Agenda item

To receive reports from Cabinet Members on their portfolios.

Cllr T Adams - Executive Support & 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)

Cllr FitzPatrick asked the Leader what alternative savings are being proposed to prevent the closure of the public toilets at Walsingham, as this would affect 320,000 visitors annually, many of whom are elderly and disabled.

Cllr Adams responded that it was never the intention to close the facilities at Walsingham. Walsingham is a wonderful and interesting village, and the provision of public toilets is important. However, we currently have over 60 families in temporary accommodation, with the number of children reaching over 80 at one-point last week which is putting great strain on budgets.

With regard to the toilets at Walsingham, we are in discussion with a number of organisations, to try and find another way to find savings that will cover the cost of the facilities. Members will be kept informed as discussions progress.

Similar discussions are taking place with regards to other toilets, with discussion due to commence in Stalham, Potter Heigham and West Runton. We have also recently completed the transfer to the freehold owners of the toilets at Hickling staithe.

The Council don’t want to be in the position of removing discretionary services or reducing the level of statutory services we are able to offer but the financial pressures are such that difficult decisions have to be made.

Cllr Fitzpatrick responded that there is currently a large element of borrowing within the budget and these repayments which will be needed year on year are falling disproportionately across the district.

Cllr Adams replied that all capital investments are considered very carefully particularly in light of current considerations. Conversations will continue to be had with the aim to prevent the facilities closing.

Cllr Fitch-Tillett asked Cllr Blathwayt why the leader has been reporting on coastal issues and whether his appointment as Chair of the Broads Authority meant he no longer has time to focus on the Coast.

Cllr Blathwayt responded that he was still able to do his job for coast as well as being Chair of the Broads Authority. This is clearly demonstrated through the work being done through Coastwise, the Cromer and Mundsley schemes and other works that are on stream to go ahead in the near future.

Cllr Fitch-Tillett asked why Cllr Blathwayt had not attended the Trimingham sub-committee meetings that have been held twice monthly.

Cllr Adams stated that it was not up to members of the Council to be casting judgements in terms of members diaries and workloads. Cllr Blathwayt has the busiest diary of any of the members of Cabinet and if he was not at Trimingham, he was most likely at a meeting related to water somewhere else. Apologies that my colleague cannot be everywhere.

Cllr Blathwayt responded that the Trimingham meeting was the only Coastwise meeting that he didn’t attend as he was at another meeting relating to water.

Cllr Heinrich asked Cllr Varley if he was able to provide details of the benefits to the Victory Swim and Fitness Centre since the completion of the solar array.

Cllr Varley replied that it had been a fantastic project, and it was great that it had now been completed. Thanks go to all the officers involved and the Contractor Core Energy. This project shows that we are committed to still tackling our assets and our net zero target of 2030. Leisure centres are one of the biggest carbon emitters so it is right that we tackle these.

The solar panels are different from the original specification and offer increased energy creation from the predicted 188,000 kilowatts of energy. This Council has not just completed the project on budget and on time but also above specification.

Cllr Bayes spoke on behalf of himself and Cllr Taylor to enquire why when Stalham Baptist church applied for planning for solar panels on its roof that the greatest objections came from the Council’s Conservation Officer and whether applications of this nature should have greater weighting given to the net zero aspect of the project.

Cllr Adams answered the questions as Cllr Varley was not aware of the application. The Leader stated his support for the application but explained that every statutory consultee has a right and responsibility to respond to the planning applications. In this case there were constraints over conservation and heritage. Not up to councillors to prevent professional observations being made. It is hoped that there will be a successful outcome in this case. 

Cllr Varley agreed with the Leader and explained that it is important that all planning applications go through the planning process. If the local members have concerns, Cllr Varley offered his support to look into this.

The Chief Executive confirmed that the application was approved on 12 November 2024.

Cllr Taylor directed his question to Cllr Adams, in Cllr Toye’s absence. He asked that in light of the Labour budget and increased National Insurance contributions for businesses, was the Leader concerned that economic growth and resilience in North Norfolk would suffer and if so, is there plans to unlock additional support for local businesses.

Cllr Adams shared Cllr Taylor’s concerns. He confirmed that he has been in touch with a number of different sectors in light of the details that are emerging. The impacts of the increases in National Insurance are very concerning and we don’t want employment hours and businesses to reduce.

He stated that in recent times North Norfolk has bucked the trend, the evidence of this is the increase in retained business rates. The Council want to do everything we can to retain business growth. It has been good to see planning applications for new businesses and we need to do everything we can to foster relationships with key accounts and help them expand.

The Council has a role to play at a wider strategic level, but it is an ever changing picture.

Cllr Boyle asked Cllr Fredericks if the housing strategy team will continue to find ways to increase the supply of temporary accommodation.

Cllr Fredericks replied that yes, the team will continue to find new sources of temporary accommodation. She said that currently the Council have 81 children in temporary accommodation, none of the children are in nightly paid bed and breakfast, they are all in our own or self-contained accommodation. The team are currently looking at three alternatives to dramatically increase temporary accommodation. The Council is bringing forward a number of affordable homes in the coming years.

Cllr Fredericks thanked communities as there are currently a lot less objections from communities for social houses. We are striving to make sure we have enough temporary accommodation and affordable homes before any local government reorganisation occurs.

Cllr Cushing questioned Cllr Adams on the effects he thought devolution would have on the budget and systems procurement moving forward.

Cllr Adams responded that it was great to be having positive conversations about the local government reorganisation. Good discussions are being had with the other District, Borough and City leaders across Norfolk and Suffolk.

He stated that he is concerned about three core elements – the coast, small towns, tourism infrastructure. It is necessary to consider our plans moving forward.

It is of vital importance that we see the delivery of the Fakenham leisure centre. We also need to be shoring up our assets - towns, communities and infrastructure. 2026 the Pier will be 125 years old, and we need to secure the Pier for tourism in North Norfolk. Look east to Stalham and Hoveton, to shore up assets and hand over the chance of prosperity and longevity as best as we can with the resources that we have. We will need to be agile and would welcome the opportunity to collaborate across the chamber

Cllr Vardy applauded the project to plant 110,000 trees across the District and stated that Norfolk County Council having planted 700,000 trees has a policy to inspect, review and replace where appropriate. He therefore asked if NNDC had a similar policy and budget for replacement.

Cllr Varley questioned whether the figure stated for the County Council was correct and explained that within the 110,000-tree planting project, it was for those people who planted the trees, to facilitate the planting, maintenance and the aftercare of the trees.