Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence had been received by Councillors M Brookes, T A Carter, C J Davie, R G Davies, M Hasan, M J Overton MBE, S R Parkin, J Tyrrell and Mrs C L E Vernon.

All declarations will be recorded under the relevant item/none were declared. 

Councillor S P Roe requested an amendment to minute 73 to record that he left the meeting for the consideration of the item of business for a previously noted pecuniary interest.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Council on 15 September 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman, subject to the above amendment.

The Council received the Electoral Return for the By Election for the Grantham North Division.

The Chairman welcomed Councillor P M Martin to his first meeting of the Council.

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

The Chairman highlighted his visit to an event to celebrate Park Air Systems being taken over by the multi-national Indra company.  This investment would create a strong future for the business and it would provide excellent career opportunities for young people in the south of the county.

The Chairman looked forward to visiting other businesses as part of his time as Chairman, and of reassuring them of LCC’s support in their investment.

Statements by Members of the Executive had been circulated.

The Leader of the Council announced that some capital funding had been allocated to Greater Lincolnshire in advance of the proposed formation of the Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA). This funding was not part of the MCCA budget and was subject to conditions set by the Department for Levelling up Housing and Communities (DLUHC) and DLUHC’s support of the proposed schemes, which were as follows:

• UK Food Valley grant programme – £2.0m
• Flood prevention (Market Rasen, Kirkby on Bain) £1.5m
• Grantham streetworks programme £2.0m
• Nettleham Roundabout - £3.3m
• Old Roman Bank, Sandilands £9.0m
• Sleaford Moor Enterprise Park £2.2m

The Executive Councillor for Fire & Rescue and Cultural Services welcomed the findings detailed in the report from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) following their inspection of Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue Service. No new areas of concern had been identified and the positive direction of travel and the response to incidents had received recognition. However, it was acknowledged that there was more to do in supporting staff with concerns. Furthermore, Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue Service had signed up to the National Protection Concordat for better mental health, in which Lincolnshire County Council was already a member.

The Chairman thanked the Chief Fire Officer for the progress he continued to make working alongside the Executive Councillor for Fire & Rescue and Cultural Services.

The Executive Councillor for Adult Care was pleased to announce that Lincolnshire Adult Care services had been rated a ‘good’ service following a CQC pilot inspection and expressed pride for all staff members involved. The service had also been mentioned by a minister for Adult Care who had commended the standard of Adult Care Services at Lincolnshire County Council.

A report by the Chief Executive had been circulated.

An amendment had been submitted by the Independent Group.

It was moved, seconded and

RESOLVED:

That there be one debate on the motion for this item and the Independent Group amendment and one debate on the motion at item 13 and the Conservative Group amendment and the following Council Procedure Rules be suspended for the duration of both agenda items – 13.6 (b), 13.6 (c) 13.6 (d), 13.6 (e) and 13.10 (b) and that:

1.      In introducing and moving a motion, the mover of the motion be allowed to speak for 6 minutes.

2.      That the proposer of an amendment be allowed to speak for 6 minutes.

3.      That Councillors seconding a motion each be allowed to speak for 3 minutes and may reserve their speech until later in the debate.

4.      That other speakers each be allowed to speak for 3 minutes.

5.      That no further amendments be moved.

It was moved and seconded that:

the Council consider a report to the Leader of the Council attached at Appendix 1, feedback from OSMB and support:

1.      The devolution deal document attached at Appendix A;

2.      The draft proposal for the creation of a Greater Lincolnshire Combined Authority attached at Appendix B (“the proposal”) for the purposes of public consultation in accordance with the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023;

3.      The carrying out of public consultation on the proposal in accordance with paragraphs 26 to 30 of the Executive Councillor Report and the Consultation document at Appendix C; and

4.      Delegated authority to the Chief Executive to approve any minor amendments to the draft proposal or consultation arrangements. The delegation is to be exercised in consultation with the Leader of the Council and is conditional upon agreement to such amendments by other Constituent Councils.

