Issue - meetings

To seek approval for the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership Sub-regional Strategy (report of the Assistant Director – Corporate enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Corporate which sought approval for the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership Sub-regional Strategy.

The Leader of the Council introduced the report which included the full Sub-regional Strategy at Appendix A, and the Sub-regional Strategy consultation findings at Appendix B.

DECISION:

That following consideration by Cabinet at its meeting on 7 November 2023:

a)    The Sub-regional Strategy at Appendix A be approved; and

b)    That the Sub-regional Strategy becomes a line of inquiry in the Partnership’s Annual Scrutiny.

To recommend to Council the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership Sub-regional Strategy (report of the Assistant Director – Corporate enclosed)

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Corporate which recommended to Council the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership Sub-regional Strategy.

The Leader presented the report, after which the following points were raised:

·       At Appendix B within the comments relating to Vision, members commented that they seemed to imply progressing with BBC and ELDC to a standalone unitary authority – was this the case?

o   The Leader commented that when the Partnership had been set up, there had always been the option in the future to investigate the possibilities of becoming one council if required.  This could provide many benefits and was an ambition laid out within the comments.

·       Members stated that the missions from central government were very ambitious- it was hoped therefore that issues such as digital connectivity and transport infrastructure could be progressed more quickly.  There was a need for considerable input in these areas.

·       At 2.6 within the covering report under feedback from the SHDC Joint Policy Development and Performance Monitoring Panel meeting of 11 October 2023, one of the responses to the feedback was ‘specific reference to parish councils removed in all three to avoid confusion’ – why was it believed that there would be confusion?

o   Officers advised that one of the other authority’s had requested it as it was felt that there was too much detail in the Strategy, that the number of Parish Councils was found elsewhere and that it was not relevant to the Strategy itself.  Consistency across all three authorities was required.  

DECISION:

That Cabinet agree to recommend to Council:

1)    That the Sub-regional Strategy at Appendix A be agreed, subject to any final consultation feedback as agreed by the Leader as portfolio holder; and

2)    That the Sub-regional Strategy becomes a line of inquiry in the Partnership’s Annual Scrutiny.

(Other options considered:

·       Do nothing.  It had already been agreed by councillors, via the Annual Delivery Plan, that a Sub-regional Strategy for the Partnership should be developed.  As such, this option was discounted.

Reasons for decision:

·       The opportunity to align strategic priorities across the Councils through a single Sub-regional Strategy provided a Partnership platform to further realise the benefits of collaborative working;

·       Having the single Strategy would demonstrate to external partners our alignment in key areas and collective focus on addressing the issues of strategic importance to our sub-region.  This would be particularly helpful when engaging with Government and funders.) 

To seek comments on the emerging South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership Sub-regional Strategy (report of the Assistant Director – Corporate enclosed).

Appendix A to follow.

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Corporate which sought comments on the emerging South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership Sub-regional Strategy.

The Group Manager – Insights and Transformation presented the report.

The Joint Panel considered the report and presentation, and the following points were raised:

• Members noted that all markets within the District should be improved as part of the plan, not just Spalding’s, as the Plan indicated.
  • The Leader confirmed that this was the intention and that the wording would be amended to reflect this point.
• Members asked whether the number of Parish Councils in South Holland could be added to the document as this information was listed for Boston and East Lindsey.
  • The Group Manager – Insights and Transformation confirmed that this information would be added in.
• Members felt that some of the missions listed within the covering report, particularly in relation to transport and digital connectivity were too ambitious for South Holland.
  • The Leader stated that these were part of the national missions laid out by the government within the Levelling Up White Paper and were not therefore specific targets for South Holland.
  • He did note that since the inception of the partnership, there had been positive progress on a number of issues and that a lot of local knowledge had gone into creating the sub-regional strategy.
• Members noted that the desire for more self-service access for customers as part of the Customer Experience Strategy required further work to get a common system to be used across all three councils.
  • The Leader confirmed that this was a major consideration, and that a plan was currently being developed.

AGREED:

That the Committee’s comments be noted to support the development of the emerging South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership Sub-regional Strategy.