To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 25 June 2019.

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 June 2019 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Apologies were received from Councillors Bambridge, Hewett, Robinson and Sherwood.

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, Duigan and K Martin.

None.

To consider the grants put forward (if any).  

None.

Report of Executive Member for Finance & Growth, Councillor Philip Cowen.

The Executive Member for Finance and Growth presented the report that provided forecast information on the full-year financial position of the Council as at 30 June 2019.  He said there were significant challenges ahead, particularly with housing and accommodation costs.  Buildings were being acquired for use as homelessness accommodation.  Members were advised that there were completions coming forward on affordable housing schemes within Thetford which would help towards housing issues.  Members were assured that everything possible would be done to mitigate costs going forward.

The report was noted.

Report of Leader of the Council, Councillor Sam Chapman-Allen.

The Leader of the Council presented the report that asked Members for endorsement of the draft Norfolk and Suffolk Local Industrial Strategy.

In October 2018 Government published the Local Industrial Strategy Policy Prospectus that set out its expectations on Local Industrial Strategies (LIS).  A local industrial strategy should bring together a strong, well-informed evidence base about an area’s economy and outline a long-term set of priorities that capitalise on existing opportunities in the economy, address weaknesses and resolve an area’s needs. 

The Inward Investment Manager added that the LIS was an expansive document that allowed Breckland Council to have a strong voice in terms of financial distribution and strategy going forward.

Councillor Borrett asked if the document gave sufficient weight to the market towns as they were key within Breckland.  The Inward Investment Manager felt the document needed to be strengthened in that regard as Market Towns were essential not just in Breckland but across the County.

Councillor Borrett went onto raise his concerns about the electricity distribution across the District, in particular with industrial development not having enough electricity.  The Executive Director of Commercialisation said conversations were underway with the Government, Homes England and locally to try and solve issues to ensure power was at the forefront of the strategic position within Norfolk.  Councillor Borrett understood that the power at Necton was being distributed further afield and not across Norfolk and whilst he had asked if authorities could tap into it, was told that would not be possible.  The Executive Director of Commercialisation informed Members that she had asked the UK Power Network the cost of distribution and it was commented it would cost a significant sum to convert large scale power outputs to neighbourhood level power, that would then need to be distributed.

The Leader added he had recently had a conversation with the Secretary of State for International Trade who had not been aware of the power issues across Norfolk and the Eastern Region.

It was asked that the response to Government regarding the issues with energy be attached to the LIS response to raise the concern with energy.

Councillor Duigan asked for clarity on the term ‘Knowledge Transfer’ that had been cited within the report.  The Inward Investment Manager confirmed it was the way information flowed between the Universities and Research & Development Centres; both of which were activities not available within Breckland due to the rural location of the District. 

Councillor Duigan went onto ask what would happen if everyone moved to electric cars as there would not be enough electricity to cope with the demand.  The Executive Director for Commercialisation explained that this would be incremental growth.

The Deputy Leader added that from reading the document, the supply of water could also be an issue going forward.  Members were informed that Anglian Water were also aware of and were investing in advance of anticipated need as their programme of activity timelines were in advance.

Reasons for Recommendation

1.     To ensure that Breckland’s local future needs  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60/19

To consider references, if any, from the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission.

Nothing to report.

To note the minutes of the meeting of the Anglia Revenues and Benefits Partnership meeting held on 11 June 2019.

The minutes of the Anglia Revenues and Benefits Partnership Joint Committee meeting held on the 11 June 2019 were noted.

The Executive Member for Finance and Growth would like to ask the Anglia Revenues Partnership (ARP) to attend a future meeting of Full Council to inform Members of the function of ARP.

The Deputy Leader was aware that ARP were using Artificial Intelligence and would like to understand more about how they were using this going forward.

To note that the date of the next meeting of Cabinet will be held on Monday 14 October at 10.00am, in Connaught Hall, Station Road, Attleborough NR17 2AS.

There will be an opportunity for the members of the public to ask questions of Cabinet members from 9.30am to 10:00am.

The arrangements for the next meeting on Monday 14 October at 10.00am in Connaught Hall, Station Road, Attleborough NR17 2AS were noted.

There would be an opportunity for members of the public to ask questions of Cabinet Members from 9.30am to 10.00am.