Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bensly, Talbot and Stenhouse.

His Worship the Mayor declared a personal interest in items 7 and 8 in his capacity as Ward Councillor for Fleggburgh and Filby.

His Worship the Mayor reminded Members of the following :-

• Civic Service being held on Sunday 28th April.
• Mayors Civic Ball being held on Friday 6th May 2022 at 8pm

There were no items of urgent business to be discussed.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 22 February 2022 were confirmed.

Councillor Wainwright made reference to a comment that had been made at the previous meeting with regard to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocation and a recent announcement that had been made by the Government.

Councillor Wainwright also commented with regard to the Leaders announcements regarding the talks on Devolution and read aloud an email which had been sent by Paul Cracknell. Councillor Wainwright asked the Leader why he had advised he would keep Members informed but on this occasion this had not happened. The Leader advised that all Councils had been required to submit a council deal proforma which looked at "what was the ask" but that to date no decision nor final documents had been produced, and no meetings with the government had taken place, he advised that if the County wanted to they could disregard anything the districts put forward. He again advised Members that when there was anything to report on on as Leader he ensure Members were kept informed.

Proposer : Councillor Smith

Seconder : Councillor Candon 

That approval be given to the minutes of the meeting held on the 22 February 2022.

Carried

Proposer : Councillor Smith 

Seconder : Councillor Candon 

That approval be given to the Service Committee Decision List for the period 31 January 2022 to 10 March 2022.

Carried.

Council considered the Senior Strategic Planner's report which provided Members with the Fleggburgh Neighbourhood Plan examiner's report and recommendation.

Councillor Annison reported the following :-

• The preparation of Fleggburgh Neighbourhood Plan has been led by Fleggburgh Parish Council and contains proposed planning policies to be used in determining planning applications in the Fleggburgh parish.

• Once adopted it will sit alongside the Council’s and the Broads Authority’s Local Plans as part of the development plan for the area.

• The plan contains policies in relation to housing, design, local green spaces, trees and hedgerows, dark skies, heritage assets, drainage and community facilities.

• The plan has been subject to two rounds of public consultation and an examination by an independent examiner. The independent examiner has concluded that the plan meets the basic conditions subject to a number of relatively minor modifications. The report and the appendices detail all the modifications recommended.

• The Local Plan Working Party has reviewed the recommended modifications and has supported the officer’s recommendation to accept the Examiner’s recommendations and findings.

• Accordingly, it is recommended to that Council agrees that the Fleggburgh Neighbourhood Plan, as modified, proceeds to referendum.

• The decision on whether to proceed to referendum is also made by the Broads Authority. The Broads Authority accepted the Examiner’s recommendations to proceed to Referendum on Friday 1^st April 2022.

• If approved, it is expected that the referendum will take place on 16^th June 2022.

Councillor Myers asked with regard to the adopting of the plan and whether this would cause conflict on local planning recommendations. It was advised that if there were to be a conflict then greater weight would be given to the Neighbourhood Plan but it was reported that this was unlikely to cause an issue.

Proposer : Councillor Annison 

Seconder : Councillor Freeman 

That Council :-

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

(2) Approves the referendum area as the neighbourhood plan area as recommended in the Examiner’s Report.

(3) Agree the Neighbourhood Plan (as modified) proceeds to referendum.

(4) 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 Neighbourhood Plan to proceed to a referendum.

CARRIED 

Council considered the Senior Strategic Planner's report which asked Member to adopt the Filby Neighbourhood Plan.

Councillor Annison summarised the report as follows :-

• Following the Full Council decision to approve the Filby Neighbourhood Plan for referendum, the referendum took place in the local village hall on the 24^th February 2022.

• The plan passed the referendum with a 92% majority.

• The 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 and rights and therefore the recommendation is for Full Council to adopt the Filby Neighbourhood Plan. This recommendation was endorsed by the Council’s Local Plan Working Party on the 17^th March 2022.

Proposer : Councillor Annison 

Seconder : Councillor Freeman 

That Council adopt the Filby Neighbourhood Plan.

