Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Blyth, Collins, Jeal, Rodwell and Stenhouse.

 

Councillor Sutton declared a Non Pecuniary Interest in the item relating to the public question with regard to the Town Centre in his capacity as Secretary of the Great Yarmouth and District Trades Union Council.

 

a) Council considered a question from Mr D Barber as follows:-

"How can the Council justify a decision to deprive the second largest sports club within the Borough, Great Yarmouth Indoor Bowls Club, of its facilities within the Marina Centre, against the background of a Government directive to improve the health and fitness of all ages within the community. Prolonging an active life will also help reduce pressure on the NHS.

The bowlers were told by Sentinel that the bowls facility was being excluded from the redevelopment of the Marina because it was losing money. This was proved to be untrue as they were unable to produce a breakdown of numbers, costs and income relating to individual areas within the Marina. The proposed capital expenditure of 6 to 7 million pounds by the Council on the Marina and Phoenix sites to provide additional gym and fitness facilities seems to be difficult to understand against a surplus availability within privately owned fitness centres in the Borough ?"

In response, the Cabinet Member for the Environment stated that between 2014 and 2015 the Borough Council working with Sports England and a range of other partners commissioned a new Sports Play and Leisure Strategy which was adopted by the Council in August 2015. The work was undertaken by an independent consultant using Sports England's methodology.

The Borough Council is currently considering the options for redeveloping the Marina Centre in order that it delivers a sports and leisure offer that caters for the current and future needs of the residents and visitors of the Borough, whilst at the same time dramatically reducing its reliance on Council subsidy. The strategy recognises the importance of sports, play and leisure for all ages and abilities and we are working with a range of partners including the Health Sector to develop the strategy to action.

The request to provide a detailed breakdown of income and expenditure on all activities and bookings at the Marina Centre was declined as this information is commercially sensitive. However, the Contract Partnership Board, which is chaired by the Cabinet Member, scrutinises performance against various areas of operation at the Marina Centre. This includes financial performance. The Cross Party Members Working Group who will be making a recommendation to the Council on the future options for the Marina Centre will clearly be able to see the income per square metre for each of the current and proposed activities. The Borough Council has consistently offered to help the bowls club to look at alternative options in preparation for the potential closure of the indoor bowls facility, either temporary or permanent, depending on the final decision of the Council. The Council is also committed to ensuring that any redevelopment of the Marina Centre along with the Phoenix Pool and the development of its Sports, Play and Leisure Strategy, will provide an offer which, as far as possible, meets the current and future needs of all of the whole community including the older population.

b) Council considered a question from Mr J Cannell, President of the Great Yarmouth and District TUC.

"What does the Borough Council view as the reasons for the problems of the
Town Centre, with unoccupied shops etc, and the lack of footfall, plus the reasons for the general economic decline of the Borough?"

In response the Cabinet Member for Tourism and Business Services reported that during the 1980's, town centres nationwide began to experience competition from a new wave of out of town retail parks. These archetypal 'warehouse' retailing units were borne out of a shift in retail policy, driven by a national change of planning controls and a preferential business rate environment. In Great Yarmouth this was largely translated to traditional 'centre' retailers such as ASDA and Sainsbury's - who taking advantage of 'ready to develop' greenfield sites - began to move away from the town centre in order to offer larger footprint stores in out of town locations with access to free car parking. Subsequently a number of 'high street' retailers followed a similar model on the new Gapton Hall Retail Park in late 1980's, which 'benefits' from an open A1 use class order.

During the 1990's Great Yarmouth's 'out-of-town' offer had increased to include retail units along Thamesfield Way Retail Park and Pasteur Road. Unable to offer larger warehouse retailing and free car parking, the town centre began to suffer from a loss of core high street retailers. During this time the area experienced some of the highest unemployment rates in England, with some communities exhibiting persistent levels of long term and inter-generational unemployment. In this context Great Yarmouth displays a number of common characteristics identified by the DCLG Select Committee in their report on 'Coastal Towns' (2007), including a lack economic diversity (e.g. high dependency on tourism), an ageing population, housing stress and relative physical isolation.

