Agenda and decisions

Cabinet - Monday, 9th September, 2024 10.00 am

Venue: Council Chamber - Council Offices. View directions

Contact: Emma Denny  Email: emma.denny@north-norfolk.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

2.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 149 KB

To approve, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 08 July 2024.

3.

Public Questions and Statements

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

4.

Declarations of Interest pdf icon PDF 721 KB

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)

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.

Members' Questions

To receive oral questions from Members, if any

7.

Recommendations from Overview & Scrutiny Committee

The following recommendations were made by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee at the meeting held on 17 July 2024:

 

1.     East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust

 

Recommended that the Council –

 

(A) Request the East of England Ambulance Trust to provide

 

(1) the mapping of CFRs in North Norfolk to establish where any gaps in the numbers of volunteers are

 

(2) communication materials for members of the council to use when talking to their respective Parish and Town Councils about the co-responding and the role of CFRs

 

(B) the Council

 

(1) works with the Norfolk Ambulance Trust to help promote its Campaign on Community First Responders and co responding by signposting members of the public towards the Ambulance Trust’s Community First Responders https://www.eastamb.nhs.uk/join-the-team/volunteering-and-volunteers/community-first-responders

 

(2) encourages the members of the council to talk to their respective Parish and Town Councils on the importance of the work being done by Community First Responders with the aim of increasing the understanding of these roles and seeking to achieve more volunteers to apply for these roles

 

2.     North Walsham High Street Heritage Action Zone

 

‘To update the Overview & Scrutiny Committee in 12 months time on the impact of the North Walsham High Street Heritage Action Zone initiative and learning from this, to establish a set of evaluation criteria, including baselines, that can then be used for similar projects in other towns in North Norfolk.’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decision:

Decision

RESOLVED to support the following recommendations:

 

  1. East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust

 

Recommended that the Council –

 

(A) Request the East of England Ambulance Trust to provide

 

(1) the mapping of CFRs in North Norfolk to establish where any gaps in the numbers of volunteers are

 

(2) communication materials for members of the council to use when talking to their respective Parish and Town Councils about the co-responding and the role of CFRs

 

(B) the Council

 

(1) works with the Norfolk Ambulance Trust to help promote its Campaign on Community First Responders and co responding by signposting members of the public towards the Ambulance Trust’s Community First Responders https://www.eastamb.nhs.uk/join-the-team/volunteering-and-volunteers/community-first-responders

 

(2) encourages the members of the council to talk to their respective Parish and Town Councils on the importance of the work being done by Community First Responders with the aim of increasing the understanding of these roles and seeking to achieve more volunteers to apply for these roles

 

  1. North Walsham High Street Heritage Action Zone

 

‘To update the Overview & Scrutiny Committee in 12 months time on the impact of the North Walsham High Street Heritage Action Zone initiative and learning from this, to establish a set of evaluation criteria, including baselines, that can then be used for similar projects in other towns in North Norfolk.’

 

 

8.

Recommendations from Planning Policy & Built Heritage Working Party pdf icon PDF 162 KB

The following recommendations were made by the Planning Policy & Built Heritage Working Party at the meeting held on 18 July 2024:

 

1.     Wells Neighbourhood Plan:

 

In order to comply with the statutory timeframe, the

Planning Policy & Built Heritage Working Party

recommends to the Leader to make a delegated

decision on behalf of Cabinet, that having been

subject to successful local referendum;

 

a. The Wells-Next-The-Sea Neighbourhood Plan be

made (brought into force) as part of the statutory

Development Plan for North Norfolk in accordance

with section 38A(4) of the Planning and

Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) as

soon as practical and within the 8 week statutory

time frame and no later than 30th August 2024;

 

b. The issuing of the Decision Statement

 

 

2.     NW West Development Brief  (updated report attached)

 

Members are asked to recommend to Cabinet that:

a.     The Development Brief is endorsed as a material

consideration in order to assist in the development

and determination of applications in relation to the

emerging site allocation, Land West of North

Walsham (NW62/A)

and

b.     Prior to Cabinet, authority to make further minor

changes to the Development Brief is delegated to

the acting Planning Policy Manager.

 

 

Decision:

Decision

RESOLVED to approve

 

  1. Wells Neighbourhood Plan:

 

In order to comply with the statutory timeframe, the Planning Policy & Built Heritage Working Party recommends to the Leader to make a delegated

decision on behalf of Cabinet, that having been subject to successful local referendum;

 

a. The Wells-Next-The-Sea Neighbourhood Plan be made (brought into force) as part of the statutory Development Plan for North Norfolk in accordance with section 38A(4) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) as soon as practical and within the 8 week statutory time frame and no later than 30th August 2024;

 

b. The issuing of the Decision Statement

 

 

  1. NW West Development Brief  (updated report attached)

 

Members are asked to recommend to Cabinet that:

a.     The Development Brief is endorsed as a material consideration in order to assist in the development and determination of applications in relation to the emerging site allocation, Land West of North Walsham (NW62/A)

and

b.     Prior to Cabinet, authority to make further minor changes to the Development Brief is delegated to the acting Planning Policy Manager.

 

 

 

 

 

9.

Delegated Decisions February to August 2024 pdf icon PDF 141 KB

Executive Summary

This report details the decisions taken under delegated powers from February to August 2024.

 

Options considered

 

Not applicable – the recording and reporting of delegated decisions is a statutory requirement.

 

Consultation(s)

Consultation is not required as this report and accompanying appendix is for information only. No decision is required and the outcome cannot be changed as it is historic, factual information.

 

Recommendations

 

To receive and note the report and the register of decisions taken under delegated powers.

