Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs W Bowkett, D Brailsford, A Bridges, S R Dodds, A G Hagues, S R Kirk, A J Spencer, Mrs C A Talbot and M S Whittington.

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

RESOLVED

            That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 May 2017 be signed by the Vice-Chairman as a correct record.

Petition requesting that Lincolnshire County Council reduce the speed limit on the A1084 Brigg Road (section leading up to and away from Grasby village turning) to 40mph

In accordance with the Petitions Scheme, Mrs Viv Forbes spoke in explanation of the petition requesting that Lincolnshire County Council reduce the speed limit on the A1084 Brigg Road (section leading up to and away from Grasby Village turning) to 40mph.

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

The Vice-Chairman reported that civic engagements since the last Council meeting had been varied and have given both the Chairman and himself the opportunity to visit places within Lincolnshire. 

The Chairman and Vice-Chairman were delighted to welcome HRH The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO to Lincoln where he officially opened the new extension to Constance Stewart Hall at Bishop Grosseteste University, visited the Order of St John Care Trust – Boultham Park House, officially opened the new Bereavement Centre at Lincoln County Hospital and went on to open the Battles and Dynasties Exhibition at the Collection.

The Vice-Chairman was pleased to report that this year's Lincolnshire Show was another huge success.  He thanked all staff involved with the Show as well as all Members who took part in the 'Meet Your Member' marquee, which saw a steady flow of visitors over the two days.

It is with great sadness that the Vice-Chairman reported the death of Mark Welsh, the County's Flood Risk and Development Manager.  Mark was a superb officer who the Vice-Chairman had had the pleasure of working with on many occasions.  Thoughts were with Mark's family, friends and colleagues at this very difficult time.

A statement was made by the Leader of the Council.

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

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

It was moved, seconded and

RESOLVED

            That the County Council unanimously support the proposal to engage in a lobbying strategy to achieve an improved funding deal for the County Council going forward.

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

It was moved, seconded and

RESOLVED

            That the County Council approve the change to the membership of the Bourne Town Hall Trust Management Committee as outlined below:

Remove:

Former county councillors G J Ellis and S M Tweedale

Add:

Councillor B M Dobson and R H Woolley

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

It was moved, seconded and

RESOLVED

            That the Council unanimously agreed to maintain the existing restrictions on the scrutiny committees to which the Council's Executive Support Councillors could be appointed.

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

It was moved and seconded

That the County Council:

1.    Note the carry forwards set out in paragraph 1.2 and 1.3 of the report, which are made in line with the Council's Financial Regulations;

2.    Approve the proposed use of carry forwards of over and under spending in excess of 1.0% as set out in paragraph 1.4 of the report;

3.    Note the transfers to and from reserves summarised in Table A of this report and the position of earmarked reserves as at 31 March 2017 summarised in Table B of the report;

4.    Note the position in relation to general reserves set out in paragraph 1.8 and Table C of this report;

5.    Note the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts in 2016/17 as set out in paragraph 1.9 to 1.11 of the report; and

6.    Note performance against the Prudential Indicators for 2016/17 as set out in paragraph 1.12 and 1.13 and Table D of this report.

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

To amend the amount recommended to be transferred to the Financial Volatility Reserve by £4million to be allocated to expenditure in 2017/18 on:

·         Re-instating all night street lighting (£1.5m)

·         Adult Social care to prevent delayed transfers of care (£250k for each of the 7 districts (£1.75m))

·         Re-instate road side grass cutting (£250k)

·         Commitment to Park and Ride in Lincoln for preliminary work in 2017/18 financial year (£500k)

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

The original motion was voted on, and upon being put to the vote was carried.

It was therefore

RESOLVED

That the County Council:

1.    Note the carry forwards set out in paragraph 1.2 and 1.3 of the report, which are made in line with the Council's Financial Regulations;

2.    Approve the proposed use of carry forwards of over and under spending in excess of 1.0% as set out in paragraph 1.4 of the report;

3.    Note the transfers to and from reserves summarised in Table A of this report and the position of earmarked reserves as at 31 March 2017 summarised in Table B of the report;

4.    Note the position in relation to general reserves set out in paragraph 1.8 and Table C of this report;

5.    Note the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts in 2016/17 as set out in paragraph 1.9 to 1.11 of the report; and

6.    Note performance against the Prudential Indicators for 2016/17 as set out in paragraph 1.12 and 1.13 and Table D of this report.

(Note: Councillor C J T H Brewis wished it to be noted that he would leave the Chamber for the debate and the vote on this motion due to his position as Vice-Chairman of the Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire which would be considering the issues raised at the meeting due to be held on 19 July 2017)

Motion by Councillor R B Parker

It was moved and seconded:

On 12 June Lincolnshire West Clinical Commissioning Group (LWCCG) launched a public consultation on the future of the Walk-in Centre in Lincoln with a closing date of 6 August 2017. The proposals are set out in 'Have your say' document produced by LWCCG and can be captured in a statement in the document which reads 'Walk-in centres create demand for self-limiting, minor conditions and NHS resources would be better spent on other healthcare priorities.' The ''Have Your Say' document and a 'Frequently Asked Questions' sheet produced by LWCCG, accessible here, states that the centre opened in 2009, is used by about 100 people a day and in 2016 cost over £1 million to run.

Because the LWCCG in their consultation document

1.    have not demonstrated that alternative services have the extra capacity and are readily available currently to deal with the extra demand caused by the cessation of services at the Walk-in Centre;

2.    have not provided statistical information to support the assertion that the 35,000 or so users of the service can be seen by a mixture of GP practices, NHS 111 and pharmacists if the Walk-in Centre closed; and 

3.    have made no financial case to support closure to show that future delivery of services can be delivered more economically than the services provided at the Walk-in Centre, which worked out at less than the £30 a visit  in 2016 (£1 million expenditure divided by the number of annual users at 35,000 a year)

I move that the Chief Executive writes to Lincolnshire West Clinical Commissioning Group opposing the closure of Lincoln Walk-in Centre. 

An amendment by the Conservative group was moved and seconded as follows:

To delete the final paragraph and replace with the following:

The Executive Councillor for Health be requested to take into account the proposition and subsequent debate in this Council meeting, and the deliberations of the Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire, before determining the Council's response to the public consultation on the future of the Walk-in Centre in Lincoln.

Following the debate, the amendment was accepted by the mover of the original motion.  This then became the substantive motion.  Upon being put to the vote, the motion was carried.

(Note: the following councillors abstained from voting Councillors C S Macey, Mrs K Cook, M T Fido, R J Kendrick, R A Renshaw, Dr M E Thompson and R H Woolley)

Therefore, it was

RESOLVED

The Executive Councillor for Health be requested to take into account the proposition and subsequent debate in this Council meeting, and the deliberations of the Health Scrutiny Committee for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.