Carried

Council considered the Senior Strategic Planner's report which asked Member to adopt the Rollesby Neighbourhood Plan.

Councillor Annison summarised the report as follows :-

• Following the Full Council decision to approve the Rollesby Neighbourhood Plan for referendum, the referendum took place in the local village hall on the 24^th February 2022.

• The plan passed the referendum with a 77% majority.

• The 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 and rights and therefore the recommendation is for Full Council to adopt the Rollesby Neighbourhood Plan. This recommendation was endorsed by the Council’s Local Plan Working Party on the 17^th March 2022.

Proposer : Councillor Annison 

Seconder : Councillor Freeman 

That Council adopt the Rollesby Neighbourhood Plan.

Carried 

Council considered the Senior Strategic Planner's report which asked Member to adopt the Winterton Neighbourhood Plan.

Councillor Annison summarised the report as follows :-

• Following the Full Council decision to approve the Winterton Neighbourhood Plan for referendum, the referendum took place in the local village hall on the 24^th February 2022.

• The plan passed the referendum with a 76% majority.

• The 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 and rights and therefore the recommendation is for Full Council to adopt the Winterton Neighbourhood Plan. This recommendation was endorsed by the Council’s Local Plan Working Party on the 17^th March 2022.

Proposer : Councillor Annison 

Seconder : Councillor Freeman 

That Council adopt the Winterton Neighbourhood Plan.

Carried 

Council considered the Director of Housing's report which provided an update on successful bids for funding to improve the energy efficiency of homes across the borough.  

Councillor Grant summarised the report to Council as follows :-

The report previously considered by Housing and Neighbourhoods Committee, provided an update on successful bids for funding to improve the energy efficiency of homes across the borough.  In total, across three separate bids, £5.87m has been awarded to the Council which will result in 408 homes benefiting from the installation of energy efficiency measures of which 321 will be owner occupied or privately rented homes and 87 council homes.

The report provided information on the Homes Upgrade Grant and Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund grant funding recently awarded to the Council and how these monies will be used and targeted.

The report also detailed out the Council’s approach to decarbonising the Council’s housing stock, utilising a fabric first approach by improving the energy performance of the structure of homes – by increasing or improving insulation and/or replacing windows and doors.   Such works deliver immediate benefits.   The second part of the approach is to move towards clean heating systems – moving away from heating systems which are reliant on fossil fuels.

Councillor T Wright raised some concern with regard to the total number homes being considered for the project, he commented that he felt there was a need to understand the issues with all properties in Great Yarmouth to identify those that suffer energy loss and are not energy sufficient in light of increase in fuel costs as this could have a huge impact on the residents within the Borough, although Councillor Wright advised that he welcomed the funding. The Housing Director reported that a private home condition stock survey together with a Council home stock condition survey was planned to be undertaken to look at energy efficient properties, and she noted that the Council were mindful of heating homes and the rising costs. 

Councillor Jeal asked with regard to Selective Licensing and whether this could be used as part of this programme. It was advised that this would be an item on the Housing and Neighbourhoods Committee to be discussed.

Councillor Myers asked with regard to the requirement for landlord contributions and whether this would be unable to go ahead if the landlord did not contribute. It was advised that landlords would have to agree to the scheme for this to go ahead.

Councillor Price raised some concern with regard to the scheme and whether this could be completed within the anticipated timescales.

Proposer : Councillor Grant 

Seconder : Councillor D Hammond

That Council :-

1. Agree Acceptance of the Homes Upgrade Grant (HUG) and Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) grant monies

2. Note the prior completion of the Memorandum of Understanding to secure the SHDF grant monies and completion of the Memorandum of Understanding for the HUG grant award

3. Agree Delegation of all decisions on the use of and spend of the Homes Upgrade Grant and Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund monies in accordance with the requirements of the applicable Memorandum of Understanding to the Head of Property and Asset Management/Director of Housing Assets.

4. Agree to Updating the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account 2022/23 capital programmes to reflect the HUG and SHDF spend.

Carried

Councillors Smith, Wainwright and Myers passed on their thanks and praise to His Worship the Mayor for his time as Mayor and commented that he had been a credit to the Council.