Agenda

Council - Wednesday, 24th September, 2025 6.00 pm

Venue: Council Chamber - Council Offices. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services  Email: democraticservices@north-norfolk.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence

To receive apologies for absence, if any.

2.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 118 KB

To confirm the minutes of the meetings of the Council held on 23 April 2025 and 23 July 2025.

Additional documents:

3.

TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS FROM MEMBERS 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 requires that declarations include the nature of the interest and whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest (see attached guidance and flowchart)

4.

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.

5.

Chairman's Communications

To receive the Chairman’s communications, if any.

6.

Leader's Announcements

7.

Public Questions and Statements

To consider any questions or statements received from members of the public.

8.

Appointments to Committees, Sub-Committees, Working Parties and Outside Bodies

To approve any changes to appointments to committees, sub-committees, working parties and outside bodies, as proposed by the Group Leaders.

9.

Final Proposal for Local Government Reorganisation in Norfolk - "Future Norfolk - People, Place, Progress - The Power of Three" pdf icon PDF 291 KB

Executive Summary

Following the publication of the English Devolution White Paper in December 2024, Norfolk's acceptance onto the Devolution Priority Programme early 2025, and the submission of Interim Plan proposals in March 2025; the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution invited Norfolk’s councils to submit final proposals for local government reorganisation (LGR) in Norfolk by 26 September 2025.

 

North Norfolk District Council, Breckland District Council Broadland District Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, the Borough Council of Kings Lynn and West Norfolk and Norwich City Council have prepared a submission for a three-unitary model for LGR in Norfolk, in accordance with the decisions taken by those authorities in submitting interim proposals to Government in March of this year.

 

This report summarises the detailed development of the three unitary proposal over recent weeks, the current position and next steps. The final proposal – “Future Norfolk – People, Place and Progress – the Power of Three” is annexed to this report. It has been developed collaboratively, under the oversight of the respective Leaders and Chief Executives and in line with the Government’s guidance and with the support of consultants Inner Circle Consulting who were procured jointly by the six authorities to support the development of a strong proposal for submission to Government.

 

Options considered

 

North Norfolk District Council’s position with respect to LGR was considered and agreed at Full Council on 19th March 2025.  This report takes forward the decision agreed at that time.

 

At this point there are two options open to the Council:

 

Option:1: Continue in collaboration with partner authorities and submit the proposal for three new unitary authorities for Norfolk as detailed in the reports in the Annex - Future Norfolk – People, Place, Progress – The Power of Three to the Secretary of State (as per recommendation).

 

Option 2: Agree not to submit the proposal to Government (not recommended).

 

Consultation(s)

Internal consultation has included:

  • Leader
  • Chief Executive
  • Section151 Officer
  • Monitoring Officer
  • Communications Manager

 

During the development of the proposal key stakeholders were engaged and a public survey conducted across Norfolk to assist with evidence and informing the proposal.  Norfolk’s Members of Parliament were also consulted on the proposal.

 

Recommendations

 

That Council:

 

  1. Notes the content of this report and supporting documents detailing the proposal
  2. Endorses the final proposal for a three-unitary model for local government reorganisation in Norfolk
  3. Delegates to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, the approval and submission of the final proposal to the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution for consideration in accordance with the Government’s prescribed process

 

Reasons for recommendations

 

To respond to the statutory invitation from the Secretary of State to submit a final proposal for local government reorganisation in Norfolk.

 

This proposal for a three unitary model for local government in Norfolk offers a compelling and credible pathway to public service reform that is strategically aligned, financially sound and rooted in local identity. It positions Norfolk to deliver better outcomes for residents, strengthen democratic leadership,  ...  view the full agenda text for item 9.

Additional documents:

10.

Recommendations from Cabinet pdf icon PDF 292 KB

The following recommendations have been made by Cabinet to Full Council:

 

Cabinet 31st March 2025:

 

1.     Cabinet Agenda Item 7: Local Authority Housing Fund Round 3 - Funding for Temporary Accommodation

 

Recommended to Full Council –

 

To allocate £0.9m of the additional income from the Second Homes Premium (both from the County Council and District Council elements) as match funding for the LAHF grant.

