Agenda, decisions and minutes

It was noted that Isabel Perez (Consultant in Public Health) was attending the meeting on behalf of Dr Tony Hill (Executive Director of Public Health Lincolnshire).

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

The Executive Councillor for Culture and Emergency Services reported that the Poppies: Wave at Lincoln Castle had come to an end on 4 September 2016.  The number of visitors had exceeded expectations with 533,465 visiting the sculpture between 26 May and 4 September 2016.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Executive held on 5 July 2016 be agreed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

(To receive a report from the Acting Chief Fire Officer, which presents the results of Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue's Integrated Risk Management Planning (IRMP) consultation for 2016/17)

That the Executive approve the following:

1.  The new IRMP Baseline Document 2016 – 2020 in the form attached at Appendix A.

2.  The proposal (as described in the IRMP Consultation Document at Appendix B) for changes at the Lincoln South fire station not be implemented.

3.  That the number of RSUs is not reduced at this time and options for alternative delivery of the RSU capability and potentially other specialist provision is considered. If appropriate this should be included in a future IRMP consultation.

4.   The permanent relocation of an Aerial Ladder Platform to Boston.

5.  Further development of the Joint Ambulance Conveyance Project.  This includes maintaining the existing 3 locations and extending to another 5 assuming appropriate funding can be secured.

6.   The introduction of a cost recovery process for attendance at Unwanted Fire Signals.

7.   The Service priorities for 2016/17.

8.  Delegation to the Chief Fire Officer in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Culture and Emergency Services of authority to take all decisions necessary to give effect to the above decisions.

Consideration was given to a report by Nick Borrill (Acting Chief Fire Officer), which invited the Executive to consider information on the Fire and Rescue Integrated Risk Management Planning – Results of Consultation 2016/17.

The Acting Chief Fire Officer presented the report to the Executive, which outlined the results of Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue's Integrated Risk Management Planning (IRMP) consultation for 2016/17.  The Service had consulted on the following proposals:

·         A new IRMP Baseline Document for 2016 – 2020;

·         A potential savings option based on crewing changes at Lincoln South;

·         A reduction in the number of Rescue Service Units;

·         The permanent relocation of an Aerial Ladder Platform to Boston;

·         Further development of the Joint Ambulance Conveyance Project;

·         The introduction of a cost recovery process for attendance to Unwanted Fire Signals;

·         Service Priorities for 2016/17.

Members were advised that the consultation had lasted for a period of eleven weeks and had been made available, predominantly electronically, to a wide range of stakeholders including staff, partners, representative bodies and members of the community.  A total of 322 feedback forms had been received along with 22 separate written responses.  In addition, a 5,337 signature petition against cuts to the fire service had been submitted to the County Council along with an e-petition containing 417 names and 38 comments.  The service received one alternative savings option proposal from the Fire Bridges Union (FBU) for consideration.

Members were provided with an opportunity to ask questions, where the following points were noted: -

·         It was queried how often the two aerial ladder platforms had been used in the last year. Officers confirmed that there had been 112 incidents in the last year across the two units and highlighted that perceived greater risk in the Skegness area would be balanced against the potential improvement in geographic cover.  Members were assured that the decision to move the aerial ladder would be reviewed to ensure it was still best located;

·         Officers confirmed the service remained on target to achieve its allocated budget reductions;

·         The impact of automatic fire alarm repeat offenders was discussed and it was queried whether these calls were challenged before mobilising a full crew to respond.  Officers confirmed that the call was challenged before dispatching a crew, however the crew would still be ready to respond if required.  It was noted that the proposed charge would be implemented in April 2017.

The Chairman of the Community and Public Safety Scrutiny Committee highlighted that the Committee had considered an item on the Fire and Rescue Integrated Risk Management Planning – Results of Consultation 2016/17 at its meeting on 26 July 2016.  It was noted that the Committee was supportive of the proposals and its  comments could be found on pages 33-35 of the report.

RESOLVED

That the Executive approve the following:

(1)  The new IRMP Baseline Document 2016 – 2020 in the form attached at Appendix A.

