Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were recorded from Councillors Mrs A M Austin, I D Carrington, Mrs J E Killey, S R Parkin. G T Taylor and R A Wright.

None were declared.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 1 December 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

The Chairman had been delighted to join the Lord-Lieutenant and the Mayor of Lincoln for the official Coronation tree planting ceremony at The Lawn, a tree which has been gifted by His Majesty. The Chairman wished His Majesty well following his recent diagnosis.

With sadness, the Chairman reported the death of Councillor Robert Parker, who had represented the Lincoln West Electoral Division, later the Carholme Division, from his election to the council in 1989 until his recent resignation owing to ill health.

Councillor Parker served as Leader of the Council between 1993 and 1997 and as Leader of the Labour Group for many years prior and following this.

The Chairman also reported the death of Councillor Brian Knight, who was first elected to the Council in May 1997 and represented the Gainsborough Rural South electoral division, until May 2005.

Members observed a minute’s silence and spoke to pay tribute to both gentlemen.

The Executive Councillor for Economic Development, Environment and Planning provided an update following significant rainfall associated with storms Babet and Henk and further rainfall events, there had been significant flooding issues around a wide area of Lincolnshire which had resulted in a strain on resources in an unprecedented amount of work As the lead local flood authority for the County, Lincolnshire County Council had a duty to investigate flooding in certain circumstances, such as when there is flooding internally to a resident or business, when large sways of agricultural land are affected and flooding to carriageways.

Since October 2023 there had been 850 reports of internally flooded properties which would result in 230 separate S19 investigations. Once completed, the Council and its partners would identify which risk management authorities had a risk management responsibility in connection with each incident and whether they had already or intended to exercise that function in response. To assist, recommendations would be made for proportionate works to manage future flood risk to be delivered by individual risk management authorities or in partnership if considered appropriate.

The Executive Councillor Economic Development, Environment and Planning acknowledged the significant challenges posed to all those affected by flooding incidents and the need for security for those affected was emphasised. Additional monies had been allocated to support with ongoing investigations and the Executive and the Chairman of the Flood and Water Management Scrutiny Committee continued to support and thoroughly review matters of flood risk and response for the whole of Lincolnshire. Members were urged to raise concerns with the Chairman of the Flood and Water Management Scrutiny Committee.

10:17am – Councillor M A Griggs entered the meeting.

It was moved, seconded and

RESOLVED:

That Council Procedure Rule 10.2 be suspended for the duration of item 6 on the agenda.

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

10:52am – Councillor C E H Marfleet entered the meeting.

Councillor S P Roe left the meeting for the duration of this item in relation to a previously declared pecuniary interest.

A report by the Deputy Chief Executive & Executive Director – Resources had been circulated together with a separate document entitled Council Budget 2024/25.

 It was moved, seconded and

RESOLVED:

(1)  That there be one debate on the Executive’s budget proposals and the amendment by the Shadow Executive and therefore that Council Procedure Rules 13.4 (Content and length of speeches), 13.6 (b), 13.6(c), 13,6 (d), 13,6 (e) (Amendments to motions) and 13.10 (b) (Motions which may be moved during debate) be temporarily suspended for the duration of the debate

(2)   That Councillor M J Hill OBE Leader of the Council in introducing and moving the budget and in responding to issues raised during the debate be allowed to speak without limit of time

(3)   That the proposer of the amendment be allowed to speak without limit of time

(4)   That Councillors seconding the motions each be allowed to speak for six minutes.

(5)   That other speakers each be allowed to speak for 3 minutes

(6)   That no further amendments be moved.

The Conservative Group motion was moved and seconded as follows:

That the Council:

1.    has due regard to the responses to the engagement and consultation feedback on the Council's budget proposals as contained in the Budget Book (Appendix D - Budget Engagement and Consultation Feedback);

2.    has due regard to the Section 151 Officer's Statement on the Robustness of the Budget and the Adequacy of Reserves as set out in the Budget Book (Section 10 - Section 151 Officer's Statement on the Robustness of the Budget and Adequacy of Reserves);

3.    has due regard to the Impact Analysis relating to increasing the Council Tax by 4.99% in 2024/25 set out in the appended 'Budget Book' (Appendix C – Equality Impact Analysis relating to the council tax proposal in 2024/25);

4.    approves:

4.1   the service revenue budgets for 2024/25 contained in the Budget Book, (Table 2 - Net Service Revenue Budget 2024/25), as amended by recommendation 5 below;

4.2   the capital programme and its funding contained in the Budget Book (Section 7 - Capital Programme) and (Appendix O - Capital Investment Programme);

4.3   the County Council element of the council tax for a Band D property at £1,578.69 for 2024/25 contained in the Budget Book (Appendix B - County Precept 2024/25);

as together being the Council's Budget.

5.    agrees that the following spending priorities be funded via the additional general fund capacity of £7.793m created by the final settlement:

6.    approves the Council's Financial Strategy contained  ...  view the full minutes text for item 100.

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

It was moved, seconded and

RESOLVED:

That the Pay Policy Statement 2024/25 attached at appendix A to the report and as recommended by the Pay Policy Sub-Committee be approved.

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

It was moved, seconded and

RESOLVED:

That the Audit Committee Annual Report 2023 be received.

No motions on notice had been submitted.