Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received on behalf of Councillors Coupland, King, Reynolds, Taylor and Wray

To sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 27 February 2019 (copy enclosed).

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting of the South Holland District Council held on 27 February 2019.

AGREED:

That the minutes be signed as a correct record

(Where a Councillor has a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest the Councillor must declare the interest to the meeting and leave the room without participating in any discussion or making a statement on the item, except where a Councillor is permitted to remain as a result of a grant of dispensation.)

There were none.

The Chairman wished to announce that this was his last meeting of Full Council as Chairman during the current administration. He wished to thank members for their support during his term. He also thanked the Vice Chairman for his work, as well as Officers who had shown professionalism and who had made his life as Chairman easier. Finally, he wished to thank his wife who had been of constant support to him in his duties as Chairman. He wished the next Chairman, whomever that may be, every success.

The Leader wanted to wish all members who were not standing in the upcoming election well in their future endeavours and wished all those who were standing luck with their campaigns. He also wished to thank all of those who had been involved in the royal visit by HRH the Duke of Kent.

Councillor Newton wished to thank the Chairman for his work. She also wished to make a special thanks to her fellow ward member who was not standing again, Councillor Aley, as well as Councillor Dark.

There were none.

Question to: Portfolio Holder for Growth and Commercialisation

Question from: Councillor Newton

Subject: Castle Sports Complex swimming pool

Councillor Newton asked when the pool would be made clean by the new provider, as the local press had raised concerns over its condition.

The Portfolio Holder for Growth and Commercialisation stated that he had visited the site since the handover to the new service provider and had been assured by the manager that a deep clean was on order and at the top of their agenda.

Question to: Portfolio Holder for Place

Question from: Councillor Booth

Subject: Bridge House at Sutton Bridge

Councillor Booth stated that the Bridge House at Sutton bridge was in a poor state of repair – so much so that it was now presenting a risk to safety. The Portfolio Holder for Place responded that the issue was complex, but that technically, the site was privately owned and from a building control position there was no infringement. However, the Council had been in contact with the owners, who had been receptive to requests to address the issues.

Question to: The Leader

Question from: Councillor Brewis

Subject: Community Centre on the Wygate estate

Councillor Brewis stated that he had heard that the new community centre was to be funded from budgets other than the Spalding Special Expenses, and he asked why this was the case.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Health responded that the developer of the site would be expected to fund the construction and subsequent management of the site.

Question to: Portfolio Holder for Housing and Health

Question from: Councillor Tennant

Subject: New Tenancy Agreement

Councillor Tennant asked if the Council Could simplify the language of the new tenancy agreement that had been distributed to all Council Tennants – he had been invited to read a copy by one of his constituents and had found it to be difficult to follow. The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Health responded that the wording was statutory in order to be compliant with regulations

Joint Performance Monitoring Panel and Policy Development Panel – 9 January 2019

DECISION:

That the minutes be received

Governance and Audit – 17 January 2019

DECISION:

That the minutes be received

Governance and Audit – 14 March 2019

DECISION:

That the minutes be received

To consider any recommendations of the Cabinet in respect of:

a)    ICT and Digital Strategy and Digital Work Programme 2019-2022 – To adopt the new ICT  and Digisital Strategy and recommend to Council the transfer of funds to ensure the delivery of the Digital Work Programme (Cabinet minute 82/18) (Cabinet agenda item 9)

b)    Future Occupancy of the South Holland District Council’s Office at Priory Road, Spalding - (Cabinet Minute 92/18) (Cabinet agenda item 21)

(Report of the Cabinet enclosed).

(Please note that some appendices associated with this report are not for publication by virtue of paragraph 3 (information relating to any individual, information which is likely  to reveal the identity of an individual and information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)) in Part 1 of Schedule 12a of the Local Government Act 1972, and are therefore attached at agenda item 19).

Consideration was given to the report of the Cabinet which sought approval for the Cabinet’s recommendations:

a)    ICT and Digital Strategy and Digital Work Programme 2019-2022 – To adopt the new ICT and Digital Strategy and recommend to Council the transfer of funds to ensure the delivery of the Digital Work Programme (Cabinet minute 82/18) (Cabinet agenda item 9)

b)    Future Occupancy of the South Holland District Council’s office at Priory Road, Spalding (Cabinet minute 92/18) (Cabinet agenda item 21)

ICT and Digital Strategy and Digital Work Programme 2019-2022

The Portfolio Holder for Strategy, Governance and Transformation introduced the report, stating that it had been to a Joint Panel of the Performance Monitoring Panel and Policy Development Panel as well as 3 separate member briefings.

Future Occupancy of the South Holland District Council’s Office at Priory Road, Spalding

It was agreed that further discussion and decision making on this part of the item would be deferred to closed session, under item 19 of the agenda.