In response, several regeneration initiatives have been directed to Great Yarmouth and the town centre to help grow its tourism industry, boost retail and promote new investment, including:

• The £16m "InteGreat" project to renew the public realm on the seafront;
• The £9.8m "Secondary Holiday Area Regeneration Project (SHARP)" to bring empty properties back into use;
• Revitalisation of Market Row and Broad Row;
• Development of the "Time and Tide" museum
• Renewal of St Georges Park;
• The £9m St George's Theatre & King Street project sponsored by CABE's "SeaChange" programme
• The major 6,000m2 net extension to Market Gates Shopping Centre which has attracted new national retailers such as Debenhams and New Look to the town centre; and
• Environmental improvements to Regent Road

In 1997 the Town Centre Partnership was established. It represents the 'Business Improvement District' (BID) whereby an additional levy on businesses is reinvested into the area (through initiatives such as CCTV and events) to help attract people back into town.

Since 2011, Great Yarmouth's recognisable 'banking quarter' along Hall Quay has significantly altered its appearance. The Natwest branch closed in 2012 consolidating into its second town centre branch on the Market Place. The Hall Quay HSBC branch closed and relocated in the former Topshop unit on the King Street side of the Market Place. Close by, Barclays Bank moved into the former M&Co store and the Lloyds Bank branch closed on Hall Quay and moved into the former Burtons/Evans clothing store on the Market Place. All banks have retained a presence in Great Yarmouth's town centre.

In addition, since 2009, the two main 'anchor' stores at the northern end of the Market Place have ceased trading. The four storey Co-Op Department Store at 58-65 Market Place closed in 2009 and was immediately taken over by independent store operator Vergo retail Ltd. However, Vergo ceased trading in June 2010 leaving the store vacant. Last year, Edinburgh Woollen Mill occupied the store and has been trading ever since.

The Woolworths at 23-24 Market Place closed in January 2009 when the company went into administration. The unit was subsequently occupied by clothes retailer Ethel Austin/Au natural. However, this ceased training in July 2011. The unit was subsequently taken over by Poundland - who relocated from their previous location in Market Gates.

Recently, new emphasis has been brought to bear on the Town Centre. Announced in early 2015, the Town Centre Initiative has been able to bring resource to the issues at hand, supporting an ice rink and a free parking trial in the winter months to date. The Town Centre Partnership has since reported on progress following the initiative's progress.

A significant increase in funding on Town Centre events and Christmas activities including additional festive lighting, the ice rink and free parking has seen increases in footfall and positivity among town centre shoppers and traders alike. The influx of new retailers prior to Christmas, particularly in Market Gates Shopping Centre, has reduced vacant units and helped boost footfall in to the town by shoppers attracted to the additional brands. The shop vacancy rate has dropped to 14.7% (from the October 2015 figure of 15.4%) and for the first time in a number of years the town's annual footfall performance finished on a par with the national trend of -2%. Footfall in November outperformed the national trend at 0.3% down compared to the national average of -4.2% due to a disappointing Black Friday weekend on many high streets. Decembers footfall showed positive growth of 0.8% overall with Boxing day standing out with an increase of 10%. The final quarter of the year recorded a 0.4% increase on 2014. I have had many people approach me to remark on how festive the town looked and the comments listed in the minutes of the last Retail Forum support this.


Looking ahead, we want to be far bolder. The consultants Carter Jonas were engaged in 2015 to build a Town Centre Master Plan. The vision and its proposals are to be delivered this autumn. The purpose of the Town Centre Master Plan is to:

• Draw upon the key recommendations set out in the 2011 Retail Study, the overarching ambitions set out in the Local Plan Core Stratey.
• Provide a 15 year vision fro Great Yarmouth's town centre set out realistic and required developmental milestones over the short, medium and long term duration of the plan.
• Provide a clear statement of strategy to help unlock private sector investment for specific sites/projects, and public sector investment generally
• Develop principles for the location, scale and type of retail, leisure, residential and other commercial activity, particularly developing the 'twilight' and evening economies.
• Will form part of the evidence base for the Great Yarmouth Local Plan and be a material consideration in determining planning applications.

