Agenda and minutes

The Chairman/Monitoring Officer will invite nominations for the election of a Chairman for the ensuing year.

The Monitoring Officer invited nominations for the election of Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year. Councillor F Biggadike was nominated and seconded.

DECISION:

That Councillor F Biggadike be elected as Chairman for the ensuing year.

The Chairman will invite nominations for the election of a Vice-Chairman.

The Monitoring Officer invited nominations for the appointment of a Vice Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year. Councillor P Redgate was nominated and seconded.

DECISION:

That Councillor P Redgate be appointed as Vice-Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.

Following the results for the election of the Vice-Chairman, the acting Chairman, Vice Chairman Councillor Paul Redgate, made the following announcement:

“Unfortunately due to his recent illness the Chairman is unable to attend Council this evening and I would like to pass on our best wishes and a speedy recovery on behalf of all the members and officers and we look forward to seeing him back and in good spirits in the future.

Before we get into the official agenda for today’s meeting, it is important that we pause to note that today is the last full council meeting to be attended by our current Chief Executive, before she departs the organisation.

As many of you will be aware, Anna has been at the helm of South Holland – and of course our partner council, Breckland – for the last six and a half years.

It has been a period in which we have made huge progress, enhanced our reputation as a financially-prudent council, but also made huge in-roads in developing further support for local businesses and some of the district’s most vulnerable residents – most notably over the past six months with COVID.

As Vice-Chairman of the council, I’d like to take this opportunity to formally thank you Anna for your dedication and stewardship, and wish you all the very best in what lies ahead.”

The acting Chairman led a round of applause for the Chief Executive.

Apologies were received from or on behalf of P E Coupland, M Hasan, M D Seymour and D J Wilkinson.

To sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 29 July 2020 (copy enclosed).

That the minutes of the meeting held on 29 July 2020 be signed as a correct record as soon as reasonably practical after the meeting.

(Where a Councillor has a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest the Councillor must declare the interest to the meeting and leave the meeting 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 acting Chairman, Vice-Chairman Councillor Paul Redgate, wished good health to the Chairman.

The Leader of the Council announced interim measures following the departure of the Chief Executive. Both SHDC and BDC would be looking at bringing in an external consultant on a part-time temporary basis in order to assist both Councils with regard to Local Government reorganisation and Covid arrangements.  This is in addition to the current arrangements already in place for Place based teams to supervise both Councils.

Additionally, the Leader made an announcement relating to changes of his Cabinet. It was as follows:

·         Lord Porter, Councillor Worth, Councillor Coupland, Councillor Taylor, Councillor Lawton, Councillor Gambba-Jones and Councillor Casson  would remain.  Councillor Sneath, Councillor Grocock and Councillor Drury would be coming in and Councillor Carter would be leaving.

·         There would still be 4 Executive Support Members. These were; Councillor Astill (remaining), Councillor Beal, Councillor Reynolds and Councillor Pepper would be coming in and Councillor McLean would be leaving.

Councillor Worth announced that Grants for Growth (established 2017) had celebrated their 200^th grant claim from a Spalding based recycling business called Harken who have just bought an automated baler machine. 

Over the years Grants for Growth have approved grants for over £2.1m and have brought in capital investments in machinery for over £9m. 

Councillor Worth encouraged small and medium sized business to apply for grants through the Grants for Growth website.

There were none.

Question to:  Portfolio Holder for Place

Question from:  Councillor Newton

Subject:  Garden waste and brown bins

Councillor Newton asked the Portfolio Holder if there was confirmation to expand the current service for residents due to popular interest and a large waiting list.

Councillor Gambba-Jones agreed that it was encouraging that residents were keen to participate in the scheme and that work was currently being undertaken to assist in taking this forward.

Question to:  Leader of the Council

Question from:  Councillor Brewis

Subject:  Covid-19 health statistics in the district and parking charges

Councillor Brewis made a comment to the Leader regarding the encouragingly low health statistics in the District related to Covid-19.  He also remarked on the increase in car parking charges for the markets in the District which may be deterring shoppers as opposed to the free car parking made available to residents in neighbouring Fenland District Council.

