Agenda, decisions and minutes

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Contact: Cheryl Evans  Democratic Services Officer

Media

Items
No. Item

28.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor E J Poll (Executive Councillor for Commercial and Environmental Management). 

 

It was also noted that Heather Sandy (Executive Director – Children's Services) had submitted her apologies for absence. 

29.

Declarations of Councillors' Interests

Minutes:

There were no declarations made. 

30.

Announcements by the Leader, Executive Councillors and Executive Directors

Minutes:

Executive Councillor for Economy and Place

 

Councillor C J Davie, the Executive Councillor for Economy and Place, reported that the flood alleviation scheme near Digby was nearing completion, which would protect 58 properties.   The Council was preparing a bid to the Government in January 2021 for additional funding from a recently announced allocation of £150 million for flood and coastal resilience.  Reports were also being compiled on the current 190 flooding investigations.

 

Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and IT

 

Councillor R G Davies, the Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and IT, reported that the Department for Transport had given the North Hykeham Relief Road 'programme entry' status, which had secured a grant of £110 million towards the costs of the scheme.

31.

Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 3 November 2020 pdf icon PDF 238 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

That the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 3 November 2020 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Leader. 

32.

Director of Public Health's Annual Report 2020 pdf icon PDF 171 KB

(To receive a report from the Director of Public Health which presents the Director of Public Health's Annual Report 2020)

Additional documents:

Decision:

That the Annual Report from the Director of Public Health be received and published.

Minutes:

The Director of Public Health presented his annual report, entitled The Impact of Covid-19 on Lincolnshire, which focused on the impact of Covid?19 from March 2020 to date.  The report made reference to the strength of the multi-agency response in Lincolnshire; the plans for the remainder of the winter 2020/21; the recovery activity in the medium to long term; and the demographic challenges of Lincolnshire's older than average population. 

 

In particular, reference was made to the long term impacts of Covid-19, such as depression, anxiety, loneliness and fatigue; as well as the economic impacts of lost income and reduced opportunities, especially for younger adults.

 

The Director of Public Health and his team were thanked for their work during the Covid-19 pandemic, for example working with partners on the sourcing of personal protective equipment.

 

The following points were clarified:

 

  • The Lincolnshire system was prepared to begin the vaccination programme, once any vaccine had been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.
  • Those working or living in residential care homes and NHS front line staff would be given priority to receive any vaccine, thus offering a degree of protection to those in vulnerable and at risk groups.
  • The vaccination programme was likely to begin in December 2020, but was expected to accelerate from January 2021 onwards.
  • Coronaviruses were less likely to mutate as much as influenza viruses, but it was too early to say how long any Covid-19 vaccine would offer protection.
  • The rate of Covid-19 infection in Lincolnshire had peaked between 17 and 19 November 2020 and the current overall trajectory of the infection rate was downwards, with some localised differences in district council areas expected.   

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Annual Report from the Director of Public Health be received and published.  

33.

Revenue Budget Monitoring Report 2020/21 - Quarter 2 (to 30 September 2020) pdf icon PDF 1 MB

(To receive a report from the Executive Director – Resources which provides an update on revenue spending compared with budgets for the financial year which started on 1 April 2020)

Additional documents:

Decision:

That the current position on the revenue budget be noted.

Minutes:

The Executive Director – Resources referred to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's spending review of 25 November 2020, which had included announcements on a public sector pay freeze; the ability for councils to levy a 3% adult social care precept for 2021/22; a 2% increase on general Council Tax; provision for Council Tax losses arising from the Covid-19 pandemic; and a grant of £300 million nationally for children and adult social care. 

 

The Assistant Director – Strategic Finance presented a report on Revenue Budget Monitoring Report 2020/21 - Quarter 2 to 30 September 2020.  An underspend of £1.9 million (excluding schools and Covid-19) had been forecasted for 2020/21, which represented an improvement of over £5 million compared to the forecast in the previous quarter.  The variances to budgets had been detailed in the report and were explained to the Executive.   

 

A forecast underspend on capital financing charges of £7.9 million had not been included in the £2.0 million forecast, as this sum would be earmarked to manage fluctuations in the capital financing budget.

 

There was also an assumption that the Council's forecasted Covid-19 position would be contained within the Government emergency grant, forecasting an overall surplus of £7.7 million.

 

Councillor R P Parker, the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board, highlighted to the Executive the main points in the Board's statement to the Executive.   

 

The following points were clarified:

 

  • No funding had been allocated by the Government to local authorities to provide support to businesses, but the position could change.
  • There were plans to address and control the budget variances in children's services.    

 

RESOLVED

 

That the current position on the revenue budget be noted.

34.

Capital Budget Monitoring Report 2020/21 - Quarter 2 to 30 September 2020 pdf icon PDF 432 KB

(To receive a report from the Executive Director – Resources which provides an update on capital spending compared with budgets for the financial year which started on 1 April 2020)

Additional documents:

Decision:

That the position on the capital programme be noted.

Minutes:

The Assistant Director – Strategic Finance presented a report on Capital Budget Monitoring Report 2020/21 - Quarter 2 to 30 September 2020.  The current forecasted position was an underspend of £5.4 million.  Some variances were highlighted on major schemes, such as the Lincoln Eastern Bypass; and the Grantham Southern Relief Road. 

 

Councillor R P Parker, the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board, highlighted to the Executive the main points in the Board's statement to the Executive.

 

Further to the Board's comments, it was suggested that consideration should be given to the member oversight of capital schemes, and the lessons learned, to complement the progress made by officers, including the work of the officer-led capital review group.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the position on the capital programme be noted.

 

 
 
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