Hunstanton councillors found out about West Norfolk Council homes scheme through press release

Town councillors have called for better communication from their borough counterparts after finding out about a new homes plan through a press release.

At Hunstanton Town Council’s meeting on Wednesday, members discussed the fact that West Norfolk Council leader Alistair Beales suggested he “pay Hunstanton a visit”.

Cllr Jordan Cribb described this as “interesting”, and asked when a potential meeting could take place.

He then referred to a recent plan for new housing in the town which had been greenlit, asking whether a borough cabinet member’s description of it as “good news” was an opinion or general consensus.

Town mayor Cllr Michael Ruston subsequently revealed that the first the town council had heard of the scheme being approved was when the borough council sent out a press release announcing it.

He called for the borough council to “tip us off”.

He suggested that a meeting with Cllr Beales and borough council deputy leader Cllr Simon Ring be held in private - but councillors disagreed.

“I am fed up with private meetings,” Cllr Cribb said.

Cllr Jonathan Barber added: “These are public officials, so these meetings should be held in public.”

Cllr Ruston agreed.

Meanwhile, Cllr Tony Bishopp slammed the town’s borough council representatives.

He said that while watching a recent meeting, he witnessed one of them show up “in a dinner jacket”, ask for an agenda item to be moved forward, and then leave once it had been covered.

Cllr Bishopp suggested both of Hunstanton’s borough councillors have had a poor attendance at meetings this year - but said he would not say any more without them present to defend themselves.

Cllr Paul Beal and Cllr Angie Dickinson represent the town at borough level.