An amendment to the motion had been submitted by the Independent Group. It was moved and seconded that:

Councillor P M Dilks to move:

1.      That the Council consider a report to the Leader of the Council attached at Appendix 1, feedback from OSMB and support the holding of a democratic public County-wide referendum to seek residents’ views on two simple questions, i.e. whether they support or oppose:

a)      the creation of an extra layer of Government in the form of a Greater Lincolnshire Combined Authority covering Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire, and North East Lincolnshire; and

b)      an Elected Mayor to represent the whole of Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.

That the Council responds to the

devolution deal document attached at Appendix A and t

he draft proposal for the creation of a Greater Lincolnshire Combined Authority attached at Appendix B (“the proposal”) when the results of the referendum have been declared.

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

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

It was moved, seconded and

RESOLVED:

That the allocation of Committee seats (as detailed in Appendix A and circulated within the Order of Proceedings) in accordance with the political balance rules be approved.

With the permission of the Council, this item was withdrawn for consideration as the changes proposed within the document were no longer required.

A report by the Chief Executive had been circulated.

It was moved, seconded and

RESOLVED:

That William Bell be designated as the Council’s Monitoring Officer.

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

It was moved, seconded and

RESOLVED:

1. That consideration be given to the IRP recommendations in Appendix A to the report;

That the Scheme of Members’ Allowances for 2023/24 as amended in Appendix B to the report be approved as the Council’s Scheme of Members Allowances for 2024/25.

Note – As agreed at item 7, there was one debate for this item and Council Procedure Rules 13.6 (b), 13.6 (c) 13.6 (d), 13.6 (e) and 13.10 (b) had been suspended for the duration of this item.

A motion by Councillor K E Lee was moved and seconded as follows:

Across Lincolnshire we have recently seen the highest levels of rainfall ever recorded in many areas. I want to pay tribute to all of those who were involved in dealing with the floods, both agencies and community groups who all did their very best to keep our communities safe.

However, given the impact of climate change, the frequency and level of impact of weather-related incidents is increasing and we must ensure that the statutory response meets that increased level of threat.

It is vital that going forward sufficient funding is allocated by government to mitigate the impact of weather-related incidents, that a fully co-ordinated response is provided by all agencies, and that local residents have a single point of contact to turn to in order to obtain prompt support to keep them safe. Local response networks must be given the resources and leadership to ensure that our communities feel confident that occurrences such as we recently witnessed will be better prevented and mitigated.

Accordingly, this council calls on the Leader of the Council to write to the Prime Minister requesting the establishment of a nationally-led, nationally-funded body to ensure an effective, properly co-ordinated and accountable response to weather-related emergencies.

An amendment had been submitted by the Conservative Group, which was moved and seconded as follows:

Accordingly, this council:

1.      pays tribute to all those who were involved in dealing with the floods, both agencies and community groups, who all did their very best to keep our communities safe;

2.       welcomes the proposals in the Greater Lincolnshire Devolution Deal to strengthen local arrangements through a new enhanced water partnership for flood resilience, adaptations, and management of the water system; and

3.      calls on the Leader of the Council to write to the Government requesting:

a.      further funding to local agencies to ensure an effective, properly co-ordinated and accountable response to weather-related emergencies;

b.      further funding to local agencies for maintenance of flood risk and water management assets;

c.       recognition of the recent National Audit Office evidence, which highlights that the cost benefit of maintenance stands at 11:1;

d.      that they address the unfair impact on District Councils within Lincolnshire of the increased drainage levies within the Spring Budget Process 2024; and

e.      that the nationally led, and mostly nationally funded, Environment Agency has the resources it requires to maintain its river system and make improvements where necessary to ensure systems remain climate resilient.

The amendment was supported to become the substantive motion and upon being put to the vote, the amendment to the motion was supported unanimously.

It was therefore RESOLVED:

that the Council:

1.      Pays tribute to all those who were involved in dealing with the floods, both agencies  ...  view the full minutes text for item 93.