Agenda and minutes

To sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 19 November 2014 (copy enclosed).

Members considered the minutes of the meeting held on 19 November 2014.

DECISION:

The minutes of the meeting were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chairman gave details of a number of civic events that he had attended.

Councillor Gambba-Jones reminded members that this would be the first year that the Council would not be leafleting every house regarding the change to Christmas and New Year recycling and rubbish collections.  The Council was instead conveying its message via the media, Parish Councils and members. 

Councillor Gambba-Jones also referred to an article in ‘The Voice’ by Lincolnshire County Councillor Reg Shore which quoted Councillor Gambba-Jones’ blog which had criticised the County Council for the removal of recycling credits.  The article in The Voice was inaccurate and disingenuous as it referred to the District Councils gaining financially from the new arrangements when it broad terms they would lose £0.5 million.  Councillor Gambba-Jones would be happy to produce details of the figures.

Committee of the Licensing Authority – 28 October 2014

DECISION:

That the minutes be received.

Performance Monitoring Panel – 25 November 2014

DECISION:

That the minutes be received.

Planning Committee – 26 November 2014

DECISION:

That the minutes be received.

(Note: Councillor Brewis wished it to be recorded in the minutes that the Vice-Chairman had done a very good job of chairing this long and complex Planning Committee meeting.)

There were no questions asked with notice under Council Procedure Rule 10.2.

Question to:             Question from:                    Subject:

Councillor Lawton   Councillor Newton              Gypsy and Traveller Site

Councillor Newton referred to the Key Decision Plan (Item 10 on the agenda) and to the proposed decision on awarding the works contract for the Spalding Gypsy and Traveller Site.  Councillor Newton said that the Council had been assured that work would not be going ahead on this site until the site at Holbeach had been finalised.

Councillor Lawton informed members that she would find out the latest position and circulate a response to members.

Question to:             Question from:                    Subject:

Councillor Lawton   Councillor Alcock                Gypsy and Traveller Site

Councillor Alcock asked when the work at the Spalding Gypsy and Traveller site was likely to be completed.  Councillor Lawton replied that the issues at the site concerned Highways and that the County Council were involved.  Councillor Lawton would keep Members informed of progress.

The meeting of Cabinet due to be held on 9 December 2014 was cancelled. The reports containing recommendations to Council that were due to be considered by Cabinet have been included as separate items on this agenda.

Members noted that the Cabinet meeting due to be held on 9 December 2014 had been cancelled.  Reports containing recommendations to Council that were due to be considered by Cabinet had been included as separate items on the agenda for this Council meeting.

Members gave consideration to the Key Decision Plan.

DECISION:

That the Key Decision Plan be received.

There were no items called in from Cabinet.

There were no issues arising from the Policy Development Panel and Performance Monitoring Panel.

There were no nominations for changes to Committee membership or other seats.

To review the Memorandum of Agreement between Breckland Council and South Holland District Council (report of the Executive Director (Place) is enclosed).

Council considered a report by the Executive Director (Place) which reviewed the Memorandum of Agreement between Breckland Council and South Holland District Council.

Members noted that on 1 April 2011, South Holland District Council and Breckland Council entered into a Memorandum of Agreement. The document set out the purpose and aims of the shared management arrangements and the terms on which the Councils had agreed to operate the arrangements.

The Memorandum of Agreement contained a provision obliging the two councils to conduct a review of the Agreement by the second anniversary of the date that the shared management arrangements became effective. The review was now overdue and a proposed revised Agreement was therefore brought to members for approval.

It was noted that there had been a number of amendments to the Memorandum of Agreement, though many of these were relatively minor.

DECISION:

1.    That the memorandum of agreement attached at Appendix A to the Executive Director (Place)’s report and as amended be approved; and

2.    That the shared management costs / savings at Appendix B to the Executive Director (Place)’s report be noted.

The report provides information on the draft year end financial position of the Council, as at 30 September 2014 and seeks approval for recommendations (joint report of the Deputy Leader / Portfolio Holder for Strategic Finance and Democratic Services and the Executive Director (Place) (S151) enclosed).

Consideration was given to the joint report of the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Finance and Democratic Services and the Executive Director (Place) (S151)  which provided information on the draft year end financial position of the Council, as at 30 September 2014 and sought approval of various  recommendations.  A copy of the Financial Report for the quarter ending 30 September 2014 was attached as Appendix 1 within the report.

DECISION:

1.    That the report and appendix 1 be noted;

2.    That the transfer of £20k from Parks and Open Spaces to the Organisational Development reserve be approved; and

3.    That the split of the ICT Strategy projects over specific projects be approved.

The report seeks a decision in respect of the Council’s 2015/16 Council Tax Support scheme (report of the Finance Manager is enclosed).

Members considered a report by the Finance Manager seeking a decision in respect of the 2015/16 Council Tax Support Scheme.

