Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Plant, Robinson-Payne, Sharp, Smith-Clare, Wells & Williamson.

Councillor Bensley declared an interest in Item 7 in his capacity as Ward and County Councillor for East Flegg.

Councillor Flaxman-Taylor declared an interest in Item 9 in her capacity as Director of Great Yarmouth Norse Limited.

Her Worship, The Mayor, asked the Leader of the Council to make his announcements.

The Leader of the Council advised that prior to his update on the County Deal, he would like to thank the amazing response from across the council, but particularly Paula Boyce, Julian Potter, Tanya Rayner, Kate Price and Sally Embalo, following a major fire in an HMO in Nelson Road at the weekend. A rest centre was set up which remained open, staffed 24 hours a day by the council, for the next three nights, until everyone was found accommodation.

Councillor Wright echoed Councillor Smith’s comments and thanked the emergency services from preventing the fire from spreading.

Councillor Wainwright asked if the council could thank the emergency services and the Chief Executive Officer advised that she would do so.

The Leader of the Council reported that the Secretary of State for Levelling Up had responded to a letter from Councillor Mason Billig, stating that he,”is keen to see County and District councils continue, and accelerate, the work to develop and implement a Norfolk Leadership Board, ahead of having a directly elected leader. He sees this as critical to demonstrating that the deal, as a catalyst for a renewed shared vision for Norfolk, can be fully implemented, and advantages taken of the opportunities it brings. He also recognises the active role that Norfolk is playing in the national development of a Scrutiny Protocol, part of the English Devolution Accountability Framework.”

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

That the minutes of the meeting held on the 15 June 2023 be confirmed subject to the following amendment: -

That it be noted that Councillor Jeal had proposed that Councillor Robinson-Payne be wished a speedy recovery from her surgery.

 Proposer: Councillor Smith

 Seconder: Councillor Candon

CARRIED

Council was advised that Ms Livingstone was unable to attend Council this evening to ask her question in person.

The Leader advised that he would respond in writing to Ms Livingstone and would circulate his response to Members for information.

Council received and considered the report from the Executive Director of Place.

Councillor Candon reported that the Hemsby Neighbourhood Plan had been prepared and submitted by Hemsby Parish Council. The plan contains planning policies to be used in determining planning applications within the parish. Following the Full Council decision to approve the Hemsby Neighbourhood Plan for referendum, the referendum took place in the local village hall on Thursday 22 June 2023 with an 80% majority of votes cast.

In accordance with the Regulations, the Borough Council must now adopt the plan unless it would breach any retained European Union obligation or Convention rights. It is considered that the plan does not breach such obligations or rights and therefore the recommendation is for Full Council to adopt the Hemsby Neighbourhood Plan. This recommendation was endorsed to Full Council by the Borough Council’s Local Plan Working Party on the 17^th July 2023.

Upon adoption, the neighbourhood plan would become part of the Borough Council's Development Plan.

Proposer: Councillor Candon

Seconder: Councillor Annison

CARRIED

Council received and considered the report from the independent Remuneration Panel.

A full Review of the Scheme of Members’ Allowances was undertaken in 2021 and agreed by Full Council at its meeting on the 9 December 2021. As part of this review the Independent Remuneration Panel Informed Council that should a change in Governance take place, in line with Government Regulations a further review would be triggered. Since the Council voted to move to Executive (Cabinet) Model of Governance in May 2023, the panel was reconvened to review the Scheme of Allowances. The Independent Remuneration Panel only considered the Special Responsibility Allowances (SRA) during this review, a further review of the whole scheme of allowances is due to take place in 2025 in line with the Statutory guidance and acknowledged that the basic allowance was index linked to staff pay awards and had therefore increased in 2022. The Panel acknowledged that the Council are in the early stages of embedding the Executive System of Governance so therefore recommend that a meeting be convened in one year's time to ensure the Special Responsibility Allowances are in line with the responsibilities and workloads of those Members receiving an SRA.

That Council agree to the recommendations in the report en bloc.

Proposed: Councillor Smith

Seconder: Councillor Wainwright

CARRIED

That Nicola Turner replace Jane Beck as a replacement Director for GYN.

 Proposer: Councillor Smith

Seconder: Councillor Boyd

CARRIED

Council received and considered the report from the Housing Options Service Manager and the Housing Delivery Manager.

Great Yarmouth Council together with 229 other local authorities in the UK has been notified that assistance is required to support the resettlement of Afghan families as part of the Government’s Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme.

The scheme prioritises those that have assisted the UK efforts in Afghanistan standing-up for the values of democracy, women’s rights, freedom of speech, and rule of law. Priority was also given to vulnerable people, including women and girls at risk, and members of minority groups at risk (including ethnic and religious minorities and LGBT+).

There are a significant number of these families still within bridging accommodation across the Country in need of a self-contained home.