(2) The proposal (as described in the IRMP Consultation Document at Appendix B) for changes at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

(To receive a report from the Executive Director of Finance and Public Protection, which describes the Council's financial performance in 2015/16; identifies and explains variances from the Council’s revenue and capital budgets; makes proposals on the carry forward of over and under spendings into the current financial year; and reports Prudential and Financial Performance Indicators for 2015/16)

That the Executive:

(1)          recommend to full Council that the Information and Commissioning underspend up to 1.0% is not carried forward as part of the Information and Commissioning budgets but is added to the underspends above 1.0% for the purposes of recommendation 2 below;

(2)          recommends to full Council that the proposals in paragraph 1.77 of the Report relating to the treatment of underspends in excess of 1.0% be approved, subject to the final figures being confirmed pursuant to paragraph 5 below;

(3)          note the transfers to and from reserves carried out in 2015/16 as set out in Table D;

(4)          note financial performance in 2015/16 including the Prudential Indicators; and

(5)          Request the Leader, to review and confirm the amount of the schools and Council Outturn to the County Council and the amount recommended to be transferred to the Financial Volatility Reserve pursuant to paragraph 1.77, as appropriate, in light of the final outturn position on Schools budgets and expenditure if finalised between the Executive meeting and the County Council on 16 September.

Consideration was given to a report from the Executive Director for Finance and Public Protection concerning the Review of Financial Performance 2015/16.

The County Finance Officer presented the report to the Executive, which described the Council's financial performance in 2015/16; identified and explained variances from the Council's revenue and capital budgets; made proposals on the carry forward of over and under spendings into the current financial year; and reported Prudential and Financial Performance Indicators for 2015/16.

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee advised that the Committee had considered a report on the Review of Financial Performance 2015/16 at its meeting on 28 July 2016.  The Scrutiny Committee's comments were detailed at pages 113-115 of the report.  It was noted that the Committee had requested more information on how the underspendings of up to 1%, representing £4.295 million (referred to in paragraph 1.76 of the Executive's report) had been allocated.

It was noted that a report would be presented for approval to the meeting of County Council scheduled for 16 September 2016 concerning Review of Financial Performance 2015/16.

RESOLVED

That the Executive:

(1)          recommend to full Council that the Information and Commissioning underspend up to 1.0% is not carried forward as part of the Information and Commissioning budgets but is added to the underspends above 1.0% for the purposes of recommendation 2 below;

(2)          recommends to full Council that the proposals in paragraph 1.77 of the Report relating to the treatment of underspends in excess of 1.0% be approved, subject to the final figures being confirmed pursuant to paragraph 5 below;

(3)          note the transfers to and from reserves carried out in 2015/16 as set out in Table D;

(4)          note financial performance in 2015/16 including the Prudential Indicators; and

(5)          Request the Leader, to review and confirm the amount of the schools and Council Outturn to the County Council and the amount recommended to be transferred to the Financial Volatility Reserve pursuant to paragraph 1.77, as appropriate, in light of the final outturn position on Schools budgets and expenditure if finalised between the Executive meeting and the County Council on 16 September.

(To receive a report from the Executive Director for Finance and Public Protection, which seeks approval of recommendations to full Council for the adoption and publication of the Efficiency Plan for the purposes of applying for a four year settlement and the Council's Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy for 2016/17)

That the Executive:

(1) approves for recommendation to full Council adoption and publication of the Efficiency Plan attached at Appendix A as the Council's Efficiency Plan for the purposes of applying for a four year settlement and the Council's Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy for 2016/17,

(2) notes the effect of the above Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy on the Council's Prudential Indictors for the period 2016/17 to 2019/20 as set out in Appendix A; and

(3) approves for recommendation to full Council acceptance of the offer of a four year funding settlement from Government (for the period 2016/17 to 2019/20).

A report from the Executive Director for Finance and Public Protection was considered, which presented a Budget Update.

The County Finance Officer advised that the provisional Local Government Settlement, which was announced on 17 December 2015, had given local authorities the opportunity to sign up to a four year funding deal (from 2016/17 to 2019/20).  There were also new flexibilities around the use of capital receipts, which, from 1 April 2016, could be used to fund transformational work for a three year period.

In order to qualify for the four-year funding commitment, the Council must publish an Efficiency Plan and to use the capital receipts flexibility, the Council must develop a Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy.

