Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, County Offices, Newland, Lincoln LN1 1YL

Contact: Rachel Wilson  Democratic Services Officer

Items
No. Item

64.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors C J T H Brewis, D C Hoyes MBE and B Young.

 

Councillor K J Clarke also requested that his apologies be noted as he had to leave the meeting at 11.00am.

 

 

65.

Declarations of Councillors' Interests

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest at this point in the meeting.

66.

Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 13 December 2013 pdf icon PDF 413 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

            That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 13 December         2013 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

67.

Submission of Petitions

Minutes:

(a)       Request for street lighting along the A153 Willoughby Road from the         traffic lights at Ancaster to the Sudbrooke turning after Woodland           Waters

 

In accordance with the Council's Petition Scheme, Mr Mick Garwood spoke for not more than three minutes in explanation of the petition 'request for street lighting along the A153 Willoughby Road from the traffic lights at Ancaster to the Sudbrooke turning after Woodland Waters.

 

The Executive Director Performance and Governance had determined that the petition would be referred to the Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and IT.

 

(b)       Request for action to be taken to support a rail bridge at the Tallington        level crossing sited so that the link road goes around the back of the   village; and to resist a Network Rail proposal for a route to go through    the village

 

In accordance with the Council's Petition Scheme, Mr Justin McKenzie spoke for not more than three minutes in explanation of the petition requesting action to be taken to support a rail bridge at the Tallington level crossing sited so that the link road goes around the back of the village; and to resist a Network Rail proposal for a route to go through the village.

 

The Executive Director Performance and Governance had determined that the petition would be referred to the Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and IT.

68.

Chairman's Announcements

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed Councillor Lesley Rollings, recently elected representative for the Scotter Rural division, who was attending her first meeting of the County Council.

 

The Chairman reported that his civic engagements since the last Council meeting had again been varied and had given him the opportunity to continue visiting places within Lincolnshire and meeting interesting people.  He thanked his wife Linda for supporting him on these engagements and also Councillor Bill Aron and Amanda Job, Vice-Chairman and Lady, for representing them at civic functions when, due to other commitments, they had been unable to attend.

 

He reported that his duties had included hosting 35 Nigerian lawyers who were in Lincolnshire for a conference on democracy at the University of Lincoln, followed by the University's Graduation ceremony where there was the opportunity to meet staff and students.  He was pleased to be present at the Lord-Lieutenant's Reserves Forces Reception at RAF Cranwell.  The Chairman was also honoured to receive the Commonwealth Flag from the Lord-Lieutenant of Lincolnshire which Lincolnshire County Council would be proudly flying on Commonwealth Day, 10 March.

 

The Chairman was pleased to hear that Councillor Marianne Overton had been awarded the MBE in The Queen's New Year's Honours for services to local government and congratulated Councillor Overton on this prestigious achievement.

 

The Chairman reported that this would be David O'Connor's last Full Council meeting before he retired in April.  David had made a hugely positive impact during his nine years with the Council, latterly as Executive Director of Performance and Governance.  He had been involved with most of the Council's big projects during his time with the Council, including most recently the successful introduction of Super Fast Broadband across the county.  His wealth of knowledge and experience had been put to full use as the Council consistently improved its performance and enhanced its reputation as a leading local authority, for which the Council was grateful.

 

On behalf of the Council, the Chairman thanked David for all he had done and wished him well for the future.

 

The Chairman advised that a complete itinerary of civic engagements since the last meeting of this Council were on deposit in the Members’ Foyer.

69.

Statements/Announcements by the Leader and Members of the Executive pdf icon PDF 66 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Statements by the Leader and Members of the Executive had been circulated with the agenda.

 

Councillor M J Hill OBE, Leader of the Council and Executive Councillor for Policy, Finance, Property, Communications, Procurement and Commissioning advised that members should now be aware that Serco had been named as the preferred bidder for the contract to provide back office functions to the authority.  The final decision on whether to accept this recommendation would be made at the meeting of the Executive being held on 4 March 2014.

70.