DECISION:

a)    ICT and Digital Strategy and Digital Work Programme 2019-2022

1.           That in order to delivery the Digital Work Programme, a transfer of £331,613 from the Council’s investment and growth reserve be approved.

Consideration was given to the Key Decision Plan

DECISION:

That the Key Decision Plan be received.

To seek approval of the Gender Pay Gap report (report of the Portfolio Holder for Governance and Customer enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Portfolio Holder for Governance and Customer which sought the approval of the Gender Pay Gap report.

The Portfolio Holder for Governance and Customer introduced the report, stating that it was a legal requirement for all organisations with over 250 employees to produce an annual report highlighting any gender-based pay gap. South Holland District Council fell under the 250 employee requirement, but in the spirit of openness it was proposed that gender pay gap figures be published. The gender pay gap was 1.5%, with the average pay for women being the lower figure. According to information from the LGA, this figure was well below the average for Local Government Organisations.

DECISION:

That the Gender Pay Gap report be approved.

To seek approval of the Pay Policy Statement (report of the Portfolio Holder for Governance and Customer enclosed)

Consideration was given to the report of the Portfolio Holder for Governance and Customer which sought approval of the Pay Policy Statement.

The Portfolio Holder for Governance and Customer introduced the report, stating that, under the Localism Act, a published pay policy statement was a legal requirement.

DECISION:

That the Pay Policy Statement be approved.

To seek agreement to extend the Grants4growth project for a further 3 years and for the Chief Executive to be given delegated authority to sign the grant agreement once all necessary checks have been completed (report of the Portfolio Holder for Growth and Commercialisation enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Portfolio Holder for Growth and Commercialisation which sought agreement to extend the Grants4growth project for a further 3 years and for the Chief Executive to be given delegated authority to sign the grant agreement once all necessary checks were completed.

The Portfolio Holder for Growth and Commercialisation introduced the report, stating that the grants4growth scheme was on target to provide £1.1 million to local businesses in order to improve productivity and profitability to 169 companies. It was hoped that, by the end of March 2019, £1.325 million would have been committed to local businesses.

The Government had confirmed that it would underwrite European funded projects until 2022. The current 3 year project would, under these proposals, become a 6 year project ending in July 2022.

£1.6 million would be capital  for grant funding and on average would provide £10,000 per successful applicant. £4.3 million would be attracted in match funding.

DECISION:

That subject to the satisfactory completion of all necessary legal, constitutional and contractual checks, and any negotiation with the funding body that arise from those checks, that authority be delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Growth and Commercialisation, to approve the terms and conditions of the grant sought to support an extension of the Grants4Growth programme, in addition to the signing of the grant agreement.

To seek approval for the re-appointment of the Independent Person (report of the Executive Manager – Governance (Deputy Monitoring Officer) enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Executive Manager – Governance (Deputy Monitoring Officer) which sought approval of the re-appointment for  the Independent Person.

The Executive Manager – Governance introduced the report, stating that under the Localism Act, the Council was required to appoint an independent person. It was suggested that the current Independent Person be reinstated for a year. The shorter appointment was as a result of anticipated changes which would require shorter, fixed-term appointments for Independent Persons.

DECISION:

That the current Independent Person, Mr Tony Wicks, is reappointed for the period 16 May 2019 until the annual Council meeting on 13 May 2020.

Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire – February 2019

(Report of Councillor Brewis enclosed)

Consideration was given to the report of Councillor Brewis which sought to update the Council on the content and outcomes of the discussion at the previous meeting of the Health Scrutiny for Lincolnshire Committee, which was held in February 2019.

Councillor Brewis introduced the report, stating that an emergency care unit nearby was now a serious consideration whereas beforehand it had been expected that this wouldn’t be considered.

DECISION:

That the contents of the report be noted.

To receive, from political groups, nominations for any changes to Committees and other seats and to consider any proposed changes to the Constitution.

There were none.

There were none.

To consider resolving that, under section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12 (A) of the Act.

DECISION:

That, under section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12 (A) of the Act.

Agenda item 9 refers

Consideration was given to the report of the Portfolio Holder for Governance and Customer which sought approval for recommendations of the Cabinet in respect of Future Occupancy of the South Holland District Council’s office at Priory Road, Spalding (Cabinet minute 92/18) (Cabinet agenda item 21)

The Portfolio Holder for Strategy, Governance and Transformation introduced the report. The report had been seen by Cabinet and Council’s approval was sought due to the impact upon the budget framework

DECISION:

a)    That a provisional sum of up to £10,000 from the Growth and Investment Reserve toward the costs associated with moving staff currently occupying space at South Holland District Council offices, be approved; and

b)    That a budget of £82,000 capital contribution towards the cost of undertaking works required prior to taking occupancy and which will be recovered through the resulting leasehold agreement with the party identified in the report, be approved.