Agenda and minutes

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

Contact: Rachel Wilson  Democratic Services Officer

Items
No. Item

49.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A G Hagues, J D Hough, A J Jesson, T Keywood-Wainwright, C K Strange and Mrs C A Talbot.

50.

Declarations of Councillors' Interests

Minutes:

Councillor S R Dodds declared an interest as a Trustee of Magna Vitae in relation to any public health discussions.

51.

Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 18 December 2015 pdf icon PDF 151 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

            That the minutes of the meeting held on 18 December 2015 be signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

52.

Submission of Petitions

Minutes:

(a)  Petition requesting a safe crossing on the Horncastle Road (A158) in Wragby

 

In accordance with the Council's Petition Scheme, Mrs Julie Thacker spoke for not more than five minutes in explanation of the petition requesting a safe crossing on the Horncastle Road (A158) in Wragby.

 

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

 

(b)  Petition objecting to any proposals which would lead to the closure of Leadenham Household Waste Recycling Centre.

 

In accordance with the Council's Petition Scheme, Mr Bob Sampson spoke for no longer than five minutes in explanation of the petition objecting to any proposals which would lead to the closure of Leadenham Household Waste Recycling Centre.

 

The Chairman advised that there would be an opportunity for Councillors to consider this petition as part of the budget debate later in the meeting.  It was also reported that the petition would be referred to the Executive Councillor for Waste and Recycling.

 

(c)  Petition requesting Lincolnshire County Council not to cut bus subsidies for Lincolnshire buses.

 

In accordance with the Council's Petition Scheme, Mr Dave Rimmington spoke for no longer than five minutes in explanation of the petition requesting that Lincolnshire County Council did not cut subsidies to Lincolnshire buses.

 

The Chairman advised that that there would again be an opportunity for Councillors to consider this petition as part of the budget debate later in the meeting.  It was also reported that the petition would be referred to the Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and IT.

 

(d)  Petition requesting that the Council reconsiders the proposal to undertake a consultation on the closure of 15 phase three Sure Start Children's Centres in the County.

 

In accordance with the Council's Petition Scheme, Mrs Helena Mair spoke for not more than five minutes in explanation of the petition requesting that the Council reconsiders the proposal to undertake a consultation on the closure of 15 phase three Sure Start Children's Centres in the County.

 

The Chairman advised that there would be an opportunity for Councillors to consider this petition as part of the budget debate later in the meeting.  It was also reported that the petition would be referred to the Executive Councillor for Adult Care and Health Services, Children's Services.

53.

Chairman's Announcements pdf icon PDF 224 KB

Minutes:

The Chairman reported that he had continued to carry out his civic engagements with pride.

 

The Chairman's Lady was thanked for supporting the Chairman on these engagements and also the Vice-Chairman and Lady, Councillor Martin Trollope-Bellew and Rosemary Woolley for providing representations at civic functions when the Chairman had been unable to attend.

 

The Chairman identified one highlight being when he was invited to present certificates at St Christopher's Special School in Lincoln.  The Chairman and Lady were delighted to meet the staff and pupils and found the enthusiasm of the staff and the commitment of the children overwhelming.

 

The Chairman took the opportunity to remind all councillors of a councillor development session taking place on 15 March 2016 which had been arranged by the cross party Councillor Development Group.  The session would cover councillors' role as Corporate Parents.  The Chairman urged members to attend if at all possible.

 

It was with deep sadness that the Chairman reported the death of former County Councillor Colin Fisher, who represented the Spalding West electoral division for three county council terms between May 1993 and May 2005.

 

Councillors paid tribute to the late former County Councillor Colin Fisher and afterwards stood in silent memory.

 

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

 

54.

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

Answered by

 

Subject

(a) S R Dodds

P A Robinson

Syrian refugees resettlement

 

(b) D McNally

Mrs P A Bradwell

Youth centre at Birbeck Academy

 

(c) Mrs M J Overton MBE

M J Hill OBE

Reduction of government grant

 

(d) R Wootten

M J Hill OBE

Devolution update

 

(e) R Kirk

R G Davies

Reductions to road safety budgets

 

(f) S L W Palmer

M J Hill OBE

Road crossing policy

 

(g) C E D Mair

R G Davies

Consistency in assessment of highways issues

 

(h) C J T H Brewis

B Young

Proposed reductions to magistrates courts

 

(i) C Pain

C J Davie

Boundary Commission proposals

 

(j) Mrs V C Ayling

R G Davies

Eligibility criteria for highways crossings

 

(k) K J Clarke

Mrs P A Bradwell

Implementation of Agresso in schools

 

(l) R A Renshaw

R G Davies

Call Connect service

 

(m) Mrs H N J Powell

C N Worth

Lincolnshire Rural Touring Events budget reductions

 

(n) I G Fleetwood

R G Davies

LEB liaison group

 

(o) P M Dilks

M S Jones

Serco

 

(p) R G Fairman

C J Davie

Planning and Regulation Committee

 

(q) B Adams

R G Davies

Update on IT outage

 

(r) A M Austin

C J Davie

Boston Barrier

 

(s) R B Parker

M J Hill OBE

Syrian refugees

 

(t) Mrs A E Reynolds

R A Shore

HWRC in Mablethorpe

 

(u) C R Oxby

C J Davie

RAF International Air Show update

 

(v) D C Morgan

C J Davie

Process for fracking applications

 

55.

