Agenda Item 2__
CABINET
Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on Monday 05 October 2015 at the Council
Offices, Holt Road, Cromer at 10.00am.
Members Present:
Mrs S Arnold
Miss B Palmer
Mr N Dixon
Mrs A Fitch-Tillett
Mr T FitzPatrick (Chairman)
Mrs J Oliver
Mr J Rest
Also attending:
Mrs A Claussen-Reynolds
Mr V FitzPatrick
Mrs P Grove-Jones
Mr P W High
Mr N Pearce
Officers in
Attendance:
48.
Mrs M Prior
Mr R Reynolds
Mr R Shepherd
Mr N Smith
The Chief Executive, the Corporate Directors, the Head of Finance,
the Head of Business Transformation and IT, the Leisure and Cultural
Services Manager and the Democratic Services Team Leader
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Mr N Northam
49.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 7th September 2015 were approved as a correct
record and signed by the Chairman
50.
PUBLIC QUESTIONS
Mr I Ponton asked a question regarding Agenda Item 12: North Norfolk Leisure
Facilities Strategy.
Mr Ponton asked Cabinet to consider including a new build option for a pool in
Fakenham. He explained that this option had been included in the overall strategy
document but not within the recommendations in the executive summary. Mr Ponton
said that both pools in Fakenham were now closed and that the strategy document
strongly identified Fakenham as an area for swimming facilities. He went onto say
that the viability of re-opening the Academy pool needed to be questioned. The
Splash Pool at Sheringham had two alternatives listed within the recommendations
and was listed as a short-term rating, whilst Fakenham had a medium term rating.
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05 October 2015
Therefore a request was being made to include a new build option within the
recommendations together with a short-term rating. The Leader said that these
issues would be dealt with under Agenda item 12.
51.
ITEMS OF URGENT BUSINESS
The Leader informed members that due to tight timescales the contract award for the
Council’s insurance provision was taken under delegated powers. There had been a
joint procurement exercise between NNDC, Great Yarmouth Borough Council and
South Norfolk District Council and the contract had been awarded to Zurich Municipal
for a period of three years. The new arrangements needed to be in place for 1
October 2015 and the Leader confirmed that this was now the case.
52.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
None
53.
MEMBER QUESTIONS
The Leader confirmed that Members could ask questions as each item arose.
54.
CONSIDERATION OF ANY MATTER REFERRED TO THE CABINET BY THE
OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE OR COUNCIL FOR
RECONSIDERATION
None
55.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS FROM THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY
COMMITTEE
None
56.
CONSULTANCY TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A COUNCIL-WIDE
DOCUMENT AND RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
The Leader, Mr T FitzPatrick, introduced this item. He said that the document
management system (DMS) was a critical component of the Digital Transformation
and Business Efficiency Programme and early successful implementation was
essential. Undertaking a pilot project, followed by a phased rollout across the Council
was the best way of ensuring rapid delivery without incurring excessive costs.
It was proposed by Mr T FitzPatrick, seconded by Mrs J Oliver and
RESOLVED
To authorise the Corporate Director (NB) to procure a Document Management
System, initially through a pilot, followed by the Council-wide rollout.
That, the £60,000 cost is funded from the previously identified Business Efficiency
and Digital Transformation budget.
Reasons for the decision:
The approach of engaging third party expertise to assist existing council staff to
deploy a pilot project followed by a separate wider rollout is assessed a being the
Cabinet
05 October 2015
most appropriate to ensure rapid delivery of essential technology whilst retaining
control of future costs.
57.
CONSULTANCY TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A WEB CONTENT
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
The Leader, Mr T FitzPatrick, introduced this item. He explained that the Business
Efficiency and Digital Transformation Programme included a work-stream to improve
web technology. In order to deliver against this work-stream, a request was being
made to release previously identified funding to support the provision of third party
expertise for the deployment and configuration of a content management system for
the Council’s web site which would make it easier for residents, businesses and
customers to interact via the NNDC website using a variety of mobile devices.
It was proposed by Mr T FitzPatrick, seconded by Mr J Rest and
RESOLVED
To approve the release of £44,000 of capital funding, previously identified in the
Business Efficiency and Digital Transformation Programme, to allow officers to
procure third party support to deploy a content management system for the Council’s
web site using the Council’s procurement processes. The project to be complete by
February 2016.
Reasons for the decision:
The approach of engaging third party expertise to assist council staff to deploy and
implement a responsive web site supports the rapid delivery of the council’s Business
Efficiency and Digital Transformation Programme.
58.
DRAFT CENTRAL NORFOLK STRATEGIC HOUSING MARKET ASSESSMENT
Mrs S Arnold, Portfolio Holder for Planning introduced this item. She explained that
the Assessment sought to quantify the amount of new homes that would be required
in the area between 2012 and 2036 and comprised one of the evidence documents
that would be used to prepare policies for the new Local Plan.
It was proposed by Mrs S Arnold, seconded by Mr J Rest and
RESOLVED to
Notes the contents of the Assessment, accepts it as evidence to inform the
preparation of the Local Plan and other policies and authorises publication.
Reasons for the decision:
The Assessment has been prepared in accordance with best practice and is a robust
assessment of future housing need and demand which will be used to prepare the
Local Plan.
59.
NORTH NORFOLK INDOOR LEISURE FACILITIES STRATEGY
Miss B Palmer, Portfolio Holder for Leisure introduced this item. She explained that
the report made a number of recommendations which provided the Council and other
providers and operators of leisure facilities across the District with options as to
future investment needs and opportunities in the provision of new indoor sports and
Cabinet
05 October 2015
leisure facilities. The Strategy document also provided an audit of existing indoor
leisure facilities and Miss Palmer said that she was pleased to see that there was a
good spread of facilities across the District and that the reach was also very good.
