Virtual Town Hall
We recently held a 'Virtual Town Hall' event to give Breckland residents an opportunity to ask our Council's Leader questions about what matters most to them.
During the live event, Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen, Leader of Breckland Council, answered questions from Ian Clarke, a local, journalist and the Executive Editor of the Eastern Daily Press (EDP).
To help shape the interview questions, members of the public were invited to submit suggested questions in advance of the meeting directly to Ian, plus people were able to submit additional questions during the live meeting. All of the questions were selected by the journalists supporting the event and these were not shared with the council in advance.
The interview covered a broad range of topics, including:
- Local Government Reorganisation
- Car parking
- the council's finances
- plans for the Abbey Estate in Thetford
- the impact building more houses is having on local infrastructure
- the council's commercial portfolio
- support for people who have lost the winter fuel allowance
- the impact of heavy industry in Griston
- and more!
If you missed the event, you can watch a recording below, or via our YouTube and social media channels.
While we answered as many questions as we could during the Virtual Town Hall event, we didn't quite have time for all of those submitted in advance and during the meeting. So here are the answers to your outstanding questions (some submitted questions have been shortened for brevity or to anonymise the contributors):
Q. Having just been through the distressing time of finding out that Linden Court was closing, and then needing to find a new home for my 95 year old mother-in-law, this appalling situation has highlighted for me how little respect and care are given to our elderly and needy inhabitants. Linden Court was a wonderful home with amazing friendly and caring staff from cleaners to cooks to nurses and everyone who worked there. My mother-in-law was very happy there. She is now in a new home, and on the face of it settling in and making the best of her situation which she has done many times over in her life. But we know she is in a state of shock, and feeling very vulnerable having to get to know new people coming in and out of her room, different routines, food, outlook etc. What is going to happen to our residents who cannot afford a private facility? As my mother-in-law said, we need more care homes, not less!
Thanks for sharing your story with us. We're really sorry to hear how the closure of Linden Court has affected your mother-in-law, and what a worry this must have been for you and your family.
Linden Court is run by Norse Care, a company wholly owned by Norfolk County Council - which also provides Adult Social Care services for the whole of Norfolk.
So we will make Cllr Claire Bowes, who is the County Councillor for Watton, aware of the situation.
Q. Please could you ask what can be done to stop anti-social behaviour on Harling Drove?
Thank you for flagging your concerns about illegal and anti-social behaviour in the Harling Drove area. Where your concerns relate to activity which might be considered under the Law as either indecent exposure or public indecency, we would encourage you to notify the Police so that they can investigate further.
With respect to fly tipping and littering, if it's happening on public land* this is absolutely something we can help with, and we will make sure our team looks into your concern as soon as possible. We haven't had any reports for Harling Drove for a while now, but our waste crews are out every Tuesday in this area, and while they're out collecting rubbish sacks from residential properties, they will also litterpick and remove any flytips from the verges.
Fly tipping and littering can be quickly and easily reported on our website too, by clicking on the 'Report' button on our website.
(*If you think it might be Forestry Commission land, please contact them direct as the responsible landowners.)
Q. No affordable retirement building being priority with new housing developments. More housing stock for families is needed you say, yet there are many pensioners trapped in family size homes because there is no affordable retirement housing in Dereham. My heart is in and for Dereham but your leaving me and others like me trapped in housing with the only alternative being to move away. Why is the Council against the older generations of this town who have contributed and are still contributing much to this town.
We have policies within our existing Local Plan which seek to deliver housing solutions for older residents. It is true to say that no schemes of any significance have come forward within Dereham. That is something we can discuss with developers to understand why that is so. We have also agreed to re-start work on the Local Plan update and this will be an important topic for us to consider as part of that process.
Q. I would like to raise a question about the development of 21 houses in Whissonsett Road, Colkirk on land owned by Breckland District Council, the developer being Breckland Bridge Ltd (a joint venture between Breckland District Council and The Land Group). Breckland District Council granted planning permission for this development to take place, and I believe work started in Autumn 2022, with the first phase of houses due for completion in Autumn 2023. We are now in March 2025, and there are no houses nearing completion yet.
The Colkirk housing development is the third housing scheme being delivered under Breckland Council's joint venture partnership, Breckland Bridge. Previously, the partnership has delivered profit-making developments at Mileham & Attleborough, the proceeds of which have been used to contribute to the Council's other services.
Construction was ceased in Autumn 2023 as the primary contractor for the scheme (Wellingtons) entered into administration. At the time the first 10 new homes were partially constructed but not watertight and a further 10 new homes were complete to floor slab level. EN Suiters stepped in in 2024 to assist with protecting the half-built homes and they also completed the highways improvements for the village.