In common with many areas, the decline of manufacturing has negatively affected the Borough in recent decades. In Great Yarmouth, this has been coupled with a decline in the traditional seaside holiday and, more recently, falling commodity prices have meant a period of retrenchment for Great Yarmouth's other key sector - energy.

Despite this challenging context, Great Yarmouth retains a tourism industry that is worth more than £500m/year to the economy and is also home to the UK's second largest cluster of offshore energy companies. Moreover, the Borough has created one of the country's most successful Enterprise Zone sites in the country at Beacon Park. We have been able to build on this success with the opening of a new link road and new high-spec premises with occupants such as CIS and SMS. Furthermore, the site will be extended in 2017, as will the Enterprise Zone site on the South Denes.

Other reasons to be optimistic include the news of the £2.5 billion East Anglia ONE offshore windfarm. Following Scottish Power Renewables' positive final investment decision in February, it has since been announced in March that Great Yarmouth's port will host the construction and installation activities for the windfarm, with as many as 3,000 jobs to be created in its construction, with £5m of co-investment by SPR and Peel Ports ahead of construction work, beginning in 2018. The region is poised to host some of the largest offshore wind farms in the world and Great Yarmouth is well-positioned to play a major role in this industry, which has also been evidenced through the Borough being the chosen base for the Operations and Maintenance base for Dudgeon Windfarm.

There is also great scope for a new decommissioning industry for retired gas platforms. Peterson and Veolia are investing in a decommissioning facility at Peel Ports Great Yarmouth. Decommissioning is a significant emerging sector estimated to be worth £125m in the next ten years. It should be noted too that from engineering to electronics and from grain handling to geosciences, Great Yarmouth retains an extremely varied industrial base and a strong network in which companies can turn to each other for the specialist support they need.

Investment is coming in elsewhere too. The Port been acquired by an ambitious operator, and the largest and most iconic building in Great Yarmouth, Havenbridge House, has undergone a major facelift with a £3m investment from owners Citygate Developments. This stands the town in good stead to attract the Service Sector. Two new developments (Frankie and Benny's and The Grayling) on previously unused land on Jones (GC) Way, Cobholm, opened last year, creating up to 100 new jobs between them.

Efforts will continue to bring in a third river crossing and large investments from the Local enterprise Partnership's Growth Fund will see important upgrades to infrastructure.

New Anglia LEP and the A47 Alliance continue to lobby for improved/road/rail infrastructure to better connect the East Coast.

Complementing the existing Enterprise Zone and CORE allocations, much of Great Yarmouth is a designated assisted area. Assisted Area status permits the granting of additional financial support to small businesses and large enterprises in economically disadvantaged locations. alongside areas in Lowestoft, the designation covers the next European Union funding period from 2014 to 2020. 

In accordance with the Constitution, Mr Cannell was then entitled to ask a supplementary question as follows :-

"Is the Borough Council aware that low paid jobs must be some part of the current problem. If there is investment in jobs can he be assured that they are at the living wage level?"

In response, the Cabinet Member reported that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had recently increased the National Living Wage but that as Cabinet Member he could not give any guarantees as the Council is in a commercial world. He did state that he agreed that people should be paid for the work they undertake. He also assured Mr Cannell he would do all that he could to assist in this matter.

 

a) Committee System of Governance 

Council considered the Interim Chief Executive Officer's report on the Committee System of Governance which recommended to Council that 4 new Committees be established, with each being made up of 13 politically balanced Members with the Chairs being appointed by Council.These Committees would be Policy and Resources, Economic Development, Environment and Housing and Neighbourhoods. Council was also asked to approve the updated Constitution.

