There were no declarations of interest.

There were no apologies for absence.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 7 October 2015 were confirmed. 

Cabinet was reminded that the above issues had been deferred pending advice from Norfolk County Council Officers.

The Cabinet Secretary now reported that with regard to the trading on the footway, Broad Row and George Street the County Council had stated that they had no objection to the trading line remaining as part of the Borough Councils licensing arrangement alongside the likes of Regent Road. However if there was a requirement to replace the white lining with something different then the Borough Council would need to find the funding. With regard to the speeding around the Alderman Swindell School, the Cabinet Secretary reported that the County Council had stated that 20mph would be an advisory limit to be funded from local community resources.

The Leader reported that arrangements were already in place to provide the necessary signage at the Alderman Swindell School.

RESOLVED :

(i). That the County Council's comments in respect of the trading on the footway at Broadway and George Street should remain as part of the Borough Councils licensing arrangement.

(ii). That Cabinet note that arrangements are already in place with regard to the provision of the necessary signage at the Alderman Swindell School.

Cabinet considered the Transformation Programme Managers report, which gave an update on the current performance for the second quarter of 2015/2016 (July-September 2015) for key projects and performance measures. The Cabinet Secretary advised members that this matter would be subject to the call-in procedure.

RESOLVED :-

That the following actions be endorsed :-

• All key projects to be monitored during the next quarter.
• The four key projects all have a current status of green and monitoring should continue during the next quarter with the aim of maintaining the green status.
• All corporate measures to be monitored during the next quarter.

Cabinet considered the Director of Customer Services report which sought approval to establish a partnership between Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Suffolk Coastal District Council, Waveney District Council and North Norfolk District Council with regard to the provision of a shared service dealing with coastal issues. The Cabinet Secretary reminded Members that this matter would be subject to the call-in procedure.

RESOLVED :-

(i). That a Norfolk and Suffolk Coastal Management team be established in partnership between Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Suffolk Coastal District Council, Waveney District Council and North Norfolk District Council.

(ii). That a Councillor Partnership Board and Operational Officer Group be created to establish and deliver the Norfolk and Suffolk Coastal Management Partnership as set out in the Director of Customer Services report.

(iii). That the Partnership for delivery of the Norfolk and Suffolk Coastal Management team will operate under a Section 113 Agreement.

(iv). That the initial decision on the delivery of support services for the Partnership be delegated to the Chief Executive Officer, in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Members.

(v). That agreement of the terms of the relevant Partnership Agreement and Section 113 Agreement be delegated to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Members.

Cabinet considered the Director of Housing and Neighbourhoods report which, following an internal audit recommendation and in order to help deliver the objectives of the Corporate Plan, asked Cabinet to approve a commissioning process for future funding to Voluntary Organisations providing support services to the Borough's residents.

In discussing the report the Shadow Leader stated that there was a need to look at all grants given to organisations by the Borough Council and not just to those given to the Voluntary Sector. Councillor Grey in her capacity as the Audit and Risk Committee Chairman stated that the auditors had also indicated that all grants should be reviewed by the Council.

The Interim Chief Executive Officer asked Cabinet to consider moving from an annual grants model to to a 3 year commissioning model to help deliver the Councils corporate objectives and that Voluntary Community Sector Organisations be commissioned against a set of criteria. The Director of Housing and Neighbourhoods reported on the proposal to establish a Members Working Group comprising the relevant community portfolio holders who would look at the details of the criteria to be applied in respect of the Voluntary Community Sector grants. The Cabinet Secretary advised Members that this matter would be subject to the the call-in procedure.

RESOLVED :-

(i). That approval be given to moving from an annual grants model to a 3 year commissioning model to help deliver the Council's corporate  objectives, and that the Voluntary Community Sector Organisations be commissioned against a set of criteria to be agreed by the Working Group as set out in (ii) below, the implementation date will be no earlier than September 2016.

(ii). That approval be given to establish a Members Working Group comprising the relevant community portfolio holders.

(iii). That the proposal that all other GYBC grants be reviewed by the Members Working Group and a report be considered at a future Cabinet meeting be endorsed.

Cabinet was advised that under the Licensing Act 2013 Licensing Authorities are required to review their licensing policy every 5 years. The Borough Council's current policy will expire on the 6th January 2016. Cabinet were now asked therefore to approve the final draft licensing policy for publication.

RESOLVED :-

That Council be recommended to agree that the Licensing Policy, incorporating the amendments be approved, and that once approved the new policy will be published on the 1st December 2015 and will come in to effect on the 7th January 2016.

Cabinet was advised that Section 349 of the Gambling Act 2005 requires Licensing authorities to publish a "Statement of the Principles" that they propose to apply in exercising their functions under the Act, applicable to a 3 year period. The Borough Councils existing Statement of Principles (Gambling Policy) expires on the 30th January 2016 and a new policy must be published by the 3rd January 2016.

Cabinet was advised that a draft policy has been subject to consultation over a six week period during September and October.

Members were now asked to approve the draft policy as the new gambling Statement of Principles.

RESOLVED :-

That Council be recommended to agree that the amended Gambling Policy be approved as the final Gambling Statement of Principle which will be published on the 3rd January 2016 and will come into effect on the 31st January 2016.

The Cabinet Secretary reported that it was proposed to hold a special meeting of Council on Monday 21st December 2015 in order to consider the final report in connection with the Local Plan.