Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Boyd, Freeman, Galer, McMullen & Sharp.

His Worship, The Mayor, reported that there were no declarations of interest given at the meeting.

His Worship, The Mayor, reported that there were no items of urgent business.

His Worship, The Mayor, reported that item 10 had been withdrawn from tonight's meeting.

His Worship, The Mayor, reported that his charities had received the following donations:-

• Wreath Making £1050
• GY Lions Club £250
• Stowen Group £1000
• Burgh House (Julie Church) £1000
• Crows Farm Woodland Project £500
• Dusmagrik Young Peoples Theatre Company £808

This was a total of £4608.

His Worship, The Mayor, extended thanks to Matthews Transport Great Yarmouth supplying the lorry trailer for the Gorleston Light switch-on.

His Worship, The Mayor, invited Councillors & Officers for mince pies and refreshments in the Assembly Room following Council to celebrate Christmas.

The Leader of the Council congratulated GYS for their swift response to the recent fire at the Caister Recycling Centre.

Proposer: Councillor Smith

Seconder: Councillor Plant

That the minutes of Council held on 11 September 2025 be confirmed.

CARRIED.

Proposer: Councillor Candon

Seconder: Councillor Plant

That the minutes of Council held on 25 September 2025 be confirmed.

CARRIED

The Corporate & Democratic Services Manager read out the following public question on behalf of Jayge Wing who was not present in the Chamber:-

Can the council confirm whether interested residents can be added to a notification list for casual vacancies or co-options to the borough council and if so, how can this be arranged.

The Leader responded as follows:-

Yes this can be arranged by emailing elections@great-yarmouth.gov.uk

Any vacancy for the borough council will also be advertised on the Elections and voting page of the councils website www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk

The Leader asked that the response be sent to Jayge Wing.

Councillor G Carpenter reported that under the Licensing Act 2003, local authorities are required to review their Licensing policy every five years. Our current policy will expire on 6 January 2026. The policy has been reviewed and updated to reflect any changes in legislation. No major change in legislation has occurred during the last 5 years so amendments to the policy are minimal. These changes are identified in the attached policy document.

The draft policy was subject to an eight week consultation process during July and August and during this time only one comment was received which is attached to the report for information. The amended policy was agreed by Licensing Committee at their meeting on 3 November and was recommended for adoption by full council.

Councillor G Carpenter reported that Council, as detailed on page 22 of the agenda report recommended to agree the attached draft policy as the new Statement of Licensing Policy.

Proposer: Councillor G Carpenter

Seconder: Councillor Wells

That Council agree the attached draft policy as the new Statement of Licensing Policy.

CARRIED

His Worship, The Mayor, reported that this item had been withdrawn.

The Leader reported that this report sets out the background to the Government’s statutory consultation on proposals for local government reorganisation in Norfolk and Suffolk.  The consultation launched on 19 November 2025 and will run for seven weeks until 11 January 2026. This report provides an overview of the consultation outlining the options under consideration, this council’s approach to engagement with residents and businesses and the next steps in the process.

The Leader commented on his disappointment on the recent announcement of the postponement of the Mayoral elections until May 2028. He commented that as the County Council had been placed on to the priority programme for devolution, and with County Elections being postponed last year to allow for work to be completed on this matter, he could not understand why these had now been postponed. He advised that there had been a huge amount of work and officer time expended on this project in pursuit of these elections which had received cross party agreement. He advised that Councillors at the earlier County Council meeting had also expressed their dismay at this Government decision.

Councillor Wainwright reported that he had fully supported the LGR consultation process, but ultimately, the Government would do as it wanted. Councillor Wainwright reported that he was unaware that the mayoral elections would not take place and he questioned where Councillor Smith had got his intelligence from as he was expecting a press release to be issued on the matter tomorrow.

The Leader reported that this information had come from Baroness Taylor of Stevenage during the LGR debate at the House of Lords.

Councillor Candon raised some concerns around the delivery of LGR and felt that it was looking less likely that the scheme would be delivered as per the anticipated timescales.

Councillor Plant commented on the difficulties facing the delivery of both LGR and Devolution.

Proposer: Councillor Smith

Seconder:Councillor Plant

That Council:-

(i) Note the background and scope of the consultation; and 



(ii) Note that the Leader will meet with Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Member Working Group and consult with them on the Council’s final response to the consultation around the Norfolk proposals, and consider a response to the Suffolk proposals, before it is submitted in accordance with the government deadline.

CARRIED

The Leader reported that this report is to inform members of the need to convene the Independent Remuneration Panel to undertake a full review of the Great Yarmouth Borough Council Members’ Scheme of Allowances, including all Special Responsibility allowances in accordance with the requirements of the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) Regulations 2003.