It was noted that the Local Council Tax Support (CTS) discount schemes replaced the previous national Council Tax Benefit (CTB) scheme from 1 April 2013.

South Holland District Council’s first local scheme in 2013/14 was redesigned to meet specified criteria that qualified for a one year special government transitional grant. This grant was not however made available in the second year, 2014/15, and following consultation and decision making process, at the meeting of Full Council in January 2014 it was decided to retain the core characteristics of the 2013/14 scheme, but reduce the level of support to working age claimants.

DECISION:

1)    That Council approves the continuation of the current Council Tax Support (CTS) scheme into 2015/16 with up-rating for working age claimants and compliance with the Prescribed Scheme Regulations:

i) protection for pensioners in line with legislative provision

ii) Protection for war widow(ers)

iii) Limit the level of CTS award to 75% of entitlement for those who do not fall in i) or ii) above; and

2)    That the delegation for developing the content of the final policy for the 2015/16 scheme to the Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, to ensure the policy reflects the latest information including prescribed scheme updates.

To consider South Holland District Council becoming a member of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership Company (report of the Economic Development Manager is enclosed).

Members considered a report by the Economic Development Manager seeking approval for South Holland District Council to become a member of the Greater Lincolnshire Enterprise Partnership (GLLEP) Company.

The Greater Lincolnshire Local Economic Partnership (GLLEP) was one of 39 business led public/private sector partnerships that was set by Government as a result of the Heseltine Review. Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) were expected to deliver growth by:

·         Setting strategic objective – The Strategic Economic Plan (SEP)

·         Coordinating delivery partnerships and

·         Administering growth related funding programmes

The GLLEP has now incorporated as a Company Limited by Guarantee.  This was primarily to give the GLLEP a legal status; to give directors protection and limit their liability and reputational risk, and to allow the LEP to act in this capacity, by developing funding bids in their own right.

There would be around 20 to 30 organisations that would be invited to become the initial members of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP Limited Company. The districts would be involved in the company as members. The liabilities and risk for members are quite limited compared to the Directors and was normal in companies limited by guarantee.

DECISION:

1.    That the Council signs up as a District member of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership Company Limited by Guarantee; and

2.    That Councillor Nick Worth, Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Localism and Big Society be the District’s representative for the GLEEP company.

To approve the release of £60,000 from the Crease Drove Ring-fenced fund  (joint report of the Deputy Leader of the Council / Portfolio Holder for Localism, Economic Development and Big Society and the Economic Development Manager is enclosed).

Consideration was given to the joint report of the Deputy Leader of the Council / Portfolio Holder for Localism, Economic Development and Big Society and the Economic Development Manager which sought approval of the release of £60,000 from the Crease Drove Ring-fenced fund to allow the South Holland Business Growth and Employment Project to be worked up to Royal Institute British Architects (RIBA) Stage 4.

In discussing this report a member, whilst supporting the proposal, commented that £60,000 was a large sum and asked the Portfolio Holder whether it provided value for money.  The Portfolio Holder informed the Council that he did believe that it provided value for money and would circulate to Members details of what was required by Stage 4 of RIBA.

DECISION:

1.    That £60,000 be released from the Creese Drove Ring-fenced fund to allow the project to be worked up to Royal Institute British Architects (RIBA) Stage 4.

To approve the final recommendations for the Community Governance Review of Gedney (report of the Democratic Services and Legal Manager is enclosed).

The Council received a report by the Democratic Services and Legal Manager seeking approval of the final recommendations for the Community Governance Review of Gedney.

Members noted that a Community Governance Review (CGR) was a legal process whereby Councils could create parish councils, review and change parish boundaries and in extreme cases, abolish parishes.  The Council must ensure that the community governance in the area under review reflected the identities and interests of the community in that area and was effective and convenient.

In April 2014, Gedney Parish Council expressed an interest in reducing their council size from 11 to 9 councillors due to the council not having had a full complement of councillors for a number of years due to the lack of candidates willing to join the council.

It was proposed to remove 2 seats – one from the North Ward and one from the South Ward prior to the next election in 2015.

A review of Gedney Parish Council was approved by full Council on 18 June 2014, following a request from Gedney Parish Council to reduce their council size from 11 to 9 Councillors.

The Council published the Terms of Reference and notified stakeholders and invited individual submissions from 1 July 2014.  No submissions were received. Draft recommendations were published and consulted on from 3 September 2014 until 4 October 2014. No responses were received.

DECISION:

1.    That the membership of Gedney Parish Council is reduced from 11 to 9 with effect from the next scheduled elections in May 2015; and

2.    That the number of seats of Gedney Parish Council will be made up of 4 seats representing the North Ward and 5 seats representing the South Ward.

Lincolnshire County Council Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire

Members considered a report by Councillor Brewis.  A question was raised regarding Clinical Commissioning Groups.  Councillor Brewis agreed to circulate to members, information about the structure of the groups.

DECISION:

That the report be noted.

There were none.