kings lynn & west norfolk borough council

What kings lynn & west norfolk borough council does

The Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk is a UK statutory local government authority serving approximately 160,000+ residents across 26 wards covering King's Lynn, Hunstanton, Downham Market, and surrounding villages in Norfolk, England. It delivers the full portfolio of local authority services — council tax and business rates administration, housing allocation and benefits, planning and development control, waste collection and recycling, licensing, electoral services, environmental health, parking, and bereavement services (Mintlyn Crematorium) — alongside cultural and leisure provision through Alive West Norfolk (returned to in-house management in April 2025), St George's Guildhall heritage venue, the historic West Lynn Ferry, and five Green Flag-awarded parks. The council operates 25 neighbourhood plans and oversees a £20m Pride in Place 10-year regeneration programme for King's Lynn town centre.

Revenue is generated through five diversified streams: council tax (bands A–H, monthly billing), non-domestic business rates, central government grants (including the £20m Pride in Place award and UK Shared Prosperity Fund), transactional fees and charges (planning, licensing, parking, bulky waste, garden bins), and rental income from council-owned commercial and residential property. Digital service delivery runs through the Jadu-powered west-norfolk.gov.uk website with MyRevenues and MyAccount self-service portals (24/7), supplemented by in-person services at King's Court and Town Hall locations, telephone (01553 616200), live chat, and a multi-platform social media presence across X (7,682 followers), Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and NextDoor.

The council is governed by elected councillors led by Cllr Alistair Beales (Council Leader) and Cllr Steve Bearshaw (Mayor for 2026/27), with professional executive leadership under Chief Executive Kate Blakemore, Chief Operating Officer Emma Kavanagh, and Chief of Staff Emma Hodds. Strategic direction is shaped by a 10-year housing partnership with Lovell Partnerships (226 homes at Florence Fields, plus Valentine Park and Southend Road), heritage partnerships with Historic England and Norfolk Museums Service, a leisure partnership with the LTA, and active involvement in the proposed Future Norfolk three-unitary local government reorganisation. There is no disclosed AI/ML capability, no parent entity, no subsidiaries, and no external equity ownership — the council is a public body accountable to local residents through the ballot box.

Name

kings lynn & west norfolk borough council

Legal name

Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk

Website

https://west-norfolk.gov.uk

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk is a UK statutory local government authority delivering council tax, benefits, housing, planning, waste, licensing, leisure, and cultural services to approximately 160,000 residents across 26 wards, funded through taxation, government grants, and fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Government Services

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925), Administration of Housing Programs (925110), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (92512), Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921), Other Services to Buildings and Dwellings (56179)

SIC

Operators Of Nonresidential Buildings (6512), Lessors Of Real Property, Nec (6519), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Mayor/City Manager & General Administration (BPAIACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Municipal Tax & Revenue Administration (Local) (BPAIACAD), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Public Works / In-House Municipal Collection Operations (EUAIAAAF)

Keywords

• Local government services
• Council tax administration
• Housing and planning services
• Waste and recycling services
• Leisure and cultural services

Headquarters

HQ city

King's Lynn

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Council Tax: Local taxation collected from residents and businesses within the borough to fund council services.
2. Business Rates: Non-domestic rates collected from businesses operating within the borough.
3. Government Grants: Central government funding including Formula Grant and specific programme funding such as the Pride in Place £20m regeneration programme and UKSPF (UK Shared Prosperity Fund) for skills, business and community projects.
4. Fees and Charges: Charges for services including planning applications, parking permits and fines, licenses and permits, crematorium services, bulky item collections, garden waste bins, housing register applications, and other council services.
5. Rental Income: Income from council-owned properties and housing developments including commercial units at King's Lynn Enterprise Park and housing developments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk is a UK local government authority providing statutory and discretionary public services to residents, businesses, and visitors within the borough. Core offerings include Council Tax and Business Rates administration, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support, housing allocation and management, waste collection and recycling, planning and development control, licensing, parking, environmental health, leisure facilities, heritage venue operations, bereavement services, and community engagement programmes.

Product overview

King's Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council operates as a local government authority providing a comprehensive portfolio of digital and physical services. The council offers customer-facing digital portals including MyRevenues (for Council Tax, benefits, and business rates management) and MyAccount (for resident access), complemented by physical infrastructure and services such as Alive West Norfolk leisure facilities, St George's Guildhall heritage venue, Mintlyn Crematorium, and the West Lynn Ferry. Community programs include Food for Thought (healthy eating initiative) and Careline (vulnerable resident support). Housing developments like Florence Fields and Southend Road demonstrate the council's direct service delivery model. The council uses Recite Me for accessibility support and maintains social media presence across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, NextDoor, and X. The organization is structured around service departments covering benefits, planning, housing, waste management, parking, licensing, and leisure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• west-norolk.gov.uk: Official website domain for the borough council providing access to all council services, information, and online transactions.