In response to the points raised by the public speaker, Mr Ponton, Miss Palmer
acknowledged that there were a number of issues regarding swimming facilities in
Fakenham. She said that she fully supported the aspirations of the local community
but that a mix of funding would be required to achieve them, She concluded by
saying that the Council would take the consultants recommendations into account
when going forward with the strategy.
In seconding the proposal, the Deputy Leader, Mrs A Fitch-Tillett said that she
completely endorsed the recommendations. Sports and leisure was vital for the
health and wellbeing of the District, although it should be borne in mind that it was
not a statutory obligation.
The Leader invited Members to ask questions:
1. Mr R Reynolds said that he was pleased to see two of his fellow ward members
in attendance and that he was very supportive of their efforts. He said that the reopening of the Fakenham Academy pool was an important consideration. New
build was also an option but it should be sustainable.
2. Mr N Dixon said that he welcomed the reference to mixed economy in terms of
the provision of facilities. He added that it was also important to look outside the
District to ensure that all possible resources were harnessed.
3. Mrs P Grove-Jones spoke about her ward, Stalham. She said that she had met
with the consultant some time ago and pointed out that a large proportion of
leisure activities were supported by volunteers. She also referred to the Dual Use
Sports Centre (DUSC) in Stalham where the provision for the public was very
limited as the school took priority and often cancelled bookings if they required
the facilities. The Leader replied that this would be looked into as it was
important that the provision was right for the town.
Before moving to the recommendations, the Leader asked Mr Ponton if he wished to
respond to any of the comments. Mr Ponton said that it was still not clear that
whether the points that he made earlier were being taken on board and in particular
whether the new build option for a pool for Fakenham was a possibility. Miss B
Palmer replied that the new build option was one of a number of options being
considered.
The Leader said that this was not the final strategy document and that it would be
used to inform the strategy going forward. He said that the recommendations had
been revised to reflect this:
It was proposed by Miss B Palmer, seconded by Mrs A Fitch-Tillett and
RESOLVED to
1. Note the submission of the report by Neil Allen Associates and to take their
views into account when formulating the Council’s way forward for the future
with regard to sports and leisure
2. To task the Corporate Director (SB), working under direction from the Portfolio
Holder to identify and agree the relevant project work streams required to
produce an indoor leisure facilities strategy.
Reasons for the decision:
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05 October 2015
Sound management of the Council’s sports and leisure assets; co-ordination and
promotion of existing indoor sports facilities to ensure value for money provision and
good levels of participation in sport given the demographic profile of the district and in
support of the Council’s corporate objective in promoting sport and wellbeing; inform
future investment decisions regarding the provision and operation of new indoor
sports facilities in the district over the next twenty years.
60.
COMPULSORY PURCHASE OF THE FORMER SHANNOCKS HOTEL,
SHERINGHAM
The Portfolio Holder for Legal Services, Mrs J Oliver, introduced this item. She
explained that the report made the case for the compulsory purchase of the
Shannocks Hotel site in Sheringham, which despite the efforts of the Council was in
a very dilapidated condition. Mrs Oliver went onto say that various methods of
improving the property had been explored to no avail. The owners continued to show
no willingness to bring the property back into use and only a very limited willingness
to improve it. It was a huge concern to local residents as it was a blight on the
seafront.
Mr N Dixon, on seconding the proposal, said that the property was a blot on the
landscape that needed to be addressed. It was hoped that the Council would not
need to resort to a compulsory purchase order as it was not an action that should be
undertaken lightly.
The Leader invited Members to speak:
1. Mr R Shepherd, Local member for Sheringham South said that he had been
fighting this issue since 2013. The Council’s Enforcement Board had worked
very hard to tackle the problem and he welcomed the commitment to compulsory
purchase the property.
2. Mrs P Grove-Jones asked why the owners had refused to engage with the
Council at all. The Corporate Director (NB) replied that the Council had tried to
engage with the owner several times and had even given them an extended
timeline to complete works to the property but they had still not complied.
It was proposed by Mrs J Oliver, seconded by Mr N Dixon and
RESOLVED:
1. That subject to point 5 below the Corporate Director (NB), after discussion with
2.
3.
4.
5.
Cabinet
the s151 Officer and the Portfolio members for Planning, Property and Assets
and Legal Services, is delegated the power to conclude an agreement with the
owners of the former Shannocks Hotel, Sheringham, to sell the property to the
Council, stating clear timescales for the owners to respond and to complete the
sale.
If no such agreement is reached, that the Corporate Director (NB), is
instructed to proceed to make an application for a Compulsory Purchase
Order on the property and to take all necessary or desirable steps to achieve
that.
That following acquisition, the Corporate Director (NB), will bring a further report
back to Cabinet for a decision regarding options for redevelopment
That, the purchase cost and CPO fees will be funded from capital resources from
which virement of the necessary funds is authorised.
The purchase price will not exceed independent valuation and the CPO on costs
at the upper limit identified in the report.
05 October 2015
Reasons for the decision:
1. There is an expectation by the Secretary of State that Councils will seek to reach
voluntary agreement on purchase prior to a Compulsory Purchase being
authorised.
2. To enable the property to be acquired for redevelopment or bringing back into
use, thus removing this long-term empty property which is presently causing
blight in the local area.
3. To enable Cabinet to make an informed decision on the future use of the
property.
4. To make the necessary financial provision for purchase
5. To ensure CPO remains a cost effective option.
The Meeting closed at 10.30 am
_______________
Chairman
Cabinet
05 October 2015