Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 28^th March 2022.

The minutes of the meeting held on 28^th March were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Cllr J Rest said that a question had been asked on his behalf at the previous meeting (Minute 235 Property Transaction: Lease Proposals at the Blue Sky Café and Art Deco Building) and he had not yet received a response. The Democratic Services Manager agreed to follow this up.

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

None received.

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 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)

The Leader, Cllr T Adams, declared a non-pecuniary interest in Agenda item 10: Property Transaction – North Lodge Park, as it was in his ward.

To receive oral questions from Members, if any

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

There were no recommendations to Cabinet from the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 6^th April 2022.

The Chairman of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, Cllr N Dixon, said that although there were no recommendations from the main committee, there was a recommendation from the Environment and Quality of Life Scrutiny Panel, regarding Agenda Item 9 – Quality of Life Strategy. He explained that they supported approval of the strategy subject to consideration of the inclusion of demonstrable and measurable outcomes. He went onto say that there had been further correspondence between Cllr Dr V Holliday and the Director of Communities suggesting examples of how such indicators could be included. The Director of Communities confirmed that that possible areas had been identified where there were opportunities for existing data could be used. He said that the action plan was a working document that was still being developed and the monitoring element of this would be worked on in the coming months.

Cllr L Shires asked whether the outcomes for monitoring would be in addition to the final column of Appendix 7 – as this was already entitled outcomes and measures. The Director for Communities replied that it was felt that some elements of the action plan would be delivered over a longer period of time and there was an opportunity to have more measurable outcomes than currently specified. The Assistant Director for People Services added that the intention was to look at the Thriving Places index and see which areas were applicable to North Norfolk and reflect them within the Action Plan. She said that specific measures would be assessed as the Strategy was developed to ensure that they were robust enough to measure that a difference was being made.  

LIST OF BACKGROUND PAPERS AS REQUIRED BY LAW

(Papers relied on to write the report, which do not contain exempt information and which are not published elsewhere)

The Leader explained that this was a report to inform Cabinet of recent decisions taken under delegation.

Cllr N Dixon referred to the decision to apply a temporary increase to staff mileage rates and asked whether it was in line with national rates and whether other Norfolk authorities had introduced the same increase. The Director for Resources replied that it was a temporary increase for 3 months and would be reviewed at the end of that period. He said the decision had been taken following discussions with Unison who had raised concerns about the impact of high fuel prices and the general rise in the cost of living. Cllr Dixon sought clarification as to whether the decision had been taken by the District Council alone or in consultation with neighbouring authorities. The Director for Resources confirmed that it was not a national position and the Council had taken the decision on its own without wider, regional consultation.

AGREED

To note the report.

LIST OF BACKGROUND PAPERS AS REQUIRED BY LAW

(Papers relied on to write the report, which do not contain exempt information and which are not published elsewhere)

Decision

RESOLVED

To approve the Quality of Life Strategy 2022 – 2024 and Action Plan and the development of demonstrable outcomes to be included in Appendix 7 of the Strategy.

Reason for the decision:

The development and implementation of a Quality of Life Strategy is a key objective in the Council’s Corporate Delivery Plan. The Strategy has been developed and is presented for approval by Cabinet and adoption by Full Council. 

The Leader began by thanking the Assistant Director for People Services for her hard work in preparing the Strategy and accompanying Action Plan.

Cllr W Fredericks then read out the following statement from the Portfolio Holder for Wellbeing, Cllr V Gay, as she was unable to attend the meeting in person:

‘The Quality of Life strategy is the result of a good deal of work and thought and I recommend it to you. The strategy seeks to define quality of life. It analyses the research which underpins quality of life, it examines the various tables of comparison which measure accomplishment in this area. Perhaps most important of all, it suggests a profile for North Norfolk so that we may have an understanding of where our weaknesses may lie. A good District Council, such as ours is, does not simply work to pick up the rubbish, collect taxes or deliberate planning decisions. It has the competence to make life better for its residents. It can choose to provide safe and stimulating play areas for children, public conveniences, places to walk in the out of doors freely and easily, it can help people in getting to medical appointments, make it more likely that one may find a decent job, make it less likely that people are homeless. I might add many more things, but if you read the action plan you will see the picture. The strategy has now been studied within and without the District Council. It has received support from Councillor Blathwayt's Scrutiny Panel, from the members of the new Health and Well Being Partnership, Public Health and Norfolk Police. The action plan is a live document; it will alter as the situation changes and as we make further accomplishments. It is a foundation for future work rather than a blueprint. Finally, there's the matter of objective measurement. There are many measurements which we might apply - how many people went swimming last week? How many children under three were taken to one of our play areas? Is this number declining? How many hectares of woodland do we have? Do we have plans to increase this? What about allotments? But to do a good job in the future we must dig deeper? How would these measurements demonstrate that our residents had better lives? That is what we need to work on. Which things which lie within our power would be most helpful. That's the next step for us. In closing I would like to thank Karen, Sonia, Steve, for their work towards the strategy. I'd also like to thank Cllr. Dr. Holliday who has already made a very insightful contribution to the thinking about measurement. I hope that you can all support this.’

The Leader referred to the Engagement Strategy which was also being developed and asked how that was progressing. The Director for Communities replied that it was going to Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 12^th May and would then come through to Cabinet for approval.

Cllr J Toye  ...  view the full minutes text for item 245.

LIST OF BACKGROUND PAPERS AS REQUIRED BY LAW

(Papers relied on to write the report, which do not contain exempt information and which are not published elsewhere)

Decision

RESOLVED

To proceed with The Friends of the Park in partnership with Cromer Town Council to complete a new lease over the former tennis court site and as provided in the agreed heads of terms.

Reason for the decision:

The Friends of the North Lodge Park are a known operator to NNDC and are an existing partner in managing the Park. 

The proposal made is a joint venture with the Cromer Town Council and provides for a new changing places toilet facility to be fully funded by the Town Council.

The proposal combines both community and income producing operations.

The proposals are unlikely to be of concern to local residents and offers the least contentious use from a planning perspective.

The proposal will further enhance the use of the Park whilst providing training and support for the wider community.

The proposal for a new toilet block within the tennis court site will free up the existing toilets in the Park which, when combined with the vacant adjacent unit (formerly the children’s nursery) and the existing café, will provide the opportunity to create a newly refurbished income producing property.

Cllr E Seward, Portfolio Holder for Finance & Assets, introduced this item. He said that the proposals reflected the Council’s continued commitment to developing North Lodge Park in Cromer. He said the proposals to develop the former tennis courts on the site for a mixed use, combining both community and income producing operations, enhacing the use of the park and providing training and support for the wider community.

Cllr A Fitch-Tillett, seconded the proposal and congratulated the Friends of North Lodge Park who had undertaken a lot of work over a period of several years to improve the park and make it attractive to visitors.

The Leader concurred and said that he had been involved from a Town Council perspective previously. He clarified that the café was a separate entity and was not related to the proposals before Cabinet today.

Cllr N Dixon asked for clarification on how the base rent was determined. The Strategic Surveyor replied that it had been quite difficult but they had based it on comparable ground rent levels for similar sites and properties across the District.

It was proposed by Cllr E Seward, seconded by Cllr A Fitch-Tillett and

RESOLVED

To proceed with The Friends of the Park in partnership with Cromer Town Council to complete a new lease over the former tennis court site and as provided in the agreed heads of terms.

Reason for the decision:

The Friends of the North Lodge Park are a known operator to NNDC and are an existing partner in managing the Park. 

The proposal made is a joint venture with the Cromer Town Council and provides for a new changing places toilet facility to be fully funded by the Town Council.

The proposal combines both community and income producing operations.

The proposals are unlikely to be of concern to local residents and offers the least contentious use from a planning perspective.

The proposal will further enhance the use of the Park whilst providing training and support for the wider community.

The proposal for a new toilet block within the tennis court site will free up the existing toilets in the Park which, when combined with the vacant adjacent unit (formerly the children’s nursery) and the existing café, will provide the opportunity to create a newly refurbished income producing property.

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.”