Council Budget 2016/17 pdf icon PDF 130 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report by the Executive Director Finance and Public protection had been circulated together with a separate document 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 S Jones, Executive Councillor for Finance and Property, 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 to 6 minutes;

 

(5)  That other speakers be allowed to speak for 3 minutes

 

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

 

An amendment was proposed and seconded as follows:

 

This year's budget was the subject of extensive consultation and engagement activity with a wide range of stakeholders. Unprecedented levels of feedback have been received and it's only right that the Council should seek to address some of the key issues identified by that activity.

The Government have themselves received extensive feedback on their own proposals published in December in the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement. They have listened to representations from Shire Counties that those initial proposals were inequitable in terms of both sufficiently recognising the cost pressures of providing services in a rural environment but also the last minute redistribution of revenue support grant away from county areas to metropolitan areas and London Boroughs. Additional funding has been forthcoming for Lincolnshire in the form of £5.2m in rural services grant next year and £2.6m the year after - £7.7m in total. This had been added to the Financial Volatility Reserve prior to consideration of the final budget recommendations.

It is proposed that the recommended changes set out below are funded by the additional resources allocated by the Government. These were matters highlighted in budget engagement feedback from the public. This represents just under £5m over the next two years.

                                          i.    Winter maintenance - there will be no reduction in the funding for this service over the next two years. Use will be made, as necessary, of the earmarked reserve set up for this service.

 

                                        ii.    Bus subsidies - the proposed saving of £2.2m over the next two years be removed from the budget. As far as 2016/17 is concerned this requires £1.2m to be built back into the budget. The requirement for additional funding in the 2017/18 budget will be the full £2.2m.

 

                                       iii.    Children's Centres – no Tier 3 Centres will close in the year ahead or in the year commencing April 2017. No saving had been proposed in 2016/17 as it was not envisaged feasible to close the Centres in that year given the need to undertake a formal consultation. A potential saving of £420k was under consideration for the 2017/18 budget. That will not now proceed.

 

The Council still faces significant underlying cost pressures going forward  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55.

56.

Pay Policy Statement pdf icon PDF 29 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

It was moved, seconded and

 

RESOLVED

 

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

57.

Members' Allowances 2016/17 pdf icon PDF 93 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

It was moved, seconded and

 

RESOLVED

 

            That the Members Allowance Scheme as detailed in Appendix A of the      report be adopted.

58.

Council Business Plan 2016/17 pdf icon PDF 108 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report by the Chief Information and Commissioning Officer had been circulated.

 

It was moved, seconded and

 

RESOLVED

 

            That the Council Business Plan 2016-2017 be agreed.

59.

Amendment to Article 9 Officers and Part 3 (Responsibility for Functions) of the Constitution pdf icon PDF 30 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report by the Monitoring Officer had been circulated.

 

It was moved, seconded and

 

RESOLVED

 

That the amendments to Article 9 (Officers) and Part 3 (Responsibility for Functions) of the Council's Constitution set out in Appendix A of the report be agreed.

60.

Motions on Notice Submitted in Accordance with the Council's Constitution

Minutes:

(1) Motion by Councillor Mrs V C Ayling

 

Prior to discussion of this motion Councillors Mrs M J Overton MBE and Mrs H N J Powell declared an interest as they held paid positions in the LGA and left the meeting at 3.20pm for the duration of the debate.

 

It was moved and seconded that:

 

The Government has imposed savage cuts upon this council, and there are more to come. Front line services are in desperate straits, so to preserve what's left we must be absolutely ruthless in getting rid of unnecessary spending.

One area in particular stands out as being 'especially' in need of the chop - the Local Government Association. It costs this council, in cash terms alone, £60,000 a year - and add to this the time spent on expenses and officer time.

We're asking taxpayers to stump up an extra 3.9%, so we must ask, "what benefit does the LGA bring to this council, and more importantly, the taxpayers of Lincolnshire?"  It is little more than another bureaucratic talking shop which makes a lot of noise but achieves little. Could any of you here today justify it to your constituents whilst asking them for more money?

In this on-going Era of Austerity, we must now, more than ever, spend what little money we have for the benefit of our residents. The £60,000 would be far better spent on such things as adult or children's services. Officers could spend the time gained on making life better for 'all' the people of Lincolnshire, and have the satisfaction that they're really working for the people who pay their wages.

I therefore propose that Lincolnshire County Council agrees to leave the Local Government Association as soon as possible.

During debate, an amendment was proposed that the subject of the benefits of membership of the LGA be discussed by a scrutiny committee.  This was accepted by the mover of the motion and became part of the substantive motion.

 

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

 

 

The Chairman determined that the motions by Councillors A Bridges and C Pain, and the amendment submitted by UKIP would be debated concurrently, but that there would be three separate votes.

 

 

(2) Motion by Councillor A Bridges

 

It was moved and seconded that:

 

The council welcomes The Prime Minister's decision to hold an in out referendum on our nation's membership of the EU so that we can all have a vote on this vital issue.

In the ensuing negotiations the PM identified some clear objectives covering matters such as immigration, welfare and sovereignty which could form part of a revised relationship if we were to remain in.

 

Unfortunately, due to European intransigence the current "deal" offers very little in terms of delivering a sustainable and fair welfare and immigration policy for the UK or the ability to repatriate some powers back to this country.

 

Lincolnshire, particularly on the east coast has seen unprecedented rise in economic migration which inevitably has put pressure on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.

 

 
 
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