Agenda and minutes
Venue: Council Chamber, County Offices, Newland, Lincoln LN1 1YL
Contact: Emily Wilcox Democratic Services Officer
Media
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Apologies for Absence/Replacement Members Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillor K E Lee, Martin Kyle and Emile van der Zee.
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Declarations of Interest Minutes: None were declared.
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Minutes of the meeting held on 25 January 2024 PDF 226 KB Minutes: It was noted that the attendance details had been amended to include attendance by Councillor M J Hill OBE as an observer.
RESOLVED:
That minutes of the meeting held on 25 January 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
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Announcements by the Chairman, Executive Councillors and Chief Officers Minutes: There were no announcements made.
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Consideration of Call-Ins Minutes: There were no Call-Ins to consider.
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Consideration of Councillor Calls for Action Minutes: There were no Councillor Calls for Action to consider.
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Corporate Plan Success Framework 2023-24 - Quarter 3 PDF 155 KB (To receive a report from Caroline Jackson, Head of Corporate Performance, which invites the Board to consider a report on the Corporate Plan Success Framework for quarter three of 2023-24, prior to consideration by the Executive on 5 March 2024. The views of the Board will be reported to the Executive as part of its consideration of this report) Additional documents: Minutes: Consideration was given to a report by Caroline Jackson, Head of Corporate Performance, which invited the Board to review the Corporate Plan performance for Quarter 3 of 2023-24. The Board were invited to consider and comment on the report prior to its consideration by the Executive on 5 March 2024.
The Board unanimously supported the recommendations to the Executive, as set out at Appendix A, and during the discussion the following points were recorded:
· Members inquired about the percentage of disabled adults employed. Data was not immediately available, but there was a commitment to consult with the Assistant Director in Adult Care, to provide a comparative analysis and suggestions for improvement. It was further clarified that the data referred to adults with disabilities open to adult social care services. They are individuals known to and receiving support from the authority, not just those known to the Council. · Members raised concerns about limited space in recycling centres and proposed a reuse centre similar to the Seagull Recycling Centre in Skegness which operated a model of recycle and reuse of items with great success in the past. The Executive Director of Place acknowledged the idea and expressed interest in discussing the logistics further. · Members inquired about the inclusion of public sector volunteer managers in the recently launched Linkage Volunteer Managers Network. An action was taken to confirm whether LVMN included public sector managers; further information would be shared in due course. · Concerns were raised about the delayed progress of extra care housing projects. The Chief Executive acknowledged the challenges in identifying partners, securing agreements, and addressing planning issues. A commitment was made for the process to be expedited and for ways and opportunities for streamlining to be explored. · Members inquired about the potential financial impact of the separate food waste collection. The Executive Director of Place explained the uncertainty regarding new funding and reassured that the Waste Partnership would review all relevant issues before final decisions were made. · Clarification was sought on potential financial burdens resulting from the Environment Act. The Executive Director of Place expressed optimism that the Environment Act was anticipated to ultimately have a positive impact, potentially creating extra capacity and relieving pressure on existing waste systems.
RESOLVED:
1. That the recommendations to the Executive, as set out at appendix A to the report, be supported. 2. That a summary of the comments made be passed on to the Executive as part of its consideration of the report.
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People Management Update - Quarter 3 PDF 247 KB (To receive a report by Tony Kavanagh, Assistant Director – HR And Organisational Support, which provides an update on people management performance for quarter 3 of 2023/24) Additional documents: Minutes: Consideration was given to a report by the Assistant Director – HR And Organisational Support, which provided an update on the HR Management Information for Quarter 3 of 2023-24, as detailed on pages 73-78 of the agenda pack.
