Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 10^th May 2021.

The minutes of the meeting held on 10^th May 2021 were approved as a correct record.

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)

None received.

To receive oral questions from Members, if any

None received.

To consider any recommendations to Cabinet by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, for consideration in accordance within the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules.

The Chairman of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee informed Cabinet that there were no recommendations.

The following recommendations were made to Cabinet at the meeting of the Planning Policy & Built Heritage Working Party meeting held on 17^th May 2021:

THE GLAVEN VALLEY CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISALS & MANAGEMENT PLANS 2021

THE GLAVEN VALLEY CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISALS & MANAGEMENT PLANS 2021

Decision

RESOLVED:

The Portfolio Holder for Planning, Cllr J Toye, introduced this item.

It was proposed by Cllr J Toye, seconded by Cllr A Fitch-Tillett and

THE GLAVEN VALLEY CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISALS & MANAGEMENT PLANS 2021

Decision

RESOLVED:

Decision

RESOLVED:

1.      To adopt the Ryburgh Neighbourhood Plan as part of the statutory Development Plan for North Norfolk;

2.      To approve the attached Decision Statement under Regulation 19 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 as amended and authorised for publication and release in order to bring to the attention of the qualifying body, the people who live, work and or carry out business in the Neighbourhood Plan Area;

3.      To authorise the required consequential changes to the adopted policies map and the required consequential changes to the referendum version of the neighbourhood plan through delegated powers to the Planning Policy Team Leader.

Cllr J Toye, Portfolio Holder for Planning, introduced this item. He explained that there was a requirement to formally ‘make’ the Ryburgh Neighbourhood Plan as part of the statutory Development Plan for North Norfolk.

It was proposed by Cllr J Toye, seconded by Cllr V Gay and

RESOLVED:

1.       To adopt the Ryburgh Neighbourhood Plan as part of the statutory Development Plan for North Norfolk;

2.       To approve the attached Decision Statement under Regulation 19 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 as amended and authorised for publication and release in order to bring to the attention of the qualifying body, the people who live, work and or carry out business in the Neighbourhood Plan Area;

3.       To authorise the required consequential changes to the adopted policies map and the required consequential changes to the referendum version of the neighbourhood plan through delegated powers to the Planning Policy Team Leader.

Officer - Sonia Shuter – Health and Communities Manager

The Portfolio Holder for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, Cllr V Gay, introduced this item. She said that the annual review of the North Norfolk Sustainable Communities Fund demonstrated continued support to communities across the District. She thanked the Health & Communities Manager for her support and the Panel for their commitment. She said that it was a cross-party panel which worked together with no interference. She concluded by saying that applications for more environmental projects would be welcomed.

Cllr J Toye said that he was pleased to see an equal distribution of funding across the District.

Cllr J Rest said that it was good to see more match funding coming forwards from applicants as this made the process fairer.

The Chairman sought clarification on whether the report would go to Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consideration. The Democratic Services Manager replied that it had previously been scrutinised but that the decision lay with the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

It was proposed by Cllr V Gay, seconded by Cllr R Kershaw and

RESOLVED

To note the contribution that the NNSCF makes on Council priorities as well as the impact that Covid 19 has had on applications to the NNSCF and the provision and delivery of community projects.

Reason for the recommendation:

To ensure the NNSCF continues to reflect Council priorities to build sustainable communities and respond to the Climate Emergency declared by the Council in 2019.

The Chairman, Cllr Seward, introduced this item. He explained that it provided an overview of quarter 4 (January to March 2021) and enabled the Council to assess delivery against objectives detailed in the Delivery Plan 2019 – 2023 as well as operational service performance.

Cllr A Fitch-Tillett, Portfolio Holder for Coast, referred to page 31 and the summary section for corporate plan delivery. She said that she was extremely disappointed to see that the coast was not referenced at all. She said that later on in the report all of the targets relating to coast were green and this should be recognised and reflected in the covering section.

Cllr J Rest referred to pages 52,77 and 78 of the report and the indicators marked with a red triangle. He said that he understood why objectives such as the establishment of a Youth Council were currently on hold but he sought assurance that they would be progressed as soon as possible. Cllr L Shires confirmed that she was committed to getting the Youth Council up and running as soon as it was practical to do so.

Cllr C Cushing referred to the February Budget meeting of Full Council when he had raised the Administration’s lack of preparation for a future deficit. He drew members’ attention to page 68 of the report and section 6.2.1 which related to the objective of developing a financial sustainability strategy. He said that preparations should be starting now to prepare for future years and asked for an update. The Chairman replied that he had requested a briefing meeting with the Finance Team to discuss preparations for next year’s budget. He referred to the new approach of zero based budgeting which was being introduced soon and said that preparations were underway for achieving a balanced budget next year. Cllr Cushing asked why the anticipated deficit was not listed as a key priority within the delivery plan (page 34 of the report). The Chairman replied that it was his understanding that the Government’s Fairer Funding review was likely to be further delayed and this could impact on the Council’s priorities. He added that he wanted to approach the financial sustainability of the Council in a planned way.

