Agenda and minutes

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

Contact: Rachel Wilson  Democratic Services Officer

Media

Items
No. Item

29.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors M D Boles, K Cooke, P E Coupland, E W Strengiel, Mrs S Rawlins and T Young.

 

The following councillors were linked via Microsoft Teams as observers - Councillors T A Carter, Mrs W Bowkett and K E Lee.

30.

Declarations of Councillors' Interests

Minutes:

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

31.

Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 17 September 2021 pdf icon PDF 426 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

        That the minutes of the meeting held on 17 September 2021 be signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

32.

Chairman's Announcements pdf icon PDF 899 KB

Minutes:

The Chairman had been delighted, with the support of his wife Jackie, to have been able to carry out more civic engagements since the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions and the associated roll out of the vaccination programme. He said that with Covid continuing to be part of everyday lives and the emergence of new variants, it must be remembered that following new guidelines as they are issued was just as important as ever.  The Chairman assured members that he would continue to keep a close eye on the guidance as he represented the County Council at events around Lincolnshire and beyond.

 

The Chairman thanked the Vice-Chairman and Consort, Councillors Alison and Richard Austin, for their support during this period.

 

Since the last meeting, Lincolnshire Day had been celebrated and the County Council had joined with North and North East Lincolnshire as Greater Lincolnshire, illustrating the continued commitment to working together for the benefit of all residents. This was also the kick-start of the Queen’s Green Canopy which it was hoped would see thousands of trees planted across the UK in commemoration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee next year.  The Remembrance Sunday service held in Lincoln Cathedral was a very poignant occasion and was well supported and attended.  The Chairman said he was pleased to lay a poppy wreath on behalf of the County Council. 

 

It was with great sadness that the Chairman reported the deaths of a serving member and a former member of the County Council:

 

County Councillor Bob Adams, who represented the Colsterworth Rural electoral division from 2 May 2013, was Chairman of the Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee at the time of his death last month, having been appointed to that role on 17 May 2019.

 

Councillor Adams had also been chairman of the Flood and Water Management Scrutiny Committee from 11 May 2018 until 17 May 2019, and vice-chairman of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee between 17 May 2013 and 15 May 2015.  

 

Former County Councillor Jim Swanson, who represented the former Spilsby electoral division from June 2009 until May 2013, had also passed away recently.

 

The Chairman, on behalf of the County Council offered heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Councillor Adams and Mr Swanson and invited members to stand for a minute's silence as a mark of respect.

 

A number of Councillors paid tribute to Councillor Bob Adams and former County Councillor Jim Swanson.

 

A complete itinerary of civic engagements, since the last meeting of this Council, was available from the Civic Officer.

 

33.

Statements/Announcements by the Leader and Members of the Executive pdf icon PDF 457 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Statements by Members of the Executive had been circulated with the agenda.

34.

Questions to the Chairman, the Leader, Executive Councillors, Chairmen of Committees and Sub-Committees

Minutes:

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

 

Question by

 

Question to

Subject

a) A P Maughan

M J Hill OBE

Lack of A1 safety improvements between Grantham and Newark

 

b) R B Parker

R G Davies

Update on the Western Growth Corridor

 

c) Mrs M J Overton MBE

R G Davies

Impact of the loss of £12.3m from the Highways budget

 

d) Mrs A M Newton

D McNally

Opening  hours of HWRC’s

 

e) T J G Dyer

R G Davies

Update on North Hykeham Relief Road project

 

f) Mrs J E Killey

R G Davies

Streetlighting

 

g) A J Baxter

M J Hill OBE

Deepings Leisure Centre

 

h) R J Kendrick

Mrs P A Bradwell OBE

Safeguarding practices during the pandemic

 

i) T A Ashton

C J Davie

Exemption for use of red diesel for flooding equipment

 

j) K J Clarke

C J Davie

Companies that had benefitted from the Lincolnshire Community Fund

 

k) R J Cleaver

R G Davies

Rail services for Lincolnshire

 

l) C Matthews

C J Davie

Potential impact of Avian Flu on Lincolnshire

 

 

35.

Appointment of Members to the Bourne Town Hall Trust Management Committee pdf icon PDF 759 KB

Minutes:

A report by the Executive Director – Resources had been circulated.