During the discussion, the following points were recorded:
RESOLVED:
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Revenue Budget Monitoring Report 2023/24 (Quarter 3) PDF 159 KB (To receive a report from Michelle Grady, Assistant Director – Finance, which invites the Board to consider the Revenue Budget Monitoring data for quarter 3 of 2023/24, prior to consideration by the Executive on 5 March 2024. The views of the Board will be reported to the Executive as part of its consideration of this report) Additional documents: Minutes: Consideration was given to a report by Michelle Grady, Assistant Director – Finance, which invited the Board to consider the Revenue Budget Monitoring information for Quarter 3 of 2023/24, as set out at pages 79-104 of the report. The Board were invited to consider and comment on the report prior to consideration by the Executive on 3 April 2024.
During the discussion, the following points were recorded:
· Members expressed difficulty in discerning the total spending on adult social care and understanding the Better Care Fund's role. Officers referring to the report (p. 90), explained that the net spend was £243 million, with an additional £61 million directly attributable to the Better Care Fund. The gross spend, including care contributions and grants, was estimated at around £323 million. Furthermore, Officers acknowledged the wider joint health and local authority spend contributing to the Better Care Fund and took an action to provide more detailed information in due course. · Members raised concerns about the 39.3% increase in fostering placement costs, questioning whether there were short-to-medium-term actions to mitigate such risks. The Chief Executive acknowledged the national pressure on fostering costs and highlighted local efforts, such as capital investments in residential homes. The need for national attention to the issue was emphasised. · Members further inquired about the potential shift in pressure from Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) schools to mainstream schools due to the SEND school programme. The Chief Executive addressed the increase in education, health and care plans (EHCPs), emphasising Lincolnshire's investments in special schools. The risk of parents seeking legal protection, leading to an increase in EHCPs and the need for potential national reforms was also acknowledged. · Clarification was sought on the £2.8 million underspend in highways related to Traffic Regulation Orders (TROS) and street lighting energy. Officers explained that the TRO income was generated from fines to utility companies for road works on the highway network that were unplanned or lacked authorisation and permitting and emphasised that this income as well as the energy cost savings contributed to the underspend. · Lastly, Members inquired about a potential overspend in homeschool transport asking for an estimate of this. Officers confirmed they were still working through the figures but acknowledged this was a significant concern on their radar. · Regarding revenue-funded capital investment, Officers further clarified that the approved £11.9 million was in addition to the existing project budgets, not inclusive of them.
RESOLVED:
1. That the recommendations to the Executive, as set out at appendix A to the report, be supported. 2. That a summary of the comments made be passed on to the Executive as part of its consideration of the report.
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Capital Budget Monitoring Report 2023/24 (Quarter 3) PDF 159 KB (To receive a report from Michelle Grady, Assistant Director – Finance, which invites the Board to consider the Capital Budget Monitoring data for quarter 3 of 2023/24, prior to consideration by the Executive on 5 March 2024. The views of the Board will be reported to the Executive as part of its consideration of this report)
Additional documents: Minutes: Consideration was given to a report by Michelle Grady, Assistant Director – Finance, which invited the Board to consider the Revenue Budget Monitoring information for Quarter 3 of 2023/24, as set out at pages 105-124 of the report. The Board were invited to consider and comment on the report prior to consideration by the Executive on 3 April 2024.
During the debate, Members raised concerns about the Council's ability to absorb external shocks beyond its control, such as changes in national interest rates or global events affecting commodities like oil or grain. In response, Officers highlighted the dual aspects of the issue, addressing the cost of borrowing and the cost of supply. Officers assured the Board that contingency measures were in place to handle unforeseen events, including potential material cost fluctuations or delays in provision, providing a level of confidence in the Council's ability to respond to and absorb such shocks.
The Board unanimously supported the recommendations to the Executive, as set out in appendix A.
RESOLVED
1. That the recommendations to the Executive, as set out at appendix A to the report, be supported. 2. That a summary of the comments made be passed on to the Executive as part of its consideration of the report.
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Treasury Management Performance - Quarter 3 to 31 December 2023 PDF 326 KB (To receive a report by Karen Tonge, Treasury Manager, which invites the Board to consider the Treasury Management Performance for quarter 3 of 2023/24) Additional documents:
Minutes: Consideration was given to a report by Karen Tonge, Treasury Manager, which invited the Board to consider the Treasury Management Performance for Quarter 3 of 2023/24, as set out on pages 125-150 of the agenda pack.