After the withdrawal of Wellingtons, and a review of the best way forward, the Council along with its joint venture partner, Breckland Bridge has now determined that the best course of action is for the scheme to be completed to enable the delivery of these new high-quality homes.
Phase 1 of the scheme is estimated to complete in summer 2025 whilst Phase 2 will be completed in winter 2025/26. Sales will begin on the initial tranche of homes in Spring.
Q. Why has Breckland Council enabled Eastern Attachments to move their entire B2 metal bashing company on to a small site in the centre of a residential area in Griston?
The planning application for Eastern Attachments was considered by the Council and it was found to be acceptable on planning terms. We understand the very strong views of both local residents and the Parish Council but we are guided by our Statutory Consultees in determining these types of applications. The matter will be heard by a Planning Inspector on 8th April where local residents and others will be able to raise their concerns. If planning permission is refused by the Inspector then the Council will act accordingly having regard to the reasons for that refusal.
Q. If housing is built on land where houses back on to that is farm land. Do the people who live in these homes currently because they moved in having liked the peace and views are they compensated in any way. Building homes then impact the people that live near by?
This Council has, like many other councils, been told by the Government that it must deliver more houses than it was previously required to do. This number of 903 is 45% higher than the previous requirement. Over the course of the Local Plan update period, this equates to nearly 4,500 additional homes. Unfortunately, that means that inevitably there will be a need to build on green field land. We will consult with local communities about the best place for these houses but if we do not provide a local plan we will have one imposed upon us. There is no requirement to pay compensation to householders who consider themselves impacted by future development.
Q. Do you think that the considerable amount money spent on local plans has been a complete waste when the plans have effectively been overridden by government. What was the point?
We can understand the point, but the presence of a local plan has been an important part of guiding development within Breckland. We are required to review our plan every five years and that period is now upon us. If we do not provide a plan or meet the housing target set by Government then the Government can intervene and impose a plan upon us. We would rather work with communities to provide the best plan we can to give us the housing we need in the best places with the infrastructure required.
Q. Is it right staff are being offered amazon vouchers for turning up to parking meetings? Is this (a) good value of money (b) supporting our high streets?
We are grateful to the council staff who gave their time - including, for many, working outside their normal hours - to make sure Breckland residents had the opportunity to thoroughly engage and express their views as part of this extensive consultation. As a small gesture of thanks for the care and support they showed our residents on this often-emotive subject, the council provided them with a small voucher to recognise their commitment and support.
Q. During the cost of living crisis - is it fair that well paid staff are given free tea, roasted coffee, milk etc?
The public sector isn't in a position to compete with much of the private sector on salary alone, so we have to look at other ways that create an attractive employment package. By offering perks like this, we can attract and retain the best staff, which ultimately means we can provide the best possible services to our residents.
Q. FOI around parking changes in Attleborough showed 31 businesses who replied, 31 against...was that listening to the local public in a consultation?
This FOI enquiry was responded to in August 2024. It was regarding a consultation exercise that was undertaken in 2022. The consultation that was undertaken followed the trial of an enforced period of car parking at Queens Square car park in Attleborough.
In that FOI response the Council disclosed data on the consultation responses. In that FOI response the data confirmed that we received 292 responses to the consultation online of which 58% supported the trial and 42% did not support it. Of the 292 responses 34% were from businesses. A further 75 businesses were also engaged as part of the consultation directly and only 10 confirmed the trial had had a negative impact.
Given there was a larger majority of responses that supported the parking enforcement trial, this would indicate that the decision to continue this scheme was in part related to the consultation outcomes. Thus, the Council had taken the public consultation views into consideration.
Q. Will parish councils have a say in any proposed changes to their responsibilities and authority and receive any additional funding to cover additional cost that may be associated with extra responsibility?
"Local Government Reorganisation" and "Devolution" - which may, potentially, have an implication for parish Councils is primarily national policy and being developed and delivered via Central Government. However:
· There is a current consultation running on "Devolution" which can be accessed here - Norfolk and Suffolk devolution consultation - GOV.UK
· Breckland District Council is seeking feedback on both "Devolution" and "Local Government Reorganisation" via this survey - FutureEast - FutureEast
· It is anticipated that the development of detailed plans, to meet the Government's September deadline for detailed submissions around LGR will be developed with significant local engagement.
Q. When you commission an expert opinion from a consultant - do you shop around for best price? Is the commissioning a transparent process?
Yes, our constitution sets out the requirements for procuring contracts which includes obtaining different quotes for price/quality comparisons.
Q. Does Breckland still have investments in the middle east, including banks in Qatar - a country that does not share our values around inclusivity
Breckland does not currently have any investments held in Qatar banks.
Share this page
