.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
None received.
122.
CONSIDERATION OF ANY MATTER REFERRED TO THE CABINET BY THE
OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE OR COUNCIL FOR
RECONSIDERATION
None received.
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123. CONSIDERATION OF ANY REPORTS FROM THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY
COMMITTEE
None received.
124.
JOINT STAFF CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE
RESOLVED:
That the minutes of the meeting of the Joint Staff Consultative Committee held on 19
November 2012 be approved.
125.
PLANNING POLICY AND BUILT HERITAGE WORKING PARTY:
HOUSING LAND SUPPLY – PUBLICATION OF STATEMENT OF
FIVE YEAR SUPPLY OF RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT LAND
Mr. Oliver, Chairman of the Working Party, pointed out that the advice of the
Department for Communities and Local Government had been sought as there was
some uncertainty concerning a requirement in the National Planning Policy
Framework relating to authorities with a record of under-delivery of housing.
RESOLVED:
(1) That the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Policy and Built Heritage
Working Party held on 14 January 2013 be approved.
(2) That, subject to the advice of the Department for Communities and Local
Government in respect of the 20% buffer, the Statement of Five Year Supply
of Residential Land be approved.
Reasons for decision:
To publish a statement on how much of the land identified within the District as being
available for housing development might reasonably be expected to be developed
over the next five years.
126.
BUDGET MONITORING REPORT 2012/13 – PERIOD 10
Mr W Northam presented the report summarising the budget monitoring position to
the end of January 2013. At the end of period 10, a forecast underspend for the
current financial year on the revenue account was shown. The overall position would
continue to be monitored.
Mr Northam drew attention to service variances, commenting that the figures for
Development Management were encouraging, with the income figure for the period
running in advance of profile.
In the Capital Programme, approval was sought for virements and changes set out
in paragraph 6.3 of the report, proposed following a review of individual capital
schemes. The virements, to cover expenditure on the Cromer Red Lion
Refurbishment, Sheringham East Promenade Public Conveniences, Sheringham
Little Theatre and Car Park Resurfacing and Refurbishment, were from the
completed Fakenham Factory Extension Scheme, which was expected to be £24,382
under budget.
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The recommendation was moved by Mr Northam and seconded by Mr R Wright.
RESOLVED:
1. That the contents of the report and the current monitoring position be noted.
2. That the current position in relation to the 2012/13 capital programme be
noted and the amendments to the capital schemes, as identified in paragraph
6.3 of the report, be approved.
Reasons for decision:
To update Members on the current budget monitoring position of the Council.
127.
ANNUAL ACTION PLAN 2013/14
In presenting the report, which had followed a rigorous development process, Mr T
FitzPatrick drew attention to a revised Appendix E which had been circulated, setting
out performance indicators and measures. On H003 – the number of development
briefs produced on allocated sites – the 2013/14 target was three and not four as
described.
Mr Oliver referred to C003 – major planning applications processed within thirteen
weeks - where the target had been increased from 72% to 80%, in an effort to
improve performance.
The recommendation was moved by Mr FitzPatrick and seconded by Mrs A FitchTillett.
RESOLVED:
That the Annual Action Plan for 2013/14, as set out in Appendix D of the report, and
the recommendations for performance indicators, as set out in Appendix E, as
amended, be approved.
Reasons for decision:
To agree a balanced and effective Annual Action Plan and associated performance
targets to deliver the priorities and objectives as laid out in the Corporate Plan
2012-2015.
128.
NORTH WALSHAM RETAIL AND LEISURE DEMAND, CAPACITY AND
FEASIBILITY STUDY
Mr T Ivory introduced the report, which was part of the continuing programme of
work to tackle a backlog of issues. The programme has led to some success in
housing, with one brownfield development having already taken place and a further
brownfield site currently being developed by the Victory Housing Trust. The present
study had been commissioned to investigate the idea that retail units would revitalise
the town centre; the consultants had, however concluded that, at this stage, there
was insufficient footfall to attract interest from large retailers to justify investment.
One way in which the necessary invigoration might be generated was via a new
supermarket. Various sites had been looked at by the consultants. A potential
location was Paston College’s Lawns site, but the College did not support this idea
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as it would impact on its own immediate investment plans and could adversely
affect student numbers. However, it was now understood that, within the last week,
a developer had been in contact with the College and it was possible that a viable
scheme could emerge from discussions.
Mr Ivory moved the recommendation and was seconded by Mr Northam.
Mr E Seward, who supported the investigation into alternative sites in the town
centre, agreed that things had moved on since the report had been prepared. He
agreed with the report’s suggestion that any course of action should await the
determination of the planning application for supermarket development on the
Marrick’s Ropes site.
Mr FitzPatrick pointed out that the report accompanying the agenda included an
incorrect Appendix F. The viability assessment should have been for the Paston
College site and not Vicarage Street car Park. A revised version of the Appendix
had been tabled prior to the meeting. The Coast and Community Partnerships
Manager referred Members to the sketch scheme for two options for a possible
supermarket development shown at figure 2 on the revised Appendix. A high level
timeline had been produced to show key tasks and associated timescales,
beginning with the College’s decision-making process through to construction
between July 2015 and December 2016. As already discussed by Members, the
Appendix acknowledged that the future of this potential development opportunity
hinged upon the outcome of the planning application for the Marrick’s Ropes site.
RESOLVED:
That the Council, through its property consultants, continues to investigate the
opportunities to provide investment and development which will support the overall
vitality and viability of North Walsham Town Centre and that any relevant actions or
interventions are brought to Cabinet at the appropriate time for decision.
Reasons for decision:
To provide the information necessary to make decisions about future investment and
development in North Walsham.
129.
THE NORTH NORFOLK BIG SOCIETY FUND - 4TH ROUND LARGE GRANT
APPLICATIONS
Mr T Ivory presented the report. The four grants proposed would bring to an end the
Big Society allocation for the current year. Over the past 12 months, the Fund had
enabled approximately £400,000 to be invested in community projects in the District,
at a time of austerity. In moving the recommendation, Mr Ivory pointed out that all
decisions taken by the North Norfolk Big Society Board, at four meetings over the
year, had been unanimous and he commended and thanked Board members for
their input and support.
Mr J Lee was delighted to second the proposal and that the decision to set up the
fund had been vindicated by its success.
Mr Northam was pleased to see the proposed grant to Mundesley Youth and
Community, which would give great encouragement to a hard working group of
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people who had tapped in to local goodwill in establishing the first three phases of a
community hub and putting together the Multi Use Games Area to complete the
project.
RESOLVED:
That grants be awarded from the Big Society Fund for the projects proposed by
Mundesley Youth and Community, Holt Playing Field Association, Holt Town Council
and the Copeman Centre, Briston, in accordance with the amounts and conditions set
out in the report.
Reasons for decision:
To fulfil the commitment within the small government big society action plan 2012/13
to “encourage the growth of the Big Society within communities”.
The Meeting closed at 10.24 am
_______________
Chairman
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