It was noted that in the Council's Budget for 2016/17, the Council set out its intention to use £4.5m under the new flexible use of capital receipts in 2016/17.  The Executive's report provided additional information on the Council's Efficiency Plan and Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy for 2016/17 plus an outline for future years and detailed a proposal to sign up to the four-year funding commitment.

The Executive sought information on the implications of accepting the four-year funding deal or, alternatively, not accepting the deal.

It was noted that a report would be presented for approval to the meeting of County Council scheduled for 16 September 2016 concerning Budget Update – Efficiency Strategy and Plan plus Flexible Use of Capital Receipts.

RESOLVED

That the Executive:

(1) approves for recommendation to full Council adoption and publication of the Efficiency Plan attached at Appendix A as the Council's Efficiency Plan for the purposes of applying for a four-year settlement and the Council's Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy for 2016/17,

(2) notes the effect of the above Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy on the Council's Prudential Indictors for the period 2016/17 to 2019/20 as set out in Appendix A; and

(3) approves for recommendation to full Council acceptance of the offer of a four-year funding settlement from Government (for the period 2016/17 to 2019/20).

(To receive a report from the Executive Director of Environment and Economy, which sets out the detail for the proposed adoption of a Lincolnshire County Council Permit Scheme under the Traffic Management Act 2004)

That the Executive:

(a)  approves the Scheme attached at Appendix A as the Lincolnshire Permit Scheme prepared under Section 33 of the Traffic Management Act 2004, and;

(b)  approves the fixing of the County Council's Common Seal to the Lincolnshire Permit Scheme for Road Works and Street Works Order 2016 attached as Appendix G to give effect to the Lincolnshire Permit Scheme under Section 33A of the Traffic Management Act 2004 as an all roads, single authority scheme on and from the 5 October 2016.

Consideration was given to a report from the Executive Director for Environment and Economy, which set out the detail for the proposed adoption of a Lincolnshire County Council Permit Scheme under the Traffic Management Act 2004. 

The Regulation Services Manager presented the report to the Executive and in doing so highlighted that the Permit Scheme had the potential to improve the Council's ability to manage all works on the highway network, minimise inconvenience and reduce disruption to road users. It was estimated that approximately 100,000 permits would be issued per year.

In response to a question, the Executive was advised that the scheme was conservatively priced to ensure that the overall fee income did not greatly exceed the allowable costs.  However, if there should be a sustained surplus or deficit over a number of years then the fee would be reviewed accordingly.

The Executive recognised the benefits of combined works and the need to promote collaborative working.  Further to this, it was confirmed that collaborative working opportunities would be encouraged and that discounts were available for those services that were able to deliver work in a proactive way to lessen the impact of their activities. 

It was commented that the reinstatement work was not always completed to a satisfactory level and it was therefore suggested that photos were taken of sites before any work commenced, to ensure the site was reinstated to the same standard following the work being completed.

The Vice-Chairman of the Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee advised that the Committee had considered a report on the Adoption of the Lincolnshire Permit Scheme at its meeting on 11 July 2016.  It was noted that the Committee unanimously supported the recommendations within the Executive's report.  The Committee's comments were detailed at pages 143-144 of the Executive's report.

RESOLVED

That the Executive:

(a)       approves the Scheme attached at Appendix A as the Lincolnshire   Permit Scheme prepared under Section 33 of the Traffic      Management Act 2004, and;

(b)       approves the fixing of the County Council's Common Seal to the     Lincolnshire Permit Scheme for Road Works and Street Works Order 2016 attached as Appendix G to give effect to the Lincolnshire Permit             Scheme under Section 33A of the Traffic Management Act 2004 as            an all roads, single authority scheme on and from the 5 October     2016.

(To receive a report from the Executive Director of Children's Services, which seeks approval of the entering into by the Council of a voluntary arrangement for the transfer to the Council from other local authorities the responsibility for unaccompanied asylum seeking children on the basis of a regional model of dispersal)

That the Executive

(1)  approves the entering into by the Council of a voluntary arrangement for the transfer to the Council from other local authorities of responsibility for unaccompanied asylum seeking children on the basis of a regional model of dispersal as described in the Report.

(2)  delegates to the Executive Director for Children's Services in consultation with the Executive Councillor responsible for Children's Services authority to approve the acceptance of specific unaccompanied asylum seeking children pursuant to the said voluntary arrangement and the making of arrangements with other local authorities under section 69 of the Immigration Act 2016 in respect of such children as are accepted.