The Leader agreed with Councillor Brewis that the District health statistics are extremely low compared to neighbouring districts which was good news.  He commented that car parks within South Holland District are still full of cars which would suggest that shoppers have not been deterred by parking charges.

Question to:  Portfolio Holder for Place

Question from:  Councillor Booth

Subject:  Fly tipping

Councillor Booth asked the Portfolio Holder if consideration could be given to alternative Saturday collections in order to reduce the incidents of fly tipping.

Councillor Gambba-Jones reminded Council that the alternative Saturday collections were previously carried out by SHDC on behalf of Lincolnshire County Council in order to compensate for the distance from the household waste and recycling centre in Spalding.  This service was eventually withdrawn as a budgetary consideration and should it be reintroduced the cost would fall to the council tax payers of SHDC.

Question to:  Portfolio Holder for Place

Question from:  Councillor Alcock

Subject:  Litter pick for A16 Spalding to Crowland

Councillor Alcock commented on the amount of waste along the A16 and whether a litter pick could be arranged should it be the responsibility of SHDC.

Councillor Gambba-Jones agreed with Councillor Alcock that the littering along the A16 is a problem and that the safety of staff litter picking along an A road was a consideration.  Another council lost a member of staff in an incident when the refuse collection lorry used to protect litter pickers was hit by an HGV which in turn crushed the staff member.  That council thought that the HGV would be solely responsible however the council (ultimately the tax payer) was prosecuted for not adequately protecting the staff member and were sued for over £2m.  At the time of this incident, SHDC suspended a similar operation and sought assistance through a third party contractor at a cost of approximately £20k which are deployed approximately 3 to 4 times a year. 

Councillor Alcock asked if the Portfolio Holder could advise when the last litter pick occurred and Councillor Gambba-Jones agreed to provide a report to all Members to that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

To consider recommendations of the Cabinet in respect of:

2019/20 Financial Outturn – To provide information on the outturn financial position of the Council as at 31 March 2020 (Cabinet agenda item 7)

Consideration was given to the recommendations of the Cabinet in respect of the 2019/20 Financial Outturn report which provided information on the outturn financial position of the Council as at 31 March 2020 (Considered at Cabinet on 15 September 2020, Cabinet agenda item 7)

DECISION:

a)    That the net General Fund overspend of £218k be funded from the Council Tax Reserve;

b)    That the value of reserves listed in Appendix A – Table 4 currently retained in the reserves detailed, £234k, are re-assigned to an Earmarked reserves fund to ensure that those funds are clearly designated to the purpose listed;

c)    That the revised General Fund capital programme of £10.386m Appendix A – Table 7 and the revised HRA capital programme for 2020/21 of £12.077m Appendix A – Table 9 are approved.

To confirm, in accordance with the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990, appointments to committees and review of membership (Report of the Executive Manager Governance (Deputy Monitoring Officer) enclosed)

Consideration was given to the report of the Executive Manager Governance which sought to confirm, in accordance with the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990, appointments to Committees.

RECOMMENDATION 1:

Councillor Newton proposed an amendment to allow for Members to put forward alternatives and vote individually on Chairs and Vice-Chairs for each of the Committees and Panels to be amended as identified in the report.  Councillor Brewis seconded the proposal.

The Monitoring Officer advised that the amendment was not strictly an amendment but more of a matter on how to proceed with the vote.  The two options were to vote on the proposals as outlined in the report or to go through each Committee and Panel in order to allow alternatives to be put forward by Members.  Members agreed to proceed with the second option allowing Members to put forward alternatives for Chairs and Vice Chairs and vote on them individually.

·         Performance Monitoring Panel – proposals uncontested – carried

     Chairman - Councillor B Alcock, Vice-Chairman – Councillor M Booth.

·         Policy Development Panel – proposals uncontested – carried

Chairman – Councillor A Woolf, Vice-Chairman – Councillor G Scalese.

·         Governance & Audit Committee -  Councillor Newton proposed Councillor S Walsh as an alternative to Councillor J Astill for Vice-Chairman – Nomination for Councillor J Astill was carried (21 votes to 11 votes)

Chairman – Councillor T Carter, Vice-Chairman  - Councillor J Astill.

