Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors N F Clarke, E J Sneath and J L King.

It was reported that, under Regulation 13 of the Local Government (Committee and Political Groups) Regulations 1990, Councillor Noi Sear had been appointed as the replacement member for Councillor Mrs N F Clarke, for this meeting only.

It was noted that Councillor E J Sneath would be observing the meeting remotely, via Teams.

No declarations of members’ interest were received at this stage of the proceedings.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Public Protection and Communities Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 21 March 2023 be agreed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

There were no announcements by the Chairman, Executive Councillors or Chief Officers.

(To receive a report by Citizens Advice Lincolnshire which provides the Committee with an update on the performance of Citizens Advice services across Lincolnshire during 2022/23, Monica Stark and Jennie Barnett from Citizens Advice Lincolnshire will be in attendance to present the report)

Consideration was given to a report from Citizens Advice Lincolnshire (CAL), which provided the Committee with an update on the performance of Citizens Advice services across Lincolnshire during 2022/23.

The Chairman invited Monica Stark, Chair of Trustees, Citizens Advice South Lincolnshire and Jenny Barnett, Chief Executive Officer, Citizens Advice Lindsey to present the item to the Committee.

Detailed at Appendix A was a CAL Health Presentation; and Appendix B provided the Committee with details of CAL 2022/23 dashboard.

During the presentation, the Committee noted that 2022/23 had been the most challenging year in the history of Citizens Advice nationally, due to the impact of high inflation. It was highlighted that a total of 15,021 people living in Lincolnshire had turned to Citizens Advice for help, and that the service was able to resolve 76,934 issues.  It was highlighted further that demand on the Lincolnshire Adviceline was projected to have risen to 43,246 calls, it was however noted that the service had only been able to answer 34% of the calls due to a lack of resources. Reference was also made to specialist services, partnership working, the value of the service to society and feedback received from clients who had used the CAL service.

Page 31 (Appendix B) of the report pack provided an overall breakdown of the number of people helped and the types of issues the service had assisted with.

The Committee was invited to review and comment on the contents of the annual report, and during consideration thereon, the following points were noted:

·       Support was extended for the first class high quality service provided by Citizen’s Advice Lincolnshire;

·       The Committee noted that historically there had been more separate Citizen’s Advice charities across Lincolnshire. Currently however, there were three separately constituted Citizens Advice charities across Lincolnshire working in partnership as one: Citizens Advice Lincolnshire.  No guarantee could be given that in the future this presence might be reduced to a presence of two a North and a South charity, or even one for the County.  The Committee noted that the service needed to find a structure to support local communities across the County;

·       It was reported that the number of missed calls were recorded, and that reporting was able to provide details of when clients had rung more than once.  The Committee noted that when a call was unable to be answered locally it was routed to be answered in Gateshead at an overflow centre. It was however highlighted that some clients were not getting through.  It was also reported that after one hour the call was ceased automatically.  It was reported further that call data was available and that the service was working to address such issues;

·       Confirmation was given that CAL were being charged rent and service charges;

·       The effect high inflation was having, and the societal changes that were now impacting most people for example, the need for a mobile phone, an essential item for keeping individuals connected allowing them to access funds, pay bills, and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73.

(To receive a report by Semantha Neal, Assistant Director – Prevention and Early Intervention, and Lauren Grosvenor – Resettlement Programme Manager, which provides a further update on refugee resettlement schemes and asylum dispersal)

The Committee considered a report from Semantha Neal, Assistant Director Prevention and Early Intervention and Lauren Grosvenor, Resettlement Programme Manager, which provided a further update on refugee resettlement schemes and asylum dispersal.

The Chairman invited Semantha Neal, Assistant Director Prevention and Early Intervention to present the item to the Committee.

Further to the report, the Committee was advised that the High Court would be hearing the West Lindsey District Council case with regard to RAF Scampton on Thursday 11 May 2023.

The Committee also noted that in respect of other asylum seekers schemes, whilst further information was indicated as being expected, no further information had been received regarding guidance or funding.

During consideration of this item, the following points were noted:

·       Some concern was expressed to the lack of information relating to the Home Office proposal for RAF Scampton; the welfare and wellbeing of the asylum seekers, with particular reference being made to the proposed shipping container type of accommodation.  The Committee noted that the understanding was that the proposed accommodation would be a type of portable unit, quite often used for temporary accommodation, which was believed would have its own fresh water and sewage attached to it.  One member advised that such a container had arrived in Britain, and it was the type of accommodation used by oil rig workers;

·       The infrastructure impact of the proposed asylum seekers on Lincoln and the village of Scampton itself.  Reassurance was given that the three Chief Executives and Leaders of the City of Lincoln, West Lindsey District Council and the County Council were holding weekly meetings to discuss the impacts and risks of the proposal. It was highlighted that they were also meeting with Leaders and Chief Executives of other larger sites, as RAF Scampton was not the only large site being proposed.  Meetings were also being held regularly with the Local Government Association.  The Committee was also advised that a weekly call was continuing with the Home Office, with local organisations to express the local concerns and a request had been made for a clear assurance framework around the concerns raised.  It was also highlighted that the three Lincolnshire Leaders had written to the Robert Jenrick MP expressing their concerns and requesting a meeting with him, but as yet, no response had been received;

·       Some general comments were raised with regard to the country’s asylum seekers situation, the time taken to process applications and the impact that was having on those waiting for their claims to be processed, and the complex issues that posed; and the extreme politics presenting themselves concerning RAF Scampton;

·       Reassurance was given that local MPs had been involved concerning the proposals for RAF Scampton, and that West Lindsey District Council was fighting the case against the proposals. Councillor J Brockway agreed to forward officer contact details on to Councillor K E Lee to enable her to find out further information concerning RAF Scampton;

·       Some support was extended to the success of the Homes for Ukraine Resettlement  ...  view the full minutes text for item 74.

(To receive a report by Kiara Chatziioannou, Scrutiny Officer, which provides the Committee with the opportunity to consider and comment on the content of its work programme for the coming year to ensure that scrutiny activity is focussed where it can be of greatest benefit)

Consideration was given to a report from Kiara Chatziioannou, Scrutiny Officer, which invited the Committee to review the work programme, as detailed on pages 40 to 43 of the report pack and to highlight any additional scrutiny activity which could be included for consideration in the work programme.

The Scrutiny Officer briefed the Committee on the items scheduled to be considered at the 20 June 2023 meeting, these were shown on page 40 of the report pack.

During consideration of this item, one item was raised concerning the registering of Care Homes.  As this matter was outside the remit of the Public Protection and Community Scrutiny Committee, the Executive Director for Adults and Committee Wellbeing agreed to respond to the individual Councillor outside of the meeting.  

The Committee noted that since the agenda publication date, one further item had been added to the work programme for the Autumn of 2023, which was: an update on the Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service New Crewing arrangements.

RESOLVED

That the Public Protection and Communities Scrutiny Committee Work Programme report be received and that the work programme as detailed on pages 40 to 43 be approved with the addition of the update on the Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service New Crewing Arrangements.