Council was reminded that at it's meeting on the 24th November 2015 it had been resolved to change it's current Leader and Cabinet Governance model to a Committee System of Governance. As a result of this decision the following work had been undertaken by the Governance Committee to develop the new Committee System of Governance :-

• Development of the new Committees, including frequency of meetings size of membership and political make up.
• Appointment of Chairs of Committees
• A comprehensive review of the councils Constitution, Governance and decision making processes
• A review of the Scheme of Delegation to Chief Officers 

The Shadow Leader stated that he understood that the new devolution deal would give the Secretary of State powers to make Councils come in to line and retain the Cabinet System. The Deputy Monitoring Officer reported that the Devolution and Cities Bill does give local authorities wide powers about the provisions for Governance and that the Secretary of State would exercise such powers.

Council also considered the following proposed amendment from Councillor Sutton in respect of the Constitution :-



To amend article 6 on pages 22-23 by 

deleting at 6.1 "Sports/Physical activity development Plans" and at 6.2 "Sports development" "Park and outdoor Space" and "Leisure and " in the bullet formulation of the Leisure and Culture Strategy and to recommend to Council for adoption.

And adding to article 8 on pages 26-27

at 8.1, as a third bullet point "Sports/Physical Activity Development Plans" and at 8.2 add four bullet points "Sports Development" "Park and Outdoor Spaces" "Formulation of the Sport, play and leisure strategy and to recommend to Council adoption" and "Indoor sports and fitness"

So that the sport and associated leisure activity falls under the same Committee of 'Housing and Neighbourhoods' that is responsible for health and well-being strategies.

Proposer : Councillor Plant

Seconder : Councillor Hanton

(1) That four new Committees be established, with each being made up of 13 politicly balanced Members, with the Chairs being appointed by Council and that these Committees will be Policy and Resources, Economic Development, Environment and Housing and Neighbourhoods.

(2) That the updated Constitution as now amended be approved.

(3) That the proposed Committee timetable of meetings for 2016/17 be approved.

(4) That the proposed list of Outside Bodies for 2016/17 as detailed in the Interim Chief Executive Officers report be approved.

CARRIED

b) Business Case for Developing Housing at Site 25 Beacon Park

Council considered the Director of Housing of Neighbourhood's report which set out the case for the Council through the establishment of a local authority trading company, undertaking the development of residential properties at Site 25 Beacon Park. The report was accompanied by a Business Plan which set out the strategic objectives and financial detail of the investment. Cabinet had already approved the Business Plan, the establishment of a local authority trading company and model of Governance. Cabinet was recommending that full Council approves the required addition to the Capital Programme, adjustment to the Treasury Management Strategy and release of necessary funds to undertake the development.

Councillor Williamson stated that he supported this proposal and would like to see all of the phases developed at Beacon Park. The Leader commented that the first phase if agreed would provide a significant amount of infrastructure for this site.

Proposer: Councillor Hanton

Seconder : Councillor B Coleman 

That Council approves the following :-

(1) That the Capital Programme, Treasury Strategy and Medium Term Financial Strategy reflect the financial implications contained in the Director of Housing and Neighbourhoods report.

(2) That approval be given to the release of capital funding for the project as detailed in the Director of Housing and Neighbourhoods report and Business Plan.

(3) That Council agree to include the required borrowing in the Treasury Management Strategy.

CARRIED

Council considered the Director of Housing and Neighbourhoods report which outlined a summary of activity to be undertaken in order to promote, award and administer the Queen's 90th Birthday Community Grants Fund.

Councillor Sutton asked whether it was expected that the number of grants would be awarded up to the limit of the proposed budget, and whether there was a mechanism for hard copy applications to be made. He also referred to the previous Council decision where a Member of the Community should be appointed to the selection panel. In response, the Cabinet Member Community stated that it was fully expected that the funding for grant would be expended, hard copy applications would be acceptable and that the panel should consider co-opting a non-council member onto the selection panel.

Proposer : Councillor Carpenter

 

a) Minutes of Council meeting 24 February 2016

 

The Mayor presented the minutes of the Council meeting held on 24 February 2016.

 

With regard to the issue in relation to the budget Councillor Sutton asked whether funds had been included to cover the costs associated for the European Referendum in June and asked if the Council would be reimbursed for their costs. The Interim Chief Executive Officer reported that the total cost of this election would be covered by the money allocated by the Government.