·         Planning Committee – Councillor Newton proposed Councillor B Alcock as an alternative to Councillor R Gambba-Jones for Vice-Chairman – Nomination for Councillor R Gambba-Jones was carried (18 votes to 11 votes)

Chairman – Councillor J Avery, Vice-Chairman – Councillor R Gambba-Jones

·         Licensing Committee and Committee of Licensing Authority – proposals uncontested – carried

Chairman – Councillor J Tyrrell, Vice-Chairman – Councillor P Redgate

DECISION:

1)    That the following Committees be appointed in accordance with political group regulations, and with the membership set out in the Appendix attached to these minutes:

·         Planning Committee;

o   Councillor A Woolf to replace Councillor F Biggadike

·         Governance and Audit Committee;

o   Councillors T Carter and J Astill to replace Councillors J Reynolds and E Sneath

·         Joint Appointments and Disciplinary Committee;

o   Councillor P Coupland to replace Councillor R Gambba-Jones

·         Joint Appointments and Disciplinary Appeal Committee;

o   No changes

·         Policy Development Panel;

o   Councillors A Beal and G Scalese to replace Councillors H Drury and E Sneath

·         Performance Monitoring Panel;

o   Councillors T Carter and J Tyrrell to replace Councillors A Beal and R Grocock

·         Licensing Committee;

o   Councillor T Carter to come off this committee leaving a Conservative vacancy

·         Committee of the Licensing Authority.

o   Councillor T Carter come off this committee leaving a Conservative vacancy

2)    That Chairs and Vice-Chairs for the following committees be agreed, as above:

·         Performance Monitoring Panel

o   Chairman – Councillor B Alcock

o   Vice-Chairman – Councillor M Booth

·         Policy Development Panel

o   Chairman – Councillor A Woolf

o   Vice-Chairman – Council G Scalese

·         Governance and Audit Committee

o   Chairman –  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

This report requests that Council approve the appointment of an Independent person for standards of conduct issues affecting Council and Parish Council Members, in accordance with the requirements of Section 28(7) of the Localism Act 2011 (Report of the Executive Manager Governance (Deputy Monitoring Officer) enclosed)

Consideration was given to the report of the Executive Manager Governance which requested that the Council approve the appointment of an Independent person for standards of conduct issues affecting Council and Parish Council Members, in accordance with the requirements of Section 28(7) of the Localism Act 2011.

The Monitoring Officer offered his thanks to the outgoing Independent Person, Mr Tony Wicks, for his work since 2012.  Councillor Newton and Councillor Brewis also thanked Mr Wicks for his work serving the authority as the Independent Person.

DECISION:

That Mike Sofianos be appointed as “Independent Person” under Section 28(7) of the Localism Act 2011, until the annual Council meeting in May 2022.

To consider the Annual Treasury Management Review for 2019/20  

(Report of the Executive Director – Commercialisation (S151) enclosed)

Consideration was given to the report of the Executive Director Commercialisation (S151) which considered the Annual Treasury Management Review for 2019/20.

DECISION:

That the Council receives and approves the Annual Treasury Management Review 2019/20 as required by the Local Government Act 2003.

To report to Council reasons for urgency relating to a number of Non-Key Decisions, as required by the Council’s Constitution (Report of the Executive Manager Governance (Deputy Monitoring Officer) enclosed)

Consideration was given to the report of the Executive Manager Governance which reported to Council reasons for urgency relating to a number of Non-Key Decisions, as required by the Council’s Constitution.

DECISION:

That the information contained within 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.

The Monitoring Officer announced the following changes to current Outside Bodies appointments:

·         East Midlands Councils – Councillor Coupland replaces Councillor Taylor

·         South Holland Internal Drainage Board – Councillor Grocock appointed to the existing vacancy

·         Welland and Deepings Internal Drainage Board -  Councillor Avery  replaces Councillor Drury

DECISION:

That the proposed changes to current Outside Bodies appointments be agreed.

Councillor Redgate thanked the Members for affording the opportunity to chair the meeting.