Agenda item

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 J Boyle – Housing & People Services

Cllr A Brown – Planning & Enforcement

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 members to ask questions. He reminded them that it was not a debate and that the session was limited to 30 minutes.

Cllr P Porter asked Cllr A Varley, Portfolio Holder for Climate Change & Net Zero for details of the total sum spent to date on projects aimed at net zero objectives and details of how much NNDC had saved in revenue costs to date and how many years it would take to recoup the investment. Cllr Varley confirmed he would provide the information in a written response, he noted that NNDC had invested its own funds but had also been able to leverage third party funding, most notably in connection with retro fitting at Fakenham leisure centre, solar panels at North Walsham and works at the Reef in Sheringham.

Cllr C Cushing asked the leader, Cllr Adams, whether NNDC media coverage  (including information on the NNDC website and an event at the Norfolk show) of Local Government Reform was within the government guidelines, noting that the Publicity Code of Practice required content to be objective, balanced, factual and not to be used to unfairly influence opinion. Cllr Adams noted that some authorities had paid for material to be distributed by post which NNDC had not done.  He stated he was entirely satisfied NNDC was within the guidelines and noted that Councils across Norfolk had broadly engaged with similar activities perhaps with the exception of the content of the NCC produced ‘Your Norfolk’ magazine which had focussed on promoting one option. Cllr Cushing expressed surprise with this position.

Cllr K Leith asked Cllr Varley if there was anything Members could do to assist in promoting the Norfolk Warm Home Scheme. Cllr Varley thanked Officers for their work and suggested Members could be community champions sharing key information on this initiative. The scheme provided access to households who otherwise couldn’t afford it, for insulation, solar panels and heat pumps, saving them money on future heating bills.

Cllr Holliday asked Cllr Boyle, Portfolio Holder for Housing & People Services to confirm that no one would be disadvantaged by the introduction of the new housing allocations scheme.  She noted that to date, close to 1000 individuals who had been invited to reapply under the new scheme, had not done so. Cllr Boyle confirmed that individuals who had not reapplied were being contacted to confirm that they were not being missed off.  She was comfortable that everything was being done to ensure no-one was disadvantaged.  Cllr Holliday asked a supplementary question, asking for clarification as to why, when NNDC has 29 units for temporary accommodation (page 29 of report), 19 households were stated as housed in the report.  Cllr Boyle confirmed she would clarify and provide a written response.

Cllr S Penfold asked Cllr Adams whether he agreed the  announcement that the UK was to rejoin the ERASMUS programme was good news as it would open opportunities for students across North Norfolk. Cllr Adams welcomed the announcement and hoped that young North Norfolk residents would access this scheme, believing there would be personal as well as social and economic benefits.

Cllr K Bayes asked Cllr J Toye, Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Growth, to provide ‘concrete’ examples of achievements of the North Norfolk Skills Employment Forum. Cllr Toye explained that the Forum was within its first year and had undertaken workshops to identify workstreams and to bring relevant people on board, those activity strands were now being undertaken and noted the importance of the Forum delivering tangible benefits moving forward.

Cllr N Dixon asked Cllr Varley to advise whether NNDC had any evidence as to whether any hedging was planted under the 110,000  tree planting strategy, given that previous questions had indicated that no records where available in respect of trees planted and that hedging was an important way to improve bio-diversity. Cllr Varley explained that NNDC facilitated residents, town and parish councils and local community groups whose responsibility it then was to maintain the trees and hedging, therefore he felt it would not be possible to obtain the data requested.

Cllr L Vickers asked a question of Cllr Adams in the absence of Cllr C Ringer, in connection with the new duties under the Renters Rights Act 2025, requesting information on the additional resources required to meet the obligations and confirmation whether the funding of £32,000 allocated by the Government would be sufficient. Cllr Adams stated that a written response would be provided, noting that work was ongoing to ascertain additional responsibilities.

Cllr T FitzPatrick asked a follow up question to that asked by Cllr Dixon, addressed to Cllr Varley. He noted the lack of data on the survival rate of trees planted under the 110,000 tree planting scheme and therefore asked for a policy position on the need to maintain clear accountable evidence in order to demonstrate the achievements and support of the declared climate emergency and the net zero corporate plan objective. Cllr Varley reiterated that the NNDC facilitated the project and then it was for the residents and community groups to maintain the trees and hedges and said once again that he therefore didn’t feel it was appropriate to waste officer’s time to obtain the data.