Consideration was given to a report from the Executive Director of Children's Services, which sought approval for the County Council to enter into a voluntary arrangement relating to the dispersal of unaccompanied asylum seeking children across the country.

Members were advised that Kent County Council had in excess of 900 unaccompanied asylum seeking children of which 300 had been placed in other authorities.  The Government sought to encourage all local authorities to enter into a voluntary agreement whereby all authorities would accept the voluntary transfer of those children into their own areas.  This would require Kent County Council to delegate their responsibilities to other authorities.

Members were advised that there was recognition that throughout the country some authorities had higher numbers of unaccompanied asylum seeking children than others, and the issue of delegating and receiving responsibility would enable other authorities to adopt a similar approach within their own areas.  If an unaccompanied asylum seeking child arrived in a local authority area with a low concentration (below 0.07%) of the general child population the expectation would be that the child was cared for by the authority.  However, if a child was to arrive in a local authority area with a high concentration (over 0.07%) the expectation would be that child would be transferred to an area with lower numbers.

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee highlighted that the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee had considered a report on Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children – National UASC Transfer Protocol 2016/2017 at its meeting on 15 July 2016 and the comments of the Committee could be found on pages 294 – 296 of the report.

RESOLVED

That the Executive

(1)  approves the entering into by the Council of a voluntary arrangement for the transfer to the Council from other local authorities of responsibility for unaccompanied asylum seeking children on the basis of a regional model of dispersal as described in the Report.

(2)  delegates to the Executive Director for Children's Services in consultation with the Executive Councillor responsible for Children's Services authority to approve the acceptance of specific unaccompanied asylum seeking children pursuant to the said voluntary arrangement and the making of arrangements with other local authorities under section 69 of the Immigration Act 2016 in respect of such children as are accepted.

NOTE: The Executive stated that the above resolutions were subject to agreement with all East Midlands Local Authorities' Children's Services agreeing to enter into the national transfer scheme.

(To receive a report from the Chief Information and Commissioning Officer, which presents an overview of performance for Q1 against the Council Business Plan)

That the Executive:-

(1)  Note and consider 2016/2017 Quarter 1 performance.

(2)  Approve the proposed changes to reporting as set out in Appendix A of this report.

A report from the Chief Information and Commissioning Officer was considered which presented an overview of performance for Quarter 1 against the Council Business Plan.

The Performance and Equalities Manager reminded the Executive that performance data could be viewed on the web in a secure area on the Lincolnshire Research Observatory. 

It was reported overall that out of the 14 commissioning strategies reported in Quarter 1, seven had performed really well; two had performed well; and five had mixed performance. 

Members were reminded that targets for 2016/2017 which had been published in the Council Business Plan in February 2016, were informed by the latest available performance information at the time of writing the plan (2015/2016 Quarter 2), with the following caveats: -

(i) The targets are subject to change to reflect: -

·         2015/2016 outturns;

·         Changes in the wider economy;

·         Nature of demand; and

·         Consequences of any service reductions.

(ii) The Council Business Plan would be reviewed as part of quarterly performance reporting with any proposed changes to reporting agreed by the Executive.

Members were advised that the relevant Executive Councillors had been consulted and recommendations for proposed changes to reporting were set out in Appendix A of the report.

NOTE: Councillor C J Davie left the room for the remainder of the meeting.

In response to a question, Members were assured that in relation to the performance indicator on Adults who receive a direct payment (Learning Disability or Mental Health) the commentary would be updated to provide clarity.

It was noted that the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee was scheduled to consider an item on the Council Business Plan 2016/2017 Performance Report, Quarter 1 at its meeting on 29 September 2016.

RESOLVED

That the Executive:-

(1)  Note and consider 2016/2017 Quarter 1 performance.

(2)  Approve the proposed changes to reporting as set out in Appendix A of this report.

(To receive a report from the Executive Director of Environment and Economy, which requests the Executive to make an appointment change to the County Councils Network)

That Councillor M A Whittington be appointed to the County Councils Network.

Consideration was given to a report by Katrina Cope (Senior Democratic Services Officer), which requested the Executive to make an appointment change to the County Councils Network.

RESOLVED

That Councillor M A Whittington be appointed to the County Councils Network.