Products and services

• MyRevenues A secure 24/7 online account portal for residents and businesses to view and manage Council Tax, business rates, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support, sundry debts, and Business Improvement District (BID) accounts.
• MyAccount Resident online account providing single sign-on access to Council Tax information, benefit details, and other council services.
• Alive West Norfolk Council-owned leisure and entertainment operation providing swimming pools, fitness centres, and sports facilities at Lynnsport and other venues for borough residents and visitors.
• St George's Guildhall and Creative Hub Council-owned heritage venue undergoing major renovation to operate as a regional and international centre for arts, creativity, and theatre.
• Mintlyn Crematorium Council-owned crematorium offering cremation ceremonies, memorial services, and bereavement support, with charitable donations to local hospice charities through the ICCM scheme.
• West Lynn Ferry Historic river crossing service operating between West Lynn and King's Lynn across the River Great Ouse.
• Careline Community Alarm Service Personal alarm and support service helping vulnerable borough residents remain independent in their own homes, celebrating 40 years of operation.
• Florence Fields Housing Development Council housing development comprising 226 new homes delivered in partnership with Lovell Partnerships, regional LABC award winner.
• Southend Road Coastal Apartments Coastal housing development built in partnership with Lovell Homes in Hunstanton, marketed via Fine and Country.
• Food for Thought Programme Community programme helping residents learn cooking skills, discover healthy eating on a budget, and save money on food; operates at Hunstanton Town Hall, North Lynn, Terrington St Clement, and other venues.

Quantifiable outcome

• £4m budget gap turned around to balanced position for 2025/26 without using reserves
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Lovell PartnershipscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner10-year housing partnership with Lovell for delivery of new homes including Florence Fields (226 homes), Valentine Park, and Southend Road development in Hunstanton. Partnership described as 'hugely successful'.
• Alive West NorfolkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeisure and entertainment facilities operator. Brought back in-house under council management from April 2025. Partnership with QEH Cancer Wellbeing and Support Centre won Team QEH Working Together Award. Partnership with King's Lynn Town Football Club for community initiatives.
• Lawn Tennis Association (LTA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with LTA on plans for new Community Covered Tennis, Padel and Multisport Hub at Lynnsport to serve residents.
• The Garage TrustmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural trust selected to take on the Carnegie Library building in King's Lynn, operating as a cultural venue.
• The 8:56 FoundationminorOthersMintlyn Crematorium donated £17,000 to the 8:56 Foundation - largest ever charitable contribution through the national ICCM scheme.
• Adapted Sports Hub TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for major inclusive sports development at Lynnsport.
• King's Lynn Town Football ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership between Alive West Norfolk and the football club with 'game-changing' initiatives including sponsorship of away shirt featuring Guildhall floorboard pattern.
• Norfolk County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in local government reorganisation proposals for Norfolk (three-unitary model: Greater Norwich, East Norfolk, West Norfolk). Also partner on West Lynn Ferry maintenance.
• FiveDinners.comminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with award-winning meal planning platform founded by TV chef Theo Michaels to help West Norfolk families cook smarter, save money, and eat well.
• King's Lynn Neighbourhood BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard (formerly Town Board) guides delivery of Government's Plan for Neighbourhoods with permanent chair Vicky Etheridge appointed.
• College of West AngliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresented replica medieval plaque to King's Lynn Guildhall. Partnership on Robert Armin Day celebrations attracting over 500 students.
• Norfolk Museums ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on cultural heritage projects including St George's Guildhall and exhibitions such as Duke of Gloucester visit.
• NAAME (New Anglia Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on National Manufacturing Day events to open West Norfolk businesses to students and educational institutions.
• Hanseatic UnionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivered Food for Thought sessions at Beacon Church in North Lynn as part of community engagement.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Others

• Local Government Association: National membership body representing English councils. Relevant as an enabler/ecosystem participant that convenes peer councils, sets sector standards, and influences central government policy affecting the borough council.
• Historic England: Public body that awarded the council a £721,330 heritage grant for St George's Guildhall. Adjacent ecosystem participant — not a competitor but a funding and regulatory counterpart relevant to the council's heritage asset strategy.

Direct peers

• East Suffolk Council: Large UK district-level council formed via merger, providing comparable statutory local services including council tax, housing register, leisure, and planning. Relevant comparable for benchmarking scale, in-housing strategies, and asset management.
• South Norfolk Council: Norfolk district council providing statutory services under the same legislative framework and exposed to the same three-unitary reorganisation proposal. Comparable for service mix, council tax base, and partnership delivery models.
• Breckland District Council: Another Norfolk district council of comparable size and rural-coastal demographic profile, providing the same statutory local government services (housing, planning, waste, council tax) under the same UK legislative framework. Directly comparable for benchmarking service delivery, funding mix, and reorganisation exposure.
• Fenland District Council: Neighbouring Cambridgeshire district council sharing the Fens geography with King's Lynn and West Norfolk, providing comparable statutory services including council tax, housing, and waste. Useful peer for benchmarking rural service delivery and funding constraints.
• North Norfolk District Council: Norfolk district council covering a comparable coastal and rural population, delivering statutory local government services including council tax, housing, planning, and waste. Direct peer under the same Future Norfolk reorganisation proposal.
• Broadland District Council: Norfolk district council that is a direct peer under the Future Norfolk reorganisation proposal and provides the same portfolio of statutory local government services. Useful benchmark for funding structure and service delivery cost.
• Great Yarmouth Borough Council: Norfolk coastal borough council of similar size offering the same statutory local government services. Comparable for tourism-seasonal services, coastal housing pressures, and reorganisation exposure.

Broad incumbents

• Norfolk County Council: Upper-tier authority that is a strategic partner on local government reorganisation proposals and shares service boundaries with the borough council. Relevant as a broader public sector incumbent and as a reorganisation counterparty.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WestNorfolkBC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/WestNorfolkBC
• Facebookfacebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.west-norfolk.gov.uk%2F
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/borough-council-of-kings-lynn-west-norfolk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about kings lynn & west norfolk borough council