 

It was moved, seconded and

 

RESOLVED

 

          That the following voting members be appointed to serve on the Bourne Town Hall Trust Management Committee:

 

·       Councillor M J Hill OBE

·       Councillor P M Dilks

·       Councillor A N Stokes

·       Councillor T A Ashton

·       The councillor elected to the vacant Colsterworth Rural Division

36.

The revocation of Byelaws made under section 164 of the Public Health Act 1875 with respect to land at Anderby Creek, land at Wolla Bank, land at Marsh Yard, land at Moggs Eye, land at Huttoft Car Terrace and land at Chapel Six Marsh in the County of Lincolnshire and dated 24 September 2013 pdf icon PDF 888 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report by the Executive Director – Place had been circulated.

 

It was moved, seconded and

 

RESOLVED

 

1.    That the making of and the affixing of the Council’s seal to the byelaw attached at Appendix A to the report, revoking the byelaw made by Council on 24 April 2013 and confirmed by the Secretary of State on 24 September 2013 and attached at Appendix B to the report, be approved.

 

2.    That authority be delegated to the Executive Director – Place to take all further steps necessary to make the said byelaw effective.

37.

Members' Allowances Scheme 2022/23 pdf icon PDF 556 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report by the Executive Director – Resources had been circulated.

 

It was moved, seconded and

 

RESOLVED

 

1.    That the IRP report and its recommendations be received by the Council.

 

2.    That the Scheme of Members’ Allowances for 2021/22 be approved as the Lincolnshire County Council Scheme of Members’ Allowances for 2022/23 subject to:

 

a)    The amendments shown in Appendix B to the report; and

 

b)    The amount of the Allowances within Schedule 1 to the 2021/22 scheme of Members’ Allowances being increased by the average % increase in pay for employees covered by the National Joint Council for Local Government Services for the last 12 months.

38.

Motions on notice submitted in accordance with the Council's Constitution

Minutes:

Motion by Councillor M J Hill OBE

 

It was moved and seconded as follows:

 

Preamble:

In February 2021, the county council’s road maintenance grant was reduced by the Government from £51m down to £38.7m – a 25% cut. As a result, county councillors voted to fill this funding gap by allocating £12.3m from council reserves for this financial year.

 

The Treasury’s own figures have consistently shown the East Midlands to be lowest funded region per head for transport in the UK. And if we were receiving the same level of funding as the UK average, we and our neighbouring counties would have an extra £1 billion to spend on transport every year.

 

Lincolnshire is a large rural county with 5,500 miles of road to maintain. Without the £12.3 million in funding that has been taken from the council’s road maintenance grant, 24,000 potholes would go unfilled and 37 miles of roads in need of rebuilding would go un-repaired.

 

Local government has been at the forefront of government spending cuts for the last 10 years. During that time, Lincolnshire County Council has seen its annual government grants fall from £227m to £109m. In addition, the council has faced cost pressures of around £22-61m each year.

 

It is to our credit that we have maintained good services during this period.

 

Since 2011, the county council has found savings totalling £354m. Prior to the local government finance settlement later this month, initial estimates suggest it will face a cumulative funding shortfall of up to £57m over the next four years. Whilst some new welcome funding will be forthcoming from the Government, the main way to close that gap will be to increase council tax, draw on our reserves or find further savings – or more likely a combination of all three.

 

Because of these budget strains, it is unlikely the council can continue allocating funding from reserves to bring our roads maintenance funding back to 2019/20 levels which will have a detrimental effect on the state of our roads and lead to even greater costs in future.

 

Over many years highway maintenance has been a top priority for Lincolnshire residents which was highlighted even more during this year's county council elections.

 

 

There is an urgent need for government to reinstate their highway maintenance funding to previous levels where it correctly recognised the importance of good roads for safety and economic confidence.

 

I therefore move that this Council:

 

1.      Urgently lobbies Government to reinstate their Highways Maintenance Grant for Lincolnshire to the 2019/20 levels

 

2.      Enlists the support of the public, partners and MPs. 

 

3.      Identifies solutions if the money is not forthcoming before it sets its budget in February 2022.

 

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

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Council:

 

1.      Urgently lobbies Government to reinstate their Highways Maintenance Grant for Lincolnshire to the 2019/20 levels

 

2.      Enlists the support of the public, partners and MPs. 

 

3.      Identifies solutions if the money is not forthcoming before it sets its  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

 

 
 
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