Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor S R Dodds, T Keywood-Wainwright, C E H Marfleet, R J Phillips and Miss E L Ransome.

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

RESOLVED

            That the minutes of the meeting held on 26 September 2014 be agreed     and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

a) Petition in response to increased noise levels due to high noise materials used to resurface A158 Burgh Le Marsh by-pass being injurious to the quiet enjoyment of property and health

In accordance with the Councils Petitions Scheme, Mr Brian Dinsdale spoke for not more than three minutes in explanation of the petition in response to increased noise levels due to high noise materials used to resurface A158 Burgh Le Marsh by-pass being injurious to the quiet enjoyment of property and health.

It was reported that the Chief Executive had determined that the petition would be referred to the Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and IT.

b) Petition requesting that the Brylaine bus company re-instate the 7.30am and 8.30am buses on the IT1 route in Spalding.

In accordance with the Council's Petition Scheme, Councillor Mrs Angela Newton spoke for not more than three minutes in explanation of the petition requesting that the Brylaine bus company re-instate the 7.30am and 8.30am buses on the IT1 route in Spalding.

It was noted that Councillor Mrs Newton was presenting the petition on behalf of Mrs Carol Hudson who had been unable to attend the meeting due to illness.

It was reported that the Chief Executive had determined that the petition would be referred to the Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and IT and also to the Brylaine bus company.

The Chairman reported that since the last meeting of the County Council he had attended numerous engagements and thanked the Chairman's Lady for supporting him on these engagements.  The Chairman also thanked the Vice-Chairman and his Lady, for providing representations at civic functions when the Chairman had been unable to attend.

This year’s Poppy Appeal had coincided with the 100 year anniversary of WW1, and it had been an honour for the Chairman to be involved in the Royal British Legion's official launch at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre and the County’s Festival of Remembrance at RAF College Cranwell.  The Remembrance Day Service in Lincoln Cathedral was also extremely moving and was very well attended by hundreds of people.

The Chairman was delighted to attend the Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue Long Service and Good Conduct Award Ceremony where there was the opportunity to meet and talk with the recipients of this prestigious and well deserved award.

The Chairman was pleased to have attended the official opening of the Energy from Waste Facility in Lincoln, which was performed by The Right Honourable Dr Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation & Skills, and he also received a tour of the site.

The Chairman thanked all those who had supported him in the Lincoln Santa Fun Run which was held on Sunday, 14 December 2014.  He reported that he did finish the course and raised approximately £1,200 for LIVES. Bringing the total to £2,300 so far.

The death of County Councillor John Hicks, who represented the Stamford North electoral division since his election in June 2009 was reported by the Chairman.  Councillor Hicks had served on the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee and the Corporate Parenting Panel.  He had also been the Council's representative on the Fostering Panel and the Stamford Mercury Archive Trust.

The Chairman also reported the death of former County Councillor Mrs Zena Scoley MBE DL, who represented the Billinghay and Cranwell electoral division from 1981 to 1997.  Mrs Scoley served as Chairman of the County Council from 1987 to 1989.

Councillors and Officers were invited to stand in silent memory.  Councillors then paid tribute to both Councillor Hicks and Mrs Scoley.

The Chairman advised that a complete itinerary of civic engagements, since the last meeting of this Council, was available from the Civic Officer on request.

A report by the Director responsible for Democratic Services had been circulated.

Members noted the election of Mr Robert Foulkes to the Stamford North division.

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

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

A report by the Executive Director for Environment and Economy had been circulated.

It was moved and seconded, and

RESOLVED

(1)  That there be one debate;

(2)  That Councillor M J Hill OBE, in moving the motion and in responding to issues raised during the debate be allowed to speak for six minutes;

(3)  That Councillor R B Parker and other movers of amendments be allowed to speak for six minutes;

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

(5)  That no further substantial amendments be moved.

It was moved and seconded,

1.    That Council consider the working group's findings and agree option C in the report - to decrease the number of councillors by six, losing two each in East Lindsey (15 to 13), and Lincoln (ten to eight), plus one each in South Kesteven (from 15 to 14) and West Lindsey (from ten to nine), compared with the current situation.  This would generate an estimated annual saving of at least £70,542 for recommendation to the LGBCE in January 2015 as set out in the report.

2.    That Council approve the working group's recommendation to the LGBCE that its divisions remain single member.

3.    That Council delegates to the Chief Executive, in consultation with Group Leaders, authority to determine the final form of the submission to the LGBCE, based on council size number determined by the Council.

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

'The methodology used in this report is set out in Appendix A. It differs from that used by four district councils in Lincolnshire in recent Local Government Boundary Commission studies of electoral arrangements

In September 2011 the Local Government Boundary Commission (LGBC) published a report into new electoral arrangements for West Lindsey District Council. In that report the LGBC said that 'we are satisfied with the methodology provided by the council are therefore content to accept the forecasts as the basis of our final recommendations.'  The electorate was expected to grow from 71,859 in 2010 to 77,033 in 2016 with there being none of the 20  wards where there  was expected to be a drop in the number of voters.

In November 2013 the LGBC published a report into new electoral arrangements for East Lindsey District Council. In that report the LGBC said that 'The [electorate] forecasts provided by the Council took into account planned developments across the district. We considered that these figures were reliable… .   The electorate was expected to grow from 104,127 in 2012 to 109,777 in 2018 with there being none of the 37 wards where there  was expected to be a drop in the number of voters.

In March 2014 the LGBC published a report into new electoral arrangements for South Kesteven District Council. In that report the LGBC said that 'Having considered the information provided by the council, we are satisfied that the projected figures are the best available at the present time and these figures form  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

A report by the Executive Director Finance and Public Protection had been circulated.

