Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from or on behalf of Councillors J L King and G A Porter.

To sign as a correct record the minutes of the meetings held on 27 November 2019 and 17 December 2019  (copies enclosed).

DECISION:  

That the minutes of the meeting held on 27 November 2019 and 17 December 2019 be signed as a correct record.

COMMENT:

Minutes of the meeting held on 27 November 2019 – Holbeach and Spalding Town Improvement Works.  Councillor Alcock asked the Deputy Leader to ensure that the commitment to encourage Parish Councils to build up evidence by doing retails studies would not be lost.

The Executive Manager of Governance/Monitoring Officer advised this would be picked up as an action. 

(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.

There were none.

Councillor Lawton announced confirmation of a successful bid of over £14000 to the Cold Weather Fund.

There were none.

Question to:  Deputy Leader of the Council

Question from:  Councillor Alcock

Subject:  Vacant retail premises

Councillor Alcock asked the Deputy Leader whether SHDC was in contact with companies or letting agencies when retail premises become vacant with a view to the possibility of short term leases in order to encourage new businesses.

Councillor Worth agreed that SHDC will look into this and engage local members involvement, particularly in Holbeach.  SHDC recognises that this is a difficult time for retail and will provide support to local businesses with rate relief which many businesses are unaware of.

DECISION:

That the minutes be received.

DECISION:

That the minutes be received.

DECISION:

That the minutes be received.

DECISION:

That the minutes be received.

DECISION:

That the minutes be received.

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

a)    Local Council Tax Support Scheme 2020/21 – To seek Cabinet decision on the final proposals for the 2020/21 Council Tax Support scheme, to be presented to Council for approval on 22 January 2020 (Cabinet minute 58/19) (Cabinet agenda item 9)

DECISION:

1)    That the scheme be uprated and harmonised as appropriate to the DWP welfare reforms in Housing Benefit and the prescribed scheme for pensioners for 2020/21 and future years;

2)    That a link to the award of Universal Credit be introduced, removing the need for customers to make a separate application for Council Tax Support;

3)    That a £15 weekly (£65 monthly) tolerance rule for Universal Credit customer change in earnings be introduced; and

4)    That the delegation be agreed to the Executive Director Commercialisation in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, to approve the final scheme policy in line with the report.

DECISION:

That the Key Decision Plan be received.

To submit the Independent Remuneration Panel’s recommendations for allowances for 2019-2023 (Report of the Independent Remuneration Panel enclosed).

The Council considered the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel setting out its recommendations for allowances for 2019-2023.

Members considered the recommendations put before them and decided that it was not appropriate to take an increase in their remuneration in the current financial climate.

DECISION:

1)    That the Council freezes allowances at their current rates.

2)    That the Council continues to review changes to roles and responsibilities undertaken by Councillors.  Should there be significant changes, the Council will request the Independent Remuneration Panel to consider the impact of any such changes on Councillor Allowances.

To agree the recommendations following the review of Polling Districts and Polling Places within the South Holland Council area (Report of Returning Officer and Director of Place enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Returning Officer and Director of Place to agree the recommendations following the review of Polling Districts and Polling Places within the South Holland Council area.

DECISION(S):

1)           To adopt the Polling Districts and Polling Places as listed in Appendix 1 to this report, which include the following changes: -

a.               The creation of four new Polling Districts in Holbeach Town Parish Ward, HT1, HT2, HT3 and HT4 which replace existing Polling Districts SHD1, SHD2, SHD3 and SHD4, attached at Appendix 3;

b.           The creation of four new Polling Districts in Spalding Wygate Ward, SWG1, SWG2, SWG3 and SWG4 which replace the existing Polling Districts STD1, STD2 and STD3, attached at Appendix 2;

2)        To note that, by law, the location of Polling Stations is the responsibility of the Returning Officer and to note the locations determined by the Returning Officer as listed in Appendix 1 to this report, which includes the following changes: -

a.            To relocate the Polling Station for Polling District SDE Fleet South Parish from Giggles Galore to Gedney Hill Village Hall;

b.            To relocate the Polling Station for Polling District SGD2 Holbeach Hurn Parish from Holbeach Tigers Social Club to Holbeach Primary School, Boston Road;

c.            To relocate the Polling Station for Polling District SGD4 Holbeach Hurn Parish from Holbeach Bank Academy to Holbeach Bank Pavillion, Holbeach Bank Playing Field;

d.            To relocate the Polling Station for Polling District SHD3 Holbeach Town Parish from the Womans Institute Hall to the Reading Rooms, Holbeach; (Note: Woman’s Institute Hall to remain as polling station for Polling District HT2);

e.            To relocate the Polling Station for Polling District SHD4 Holbeach Town Parish from Holbeach Community Centre to Holbeach Primary School, Boston Road (Note: Holbeach Community Centre to remain as polling station for Polling District HT1);

f.             To relocate the Polling Station for Polling District SPD5 Spalding Monkshouse from Leiden Fields to Bromley Hall, Bourne Road;

g.            To relocate the Polling Station for Polling District SWG3 Spalding Wygate from Spalding Primary School, Woolram Wygate to Wygate Park Academy;

h.            To create a new Polling District SWG4 Spalding Wygate and new Polling Station at Wygate Park Academy.

To receive the Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire report (report by Councillor Scalese enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of Councillor Scalese to provide South Holland District Council with an update following the latest meeting of the Health Scrutiny for Lincolnshire Committee.

DECISION:

1)    That 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.

Notice of a Conservative group change to the membership of Planning Committee was received.  Councillor Reynolds would be replaced on the Committee by Councillor Beal.

DECISION:

That the changes to the membership of the Planning Committee be noted and updated.

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 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.

To sign as a correct record Restricted Minute number 81 of the meeting of South Holland District Council held on 27 November 2019 (copy enclosed).

Restricted Minute of Council Meeting held on 27 November 2019.  To sign as a correct record Restricted Minute number 81 of the meeting of South Holland District Council held on 27 November.

DECISION:

That the restricted minute of the Council Meeting held on 27 November 2019 be agreed.