Questions to the Chairman, the Leader, Executive Councillors, Chairman of Committees and Sub-Committees

Minutes:

Questions pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 10.3 were asked and answered as follows:

 

Question by

 

Answer by

Subject

a) K J Clarke

 

C J Davie

Update on progress for a park and ride scheme

 

b) D McNally

C J Davie

Invitation to visit Donna Nook, to view the car park

 

c) C E H Marlfeet

C J Davie

Flood risk management

 

d) Mrs M J Overton        MBE

M J Hill OBE

Ensuring Lincolnshire received its share of money promised by central government following the recent flooding

 

e) B McAuley

R G Davies

M11 extension through Lincolnshire

 

f) J D Hough

M J Hill OBE

The number of families using food banks

 

g) B Adams

M J Hill OBE

Use of legal aid to launch a judicial review of the libraries consultation

 

h) Mrs H N J Powell

M J Hill OBE

Provision of help to Somerset County Council following the recent flooding

 

i) P M Dilks

C N Worth

Property review

 

j) C E D Mair

C J Davie

A need for infrastructure to be integrated into plans for future housing developments

 

k) W S Webb

R G Davies

Distribution of highways maintenance funding across the county

 

l) S R Dodds

Mrs P A Bradwell

Day service review consultation

 

m) A M Austin

Mrs P A Bradwell

Special education in Boston

 

n) C Pain

R G Davies

Benefits of a motorway and retrunking of roads in Lincolnshire

 

o) R A Renshaw

M J Hill OBE

Use of Serco in FDSS contract

 

p) R J Hunter-Clarke

R G Davies

Meeting with the Skegness Mayor

 

q) R J Phillips

C J Davie

Dredging of waterways to reduce risks of flooding

 

r) N I Jackson

M J Hill OBE

Changes to employees terms and conditions

 

s) J R Hicks

Mrs P A Bradwell

Provision of sheltered accommodation for the elderly

 

t) C L Strange

 

M J Hill OBE

The need for renovation of the Joseph Banks Conservatory at the Lawns

 

u) Mrs S Ransome

M J Hill OBE

Time allowed for each speaker during the budget debate

 

v) A J Jesson

C J Davie

Availability of funding for the dredging of the counties rivers

 

w) D C Morgan

Mrs P A Bradwell

Roll out of the wellbeing programme

 

71.

Council Budget 2014/15 pdf icon PDF 398 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report by the Executive Director Resources and Community Safety had been circulated together with a separate booklet which detailed the Executive's budget and council tax proposals.

 

It was moved, seconded and

 

RESOLVED

 

 

(1)       That there be one debate;

 

(2)       That Councillor M J Hill OBE, Executive Councillor for Policy, Finance, Property, Communications, Procurement and Commissioning, in introducing and moving the budget and in responding to issues raised during the debate be allowed to speak without limit of time;

 

(3)       That proposers of the amendments each be allowed to speak without limit of time;

 

(4)       That Councillors seconding the motions, each be allowed to speak for six minutes; 

 

(5)     That other speakers each be allowed to speak for three minutes; 

 

(6)     That no further substantial amendments be moved (other than the original amendments moved by Group Leaders).

 

It was moved and seconded:

 

(1)      That the responses to consultation on the Council’s budget proposals as contained in the appended Budget Book (Appendix C "Budget Consultation"      pages 22 - 31) be noted.

 

(2)       That the Section 151 Officer’s statement on the Robustness of the Budget and the Adequacy of Reserves (Section 10 of the accompanying booklet, pages 16 to 19) be      noted.

 

(3)       That the service revenue budgets for 2014/15 contained in the appended Budget Book (Table 2 "Net service Revenue Budget 2014/15 and change over previous year", page 8) be agreed.

 

(4)       That the capital programme 2014/15and its funding contained in the appended Budget Book (Section 7 "Capital Programme", pages 14 and 15) be agreed.

 

(5)       That the County Council element of the council tax for a Band D property at £1065.69 for 2014/15 contained in the appended Budget Book (Appendix B "County Precept 2014/15", page 21)             be agreed.

 

And that together these form the Council’s Budget.

 

(6)       That the Council's Financial Strategy contained in the appended Budget Book (Appendix D "Financial Strategy", pages 32 – 39)

 

(7)       That the prudential targets for capital finance be agreed and the prudential indicators contained in the appended Budget Book (Appendix K "Prudential Indicators", pages 48 and 49) be noted.

 

(8)       That a minimum revenue provision (MRP) based on the asset life method and made in equal instalments over the estimated life of the assets acquired through borrowing as set out in the appended Budget Book (Section 9 "Minimum Revenue Provision", page 16), be agreed.

 

An amendment was moved and seconded by the Labour Group as follows:-

 

"The Labour Group proposes the following amendments to the circulated report ‘Council Budget 2014/15’.

 

Increase revenue spending by £11.3m in 2014/15 and the capital programme by £3m, the funding for the capital programme being incorporated in the increase in revenue spending.

