Issue - meetings

The Committee is asked to consider and comment on this report that presents an update on the progress being made in implementing the Corporate Plan 2023-27 Action Plan 2024-25 and to give Cabinet an opportunity to discuss and agree decisions that should be taken regarding any issues raised.

The Committee received a progress report showed that twenty-six of the actions are in progress and on track and nine have been completed. It was noted that (i) one action is identified as red and six actions are identified as amber, (ii) there has been a reduction in the number of actions identified as amber from sixteen in the previous quarter to six; and (iii) the Corporate Leadership Team (CLT) have reviewed actions flagged as red and amber in the last quarter.

Questions Responses and Discussion

The mains points of the discussion (Including those issues raised by Councillor Cushing, Hankins, Holliday, Fletcher and Heinrich) maybe summarised as follows:

The Committee:

                 I.          Noted that the activities detailed in the Action Plan have been developed in support of the five themes in the adopted Corporate Plan recognising the increasing pressure on the Council’s budget, the moves towards establishing a Combined Authority for Norfolk and Suffolk under the Government’s English Devolution programme and the proposed Local Government Reorganisation which will change the context in which the District Council operates, alongside continuing with “Business As Usual” to maintain service delivery for the district’s residents until any proposals for new unitary councils in Norfolk are agreed.

               II.          Noted that the actions proposed seek to balance the capacity of the organisation to deliver, taking into account the staff and financial resources available to the Council, the need to focus on supporting the transition of services into any new unitary council(s) and the potential to access external funding or partnership resources, with the aspirations laid out in the Corporate Plan.

             III.          Noted the Council’s had hosted a major summit event in partnership with the Bacton Energy Hub, National Gas and key stakeholders on 14th January 2025. The Bacton Energy Hub (formerly known as Bacton Gas Terminal) has a complex of five gas terminals, which are to be transitioned to Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage (CCUS). It was noted that the summit had, had three key aims:

1.    To raise with the UK Government the future significant opportunities which operators, local stakeholders and future investors believe exist for the Bacton Energy Hub site in terms of decarbonising the existing natural gas operations, and the development of the CCUS proposals.

2.    Promote the benefits of greater collaboration in securing a renewable electricity supply to Bacton to support the decarbonisation of the existing gas processing and transmission operations and increased electricity and water availability to support potential future hydrogen production at Bacton; and

3.    Seek to agree how the future opportunities for Bacton might be shared with the local community to build community understanding and support for future developments at the site.

            IV.          Noted that the Council is working to (a) develop a deeper understanding of the constraints of existing mobile and digital infrastructure in North Norfolk; and (b) lobby key operators and providers so as to reduce the “digital divide.”

              V.          Agreed that the primary focus should be on enhancing broadband internet access, particularly by rolling out full-fibre networks  ...  view the full minutes text for item 258

Noted - Action 31 to be amended as in progress rather than “not started”.

a.    The Chairman introduced the report and highlighted some of the actions contained therein:

Action 2: It was noted that Carbon literacy training was ongoing, with further sessions planned for Members.

Action 3: The project was soon to commence at the Victory Swim and Fitness Centre (North Walsham). Work was ongoing to secure grants for further work elsewhere.

Action 13: Work had now been completed, as far as could be achieved in this action plan. North Norfolk District Council was committed to the ongoing partnership with Active Norfolk.

Action 14: Levelling Up funding for the Fakenham Leisure and Sports Hub proposal had now been confirmed by the Government, following the Autumn budget.

Action 17: The next tranche of data would be shared with Parish Councils soon.

Action 25: A statement had been issued on the potential developments at Bacton Gas terminal. The Council would seek to engage with the operator to discuss their vision.

Action 27: Further developments would be reported soon with respect to bank hubs in Fakenham and North Walsham.

Action 30: Meetings had been held with external bodies, and reporting of these meetings would be shared in due course.

Action 37: Temporary Accommodation continued to be the biggest pressure for North Norfolk, and many other District Councils. An initial analysis was undertaken by officers into the Value for Money of the Council’s Temporary Accommodation, with a further review considered.

b.    Cllr V Holliday questioned the colour grading of actions 9 and 31 and asked how two projects, both listed as ‘Not Started’, could be colour-coded differently. Cllr V Holliday stressed the need for consistency.

c.     The Chairman advised that action 9 would be further appraised with the next corporate plan progress review. The Chairman agreed that action 31 should be updated to ‘in progress’ as opposed to ‘not started’.

d.    Cllr J Toye advised that work had started with respect to action 31, which would be reported with the next update.

e.    Cllr V Holliday noted that action 20 was marked red. She recognised this was an especially important action and asked what work was taking place to push this forward.

f.      The Chairman confirmed discussions were ongoing with the Norfolk Local Authorities to have a common position. He had requested the status remain marked red, due to the risk associated with this not going ahead.

g.    Cllr A Varley thanked the Climate Change Project Officer for delivering the in-house training and thanked all those who had engaged in the process to date. He encouraged those members who had not attended the training to get trained as soon as possible. He confirmed the Council was seeking to attain bronze status as a Carbon Literate Organisation.

h.    Cllr H Blathwayt endorsed the provision of an ATM in Hoveton, as one of the district’s primary tourist economies, and considered this needed to be elevated as an issue.

i.      The Chairman commented he would discuss this matter with Cash Access UK.

j.      Cllr D Nixon welcomed Cllr H Blathwayt’s comments.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53