 

2.     Cabinet Agenda Item 8:  Coastal Management - Budget for reactive coastal works

 

Recommendation to Full Council:

 

The establishment of a dedicated cliff works budget (£125k), administered by the Coastal Management Team.

 

3.     Cabinet Agenda Item 9: Coast Protection Works at Overstrand

 

Recommended that Full Council

 

Approves the required works to the Overstrand sea wall (option 4 of this report at paragraph 3.9) and that £1.280m be added to the Capital Programme for 2025/26 for this scheme and that this be funded by £0.245m of capital receipts, £0.386m of grant funding if able to obtain grant funding and the balance from borrowing.

 

Approves that the scheme be funded by up to a maximum of £1.035m of borrowing. It should be noted that the Council may be able to access grant funding (c. £0.386m) for this scheme and if successful it is proposed that the level of borrowing be reduced to £0.649m.

 

Cabinet 08 September 2025

 

The following recommendations were made to Full Council:

 

4.     Cabinet Agenda Item 8 Budget Monitoring Period 4 2025/26

 

It was recommended that Full Council:

 

a) To decrease the 2025/26 capital budget for the Mundesley Coastal Defence scheme to £1,139,806 to reflect the apportionment of £250k from external contributions to the Cromer Scheme.

b) To increase the 2025/26 capital budget for the Cromer Coastal Defences scheme to £1,096,067 to reflect the apportionment of £250k from external contributions from the Mundesley Scheme.

c) To note the contents of the Q1 Treasury Management update report, appendix F.

 

Please note that the Overview & Scrutiny Committee considered this item at the meeting on 17th September which was after the Full Council agenda was published. The Chair will provide a verbal update on any recommendations at the meeting.

Additional documents:

11.

Recommendations from the Overview & Scrutiny Committee

To consider any further recommendations from the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 17 September.

 

Please note that the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting took place after the Full Council was published, The Chair will provide a verbal update at the meeting.

12.

Recommendations from the Constitution Working Party - Review of the Constitution pdf icon PDF 237 KB

The following recommendation was made by the Constitution Working Party to Full Council at the meeting held on 16 September 2025:

 

-        To approve all the proposed changes to the Council’s constitution.

-        To delegate to the Monitoring Officer to make any further amendments that may arise as a consequence of the proposed changes.

 

Please note that due to the size of the document, it is not included in the agenda but can be accessed in the Library: Home | Document Draft Constitution Full Council Sep 2025

 

13.

Portfolio Reports pdf icon PDF 141 KB

 

To receive reports from Cabinet Members on their portfolios.

 

Cllr T Adams – Strategy, Countrywide Working and External Partnerships, Performance, Communications, HR & Legal Services.

Cllr H Blathwayt – Coast

Cllr A Brown – Planning & Enforcement

Cllr W Fredericks – Housing and People Services

Cllr C Ringer – IT, Environmental & Waste Services

Cllr L Shires – Finance, Estates & Assets

Cllr J Toye – Sustainable Growth

Cllr A Varley – Climate Change & Net Zero

Cllr L Withington – Community, Leisure & Outreach (Including Health & Wellbeing)

 

Members are reminded that they may ask questions of the Cabinet Member on their reports and portfolio areas but should note that it is not a debate.

 

No member may ask more than one question plus a supplementary question, unless the time taken by members’ questions does not exceed 30 minutes in total, in which case, second questions will be taken in the order that they are received (Constitution, Chapter 2, part 2, section 12.2)

 

 

Additional documents:

14.

Questions Received from Members

None Received.

15.

Opposition Business

None Received.

16.

Notice(s) of Motion

None Received.

17.

Exclusion of Press and Public

To pass the following resolution – if necessary:

 

“That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph(s) _ of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) to the Act.”

18.

Private Business