 

The £11.3m additional revenue spending in 2014/15 to be funded by:

 

·         Using 'windfall' council tax income currently being applied to reduce the amount of reserves applied to balance the budget -  £2.861m

·         Not increasing councillor's allowances and thereby saving £0.245m

·         Increasing the Council Tax by 1.95% and not take  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71.

72.

Independent Remuneration Panel pdf icon PDF 377 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report by the Executive Director Performance and Governance had been circulated.

 

Mr Peter Clay, Chairman of the Independent Remuneration Panel was invited to present the report to the Council.

 

It was moved and seconded:

 

"That the Council agree to accept the proposed changes to the Scheme of Members Allowances for 2014 – 2018"

 

A recorded vote was successfully requested, and upon being put to the vote, was carried. (Yes – 50, No – 20, abstain - 0)

 

RESOLVED

 

1.    That the proposed changes to the Scheme of Members Allowances 2014 – 2018 be accepted;

 

2.    That role descriptions for all roles covered by the scheme be compiled to inform the next IRP in autumn 2017

73.

Council Business Plan 2012 - 2015 - Annual Update pdf icon PDF 384 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report by the Executive Director Performance and Governance had been circulated.

 

It was moved, seconded and

 

RESOLVED

 

            That the updated Council Business Plan 2012-2015 be approved.

 

74.

Pay Policy Statement pdf icon PDF 656 KB

Minutes:

A report by the Executive Director Performance and Governance had been circulated.

 

It was moved, seconded and:

 

RESOLVED

 

            That the Pay Policy Statement attached as Appendix A to the report be       agreed.

75.

Appointment of Monitoring Officer pdf icon PDF 373 KB

Minutes:

A report by the Chief Executive had been circulated.

 

It was moved, seconded and:

 

RESOLVED

 

            That Richard Wills be appointed as Monitoring Officer from 1 April   2014.

 

(Note: Richard Wills left the Chamber for discussion of this item of business)

 

76.

Lincolnshire Fire Service Pensions - Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure pdf icon PDF 377 KB

Minutes:

A report by the Chief Executive had been circulated.

 

It was moved, seconded and:

 

RESOLVED

 

            That Councillor Peter Robinson be appointed to make determinations        under the Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure (IDRP) Stage 2 of the Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service scheme, and Councillor Sue             Wray be appointed the reserve member, with immediate effect.

77.

By-election Result pdf icon PDF 36 KB

Minutes:

A report by the Chief Executive had been circulated.

 

RESOLVED

 

            That Members note the election of Mrs Lesley Anne Rollings to the             Scotter Rural Division.

78.

Minutes of the Council's Committees

78a

Pensions Committee - 19 December 2013 pdf icon PDF 364 KB

Minutes:

That the minutes of the Pensions Committee held on 19 December 2013 be received.

78b

Planning and Regulation Committee - 13 January 2014 pdf icon PDF 412 KB

Minutes:

That the minutes of the Planning and Regulation Committee held on 13 January 2014 be received.

78c

Audit Committee - 27 January 2014 pdf icon PDF 413 KB

Minutes:

That the minutes of the Audit Committee held on 27 January 2014 be received.

79.

Motions for Debate

Minutes:

Motion by Councillor R J Hunter-Clarke

           

It was moved and seconded that:-

 

"The destruction of Grammar Schools has led to the destruction of social mobility in our society. In December 2013 the Secretary of State for Education blocked a grammar school being created in Kent. Government policy is not to create anymore grammar schools.  There are now just 164 state grammar schools in the country with 15 of them being in Lincolnshire which are now potentially under threat in the future as they become academies.

           

We find this very worrying.

           

We therefore in light of this call upon Lincolnshire County Council to recognise the importance of Grammar Schools and to reaffirm its commitment to protecting them. To also write to the Secretary of State for Education asking for his assurance that our grammar schools in Lincolnshire are safe and under no threat." 

 

Upon being put to the vote, the motion was lost.

 

Motion by Councillor Mrs A M Austin

 

It was moved and seconded that:-

 

1)   "This Council notes recent Government statements related to fracking        and we regret that the focus of these is mainly limited to finances.

 

2)   We believe that communities deserve the opportunity to be informed of the environmental impact and consequences of each application and what controls could be put in place. We propose that the scrutiny and planning committees fully investigate the economic and environmental impact of fracking and publish their findings. We propose that the findings are presented and debated at full council, with a view to producing a Council statement on the issue."

               

Upon being put to the vote, the motion was lost.

 

 

 
 
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