Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mrs W Bowkett, M Brookes, G E Cullen, S R Kirk and Mrs A M Newton.

It was noted that Councillors M A Whittington, L Wootten and R Wootten would be late arriving at the meeting.

Councillor D McNally declared an interest in agenda item 9 – Lincolnshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan: Site Locations and advised that he would leave the Council Chamber during consideration of this item.

Councillor K Cook wished that it be noted in relation to the petition being submitted relating to Norton Disney, that she sat on the Planning Committee for North Kesteven District Council and had attended a pre-application meeting.

Councillor L A Cawrey wished that it be noted in relation to the petition being submitted relating to Norton Disney, that she was the Executive Member for Cultural Services and Development Management (Planning) on North Kesteven District Council and was the Chairman of the Pre-Application Forum.

Councillor M J Overton MBE wished that it be noted in relation to the petition being submitted relating to Norton Disney, that she had attended a pre-application meeting.

RESOLVED

            That the minutes of the meeting held on 15 September 2017 be signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Petition requesting that Lincolnshire County Council resurface St Bernard's Avenue, Louth

In accordance with the Petitions Scheme, Councillor Ros Jackson from East Lindsey District Council spoke in explanation of the petition requesting that Lincolnshire County Council resurface St Bernard's Avenue, Louth.

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

Petition requesting that Lincolnshire County Council take account of community concerns within the Witham Valley Park area regarding the proposal by Lincoln Proteins Ltd to build an animal rendering plant at Norton Disney

In accordance with the Petition Scheme, Ms Oli Husemeyer spoke in explanation of the petition requesting that Lincolnshire County Council take account of community concerns within the Witham Valley Park area regarding the proposal by Lincoln Proteins Ltd to build an animal rendering plant at Norton Disney.

It was reported that the Chief Executive had determined that the petition requesting that Lincolnshire County Council take account of community concerns within the Witham Valley Park area regarding the proposal by Lincoln Proteins Ltd to build an animal rendering plant at Norton Disney, be referred to the Planning and Regulation Committee, to be included for the Committee's consideration in the Head of Planning's report to the relevant meeting of the Planning and Regulation Committee, if the development was submitted as a formal planning application.

The Chairman reported that he had continued to carry out his civic engagements with pride representing this Council by meeting people and visiting places around the County. 

The Chairman thanked his Lady for supporting him on these engagements and also the Vice-Chairman and Lady, Councillor Ron Oxby and Mrs Di Oxby, for representing them at civic functions when they had been unable to attend.

The Chairman reported that it had been an honour to be involved in the Remembrance Day commemorations in Lincoln Cathedral which was well supported and attended by hundreds of people. 

Lincolnshire was delighted to welcome HRH The Princess Royal when she visited SENSE in Bourne, officially opened the Heckington Windmill Regeneration Project and the new premises of Lintran in Faldingworth.

The Chairman reported the death of Mr Tony Worth CVO, who served as Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Lincolnshire from 2008 – 2015.  A memorial service was to be held in Lincoln Cathedral on Friday 12^th January 2018, at 11.00am.  The Chairman advised that he was intending to attend to represent the Council.

Statements by the Leader and Members of the executive had been circulated with the agenda.  Members were requested to note the update in the Order of Proceedings to Councillor E J Poll's statement in relation to the following section:

Strategic Planning (page 38 of the agenda)

City of Lincoln, North Kesteven and West Lindsey Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)

City of Lincoln did adopt the CIL at its meeting on 5 December 2017.

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

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

It was moved, seconded and

RESOLVED

1.    That Councillor R Wootten be appointed to the position of Vice-Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board.

2.    That the change of Executive Support Councillor for Culture and Emergency Services be noted.

(NOTE: Councillor D McNally left the Chamber for consideration of this item)

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

It was moved, seconded and unanimously

RESOLVED

            That the Lincolnshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan: Site Location document, attached at Appendix C to the report, be adopted by the Council.

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

It was moved, seconded and unanimously

RESOLVED

            That Messrs Richard Quirk RVM and Phillip Knowles be appointed to the Lincolnshire County Council Independent Remuneration Panel.

A report by the Monitoring Officer had been circulated.

It was moved, seconded and

RESOLVED

            That the proposed amendments to the Constitution, as attached at Appendices A, B and C to the report, be approved.

(1) Motion by Councillor Mrs S Woolley

It was moved and seconded

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is now planning what questions will be in the next UK census in 2021.  The Royal British Legion (RBL) is currently leading a campaign to add questions to the Census regarding our Armed Forces Community. 

It is estimated that one in ten of the population are, or have been, part of the Armed Forces Community, yet there is limited information about where they are or what their needs might be.

RBL suggest this is a once in a generation opportunity for change by adding armed forces related questions to the 2021 census, thereby improving understanding of the Armed Forces Community and their needs for politicians, charities and service providers. 

To date, over a third of MPs have pledged their support, along with more than 100 local authorities and military charities. (See http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/campaign/count-them-in/

Lincolnshire County Council has a proud tradition of supporting the Armed Forces in the county, reinforced by the recent resigning of the Lincolnshire Armed Forces Community Covenant.

I therefore move that Lincolnshire County Council registers its support to the Royal British Legion Count Them In Campaign on the official website.

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

(2) Motion by Councillor R B Parker

It was moved and seconded

The Social Mobility Commission is an independent statutory body first set up in 2010 and is responsible for ‘promoting social mobility in England, for example, by challenging employers, the professions, universities and schools to play their part in promoting social mobility'.

On 28 November, the Commission published its annual report State of the Nation 2017: Social Mobility in Great Britain. The basis of the report is built around the Social Mobility Index, which ranks all 324 local authorities in England in terms of their social mobility prospects for someone from a disadvantaged background. It uses a range of indicators, 16     in total for every major life stage, from early years through to working lives, to map social mobility by local authority area.

The ranking of the 7 Lincolnshire councils, using the 16 indicators, is set out below.

To put these ranking into a national and regional context, London Boroughs filled the 13 highest rankings for social mobility whilst North Kesteven was the highest placed council in the East Midlands. The index shows that ‘the worst performing areas for social mobility are no longer inner-city areas but remote rural and coastal areas, and former industrial areas…’.

The commission makes a number of recommendations of which three are specific to local authorities of which two are related to councils with an education remit.

This report comes at an opportune time as Lincolnshire County Council pursues its Fairer Funding campaign to achieve a fairer distribution of government funding, because it provides yet more  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52.