During the discussion the following points were recorded:
RESOLVED
That satisfaction of the activity and performance reported with assurances provided relevant to future forecasting be noted. |
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(To receive a report from Karen Tonge, Treasury Manager, which invites the Board to consider the Treasury Management Statement and Annual Investment Strategy 2024/25, prior to consideration by the Leader of the Council between 11 and 15 March 2024. The views of the Board will be reported to the Leader as part of his consideration of this report) Additional documents: Minutes: Consideration was given to a report by the Treasury Manager, which invited the Board to consider the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy for Treasury Investments 2024/25, as set out on pages 151-198 of the agenda pack. The Board were invited to consider and comment on the report, prior to consideration by the Leader of the Council (Executive Councillor – Resources, Communications and Commissioning) between 11 and 15 March 2024.
The Board welcomed Robert Baxter (Link Asset Services) to the meeting. The Board was advised that Link Asset Services were forecasting a drop in interest rates to 4.75% by September 2024, 4.25% by December 2024 and around 3% by September 2025. The forecast would be adjusted based on actual inflation rates.
In terms of the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy Statement, the Council’s internal borrowing position had increased to around 30%, which was in line with the position of other Link Asset Service’s clients and was sustainable in terms of the Council’s cash position.
In terms of borrowing, the Council was due to borrow £22.5m in 2024/25, which would depend on factors such as capital expenditure and investment balances, which were likely to drop over the year, meaning the portfolio duration would reduce. This was in line with Link Asset Service’s interest rates forecasts.
Link Asset Services were of the view that the proposed Treasury Management Statement and Strategy would serve the Council well and was fit for purpose.
The Board were satisfied with the proposed strategy and supported the recommendations to the Leader of the Council, as set out at Appendix A to the report.
RESOLVED:
1. That the recommendations to the Leader of the Council, as set out at appendix A to the report, be supported. 2. That a summary of the comments made be passed on to the Leader of the Council as part of his consideration of the report.
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Update Report - Lincolnshire Public Law PDF 157 KB (To receive a report from Will Bell, Chief Legal Officer, which provides an update on the progress of the creation of the legal services company, Lincolnshire Public Law) Minutes: Consideration was given to a report by Will Bell, Chief Legal Officer, which provided an update on the creation of the legal services company, Lincolnshire Public Law (LPL), as set out at pages 199-201.
During the discussion the following points were recorded:
RESOLVED:
That satisfaction be recorded with the progress made in relation to the setting up of Lincolnshire Public Law. |
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Scrutiny Committee Work Programmes PDF 282 KB (To receive a report which sets out the work programmes of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee and the Public Protection and Communities Scrutiny Committee in accordance with the Board's agreed programme)
Minutes: Consideration was given to a report by the Chairman of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee, which set out the activity undertaken and planned work programme of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee, as set out on pages 206-208 of the agenda pack.
It was reported that the pre-decision scrutiny items on Gosberton House Academy, Minerva House Project and Primary School Mobile Replacement Team had been deferred from 19 April 2024 to 14 June 2024 due to a delay on final costings for each project.
Consideration was then given to a report by the Public Protection and Communities Scrutiny Committee which set out the activity undertaken and planned work programme of Public Protection and Communities Scrutiny Committee, as set out on pages 211 to 214 of the agenda pack. The Board were satisfied with the activity undertaken and planned work programme of both Committees.
RESOLVED:
1.That thanks be recorded for the detailed reports; 2.That satisfaction of the work undertaken by the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee and Public Protection and Communities Scrutiny Committee be recorded; That the work programmes of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee and the Public Protection and Communities Scrutiny Committee be endorsed. |
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Overview and Scrutiny Management Board Work Programme PDF 204 KB (To receive a report which enables the Board to note the content of its work programme for the coming year)
Minutes: RESOLVED:
That the report be noted. |