 

Reasons for recommendations

 

The Constitution: Chapter 6, Part 5, sections 5.1 and 5.2 details the exercise of any power or function of the Council where waiting until a meeting of Council or a committee would disadvantage the Council. The Constitution requires that any exercise of such powers should be reported to the next meeting of Council, Cabinet or working party (as appropriate)

 

Section 2.1 sets out the requirements regarding the reporting of conditional delegated decisions.

 

Background papers

Signed delegated decision forms.

 

Wards affected

All

Cabinet member(s)

Leader, Cllr T Adams

Contact Officer

Emma Denny, Democratic Services Manager, emma.denny@north-norfolk.gov.uk

 

 

Additional documents:

10.

Reporting progress implementing Corporate Plan 2023-27
Delivery against Action Plan 2023-24 and Action Plan 2024-25 - to end of Quarter 1 - 30 June 2024
pdf icon PDF 619 KB

Executive Summary

The Corporate Plan 2023-27 Action Plan 2023-24 has largely been delivered as planned and work has started on a significant number of actions in the 2024-25 Action Plan

Options considered

 

This is a report on the progress being made to deliver against the Council’s Corporate Plan.

Consultation(s)

The named officer for each action in the annual action plans has been asked for their assessment of progress, to identify any issues impacting on anticipated delivery and to propose actions they will take to address any slippage or uncertainty around delivery in the coming months.

Recommendations

 

Cabinet is invited to comment on this report.

Reasons for recommendations

 

Ten actions in the 2023-24 Action Plan have been completed.

The remaining eighteen actions have been carried forward, updated or amended to reflect changed circumstances and been included in 2024-25 Annual Action Plan 2024-25 which was agreed in November 2023 and the implementation of which has started.

Background papers

 

Corporate Plan 2023-27

Annual Action Plan 2024-25

 

 

Wards affected

All

Cabinet member(s)

Cllr Tim Adams

Contact Officer

Steve Blatch, Chief Executive

Email:- steve.blatch@north-norfolk.gov.uk

 

 

Additional documents:

11.

Budget Monitoring P$ 2024 - 2025 pdf icon PDF 201 KB

Executive Summary

This report provides an update on the Council’s financial performance and projected full year outturn position for 2024/25 for the revenue account, capital programme and reserves statement as at the end of July 2024.

 

As at 31 July 2024, the General Fund projected deficit is £1.325m (£1.017m on Net Operating Expenditure) for the full year 2024/25. This is after adjusting for all known variations and full year forecasting by service managers.

 

Options considered

 

This is an update report on the Council’s financial position and so no other options were considered.

 

Consultation(s)

Cabinet Member

Section 151 officer

Budget Managers

 

Recommendations

 

It is recommended that Cabinet:

 

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

2)    Note that officers will work together to take action to reduce the overall projected General Fund deficit for 2024/25.

3)    Seek approval of full Council to include a budget of £300k for borrowing costs in 2024/25 and that this be funded by using the Treasury Management Reserve (as explained in paragraph 4.8).

4)    Seek approval of full Council to include an addition to the capital programme in 2024/25 for the extension to the Meadow car park in Cromer and that this is funded from revenue (car park income) (as explained in paragraph 5.6).

 

 

Reasons for recommendations

 

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

 

Background papers

 

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Wards affected

All

Cabinet member(s)

Cllr Lucy Shires

Contact Officer

Tina Stankley, Tina.stankley@north-norfolk.gov.uk

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved to recommend the following to Full Council:

 

1)    Seek approval of full Council to include a budget of £300k for borrowing costs in 2024/25 and that this be funded by using the Treasury Management Reserve (as explained in paragraph 4.8).

2)    Seek approval of full Council to include an addition to the capital programme in 2024/25 to the extension and enhancement of the car parking offer in the District, at a location to be identified and that this is funded from revenue (car park income) (as explained in paragraph 5.6).

 

 

12.

Savings - Public Conveniences pdf icon PDF 259 KB

Executive Summary

This report looks at the potential options for the Council owned public conveniences, which are a discretionary service. In light of the worsening financial position of the Council the ongoing cost of management of these facilities needs to be assessed and a plan put in place to reduce the burden on the Council, when funding is required for statutory services.

 

Options considered

 

Option 1 – Full and Winter Closure

Option 2 – Close all sites.

Option 3 – Transfer all sites to Town and Parish Councils

Option 4 – Do nothing

Consultation(s)

Consultation has been undertaken with the property service team to determine the use of the public toilets within Council ownership.

 

Recommendations

 

Members are asked to consider the report and

recommend the following to Full Council:

 

 /

Reasons for recommendations

 

The savings generated from this would amount to £46k (Full Year Effect), a combination of budget savings and cost avoidance. This does not include any potential additional savings that might be realised from the Serco contact cleaning costs. This would help to reduce the deficits shown on the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for the coming years,

Background papers

 

  • Budget and MTFS 24-25
  • Budget Monitoring Report

 

 

Wards affected

All

Cabinet member(s)

Cllr Lucy Shires

Lucy.shires@north-norfolk.gov.uk

Contact Officer

Tina Stankley

Director of Resources

Tina.stankley@north-norfolk.gov.uk

 

Decision:

Decision

RESOLVED that

 

Option 1 - Full and winter closures is progressed by officers, for the least well used and most aged sites in terms of management or maintenance, to include discussions with town and parish councils and other interested parties, regarding possible transfer of sites, where there is a particular context for doing so.

 

 

 

13.

Exclusion of Press and Public

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 paragraphs _ of Part I ofSchedule 12A (as amended) to the Act.”

14.

Private Business