Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bird, Borg, G Carpenter & Cordiner-Achenbach.

His Worship, The Mayor, reported a personal interest in item 10 as he was a Director of Equinox Enterprises Ltd and that he would not take part in any discussion and would not vote on the matter.

(i) His Worship, The Mayor, cordially invited all Members present to attend a drinks reception in the Assembly Room following the meeting.

(ii) His Worship, The Mayor, asked Council to stand for a minute's silence following the sad passing of former Councillor Patricia Page.

(iii) His Worship, The Mayor, announced that thanks be given in recognition for their work to Superintendent Nathan Clark who was retiring from Norfolk Police and to the crew of Hemsby Lifeboat who had worked tirelessly to protect homes and members of the public during the recent tidal erosion at Hemsby.

His Worship, The Mayor, presented Superintendent Clark with a token of the Council's appreciation and his wife with a bouquet of flowers. The Coxswain of Hemsby Lifeboat was presented with a plaque and a donation of £12k from the Crematorium from the recycling of metals scheme.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Wainwright & Councillor Myers thanked Superintendent Clark and the crew of Hemsby Lifeboat for their service to the Borough of Great Yarmouth.

Superintendent Clark and Daniel Hurd, Coxswain of Hemsby Lifeboat thanked Members for their unswerving support over the years which was greatly appreciated.

His Worship, The Mayor, reported that he had not been made aware of any items of urgent business for consideration at Council this evening.

Proposer: Councillor Smith

Seconder: Councillor Candon

That the Council minutes of the 21 February 2023 be confirmed.

CARRIED

Proposer: Councillor Smith

Seconder: Councillor Candon

That Council note the Service Committee Decision List.

CARRIED

The Leader of the Council proposed Councillor Candon be appointed as a replacement representative for the A47 Alliance Outside Body for the remainder of the municipal year. This was seconded by Councillor Flaxman-Taylor.

Councillor Wainwright proposed that Councillor A Wright be appointed as a replacement representative for the A47 Alliance Outside Body for the remainder of the municipal year. This was seconded by Councillor Williamson.

Proposer: Councillor Smith

Seconder: Councillor Flaxman-Taylor

That Councillor Candon be appointed as a replacement representative for the A47 Alliance Outside Body.

CARRIED

Council received and considered the report from the Strategic Planning Manager.

Councillors Bensly, Galer & Mogford declared a personal interest in the item as they were Ward & Parish Councillors for Hemsby.

Councillor Annison reported that the Hemsby Neighbourhood Plan had been prepared by Hemsby Parish Council. The Plan contained proposed planning policies to be used in determining planning applications within the parish. Once adopted, it would become part of the Borough Council's Development Plan.

The plan had been subjected to two rounds of public consultation and an examination held by an Independent Examiner. the examiner had concluded that subject to recommended modifications, the plan met the basic conditions and could proceed to referendum. The modifications had addressed the concerns previously raised by the Borough Council. The report and the appendices detailed all of the modifications.

The Local Plan Working party at their meeting of the 7th March 2023 had reviewed the Examiner's recommendations and endorsed these to Full Council. If approved, it is expected that the referendum would be held on the 22nd June 2023.

PROPOSER: Councillor Annison

SECONDER: Councillor Freeman

That Council:-

(i) Approves the recommended modifications to the Hemsby Neighbourhood Plan as set out in the Examiner’s Report,

(ii) Approves the referendum area as the designated Hemsby Neighbourhood Area as
recommended in the Examiner’s Report,

(iii) Agree the Hemsby Neighbourhood Plan (as modified) proceeds to referendum; and

(iv) Approves the publication of a Decision Statement setting out the Council’s and the Broads Authority’s response to the Examiner’s recommendations and announcing the intention for the Hemsby Neighbourhood Plan to proceed to a referendum.

CARRIED

Council received and considered the report from the Head of Environment & Sustainability.

Councillor Wells reported that Public Protection Order No.3 was introduced in 2017 to update legal requirements on dog owners/walkers around dog control and removing waste after their dog had fouled. The order was extended in 2020 and this extension is due to expire on 31st March 2023. This report seeks Member approval to extend it by a further three years.

Councillor Wells reported that Public Protection Order No.3 was introduced in 2017 to update legal requirements on dog owners/walkers around dog control and removing waste after their dog has fouled. The Order was extended in 2020 and this extension is due to expire on 31st March 2023. This report seeks member approval to extend it by a further three years.

