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)

The Chair invited Cllr C Ringer, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services and IT to provide an update.

Cllr Ringer said that in addition to his written report he wanted to provide an update on the presence of ‘nurdles’ or plastic pellets on the beaches which had been washed up following the collision of a cargo ship with an oil tanker off the coast of East Yorkshire on 10^th March. He said that a small amount had been reported and the public had been advised not to touch them whilst they were being dealt with by a multi-agency team. Any sightings of nurdles should be reported as soon as possible. Currently sightings had been limited to the Holkham and Wells area. HM Coastguard was monitoring the situation and keeping it under review.

The Chair then invited members to ask questions:

Cllr G Mancini-Boyle asked Cllr L Shires, Portfolio Holder for Finance, about the issuing of electronic council tax bills. He said that there was a reminder at the bottom of the email prompting recipients to think before printing any documents. He then also received a paper bill in the post and queried why residents were not being encouraged to opt into electronic bills. Cllr Shires said that this was a good question and she would provide a written response.

Cllr K Bayes asked Cllr C Ringer, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services, for an update on the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme. Cllr Ringer replied that the scheme was introduced by the previous Government as a simpler recycling programme and it included the introduction of food waste collection. He added that the EPR had not commenced yet but he understood that there would be a financial benefit to the Council and was happy to update Cllr Bayes on any specific issues.

Cllr J Boyle asked Cllr A Varley, Portfolio Holder for Climate Change, about the implications of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) for the Council’s Net Zero targets. Cllr Varley replied that the pressing need to address the climate emergency continued, regardless of LGR and the Council would still strive to reach its Net Zero targets, as well as supporting communities to live a greener, more sustainable future. He added that the Environmental Charter & Net Zero Strategy and Action Plan document would be reviewed in the coming months to take into account the challenges faced by LGR.

Cllr C Cushing asked Cllr J Toye, Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Growth, how many planned registered businesses were started in 2023/2024 and what was the survival rate. He also asked if similar figures were available for 2024/2025. Cllr Toye replied that he did not have the figures to hand but would provide a written response.

Cllr J Punchard asked the Leader, Cllr T Adams, for a response to his question at the previous Full Council meeting regarding an update on 9 Norwich Street, Fakenham. Cllr Adams replied that he was unable to provide an update publicly at the current time but discussions were ongoing.

Cllr K Leith asked the Leader whether the Devolution/LGR plans for the region were likely to be put to a referendum. Cllr Adams said that he had been asked this by residents on several occasions. He acknowledged that it was an important issue and there was no other avenue for residents to voice their views on this. Clarity was also needed on local government elections as the Government had not been clear on this. In conclusion, he said that he was supportive of giving consideration as to whether North Norfolk should consider a referendum on devolution and LGR proposals.

Cllr L Paterson asked Cllr A Varley the Portfolio Holder for Climate Change for the percentage of energy at the Council Offices was supplied by solar photo voltaic panels. Cllr Varley replied that he would provide a written response.

Cllr P Neatherway asked the Leader, Cllr T Adams, about the increase in workstreams at Eastlaw (the Council’s in-house Legal team) and asked if more information could be provided on how this had come about. Cllr Adams said that he would provide a written reply so that the detail could be set out. He said that Eastlaw had been a real success – both internally and externally. The Council aimed to be a leader in the area of coastal change and Eastlaw would be providing legal advice and support as this workstream progressed.

Cllr T FitzPatrick asked Cllr J Toye, Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Growth, for information on hotels. He said that as County Cllr for Fakenham, he was regularly asked for an update on the construction of the roundabout on the A148 which was being built to facilitate on new housing and businesses in the town. He said that there was a portion of the land allocated to a new hotel and he asked what work was being done to encourage the hotel chains to invest the Fakenham area. Cllr Toye replied that there had been challenges about a building a hotel in Sheringham and this was still to come forward. He went onto say that the Council regularly engaged with companies and although nothing had come forward for the Fakenham site yet, work would continue to encourage potential providers to come forward. He committed to updating members if anything came forward. Cllr FitzPatrick thanked him for his reply and said that currently, business visitors to the area often stayed in Kings Lynn or Norwich and that meant that they spent their money out of the district. He added that it was a very different market to the tourist market.