 

In relation to the item with regard to the letter to the Prime Minister in respect of British Steel, the Cabinet Secretary confirmed that to date that no response had been received from the Prime Minister. Council agreed that the Mayor, on behalf of the Council, would write to the prime Minister seeking a response to the Council's letter on this matter.

 

 

b) Minutes of Cabinet meeting 4 April 2016

 

The Leader presented the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on the 4 April 2016.

 

c) Minutes of the Scrutiny Committee 25 February 2016

 

The Chairman presented the minutes of the Scrutiny Committee Meeting held on 25 February 2016.

 

d) Audit and Risk Committee 29 March 2016

 

The Chairman presented the minutes of the Audit and Risk Committee meeting held on the 29 March 2016.

 

 

Council considered the following questions from Councillor Sutton to Councillor C Smith (Cabinet Member Environment) :-

a) What progress has been made to address the repairs and maintenance issues in the children's play areas in Central and Northgate Ward drawn to your attention at the budget meeting? 

b) Councillor Sutton has been calling for a meeting to discuss a new play area for the Beaconsfield since 2015 without success. Having visited the Beaconsfield play area what is your opinion of the standard and range of equipment for children and teenagers? Do you agree that the age and lack of play equipment, the size of the local population, justifies the call for significant investment in that play area and if so will you arrange a meeting of Ward Councillors and other interested parties to discuss a way forward?"

In response the Cabinet Member Environment reported that :-

Beaconsfield Play Area

• Areas of soil erosion have been filled to eliminate trip hazards
• The wooden bench is being replaced
• Missing fixings have been replaced
• Graffiti has been removed where possible
• The standing platform on the spinning pole has been replaced with a spare unit
• The loose fixing on the pole roundabout has been replaced
• Missing inserts are being replaced
• Chains and swing seats are being monitored and are to be replaced as necessary during April/May as part of the maintenance cycle
• Painted equipment is being assessed across the Borough with high priority pieces being attended to this summer.
• The area where the gull-wing see-saw was removed has been flattened and seeded.

Ferrier Road

• Surface area erosions is in the process of being filled
• The self-closing gate will have its mechanism taken apart in April / May so it can be repaired or replaced as required to ensure it closes within the correct timescale 
• Paintwork is being dealt with as detailed above
• Missing inserts are being replaced
• Graffiti has been removed where possible
• Chains and swing seats are being monitored and are to be replaced as necessary during April/May as part of the maintenance cycle.
• Loose fixings have been re-secured
• The cone climber is thoroughly inspected on a monthly basis in line with the manufacturers instructions.

The Lea

• A new closing mechanism for the self-closing gate has been received and will be installed week commencing 4 April 2016
• Surface area erosion is in the process of being filled
• Paintwork is being dealt with as detailed above
• Missing inserts are being replaced
• Graffiti has been removed where possible
• Chains and swing seats are being monitored and are to be replaced as necessary during April / May as part of the maintenance cycle
• Loose fixings have been re-secured
• A new climbing net has been ordered and will be installed as soon as it is received. In the meantime a temporary repair has been carried out.
• 
  

GYB Services maintains play equipment across the whole Borough and makes recommendations to the Council where it feels certain pieces of equipment require replacement. These recommendations in the main take the form of capital bids which are submitted to and considered by the Council. In regard to play equipment at the Beaconsfield Play area a three year capital replacement programme has been submitted to the Council showing items within this play area due for replacement in year three. There is a need however to form a more strategic view of the replacement and renewal of play equipment across the Borough to ensure investment matches needs and demands. This was highlighted through the production of the Play, Sport and Leisure Strategy. Work will commence on developing a specific programme around future play needs in the coming months.

As you aware as soon as you raised this at the last Council meeting I did as a matter of urgency visit the site with Councillor Sutton and after discussing this with Officers they will arrange a meeting between the Chair of the relevant Committee and PONY along with interested parties, including Ward Councillors to hear their views and to see what help this Council can give them in their quest for applying for grants etc for the Beaconsfield Road Play area.

Councillor Sutton thanked the Cabinet Member (Environment) for the responses to his questions.