The Leader reported that the IRP must consist of at least three independent members who are not councillors or otherwise disqualified and it is intended to use existing panel members who completed the last review of allowances. It is proposed that panel members receive £100 per meeting, in line with neighbouring authorities and administrative and technical support for the panel’s review will be provided by the Corporate Services Manager and a Democratic Services Officer, with oversight from the Monitoring Officer.

The Leader reported that should a panel member be unable to continue, the Council has previously delegated authority to the Chief Executive Officer, Monitoring Officer, and Corporate Services Manager, in consultation with Group Leaders, to appoint replacements. The Council is asked to note these arrangements as part of the ongoing review process.

Proposer: Councillor Smith

Seconder: Councillor Wainwright

That Council:-

(1) Approve the commencement of a full review of the Members’ scheme of allowances,



(2) Note the statutory Terms of Reference for the Independent Remuneration Panel,



(3) Agree that the Independent Remuneration Panel report its review for consideration by Council no later than April 2025; and



(4) Agree to the Independent Remuneration Panel Members receiving payment of £100 per meeting.

CARRIED.

The Leader reported that this report presents an update to the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2026/27. 

The update of the Medium Term Financial Strategy provides a key document to inform the up coming budget setting process. It presents an overview of the latest financial position and the priorities for setting the budget. The forecasts have been updated in light of known spending pressures taking into account the wider economic context including revised inflation forecasts and forecasts of the forthcoming fair funding review. 

The MTFS outlines the context within which the financial planning for the Council is undertaken and the priorities (the business strategy) that will mitigate future funding gaps. The MTFS also includes the latest financial projections from 2026/27 that have been informed by known pressures in the current year and levels of inflation and interest rates. This is ahead of the provisional settlement announcement which is expected ahead of Christmas and the detailed work on the service budgets for 2026/27.

The outcomes of the fair funding review and the business rates reset will be detailed in the provisional settlement which will also include multi year settlements. This will see the biggest changes to the allocation methods of financing for local government for over ten years across the sector and will see a shift of funding from shire districts. 

Whilst funding will in the future take into account deprivation and needs this does still require review of spending and income in the usual way to ensure spend can be prioritised to deliver a balance budget for 2026/27. 

The assumptions included in the MTFS will be subject to review as the detail of the 2026/27 budget is finalised over the coming months. Cabinet received this report on the 2 December and recommended this through to Council for approval.

The Leader reported that Council, as detailed on page 68 of the agenda report, is recommended to agree the updated Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and the key themes of the business strategy as outlined at Section 8.

Proposer: Councillor Smith

Seconder: Councillor Wainwright

That Council agree the updated Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and the key themes of the business strategy as outlined at Section 8.

CARRIED.

The Leader reported that Great Yarmouth Borough Council (GYBC) has secured Town Deal Funding and Levelling Up Funding (LUF2) to support the regeneration of North Quay. As the Master Developer has progressed the scheme’s Masterplan over recent months, it has been identified that, in order to maximise the site’s potential as a distinctive mixed-use destination (leisure, retail, residential), the previously agreed in-principle Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) red line boundary will need to be extended to include additional land parcels located to the north of the existing red-line demarcation.

The Leader reported that extending the in-principle CPO boundary to include additional land parcels north of the current red line boundary will:-

• Enable a coherent “Northern Gateway”, connecting North Quay to the Railway Station side of the river to create a more cohesive and enhanced arrival experience.

• Improve the street scene along New Acle Road (a key approach to Fuller’s Roundabout and Great Yarmouth). 

The Leader commented that given these additions were not included within the original in-principle CPO boundary, nor in previously approved budgets, an additional £500,000 is required to acquire interests (purchase or lease termination) within the enlarged area. In parallel, GYBC has extended the Incentivised Negotiation Window to 29th May 2026 to conclude voluntary acquisitions wherever possible. Following this period, it is intended that GYBC will submit the CPO application (if necessary), to be progressed concurrently with the Planning Application.

The Leader reported that Cabinet had considered the report at its meeting on the 2 December 2025 and had recommended that Council consider approval of the reallocation of £500,000 within the current Capital Programme to support acquisitions within the enlarged in-principle CPO area.

The Leader reported that it is recommended that Council, as detailed on page 90 of the agenda report, approve the reallocation of £500,000 within the current Capital Programme to support acquisitions within the enlarged in-principle CPO area.

Proposer: Councillor Smith

Seconder: Councillor Plant

That Council approve the reallocation of £500,000 within the current Capital Programme to support acquisitions within the enlarged in-principle CPO area.

CARRIED.