Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors M Brookes, M Clarke, Mrs N Clarke, K Cooke, P E Coupland, A M Hall, J King, H Spratt, L Wootten and T V Young

In relation to the proposed amendment by the Independent Group to item 8, as circulated within the order of proceedings, Councillor M D Boles declared a non-pecuniary interest as the trustee of a charity which delivered a holiday and activity funding programme in Gainsborough.

Other declarations are recorded under the item as declared.  

RESOLVED:

           That the minutes of the Council held on 19 May 2023 be approved as a       correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Council received the Electoral Return for the By Election for Lincoln Carholme Division.

The Chairman welcomed Councillor N Murray to his first meeting of the Council and the Chairman, Councillors K E Lee, P M Dilks and M J Hill OBE paid tribute to Robert Parker and his service to the Council, following his resignation as a Councillor after 34 years serving as a County Councillor.

The Chairman referred Members to the announcements, as circulated in the Order of Proceedings.

Reference was made to the Chairman’s visit to RAF Digby for the RAF Civic Reception and in particular the arrival of a satellite expansion of GCHQ, for which they would welcome 50% of applications for employment from Lincolnshire.

With a heavy heart, the Chairman reported the death of Councillor Ray Wootten, who served the Grantham North Division and was elected to the County Council in June 2009 and served as Chairman of the Council from May 2013 to May 2014.

With sadness the Chairman also reported the death of former County Councillors Mike Williams and Barry Young.

Members observed a minute’s silence and were invited to speak to pay tribute. 

Statements by Members of the Executive had been circulated.

Councillor L A Cawrey, Executive Councillor for Fire & Rescue, Emergency Planning and Cultural Services announced that Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue were hosting the year’s Festival of Rescue 2023 on behalf of the United Kingdom Rescue Organisation (UKRO). The event was taking place in various locations across Lincolnshire between Thursday 14 – Saturday 16 September and involved over 300 Firefighters from across the Country and included teams from France, Ireland and Romania. The event showcased various rescue challenges and tested rescue crews across various skills. More information could be found on UKRO.org.

In addition, four Lincolnshire Firefighters and Colin the rescue dog had been deployed to search for victims of the devastating earthquake in Morrocco.

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

During this item, Councillor Mrs J Brockway declared a non-pecuniary interest as members of her family benefitted from the Holidays Activities and Food Programme.

Councillor S P Roe left the meeting for the consideration of this item of business.

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

An amendment had been submitted by the Independent Group.

It was proposed, seconded and

RESOLVED

That Council Procedure Rules 13.6 (b), 13.6 (c), 13.6 (d), 13.6 (e) and 13.10(b), be temporarily suspended for the duration of the debate to allow one debate on the motion and Independent Group amendment and that

(1)   Councillor M J Hill OBE Leader of the Council in introducing and moving the motion and in responding to the debate be allowed to speak for 6 minutes (at A and F in this Order of Proceedings)

(2)   That the proposer of the amendment listed be allowed to speak for 6 minutes (at C on the Order of Proceedings)

(3)   That Councillors seconding the motions, each be allowed to speak for 3 minutes (at B and D on the Order of Proceedings or at E on the Order of Proceedings if they reserve their speech until later in the debate)

(4)   That other speakers each be allowed to speak for 3 minutes (at E on the Order of Proceedings)

(5)   That no further amendments be moved.

Further to circulation of the Order of Proceedings, a revision to the original motion had been circulated and was moved and seconded by the Conservative Group as follows:

That the Council:

1.      Notes the carry forwards of underspends and transfers to its reserves set out in paragraphs 1.16 to 1.18 of the report, which are made in line with the Council’s Financial Regulations

2.      Approves:

a)      That the overspends under 1% in Place (£0.170m) and Fire and Rescue (£0.028m) referred to in Paragraph 1.20 of the report are not carried forward but instead funded from the underspend above 1%; and

b)      That the underspend remaining after the carry forwards and transfers to reserves referred to in recommendation 1 and the funding of overspend referred to in recommendation 2(a), be allocated to the Development Fund so that it can be made available to support investment in local highways initiatives

3.      Notes the performance against the Prudential Indicators as shown in Table D of the report

4.      Notes the transfers to and from reserves carried out in 2022/23 and notes the position of Earmarked Reserves as at 31 March 2023 as shown in Table F of the report

5.      Notes the position of the General Reserves as set out in paragraph 1.27 of the report and Table G

6.      Notes the key financial performance measures in 2022/23 as set out in Table H

7.      Notes the proposed use of the £8.7m transferred to the development fund as part of the 2023/24 budget setting process generally for the purposes set out in paragraph 1.23 of the report

An amendment to the Conservative revision had been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73.

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

It was moved, seconded and

RESOLVED:

That the allocation of Committee seats, as detailed in Schedule 2 of the Order of Proceedings in accordance with the political balance rules, be approved.

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

Further to the appointments in schedule 3 of the order of proceedings, it was confirmed that Councillor P A Skinner would be appointed as the Vice-Chairman of the Public Protection and Communities Scrutiny.

It was moved, seconded and

RESOLVED:

That the nominations for Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of Committees and Sub-Committees, as set out in Schedule 3 of the Order of Proceedings and with the additions noted above, be agreed.

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

Further to the appointments detailed in schedule 4 of the Order of Proceedings, it was confirmed that Councillor P A Skinner would be appointed to vacancy on the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel 

It was moved, seconded and

RESOLVED:

That the new appointments to the organisations as detailed and highlighted in Schedule 4 circulated with the Order of Proceedings be agreed.

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

It was moved, seconded and

RESOLVED:

That Tracy Colman and Michael Barratt be appointed as Independent Persons.

A report by the Monitoring Officer had been circulated.

It was moved, seconded and

RESOLVED:

1.      That approval be given to the proposal put forward by the Lincolnshire Health and Wellbeing Board to change its membership:

a.      To reduce the number of County Councillors by two

b.      To reduce the number of NHS representatives by four

2.    That the amendments to the constitution set out in Appendix A to the report be approved.

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

It was moved, seconded and

RESOLVED:

That the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2022/23 be approved.

The motion by Councillor M Overton MBE was moved and seconded as follows:

We are aware that:

·       Local residents are deeply concerned about human health and the impact on wildlife of regular wastewater discharge, including untreated sewage, into our local rivers and seas.

·       Anglian Water discharges sewage into local rivers and seas on a regular basis

·       Water companies are writing renewed long-term plans now

·       The Environment Agency has overall responsibility but need to be clearer on the impacts.

This Council calls on our MPs, water companies and the Environment Agency to take whatever action is necessary to stop raw sewage discharges in our area at the earliest possible time.

The Conservative Group proposed an alteration to the motion to also include the following:

This Council also asks for this matter to be referred to the Flood and Water Management Scrutiny Committee, where this issue can be fully aired, and actions available to this Council can be determined.

The alteration to the motion was supported.

RESOLVED:

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