 

Council considered the following Motions on Notice:-

(a) Motion from Councillors Walker, T Wainwright, H Wainwright, Williamson, Jeal and Robinson-Payne :-

"That the Council resolves to write to the Environment Minister to rethink planned changes in legislation allowing Ministers the power to override Local Council decisions not to grant Fracking Applications within their jurisdiction. This is a serious infringement of Local Democracy and an attack against communities wishing to protect their own environment."

Proposer: Councillor Walker

Seconder: Councillor T Wainwright

That the Council resolves to write to the Environment Minister to rethink planned changes in legislation allowing Ministers the power to override Local Council decisions not to grant Fracking Applications within their jurisdiction. This is a serious infringement of Local Democracy and an attack against communities wishing to protect their own environment.

CARRIED

(b) Motion from Councillors Wright, Williamson, T Wainwright, Jeal, Robinson-Payne and Walker:-

"Great Yarmouth Borough Council fully supports the BMA and the junior doctors in their dispute with the Government.

We believe it not to be in the interest of the citizens of our Borough of Great Yarmouth as well as throughout England to force a new contract on the junior doctors that will result in doctors having to work excessive hours at weekends and creating a situation that could put the welfare of hospital patients at risk.

It is noted that already our James Paget University Hospital has a shortage of doctors which in itself creates extra stress on all the staff, and the Government insistence on forcing through their new contract will do nothing to encourage new recruits into our health service.

We call on our Member of Parliament to use his office to persuade the Secretary of State for Health,  the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP to return to the negotiating table to discuss the BMA proposal which is cost neutral whilst giving adequate cover for our junior doctors and gives extra protection for patients."

Councillor Plant commented that he did not feel that there was enough detailed information on this issue and therefore could not support the proposed motion. In response Councillor T Wainwright stated that he felt that there was sufficient information to support the motion.

Councillor Williamson stated that in his opinion the decision with regard to the Junior Doctors should have been made by the Chief Executive of Health England rather than by the Secretary of State. Councillor Myers stated that the National Health Service was already providing a 7 day service and that the country could ill afford to lose trained Junior Doctors seeking employment abroad. Councillor Reynolds commented that there was still insufficient detail and disagreed that the NHS currently provided a 7 day service. Councillor Fairhead commented that there are Doctors on duty at weekends at all hospitals. Councillor J Smith commented that he felt that Doctors were not being respected and that they were taking industrial action as a last resort.

Proposer: Councillor Wright

Seconder: Councillor Williamson

That Great Yarmouth Borough Council fully supports the BMA and Junior Doctors in their dispute with the Government.

The Council believes it not to be in the interest of the citizens of our Borough of Great Yarmouth as well as throughout England to force a new contract on the Junior Doctors that will result in Doctors having to work excessive hours at weekends and creating a situation that could put the welfare of hospital patients at risk.

It is noted that already our James Paget University Hospital has a shortage of Doctors which in itself creates extra stress on all the staff, and the Government insistence on forcing through the new contract will do nothing to encourage new recruits into our Health Service.

The Council calls upon the Member of Parliament to use his office to persuade the Secretary of State for Health, the Rt Honourable Jeremy Hunt MP, to return to a negotiating table  to discuss the BMA proposal which is cost neutral whilst giving adequate cover for our Junior Doctors and gives extra protection for patients.

CARRIED 

c) Motion from Councillors T Wainwright, H Wainwright, Walker, Williamson, Wright and Pratt:-

"That the Council resolves to write to Greg Clark, Minister for Communities and Local Government, expressing GYBC's concerns regarding the devolution proposals.

It is fundamentally undemocratic to change the nature of our local democracy without full consultation with the people who will be affected by these proposals.

The proposals should be temporarily withdrawn until such time as due consultation has been held.

1. Where is the accountability, democracy and transparency in these proposals?

2. Were these proposals put to the people at the 2015 Election?

3. What evidence is there that shows the electorate support such changes?

Until such time as these questions remain unanswered, GYBC should withdraw from all future negotiations."

