The meeting of King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council's cabinet on 10 December 2024 was scheduled to discuss a broad range of topics across the council's responsibilities, including planning, finance, licensing, community support and the environment. The most significant topics for discussion were the future of the council's leisure centres, the adoption of a new economic strategy for west Norfolk and the potential consequences of central government's decision to allow councils to levy a 100% premium on council tax on second homes.

Leisure assets

The cabinet was scheduled to receive a report from officers entitled 'Renewal plan for swimming pools and leisure centres'. This report made the case for a major investment programme to renew the council's leisure assets across the borough, driven by the increasingly poor condition of the existing venues and the financial consequences of continuing to operate them.

It has long been recognised that physical activity plays a key role in promoting health and wellbeing. However, for both adults and children, the borough’s levels of obesity/overweight are higher than the national average, whilst activity levels for both are lower than the national average.

The report described the social and health benefits of increasing levels of participation in physical activity and the council's commitment to working with Sport England to deliver a plan for increasing physical activity in the borough. Sport England has designated the borough as one of its 100 ‘Place Expansion’ areas that will benefit from additional funding, and the report confirmed that swimming pools and leisure centres will have an important role in the emerging plan.

Swimming pools and leisure centres play a vital role in creating active and healthy communities, but they also teach children (and adults) to swim; provide a community ‘hub’ for local people and are key to making a place attractive to live, work, visit and invest. What’s more, Sport England research shows that deprived communities have a particularly strong preference for exercising in their local public pools and leisure centres.

The borough has three swimming pools at St James, Oasis and Downham Market. The report described how both St James and Oasis are at the end of their economic lives and that both facilities have become increasingly expensive to operate.

The subsidy paid by the council to operate the council’s leisure facilities currently stands at £1.4m and is expected to increase.

The report identified three broad strategic options for the future of the council's leisure facilities: continue to operate them, close them without replacing them, or invest in new facilities. The report made the case for investing in new facilities, arguing that new facilities would not only improve the council's environmental performance, they would also help increase usage and would deliver significant health and social benefits for local people.

The report went on to describe a range of options for the future of each of the facilities.

Within the context of the strategic priority to deliver three sustainable public pools and based on the analysis of needs, performance and venue condition, the consultants have recommended a number of options.as the building blocks for a renewal plan.

The report recommended that the council progress with more detailed planning for a replacement pool at St James and for a replacement pool at Oasis. It also recommended that £450k be allocated from the council's 'Invest to Save' fund to fund the next stage of the project.

West Norfolk Economic Strategy

The cabinet was scheduled to discuss whether to adopt a new economic strategy for west Norfolk. The strategy, entitled the 'West Norfolk Economic Strategy', described the council's ambitions and priorities for the borough's economic development. It was developed using data from the Norfolk Office of Data Analysis (NODA). The strategy is organised around a series of 'capitals' for economic development, each of which is discussed in some detail.

By inclusive, we mean growth that ensures all residents, regardless of background or circumstance, can access opportunities and benefit from economic progress. Sustainable growth refers to development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs - ensuring economic activity does not deplete natural resources, but instead balances environmental, social, and economic factors for long-term resilience.

The strategy identified five priorities for the borough's economic development:

• Thriving Towns that are destinations for both residents and tourists.
• Access to education and good work, at all phases of life.
• Specialised argi-food, engineering, manufacturing and visitor economy with productive jobs and businesses that are a reason to stay in the area, relocate to it and invest in it.
• Proactive, efficient and sustainable management of our natural resources.
• Happy, healthy people living in connected inclusive communities with access to housing, health services, social and leisure facilities.

The recommendation to endorse the WNES is the first stage of the process and will inform the next stage to develop an Investment Plan which will determine the priorities for funding for the Borough, for the Council and partners.

The cabinet was scheduled to receive a series of recommendations from the Regeneration and Development Panel meeting held on 19 November 2024. This included a recommendation to endorse the West Norfolk Economic Strategy.

CIL spending

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a charge that local councils can choose to impose on new developments in their area. The money raised from the levy can then be used to fund infrastructure projects in the area.

The cabinet was scheduled to discuss the council's arrangements for spending the money raised from the CIL. The cabinet had previously asked the CIL spending panel and officers to review the existing list of infrastructure projects that are eligible for funding from the levy. The review is not scheduled to be completed until Spring 2025. However, the next round of applications for CIL funding is due to open in January 2025.

The cabinet was therefore asked to consider rolling forward the existing arrangements for spending CIL money until the review is complete. This would allow the council to continue to consider applications for CIL funding in January 2025.

Other items

The cabinet was scheduled to discuss a number of other items including:

• Community Governance Review – Burnham Market
  • This report proposed that the council carry out a review of the governance of Burnham Market Parish Council. The review would consider whether the number of councillors on the parish council should be reduced from 11 to 8.
• White Ribbon Campaign
  • This report considered whether the council should seek accreditation from White Ribbon UK. White Ribbon UK is a charity that works to end male violence against women and girls. Accreditation would demonstrate the council's commitment to tackling violence against women and girls.
• Audit Committee Terms of Reference
  • This report presented a draft updated version of the Audit Committee's terms of reference. The updated terms of reference were drawn up in line with guidance from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).
• Q2 2024-25 Performance Management
  • This report provided an update on the council's progress against the Corporate Strategy.

The management report focuses on each of the corporate priorities individually, providing management team and members with an overview on the current status of projects and performance levels achieved by key indicators.

• Notice of Motion 15/23 – Wash East Coast Management Strategy – Unit C – Technical Report
  • This report considered the next steps in the council's response to motion 15/23, which called for the council to develop a strategy for managing the Wash East Coast. The report provided an update on the technical work that had been undertaken to assess the risks to the coast from flooding and erosion.
• 100% premium on second homes
  • The cabinet was also scheduled to discuss the potential consequences of central government's decision to allow councils to levy a 100% premium on council tax on second homes. The report noted that the government had yet to announce further regulations about statutory exceptions to the policy and that discussions were ongoing in Norfolk about whether some of the additional funding raised should be returned to parishes.

Norfolk wide discussions continue regarding a proportion of the additional funding raised being returned to fund local priorities. However, it does not appear that much progress has been made at this stage.