To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 22 November 2016.

The minutes of the meeting held on 22 November 2016 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Apologies were received from Councillors Cowen and Turner.

None.

The duties to register, disclose and not to participate for the entire consideration of the matter, in respect of any matter in which a Member has a disclosable pecuniary interest are set out in Chapter 7 of the Localism Act 2011.  Members are also required to withdraw from the meeting room as stated in the Standing Orders of this Council.

None.

Councillors Borrett, Claussen, Crawford, Hollis, Newton and Wilkin.

The Leader announced that Councillor Lynda Turner had resigned from the Cabinet with effect from 31 December 2016 and thanked her for her contributions to the Cabinet. 

Report of Executive Member Place, Lynda Turner.

The Executive Director Place presented the report to Members.

Councillor Bambridge asked if the project could be extended into the villages within the District.  This would be considered at a future date, depending on funding available.

Councillor Webb asked why Swaffham was not included.  It was explained that the numbers had been based on a pilot study, take-up had not been sufficient with Swaffham.

Councillor Dimoglou felt that whilst it was a good scheme the cost per head appeared excessive. The Executive Director Place said that if the intervention was not available the cost on alternative health providers would far outweigh the cost of the project and therefore save the wider public purse.

Councillor Borrett welcomed the report, adding that it fitted in well with the County Council programme and the national strategic health programme.  He was also glad to see that it supported the Breckland corporate objectives.

Options

1)     To fully fund the funding application set out in the report

2)     To part fund the funding application set out in the report

3)     Do nothing

Reasons

The grant application meets the criteria of the scheme.

RESOLVED that Cabinet approves £20,000 (or 6.5% of the total project costs for the entire three year project, whichever is the lower amount) to Creative Arts East for the ‘Our Day Out’ project.

Report of Executive Member Place, Lynda Turner.

The Executive Director Place presented the report outlining the three applications for match funding.

Councillor Robinson supported the work of the Benjamin foundation, but queried their financial business and suggested a financial plan should have been included within their application.  The Executive Director of Place said that whilst he could not comment on the financial business of the charity, the application did meet the criteria on the ability to receive match funding.

The Chairman noted the comments and suggested that the match funding criteria be reviewed.

Councillor Crawford supported the project and added that the charity also provided support to the older community within Thetford.

Options

1)     To fully fund the applications set out in the report

2)     To part fund the applications set out in the report

3)     Do nothing

Reasons

The grant applications meet the criteria of the scheme.

RESOLVED that Cabinet approves the following grant awards:

·        £8,086 (or 30% of the project costs, whichever is the lower amount) to the Benjamin Foundation to contribute to the costs of re-roofing the Meet Up Community Centre on the Redcastle Furze Estate and insulating the Sports Hall ceiling.

·        £14,000 (or 18.7% of the project costs, whichever is the lower amount) to Swaffham Town Council to contribute towards a new multi-use games area on the Recreation Ground.

·        £7,920 (or 30% of the project costs, whichever is the lower amount) to Beeston Playing Field to provide a range of new play equipment.

Report of Deputy Leader, Executive Member Strategy, Governance & Transformation, Sam Chapman-Allen

The Deputy Leader and Executive Member Strategy, Governance and Transformation presented the report, highlighting the key success of the voice recognition system that had been implemented in December 2016.  The feedback received had shown that the system had been a real success.

Councillor Claussen applauded the new system and said it would improve customer service.

The content of the report was noted.

Report of Executive Member Place, Lynda Turner.

The Executive Director Place said the five market towns had been approached with proportional funding asking for projects, which met criteria, they would like to spend the outstanding residual funding.

Councillor Borrett fully supported the initiative.

Councillor Chapman-Allen mentioned it had previously been in the press about the Clock Tower in Thetford, and hoped Thetford Town Council would use some of the money to have it working.

The Chief Executive clarified that this was residual funding being used in the District’s market towns.  A further piece of work had started on supporting the market town initiative across a number of aspects and more information would be presented at a later date.

Options

1)     To approve the Town Action Plans to enable the spend of the allocated money of £23,017

2)     To not approve the recommendations and ask for further review of particular initiatives.

3)     Do nothing

Reasons

We have a clear commitment in our Corporate Plan to helping our market towns to thrive in order that they in turn provide the required support to surrounding villages and hinterlands.  We recognise that Brecklands market towns need to be vibrant and busy, offering an interesting and enjoyable experience for visitors.  Out of town and online shopping have drawn many people away from our town centres.

RESOLVED that:

1)     That Cabinet approve the indicative Town Action Plans in appendix A to enable the spend of the allocated money of £23,017 from the Resource4Growth funds approved by Cabinet in February 2016.

2)     That Cabinet agree to delegate authority to the Executive Manager (Growth and Prosperity) in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Place to agree amendments to the Action Plans if requested by the relevant Market Town.

Report of Executive Member Growth & Commercialisation, Phil Cowen.

This report had been referred back from Council on 8 December 2016 for further consideration as the Council now had a 5-year land supply.

It was RESOLVED that the recommendations are not approved and the report be pulled.  

To note that the date of the next meeting of Cabinet will be held on 7 February 2017 at 9.30am and be held in the Norfolk Room, Conference Suite, Elizabeth House, Walpole Loke, Dereham.

The arrangements for the next meeting held on 7 February 2017 at 9.30am in the Norfolk Room, Elizabeth House, Dereham were noted.

To consider passing the following resolution:

“That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to the Act”.

PART B – ITEM FROM WHICH THE PRESS AND THE PUBLIC ARE EXCLUDED 

RESOLVED that under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

Report of the Leader of the Council, William Nunn.

The Interim Executive Director Commercialisation provided Members with an overview of the Government’s One Public Estate programme.

Options

See report

Reasons

See report.

RESOLVED that Cabinet agree to the recommendation as mentioned in the report.