Councillor Reynolds stated that in his opinion this was providing yet another layer of Governance but was against withdrawing from the current discussions. Councillor Plant stated that he would ask Council to agree to the Borough Council continuing with the current negotiations on this issue and then for Council to have a full discussion on this matter at the special meeting of Council on the 30 June. 

Councillor T Wainwright commented on the lack of information that he had received in respect of the devolution discussions and negotiations. This comment was endorsed by Councillor Grey.

Councillor Sutton asked what is the role of the local MP in this matter and stated that he felt the proposals were wrong for the people of Great Yarmouth and Norfolk.

Councillor Walker referred to the proposed Governance arrangements in respect of the devolution proposals and commented that he felt that undemocratic powers would be given to an elected Mayor. Councillor Myers also commented that he did not feel that the proposals would be the right choice for Great Yarmouth. Councillor B Coleman reaffirmed the present position that the Borough Council is still in a negotiation position and he felt that these negotiations should carry on at the present time.

Councillor Grey asked whether Councillor T Wainwright would be prepared to amend the proposed motion to delete the final sentence which states "Until such time as these questions remain unanswered, GYBC should withdraw from all future negotiations." Councillor T Wainwright confirmed that he would be prepared to withdraw this sentence and Council agreed to this proposed amendment to the motion.

Proposer : Councillor T Wainwright 

Seconder : Councillor Sutton

That the Council resolves to write to Greg Clark Minister for Communities and Local Government expressing GYBCs concerns regarding the devolution proposals.It is fundamentally undemocratic to change the nature of our local democracy without full consultation with the people who will be affected by these proposals.The proposals should be temporarily withdrawn until such time as due consultation has been held.

1. Where is the accountability, democracy and transparency in these proposals?

2. Were these proposals put to the people at the 2015 Election?

3. What evidence is there that shows the electorate support such changes?

CARRIED

d) Motion from Councillors Grey, Annison, Andrews, Cutting, Rodwell and Bird :-

" This Council notes the announcement by the Chancellor of a devolution deal for the East in his budget on the 16 March 2016. This Council welcomes the commitment of the Government for increased investment in infrastructure in the East of England, but regrets that in its current form is NOT acceptable to this Council.

This Council resolves to:-

1. That although reference is made to the Third River Crossing and dualling of the Acle Straight in the East Devolution Agreement, the Third River Crossing in Great Yarmouth must have a cast iron guarantee with a time frame for works to be implemented, as part of the East Devolution Agreement. 

And 

2. To formally declare and record GYBC's opposition to the proposal for an elected Mayor for Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough."

The Leader and Shadow Leader confirmed that they both supported the above motion.

Proposer : Councillor Grey

Seconder : Councillor Annison

That this Council notes the announcement by the Chancellor of a devolution deal for the East in his budget on the 16 March 2016. This Council welcomes the commitment of the Government for increased investment in infrastructure in the East of England, but regrets that in its current form is not acceptable to this Council.

This Council resolves to:-

1. That although reference is made to the Third River Crossing and dualling of the Acle Straight in the East Devolution Agreement, the Third River Crossing in Great Yarmouth must have a cast iron guarantee with a time frame for works to be implemented, as part of the East Devolution Agreement. 

And 

2. To formally declare and record GYBC's opposition to the proposal for an elected Mayor for Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

CARRIED

 

The Leader advised Council that Councillor Collins had been taken ill and was currently in hospital. 

Council agreed to send their best wishes to Councillor Collins for a speedy recovery.

 

Council was reminded that Councillors Blyth, Collins, Fox, Linden, Jermany and J Smith would not be seeking re-election at the forthcoming Borough Council elections in May. Councillors Plant and T Wainwright recorded their thanks and appreciation to the retiring Members.

 

Councillor T Wainwright also recorded his thanks and appreciation to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor for their work over the past municipal year. Councillor Grey also recorded her thanks to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor and also to the retiring Members.

 

Members agreed that Council should record their thanks and appreciation to the retiring Members for all their work on behalf of the Borough Council over the past years.

 

 

Her Worship the Mayor reminded Members of the forthcoming Civic Ball and asked whether Members would wish to donate raffle prices for this event.