Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 05 February 2024.

The minutes of the meeting held on 5 February were approved as a correct record subject to the following amendment: Minute 26 should read Clare Road not Blair Road.

To receive questions and statements from the public, if any.

None received.

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 requries that declarations include the nature of the interest and whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest (see attached guidance and flowchart)

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

None.

To receive oral questions from Members, if any

The Chairman advised members that they could ask questions throughout the meeting as matters arose.

The following recommendations were made by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee at the meeting held on 14^th February:

Local Economic Strategy & Action Plan

Recommended

(A) that an appendix to the full strategy and action plan be produced to show all the different sectors to the economy in North Norfolk and when available information be provided in the document that sets out the value of each sector to the local economy, and

(B) the strategy part is extracted from the full document into a shorter summary form that could be more quickly read.

Decision

RESOLVED

Local Economic Strategy & Action Plan

(A) that an appendix to the full strategy and action plan be produced to show all the different sectors to the economy in North Norfolk and when available information be provided in the document that sets out the value of each sector to the local economy, and

(B) the strategy part is extracted from the full document into a shorter summary form that could be more quickly read.

The following recommendations were made by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee at the meeting held on 14^th February:

Local Economic Strategy & Action Plan:

(A) that an appendix to the full strategy and action plan be produced to show all the different sectors to the economy in North Norfolk and when available information be provided in the document that sets out the value of each sector to the local economy, and

(B) the strategy part is extracted from the full document into a shorter summary form that could be more quickly read.

Cllr P Heinrich, Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Growth, said that there had been a full debate on the strategy and he was happy to accept the recommendations.

RESOLVED

To accept the above recommendations from the Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED

Local Economic Strategy & Action Plan

(A) that an appendix to the full strategy and action plan be produced to show all the different sectors to the economy in North Norfolk and when available information be provided in the document that sets out the value of each sector to the local economy, and

(B) the strategy part is extracted from the full document into a shorter summary form that could be more quickly read.

Decision

RESOLVED

1)    Approve the use of the Economic Regeneration Reserve as required as proposed in paragraph2.25.

2)    Approve the use of £0.2m of the Treasury Management reserve to cover the overspend as proposed in paragraph2.42.

Reason for the decision:

To update members on the current budget monitoring position for the Council

Cllr L Shires, Portfolio Holder for Finance, introduced this item. She began by explaining that the forecast gap had widened slightly due to an overspend on temporary accommodation, adding that the reasons for this were set out in section 2.34 of the report and saying that the Council had no choice but to react as it had a legal duty regarding homelessness. She referred to pages 21 – 22, where interest and the potential for borrowing was set out. She reminded members that borrowing was needed for the purchase of waste vehicles but the Council was now in a position where it may be needed to support with cashflow, caused by council tax precept collection. She then asked the DFR to speak about plans to address the deficit going forward. The DFR said that any borrowing would be short-term until interest rates came down. Regarding the current financial position, she said that there had been some windfall income of £135k relating to a VAT issue from 2009 and this would be used to offset the deficit.

Cllr W Fredericks thanked officers for their hard work. She said that it was important to continue to lobby central government and it had been successful in part, as representatives from Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC) were coming to visit the district on Wednesday, following extensive pressure. They would be in attendance for several hours to learn about the unique housing-related challenges presented in North Norfolk, due to its demographic and the pressure placed by second homes. She said that she would continue to lobby hard for support when she met with them on Wednesday.

It was proposed by Cllr T Adams, seconded by Cllr L Shires and

RESOLVED

1)    Note the contents of the report and the current forecast year endposition.

2)    Note the actions to take some short term borrowing and to call back some of the investments that are in our pooledfunds.

3)    Approve the use of the Economic Regeneration Reserve as required as proposed in paragraph2.25.

4)    Approve the use of £0.2m of the Treasury Management reserve to cover the overspend as proposed in paragraph2.42.

5)    Note that officers will work together to take action to reduce the overall projected General Fund deficit at the for2023/24.

Reason for the decision:

To update members on the current budget monitoring position for the Council.

The Chairman introduced this item. He explained that only one action had been flagged as being unable to be completed during 2023/2024: ‘Working with partners to agree an investment in local housing initiatives, funded through the second homes council tax premium’. This had been delayed due to the legislation that allowed it not coming into effect until 2025. He said that in the meantime, discussions with neighbouring District Councils and Norfolk County Council about the retention of second homes council tax income were ongoing and a report would be coming back with draft proposals.

He then highlighted the following key areas of the report – regarding the Local Plan Examination, the Council was now awaiting feedback. Coastwise drop-in events had been very successful so far. Huge success had been achieved in bringing a banking hub to Holt and the completion of the Cedars Building in North Walsham.

Cllr C Ringer, Portfolio Holder for Waste Management, said that regarding Action No.2 – ‘Develop a response to the waste and resources strategy’, although it was highlighted as green, that was due to the work that had been undertaken by the Council, which was on target.  The one risk associated with this was central government’s insufficient allocation of funds to roll out the food waste collection programme, which was taking longer than the Council would like.

It was proposed by Cllr T Adams, seconded by Cllr C Ringer and

RESOLVED

To note the report.

Decision

RESOLVED

To endorse the Economic Strategy & Action Plan and recommend to Full Council its formal adoption.

Reason for the decision

Adoption by the Council will serve to illustrate the importance and value that NNDC places on its role in helping to create a vibrant, healthy and sustainable local economy. 

The Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Growth, Cllr Heinrich, introduced this item. He began by thanking officers for all their hard work. He said that page 65 of the report set out the range of consultations and discussions that had taken place and this ensured that it was a strategy that worked with the Council’s partners to support the best economic development and growth. Cllr Heinrich said that he supported the recommendations from Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

The Chairman said that the case studies in the document highlighted key successes. He asked for a timescale for the production of an Executive Summary.

It was proposed by Cllr P Heinrich, seconded by Cllr H Blathwayt and

RESOLVED

To endorse the Economic Strategy & Action Plan and recommend to Full Council its formal adoption.

Reason for the recommendation:

Adoption by the Council will serve to illustrate the importance and value that NNDC places on its role in helping to create a vibrant, healthy and sustainable local economy.

Decision

RESOLVED

1.    To continue with the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) process and authorise the Director for Place & Climate Change to complete the service of the General Vesting Document relating to the former Shannocks Hotel site, Sheringham.

2.    To bring back a report to Cabinet, outlining the options for future use of the site.

Reason for the decision:

To provide a clear position for discussions with the current owners and to thereafter enable officers to conclude matters.

To pass the following resolution:

“That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A (as amended) to the Act.”

Information in this appendix involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3, Part 1 of schedule 12A (as amended) to the Local Government Act 1972.

This paragraph relates to:

Para 3.  Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

The public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure for the following reasons:

The information is commercially sensitive, relating to commercial options being considered by the authority. Releasing this information would be likely to have a prejudicial impact upon third parties as well as the Council in obtaining best value.