It was moved, seconded and

RESOLVED

            That the Audit Committee Annual Report 2014 be received.

A report by the Executive Director of Children's Services had been circulated.

It was moved, seconded and

RESOLVED

            That the Corporate Parenting Strategy be approved.

A report by the Monitoring Officer had been circulated.

It was moved and seconded

That Council:

1)    Agrees the recommended amendments to the Council's Constitution contained in Appendix A, save for the wording in relation to local Members (see page 125 of the agenda pack), which is further amended to read:

                  '3.07 Local Members

                  Before becoming involved in a matter relating to another                                 councillors division, councillors will notify and consult with that                         other councillor'

2)    Agrees the recommended amendments to the Council's Constitution contained in Appendix B;

3)    Agrees the recommended amendments to the Council's Constitution contained in Appendix C, save for the Petitions Scheme in part 5 which should be further amended to:

·         Remove the minimum number of signatures required for a petition to be submitted;

·         That the time allowed for speakers presenting their petition to Council meetings remain at five minutes;

·         Replace the option for a senior officer to give evidence at the relevant scrutiny committee meeting for a petition of 1,750 signatures or more, with an option for a paper to be presented to the relevant scrutiny committee for a petition of 1,750 signatures or more;

·         Remove the option for a petition to trigger a debate at Council.

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

To delete the fourth bullet point of recommendation 3 – 'remove the option for a petition to trigger a debate at Council'

A recorded vote was successfully requested for the above amendment and upon being put to the vote, the amendment was lost.

Details of recorded vote taken:

Those voting for the amendment:

Councillors M G Allan, Mrs V C Ayling, J W Beaver, K J Clarke, P M Dilks, G J Ellis, R G Fairman, R L Foulkes, J D Hough, D M Hunter-Clarke, R J Hunter-Clarke, N I Jackson, A J Jesson, R C Kirk, C E D Mair, R A H McAuley, D McNally, D C Morgan, N M Murray, Mrs M J Overton MBE, S L W Palmer, R B Parker, Mrs H N J Powell, Miss F E E Ransome, Mrs S Ransome, Mrs J M Renshaw, R A Renshaw and Mrs N J Smith.

Those voting FOR - 28

Those voting against the amendment:

Councillors B Adams, W J Aron, A M Austin, D Brailsford, C J T H Brewis, A Bridges, Mrs J Brockway, M Brookes, J P Churchill, C J Davie, M J Hill OBE, D C Hoyes MBE, M S Jones, J R Marriott, Mrs A M Newton, P J O'Connor, C R Oxby, C Pain, N H Pepper, Mrs S Rawlins, P A Robinson, Mrs L A Rollings, R A Shore, Mrs E J Sneath, Mrs C A Talbot, T M Trollope-Bellew, A H Turner MBE JP, S M Tweedale, P Wood, Mrs S Woolley, L Wootten, R Wootten, N Worth, Mrs S Wray and B Young.

Those voting AGAINST – 35

A vote was taken on the original motion, and upon being put to the vote,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

RESOLVED

            That the minutes of the Audit Committee held on 22 September 2014         be received.

RESOLVED

            That the minutes of the Audit Committee held on 24 November 2014 be received.

RESOLVED

            That the minutes of the Pensions Committee held on 9 October 2014 be received.

RESOLVED

            That the minutes of the Planning and Regulation Committee held on 8 September 2014 be received.

RESOLVED

            That the minutes of the Planning and Regulation Committee held on 6 October 2014 be received.

RESOLVED

            That the minutes of the Planning and Regulation Committee held on 3 November 2014 be received.

Motion by Councillor Mrs M J Overton MBE

It was moved, and seconded that:

'This Council has a unique opportunity for better local democracy in England. Next year is the 800 centenary of the Magna Carta, the birth of our democracy. This Council can make this the year that marks the rebirth of local democracy for England.

It is proposed that:

(1)  This Council congratulates Scotland on the measure of devolution they have worked for and that is now proposed by the Smith Commission.

(2)    This Council calls Central Government and party leaders to recognise that local Government should be the vehicle for devolution in England. We call on Central Government to now negotiate with this Council, and other Councils in England using a similar non-party Commission to agree a comparable package of measures for local government in England to be enacted after the 2015 General Election.

(3)  This Council calls on the local Government leaders to ask all parties to meet to secure true independence for local government in England and an assignment of more powers to Local Government.'

During debate it was moved and seconded that the Council vote on the original motion.  Upon being put to the vote, the procedural motion to move to the vote was lost.  The debate continued.

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

Motion by Councillor C Pain

It was moved and seconded that:

'As a rural community Lincolnshire is not getting its fair share of government funding. We do not get any money for EU migrants and people living in caravans that are not registered here, who use our services. The issue of Scottish devolution needs addressing across the country. Here in Lincolnshire we get under £1534 per head per year, yet London gets £3433 and the North East get over £2801 per head per year. London is actually cash rich because they get a vast share of the business rates, parking charges and congestion charges towards their coffers.

The proposed 90 million pound worth of cuts to Lincolnshire County Council Budget, I believe is a cut too far and will affect the services the County Council provides. If you look at the attached graph of government funding it shows a continued dramatic reduction in all County Councils funding. In the years from 2017/2018 onwards it will mean a lot of Councils will be unsustainable.

One of the main problems Lincolnshire faces is its crumbling rural road network. The quality of Lincolnshire roads falls into the worst quartile of the country’s roads. The County Council constantly has to sort out insurance claims for damage to cars. This is a serious issue because 80% of fatalities and 60% of serious injuries occur on the rural road network. As one who drives around the roads every day, I feel this is an issue the County Council has to sort out. A good example is the Fodderdyke Bank between Friskney Eaudykes and Stickney, which is on par with a third world  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.