Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Reynolds and Stenhouse.

Councillor Thirtle declared an interest in the item relating to item 8 by virtue of being a member of the Broads Authority but was allowed to speak and vote on the matter.

Councillors Bird, Hammond, Lawn, A Grey and K Grey all declared interests in the item relating to Selective Licensing but were allowed to speak and vote on the matter.

There were no items of urgent business.

Her Worship the Mayor announced a Charity Event "50s and 60s Showtime" on the 24th September at 7.30 pm at Ormesby Village Hall.

Council considered the minutes of the meeting held on 12 July 2018.

Proposer : Councillor Plant 

Seconder : Councillor Smith

That the minutes of the Council meeting held on the 12 July 2018 be approved.

CARRIED

The Interim Democratic Services Manager reported receipt of a petition of around 3000 signatures concerning the proposal to move the permanent market in Great Yarmouth Centre. He advised that the petition organiser had indicated that they wished the debate on the petition to be deferred to a later meeting.

Council considered the Service Committee Decision List for the period 4 July to 31 August 2018.

Proposer : Councillor Grant

Seconder : Councillor Plant

That the Service Committee Decision List for the period 4 July to 31 August 2018 be received.

CARRIED

.

Council considered the recommended decisions from the Policy and Resources Committee of the 31 July on charging for pre-application planning advice.

Proposer :Councillor Plant 

Seconder : Councillor Grant

(1) That the Council introduces a system of pre-application planning advice for Great Yarmouth with effect from 1st October 2018 as detailed in Section 6 of the report.

(2) That the Director of Development is given delegated approval to produce, finalise and refine the supporting guidance, detailed fees schedule and application forms.

(3) That a formal review of the first 12 months of operation be undertaken, with Policy and Resources Committee considering a paper with recommendations for any more significant changes in Autumn 2019.

Council considered the recommended decisions from the Policy and Resources Committee of 11 September 2018 Committee on new legislative changes to animal welfare licensing and recommending revised fees and charges payable by applicants.

Proposer :Councillor Smith 

Seconder : Councillor B Coleman

That the fees and charges payable by applicants for animal welfare licenses as set out in Appendix 2 of the report be agreed for the period 1st October 2018 to 31st March 2019.

CARRIED 

Council considered the recommended decisions from the Policy and Resources Committee of the 24 July on the treasury management activity for the 2017/18 financial year.

Proposer :Councillor Plant 

Seconder : Councillor Thirtle

That the Treasury Management outturn report and indicators for 2017/18 be approved.

CARRIED

Council considered the recommended decisions from the Housing and Neighbourhoods Committee of the 26 July on the introduction of an amended mandatory licensing regime for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) which will have the effect of bringing an unknown number (but likely to be at least hundreds) of additional two-storey rental properties within the HMO licensing regime.

Proposer :Councillor Grant 

Seconder : Councillor Flaxman Taylor

(1) That the Council's close work with other Norfolk authorities and Waveney District Council to share expertise and costs on the implementation of the new HMO licensing regime is noted and supported.

(2) That the additional resource of one full-time post in Environmental Services, fixed for a period of one year, is approved to assist in managing the extra work pressures (albeit that it is hoped this resource will be cost-neutral as it will be paid for through the additional HMO licensing fees.

(3)That an increase in HMO license fees to £770 as outlined in Paragraph 2.10 and Appendix B of the report be approved.

(4) That the implementation of the approach is monitored carefully, with the Housing and Neighbourhoods Committee considering a review paper in May 2019 with potential recommendations for change.

CARRIED

Council considered a report on the significant  results of the consultation for a Selective Licensing scheme for the Nelson Ward and a recommendation on the proposed Selective Licensing Delegation.

Councillors raised a number of points that this should improve standards but had concerns that costs would be passed onto tenants.

Proposed : Councillor Plant

Seconded Councillor Grant

(1) That a Selective Licensing Scheme Designation in respect of certain parts of the Nelson Ward, as set out in the Proposed Selective Licensing Scheme Designation document annexed to the report be approved.

(2) That the proposed use of Community Connectors in the Selective Licensing area to further strengthen the outcomes of this project and previously noted by the Housing and Neighbourhoods Committee be confirmed.

(3) That the revised business case and fees and charges for the proposed Selective Licensing Scheme be approved to start on 7 January 2019.

CARRIED

Councillor Plant informed the Council that a special meeting of Council has been convened for 26 November at St George’s Theatre to consider a motion to grant the Honorary Freedom of the Borough to Councillors Charles Reynolds, Barry Coleman and Brian Walker in recognition of their services to the people of the Borough of Great Yarmouth.

The relevant papers for the meeting would follow in due course.

RESOLVED :

That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 12(A) of the said Act.

The Monitoring Officer introduced a report on the proposed dissolution of the Local Authority Trading Company Shareholder Committee (Equinox Enterprises Ltd) and transfer of its functions to the Policy and Resources Committee.

Proposer : Councillor Smith 

Seconder : Councillor B Coleman

(1) That the revised terms of reference for the Shareholder Committee as contained in the report be approved.

(2) That the dissolution of the Shareholder Committee and transfer of its functions and terms of reference to the Policy and Resources Committee be approved.

(3) That authority be delegated to the Monitoring Officer to make the necessary changes to the Constitution.

CARRIED 

Prior to the commencement of the meeting a one minute silence was held in remembrance of former Councillor  Frank Drew.