PSPO No.3 updated existing byelaws bringing a variety of dog related control measures all under a single Order. A copy of the existing PSPO had been provided as Appendix 2. The following is an overview of the requirements:-

•             Failing to pick up after a dog has fouled (Boroughwide).
•             Dogs on lead by request (Boroughwide). 
•             Dogs on lead requirement (Select location). 
•             Dog ban (Select locations).
•             Seasonal controls (From 1st May to 31st September). 

Councillor Wells reported that a public consultation was completed as required as part of this review and received 82 consultation responses were received and in addition a letter of response was received from The Dogs Trust. Full consultation feedback can be found in Appendix 3 which also provides individual responses. Of the responses received 93% were from residents of the Borough and 3.5% from visitors. There was a single response from a business and two from Parish Councils. 81 out of the 82 respondents felt that the Council should continue its requirements under the PSPO that allow Officer to require a dog be leashed upon request where it is causing a nuisance.

When the PSPO was introduced in 2017 consideration was given to the needs of dog walkers against the health, safety and welfare of the other users. The existing requirements in PSPO No.3 were introduced to prevent nuisance, for hygiene safety reasons and minimising risk between dogs and other users in certain areas. Dog bans and dogs on leash requirements were only implemented in areas where it was necessary to prevent unreasonable behaviour and/or where there were clear alternative areas for dogs to be exercised. With the majority of person’s responding to the consultation identifying themselves as residents of the Borough and also as being dog owners those persons most affected by the PSPO would agree that the measures are appropriate and support the renewal of the PSPO in its current form. Based on this it is recommended that the Order is renewed for a further three years from 1st April  2023.

Members are therefore recommended:-

•             To consider the feedback and comments received from the Public Consultation held around PSPO No.3; and 

•             That PSPO No.3 should be renewed for a further three years.

Councillor A Wright reported that he was a regular walker along Great Yarmouth Seafront and he had witnessed an increase in dog fouling along the promenade.

Councillor Galer reported that he was aware of a marked increase in the amount of bagged dog waste not binned across the Borough. Councillor Jeal reported that he agreed with Councillor Galer.

The Leader of the Council reported that clearing up dog mess was the responsibility of the dog owner.

Councillor Talbot highlighted the rise in incidents of dogs not on leads and asked if signage could be improved in areas such as churchyards.

Proposer: Councillor Wells

Seconder: Councillor D Hammond

That Council agree to the Public Order Space Protection number 3 being extended by a further three years.

CARRIED

Council received and considered the report from the Housing Assets Manager.

Councillor Flaxman-Taylor reported that this report provides an update on the work being undertaken to increase the Council’s portfolio of housing stock held within the Housing Revenue Account. 

Councillor Flaxman-Taylor reported that following consideration of this report at H & N Committee, this report provided an update on the Council's new build scheme of 18 new homes at the Beach Coach Station and sought approval for two further schemes to increase the Council's housing stock.

The development at Beach Coach Station, now named Jubilee Court, was progressing well. the project was progressing within the agreed budget and was on track for completion in June, as originally programmed.

The first approval sought was for the acquisition of eight homes from equinox Enterprises at Eastwood, Beacon Park. Seven of the homes form part of the Statutory Section 106 planning contribution and can therefore be purchased at a discounted rate, the eight additional home would be purchased for the open market value. Six of the homes would be for Affordable Rent with two for shared ownership, a tenure that would be new for the Council. the homes were scheduled for completion towards the end of next year.

The second opportunity was the conversion of a disused boiler house at Charter Close in Gorleston, turning a redundant asset into a one bedroom wheelchair accessible bungalow. Following a successful bid to the Brownfield Land Release Fund, enabling and demolition works were time bound, therefore, subject to approval, contractors would be appointed next week. The contract for main conversion works would be tendered shortly after.

Councillor Flaxman-Taylor reported that the confidential appendix provided detailed information regarding the individual costs of each opportunity. Members reported that they did not wish to discuss the confidential agenda. 

Proposer: Councillor Flaxman-Taylor

Seconder: Grant

That Council:-

(i) Approve, subject to the Council’s conditional offer set out in the Confidential Appendix
being accepted, the drawdown of the expenditure required to acquire the eight new
homes at East Wood from Equinox Enterprises Ltd,

(ii) Approve the increased budget as set out in the confidential appendix to complete the
conversion works to the Charter House Boiler House to form one new wheelchair
accessible home; and

(iii) Delegate decisions and total expenditure of £1,643,614 in relation to recommendations
above and in accordance with the Property Acquisitions and Disposals Policy to an
Executive Director and Section 151 Officer.

