Agenda item

(To receive a report which sets out the work programmes of the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee; Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee; and the Flood and Water Management Scrutiny Committee in accordance with the Board's agreed programme)

The Board considered the work programmes of three scrutiny committees where the following points were noted:-

Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee

Councillor B M Dobson, Chairman of the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee introduced the work programme and highlighted the following items which had been considered by the Committee since the last update to the Board:-

·       Team Lincolnshire;

·       Rural Broadband Provision;

·       Hotel Strategy; and

·       Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy (JMWMS)

Councillor Dobson updated the Board on progress in the following areas:-

·       The Middle Rasen Flood Prevention Scheme

The scheme involved enlargement of the drains to twice the diameter of the current drains in order to prevent flooding of houses in the area.  This would quadruple the amount of water being diverted.  Following discussion, the Committee had agreed to approve the scheme in principle whilst awaiting the outcome of the public consultation.

·       Broadband Provision;

Since the meeting, the Committee had received an update on the current and future state of superfast broadband coverage.  Overall, there was currently 93.5% coverage which was to be extended to 97%.  The Committee requested that a letter be sent to MPs who represented poorly served areas to request that they encourage improved connectivity.

·       Hotel Investment and Visitor Economy Action Plan;

It had been noted by the Committee that there were shortages of accommodation in several areas and that investors were considering how to develop boutique type hotels.  The Committee felt that District Councils needed to be more involved in identifying land for hotels.  The Committee also requested further information on the commercial realities of hotel development to the promotion of the conversion or building of premises to accommodate visitors in a suitable environment by involving Team Lincolnshire to promote the County.

Councillor Dobson continued by highlighting to the Board the following items which would be considered by the Committee in the coming months:-

·       Anglian Water's Resources Management Plan

The Committee would be considering a report in the future on the possibility of creating a large reservoir to meet the future demands of the county.  It was proposed that the reservoir be created in the south of the county.

·       Greater Lincolnshire Industrial Strategy

This report would allow the Committee to debate the steps which the Greater Lincolnshire LEP (GLLEP) had taken so far in production of the strategy to address the 'productivity gap'.  The intention would be to identify and promote the Unique Selling Points of the county.

·       Exporting

The Committee was to receive a report on the possibility of Government funding for hosting a Going Global event; engagement with businesses to increase international trade; furthering language training with support for early stage exporters; and access to specialist advisors in food, manufacturing and renewables.

There were no comments or questions from the Board on the work programme for the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee.

Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee

Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee Member, Councillor Mrs J Brockway, introduced the work programme on behalf of the Chairman of the Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee.  The following reports had been considered since the last update to the Board:-

·       Effective Highways Communication;

·       Major Road Network;

·       Winter Maintenance; and

·       Update on Local Bus Matters.

Future planned items of particular note included:-

·       Drainage and resurfacing project on Bunkers Hill; and

·       Grass cutting on cycle ways.

There were no comments or questions from the Board on the work programme for the Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee.

Flood and Water Management Scrutiny Committee

Councillor B Adams, Chairman of the Flood and Water Management Scrutiny Committee, introduced the report and confirmed the following items had been considered since the last update to the Board:-

·       Anglian Water's Consultation Draft Water Resources Management Plan;

·       Review of the Lincolnshire Flood Risk and Water Management Partnership; and

·       Saltfleet to Gibraltar Point Strategy Review Consultation.

It was confirmed that the next meeting of the Flood and Water Management Scrutiny Committee would be held on 17 September 2018 where the following items would be considered:-

·       Environment Agency Update;

·       Investigations undertaken under Section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010; and

·       Humber Estuary Strategy Review Consultation.

There were no comments or questions from the Board on the work programme for the Flood and Water Management Scrutiny Committee.

General discussion resulted in a request to add the revitalisation of the High Street in Lincoln to the work programme of the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED

          That the work programmes and updates in relation to the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee, the Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee and the Flood and Water Management Scrutiny Committee be noted.