Whilst we accept and acknowledge the current housing pressures facing those already living within the Borough, the homes required to support Afghan families will be let on a temporary basis until such time as the families secure more permanent homes and will therefore not impact upon the wider Council efforts to provide housing to those who qualify.

Central Government has allocated £526,000 to Great Yarmouth to enable the Council to purchase 5 properties to meet this requirement. To match the Government’s Local Authority Housing Grant, the Council is being asked to approve borrowing of £704,000 in order to finance the scheme.

The benefits of accepting the grant funding are 3-fold:

1. The Council has to provide homes for Afghans with or without the funding. The funding will enable the acquisition of 5 additional homes so as not to impact on current temporary accommodation provision or the Borough existing social housing stock.
   
   
2. Under the terms of the funding agreement, once the resettlement programme ends, these homes can be retained by the Council as part of its wider temporary accommodation portfolio. Therefore, providing long term assets for those in need of emergency accommodation.

3. The scheme is financially self-sufficient. Whilst there is an element of Council borrowing, the rental income generated from the homes will cover all expenditure on repairs, management, interest payments on the borrowing and repay the capital invested.

4.  Councillor Wainwright advised that he fully supported the report and asked the following questions:

1. How many Afghan families are there in the Borough at the current time?
2. Will members be informed if Afghan families move into their ward or houses are purchased in their wards?

Councillor Flaxman-Taylor advised that she was not aware of any families currently in the Borough and that ward members would be notified if any Afghan families moved into their wards or houses were purchased in their wards.

Councillor Wainwright queried whether, if there were no Afghan families currently in the Borough, would it be possible to use the accommodation to house other families.

Councillor Flaxman-Taylor responded that it would be possible to use the houses as council stock until such time as it was required for Afghan families.

Councillor Hammond commented that it would be nice for the houses to be near each other to create a sense of community.

Councillor Flaxman-Taylor agreed that would be nice, but it would depend on where suitable houses were purchased.

That Council approve the expenditure of up to £1,230,000 supported by up to £704,000 of Council borrowing to deliver this grant-aided Temporary Accommodation Scheme.

Proposer: Councillor Flaxman-Taylor

Seconder: Councillor G Carpenter

CARRIED

Councillor Wainwright presented the following Motion to Council:-

Council are asked to consider the following Motion on Notice from Councillors  Wainwright, Williamson, T. Wright, B. Wright. Jeal and Martin:-

Council notes with concern the recent announcement that all 980 staffed ticket offices in England could be closed following discussions between the Department for Transport and the Rail Delivery Group, and changes to the Governments guidance relating to ticket office opening hours. Council believes that ticket offices provide a vital service to residents in Great Yarmouth. Having a clearly sign-posted place in the station for people with ticket enquiries provides certainty and confidence for customers who may struggle to otherwise contact station staff. Not all residents are able to use station ticket machines or have the means to book a ticket in advance. Complicated journeys involving connections are likely to require human assistance to ensure customers purchase the most appropriate and cheapest tickets, and do not incur penalties from mis-booked tickets. Council is concerned the closure of tickets offices will disproportionately affect elderly and disabled residents in Great Yarmouth as well as those with poor literacy and IT skills. Council also notes that possible implications for current station staff and the concerns that have been raised over possible staff redundancies. Council therefore resolves to:

To note the Leader’s response into the consultation.

Instruct the Leader to write to the secretary of State for Transport, and the Government Railways Minister, expressing Council's opposition to the closure of staffed rail ticket offices and in particular the office at Great Yarmouth. 

Instruct the Leader to write to Greater Anglia expressing the Council's opposition to any plans to close the staffed ticket office at Great Yarmouth. 

Refer the matter to the Scrutiny Committee with the recommendation that representatives from Greater Anglia and other relevant bodies are invited to attend a Scrutiny Committee Meeting at the earliest possible point to discuss future plans at Great Yarmouth.

Councillor Wainwright thanked the Leader for sharing the amendments to the Motion but stated it would carry more weight coming from the Chief Executive Officer. 

Councillor Smith, in turn, thanked Councillor Wainwright for accepting the amendments and advised that the plan is for Great Yarmouth Railway Station to close at 13:15 which would be premature as the technology for ticket purchases was not currently in place.

Councillor Candon advised that this was a very valid motion that had been brought forward.

Councillor Wright commented that he was pleased to see the response across the council, campaigning on behalf of the people of Great Yarmouth and that he hoped it might persuade the Government and the Department of Transport to take the closing of ticket offices off the agenda.

Councillor Flaxman-Taylor requested that a copy of the response be sent to all members and was advised that it would be.

Proposer: Councillor Wainwright

Seconder: Councillor Wright

CARRIED

There were no members of the public present at the meeting to warrant the exclusion of the public clause to be enacted.