CARRIED

Council received and considered the report from the Director of Housing.

Councillor Flaxman-Taylor provided an update on the Sustainable Warmth grant funding for 2022/23 to improve the energy efficiency of the worst performing homes of all tenures across the borough and details the bid for further Homes Upgrade Grant funding in 2023/25.
Councillor Flaxman-Taylor informed Council that the recommendations had been slightly amended to reflect the success of the bid.

Councillor Flaxman-Taylor reported that this item had been considered by the H & N Committee and provided an update on the £5.8m grant funding available this financial year following a number of successful bids to improve the energy efficiency of 408 of the worst performing homes across the borough. The funding related to 3 programmes:-

(i) Local Authority Delivery 3 - focused on private homes which have a gas heating system

(ii) Homes Upgrade Grant known as HUG - for properties which have no form of gas heating now; and 

(iii) Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 1 - the Council's bid included funding for two other Registered Provider and therefore, included 46 social housing homes outside the borough.

Across England, there have been delays to delivery and like other grant recipients, the Council had requested extensions to complete delivery of works across all three grant programmes next financial year. In relation, to the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, the Council is now utilising the majority of the grant monies due to issues encountered by the other Registered Providers. As a result of some other changes in the programmes, overall 432 homes in the borough would now benefit from energy efficiency works.

The report also detailed a bid for HUG 2 funding which was a two year funding programme running from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2025 and this bid had been successful, resulting in £6.5m of funding available to target the worst performing private homes, with 317 homes due to benefit. The Council would again appoint E.On Energy Solutions to deliver the grant works.

Councillor Myers asked for clarification as to how the worst insulated homes in the borough would be identified especially those properties which did not possess a valid EPC certificate.

Councillor Williamson reported that some properties in his ward were so poorly insulated and cost so much to heat that the residents were falling ill as they could not afford to heat them due to the cost of living crisis and were having to be admitted to hospital and that it was imperative that we addressed the problems in our housing stock as a matter of great urgency.

Proposer: Councillor Flaxman-Taylor

Seconder: Councillor Grant

That Council:-

(i) Accept the Homes Upgrade Grant 2 (HUG2) funding for 2023-24 and 2024-25,

(ii) Note the prior completion of the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the
potential HUG2 funding in 2023-25 and the completion of any variations to the
Memorandum of Understandings and contracts in relation to the extension of timescale for delivery of the existing funding programmes,

(iii) Delegate all decisions on the use of and spend of the HUG 2 funding in accordance with the requirements of the Memorandum of Understanding to the Director of Housing Assets; and

(iv) Update the 2023-24 and 2024-25 General Fund capital budgets, should the
bid be successful to reflect the HUG2 funding and Housing Revenue Account 2022-23 and 2023-24 as set out in this report.

CARRIED

Council received and considered the report from the Head of Property & Asset Management.

Councillor Flaxman-Taylor reported a personal interest in the item as she was a Governor of the JPUH.

Council agreed that they did not wish to discuss the confidential appendix and therefore, His Worship, The Mayor, did not have to invoke the exclusion of the public clause.

The Leader of the Council reported that the James Paget University Hospital (JPUH) structure continues to suffer from the Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) system utilised for the original build in the 1980’s. The building structure has now been confirmed as being life expired as of 2035 and therefore prioritisation has been given by the Government New Hospital Programme (NHP) for the development of a new JPUH on the adjoining site.

This presentation detailed the proposal to utilise Council land for the build and identify an
alternative site to provide a new and improved children's play facilities.

The Leader of the Council thanked the Head of Property & Asset Manager for the comprehensive presentation.

Proposer: Councillor Smith

Seconder: Councillor Candon

That Council:-

(i) Agrees the disposal of land identified on appendix 1 as site 1A, 1B and 5 for the
development of a new hospital building as part of the HIP2 (2025-2030) Programme; and

(ii) Recognise and agree the necessity in the approval of point 1 the relocation of the
Children’s Playground currently located on the Beacon Park, Woodfarm Lane site.

CARRIED

His Worship, The Mayor, reported that he had not been informed of any items of any other business being of sufficient urgency to warrant consideration at the meeting.