The Corporate Performance Panel of King's Lynn and West Norfolk Council met on Wednesday, 3 September 2025, to discuss performance management, budget monitoring, constitutional changes, and housing projects. The meeting was scheduled to take place in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King's Lynn. The meeting was also available for the public to view on YouTube.

Major Housing Projects and Programme

The panel was scheduled to receive a presentation on the update and history of the Major Housing Projects and Programme. The presentation was expected to cover:

• Programme Aims
• Governance
• Contractors
• Projects Completed
• Ongoing Projects
• Social Value
• Creating Communities
• Lessons Identified
• Questions and Answers

A separate, exempt session, was also scheduled to take place on the same topic.

Q1 Performance Management Report

The panel was scheduled to discuss the Q1 2025-2026 Performance Management Report, which updates the cabinet on the council's progress against its corporate strategy and key performance indicators.

The report noted that in July, the cabinet had endorsed the Action Plan for 2025-2027, which set out the council's priorities for that period. In Q1, the number of actions to be monitored increased from 26 to 55, with 38 actions on target, 9 with minor issues or delays, and 2 completed. Updates on 6 actions carried out in partnership with others were to be provided for information only.

An annual review of key performance indicators was completed in May, reducing the number of indicators from 64 to 60. In Q1, 32 performance indicators had met or exceeded targets, 7 had not met the target by more than 5%, and 2 did not meet the target by less than 5%. There were 17 indicators reported as monitor only, and 2 to be included when the data became available.

The report was structured around the council's priority areas:

• Promote growth and prosperity to benefit West Norfolk
• Protect our environment
• Efficient and effective delivery of our services
• Support our communities

The report also included a quarterly update on the Transformation Programme, covering organisational development, service innovation and digital transformation, and enterprising the council's assets.

The report stated that 81% of current projects were on track, 19% had minor issues or delays, and 2 projects had been completed within the target date.

For each of the corporate priorities, the report detailed the projects with an amber status, indicating minor issues or delays:

• Efficient and effective delivery of our services: Lobby Government for alternative means of Internal Drainage Board funding, Review and determine impact of government changes to Internal Drainage Board funding, Review the Community Infrastructure Levy¹ (CIL) infrastructure requirements and assess the new governance arrangements, Implement a performance management system to manage information to support decision-making.
• Promoting growth and prosperity to benefit West Norfolk: Develop the Car Parking Strategy, produce a draft and adopt the strategy in 2024-2025, Develop and commence implementation of an investment strategy for property assets owned by the council for income generation, Progress the West Winch Housing Access Road Project, Progress the Southgates Masterplan.

The report also provided an overview of key employee data and features within the 'our organisation' section of the report.

Q1 Budget Monitoring Report

The panel was scheduled to discuss the council's financial performance against its 2025/2026 approved budget. The report incorporated key financial risks, issues, and opportunities since 1 April 2025 for revenue and capital items. The year-end forecasts took into consideration emerging data from service managers along with actual income and expenditure from 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2025.

The report noted that following Norfolk being accepted onto the Governments Devolution Priority Programme, council leaders and officers from across the Norfolk councils were working together on Local Government Reorganisation proposals. It stated that with full proposals being required to be submitted by 26 September 2025, there was ongoing uncertainty surrounding the impact this may have on the authority.

As of June 2025, inflation was at 3.6%, above the government's 2% target. The report noted that the lasting effect from inflation on individuals and businesses was being monitored in terms of impacts from increasing revenue costs and demand for the council's services, risk to recovery of monies collected by the council, and risk that could delay and/or increase the cost of capital projects.

At the end of Quarter 1, the Bank of England base rate remained at 4.25%, following a reduction from 4.5% in May 2025.

The council approved a balanced budget for the 2025/2026 financial year, as a result, there was no budget requirement for a contribution to/from the General Fund Reserve for the financial year. However, the current forecast position was estimating a £660,350 transfer to the General Fund Reserve. This was a favourable movement of £660,350 against the original budget which would result in an increased balance in the General Fund Reserve as at 31st March 2026 of £10,678,920.

The report stated that the council approved a Savings and Efficiency Plan with a target of £3.47m within the Medium-Term Financial Strategy. Monitoring to Quarter 1 forecasts that this would be achieved and exceeded by £199k.

There were three projects currently under Tier 3 which were ready to commence:

• Resort - Visitor Digital Sign
• Sewage Treatment Works/Public Sewer
• ICT Development Programme

The report noted that the council's Monitoring Officer had provided a clarification in line with the Scheme of Delegation in relation to this process.

Proposals from the Constitution Informal Working Group

The panel was scheduled to consider a schedule of proposed substantive changes to the constitution, developed through cross-party engagement and officer consultation by the Constitution Informal Working Group (CIWG).

The proposed amendments were detailed in the schedule and supporting appendices, and reflected both internal governance improvements and external statutory requirements.

The appendices included:

• Appendix 1 – Outside Bodies: Introduces Article 17 to define and regulate appointments to external organisations.
• Appendix 2 – Shareholder Function: Introduces Article 18 to formally recognise the council's role in overseeing wholly owned companies.
• Appendix 3 – Audit Committee Independent Members: Clarifies the role and appointment process for independent co-opted members.
• Appendix 4 – Electoral Arrangements Committee: Establishes a new non-executive committee to oversee electoral reviews, polling arrangement and Community Governance Reviews.

Panel Work Programme

The Panel was scheduled to review its work programme. Items scheduled for future meetings included:

• Council Tax Support - Final Scheme for 2026/2027
• Council Tax Discounts and Premiums – Resolution for 2026/2027
• Q2 2025-2026 Performance Management Report
• Report of the Informal Working Group – Constitution – Ongoing
• Custom and Self Build Site – Stoke Ferry
• Overnight Campervan parking in Hunstanton
• Florence Fields – Tenure Mix
• Article 4 Direction
• Empty Homes Strategy Review
• King's Lynn Town Football Club
• Housing Assurance Strategy
• Domestic Abuse Tenants/Residents Policy and Domestic Abuse Intersectionality Policy
• IT Hardware Refresh

Cabinet Forward Decisions List and Shareholder Committee Work Programme

The panel was scheduled to review the Cabinet Forward Decisions List and the Shareholder Committee Work Programme. Items listed on the Cabinet Forward Decisions List included:

• CIL Governance
• Q1 2025-2026 Performance Management Report
• LGR Business Case
• Adoption of Playing pitch and Sports facilities strategy
• Review of Constitution
• Cemeteries
• Recommendations from the Regeneration and Development Panel – Transport Informal Working Group
• Quarter 1 Budget Monitoring Report
• Heacham Beach Huts
• Plan for Neighbourhoods Fund
• Local Nature Recovery Strategy (Adoption)
• Safeguarding Policy
• NORA Access Road
• Capital Governance Framework
• Q2 2025-2026 Performance Management
• King's Lynn Enterprise Park
• Risk Strategy and Policy Report