Successful year for North Norfolk District Council

Date published: 13th July 2018

Cabinet members have welcomed North Norfolk District Council’s (NNDC) ‘Annual Report’, a review of its achievements during 2017/2018, at a meeting on Monday 9 July in Cromer.

Leader of North Norfolk District Council and Conservative Group Leader, Cllr. John Lee said: “I'm very proud to present this report, it's recognition of the great work carried out by the excellent staff at NNDC, and further proof that we are delivering on our promises to the North Norfolk electorate."

The Council’s Annual Report takes a look back at achievements according to five priorities set out in its four-year (2015-2019) Corporate Plan.

Members heard that during 2017/2018 100% of customers visiting the Council offices in Cromer reported that they were ‘quite or extremely satisfied’ that they were dealt with in a helpful, pleasant and courteous way by the customer services team.  On the theme of excellent customer service, it was also noted that the completion of planning application approvals was recorded at its highest level ever for 2017/2018.

North Norfolk District Council continued to be the only council in Norfolk to deliver all of its planned affordable homes, with 90 affordable homes built in the District in 2017/2018.  The Council’s Housing Team is currently working with local organisations and communities that are most affected by the impact of second homes in providing a community-led housing scheme where local people play a leading role in finding solutions to housing need in their neighbourhood. 

The Council held its first North Norfolk Business Awards in February 2018, a celebration of the quality and diversity of businesses in the District.  The evening was a huge success, with seven businesses of all sizes and from a variety of sectors taking home winners’ trophies.  The event will be an annual fixture on the North Norfolk calendar.

Council Tax collection was again excellent in North Norfolk with the collection rate recorded as one of the highest in the country - 98.74% of Council Tax and 99.4% of Non-Domestic (Business) Rates being collected in 2017/18.  This follows 98.7% of Council Tax and 99.36% of Non-Domestic (Business) Rates being collected in 2016/17.

The Report indicated that there has never been a better time to make the most of the great North Norfolk outdoors.  All three of the Council’s open spaces were awarded the prestigious Green Flag status (Pretty Corner Woods, Sadler’s Wood and Holt Country Park), together with six of our beaches awarded Blue Flags at Sheringham, East Runton, West Runton, Cromer, Mundesley and Sea Palling meaning almost 10% of England’s Blue Flag beaches can be found in North Norfolk, no other district has more.

Steps taken by North Norfolk District Council in 2017/2018 will lead to great strides for many of its exciting projects for the future.  A renewed contract for the management of Cromer Pier secures the future of the Council-owned iconic Grade II listed structure for the next ten years, a £20 million sandscaping project is set to protect Bacton Gas Terminal and nearby villages from the effects of coastal erosion and a £14 million investment in state of the art sporting facilities in North Norfolk demonstrates the Council’s commitment to improving the health and well-being of it residents.

Leader of the Independent Group, Cllr. John Rest concluded that: “The joint working relationships within North Norfolk District Council are reaping rewards that the Report demonstrates are beneficial to all.”