Cllr Cushing requested an update on the situation at the next Cabinet meeting. The Chairman replied that the Outturn report would be presented to the Overview & Scrutiny Committee soon and members would have the opportunity to question the Section 151 officer on these issues. He agreed that an update would be provided at the next meeting of Cabinet.

The Director of Communities said that financial sustainability and growth was key. Some objectives had been delayed by Covid but the Corporate Leadership Team (CLT) was very aware of the financial position and was looking at areas for improvement.

Cllr V Holliday referred to the ‘reasons for the recommendations’ at the start of the report. She said that it stated that it was to ensure that the objectives of the Council were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 94.

Decision

RESOLVED:

To recommend to Full Council the formal adoption of its Equality Objectives and the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy 2021 (subject to the amendments agreed by Cabinet)

Reason for the recommendation:

The Council is legally required to publish Equality Objectives. It is doing this alongside the publication of its refreshed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy 2021. The Equality Objectives and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy will need to be formally adopted by Full Council 

The Chairman, Cllr E Seward, introduced this item. He explained that Norfolk County Council had been approached for support in preparing the document as they had a policy team with experience and expertise in equality, diversity and inclusion. He said that there were four Equality Objectives which would be published alongside the Equality Policy and that these objectives would become actions to be delivered as part of an annual action plan (AAP). He proposed the following additional recommendations,

The first one would strengthen section 13 of the report:

‘That an annual report to be produced and reported to the relevant committees’.

The second, would be included in the ‘Further Information’ section:

‘This Policy should be read in conjunction with the action plan and other relevant documents’

Cllr V Gay said that she was supportive of the amendments. It should be recognised that it was a ‘live’ document and keeping it under review would keep it in people’s minds.

Cllr N Dixon said that the document had been a long time coming. He acknowledged recent conversations with the Director of Communities and said that this version was more in keeping with a policy statement, which reflected the key messages from Overview & Scrutiny Committee. He made reference to pages 99 – 101 and asked whether they were part of the policy or in addition to it. He highlighted the definition of anti-semitism on page 100 and asked whether it was enshrined in the policy or attached as an appendix. He concluded by acknowledging the contribution of Norfolk County Council and asked why they were not approached for support earlier.

The Director for Communities replied that pages 99 to 100 were footnotes to the main policy document and included explanation of the definitions referred to in the policy. They formed part of the overall document but the view had been taken that the main policy document should be kept as tight as possible. Cllr Dixon requested that the linkage between the policy document and the footnotes should be clear. Cllr Gay suggested that if they were called notes rather than footnotes and set out clearly that they included definitions of the protected characteristics, then this should make it clearer.

It was proposed by Cllr E Seward, seconded by Cllr V Gay and

RESOLVED

1.    To recommend to Full Council the formal adoption of its Equality Objectives and the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy 2021, including the amendments agreed by Cabinet.

2.    That an annual report to be produced and reported to the relevant committees

Reason for the recommendation:

The Council is legally required to publish Equality Objectives. It is doing this alongside the publication of its refreshed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy 2021. The Equality Objectives and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy will need to be formally adopted by Full Council 

Decision

RESOLVED

1.    To approve the disposal of the property as outlined in the exempt appendix.

2.    That should there be any further changes to the offer made or the potential purchaser, to delegate to the s151 Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, to dispose of the property for any value exceeding the original purchase price (plus any additional costs incurred).

Reason for the decision:

The disposal is in accordance with the Council’s Disposal policy and the offer is deemed to be the best financial consideration reasonably obtainable at the current time.

The Chairman introduced this item. He explained that this item had come before Cabinet on 12 April 2021. Since then the previous offer to acquire the property had fallen through and a number of further offers had been received. It was suggested that these options were explored.

Cllr V Holliday asked whether the receipt from the sale would be ring-fenced for housing. The Chairman replied that, as it was a capital asset, it would go into a central fund which was allocated into appropriate priorities. This was in line with the Council’s Disposal Policy. He said that there was a balance to be drawn but that flexibility was needed.

It was proposed by Cllr E Seward, seconded by Cllr J Toye and

RESOLVED

1.    That Cabinet approves the disposal of the property as outlined in the exempt appendix.

2.    That should there be any further changes to the offer made or the potential purchaser, to delegate to the s151 Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, to dispose of the property for any value exceeding the original purchase price (plus any additional costs incurred).

Reason for the recommendation:

The disposal is in accordance with the Council’s Disposal policy and the offer is deemed to be the best financial consideration reasonably obtainable at the current time.

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.”