Agenda and minutes

To sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 28 September 2022 (copy enclosed).

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting of Full Council held on 28 September 2022.

As no discussion was required on the exempt minutes from the meeting on 28 September 2022, it was agreed that these could also be signed at this stage in the meeting.

DECISION:

That both the open and exempt minutes of the meeting of Full Council on 28 September 2022 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 Vice-Chairman made the following announcement on behalf of the Chairman:

The Chairman’s Charity Quiz Night which had been held on 10 November 2022 had raised £657 for his charity, MIND.  The Democratic Services Team were congratulated on winning the event this year.

The Leader had no announcements to make.

The Portfolio Holder – Corporate and Communications announced that the review of the Corporate directorate, and the associated staff consultation had been completed.  The new structure had taken effect from 28 September 2022.

The following question was received from Councillor R Gibson:

In June this year, Councillor Newton and I met the Portfolio Holder responsible for garden waste at the Spalding site.  We wanted to ask why we often have a long tail back of residents waiting to tip waste at our Spalding site.  We looked at various road issues including opening up more land, different lane uses, road entry points and common trends.

The manager of the site informed us that one issue stood out amongst any others and if that was resolved we would have very little problem at Spalding recycling centre.

The chart below shows how many tonnes of green waste is delivered to Spalding per month.  We are over double the amount of Grantham and Boston, 4 times more than Sleaford.

I know we are expanding our green waste provision, will we get to a position where we can cover most of South Holland with this service, if so do you know how long that would take please?

The following response was provided by the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services:

South Holland’s Garden Waste Collection Scheme has grown in popularity and in success since it commenced in 2016, expanding into more collection vehicles and areas around the district. Following the Council decision of 19^thJanuary 2022, and the agreement to expand the service into its third truck, a targeted campaign of selling has continued our expansion success and the subscriptions have doubled since September 2020, with now over 12,000 subscribers in the scheme.

The service is currently undertaking the re-routing project agreed at the same Council meeting, which will enable the scheme to reach more areas of the district. Currently there are around 120 people on the register for new areas that are interested in being part of the expanded scheme. Once this routing work has been completed, expected by Q2 of 2023/24, we will be able to offer subscriptions to more parts of the district and urge anyone interested in being included, to register via the website.

The above information was provided to members in printed form at the meeting.

No further supplementary question was asked.

The Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services thanked Councillor Gibson for the question.  In his view there was a need to qualify the issue of the discrepancy in the numbers provided within the table included as part of the question.  He was of the opinion that the data provided by Lincolnshire County Council with regard to garden waste was incorrect.  His view was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64.

Question to:  Councillor Alcock

Question from: Councillor Grocock

Subject:  Spalding Town Centre – Pigeons and untidy areas around vacant business premises

Councillor Alcock commented that the issues of the mess created by pigeons, and the untidy state of empty business premises in Spalding town centre had been raised at a previous meeting of Council.  He asked for an update on the situation and asked how these areas could be cleaned up.  Councillor Grocock responded that since fences had been erected around the planters in Hall Place, the pigeons had dispersed as they were now not being fed.  He stated that he would pick up the remaining issues raised with the Assistant Director – Strategic Growth and Development and the Town Centre Improvement Plan Coordinator as part of the work of the Spalding Town Centre Improvement Committee.

To receive the minutes of the following Committees and Panels:-

Performance Monitoring Panel - 14 September 2022

Governance and Audit Committee - 22 September 2022

Policy Development Panel - 4 October 2022

Planning Committee - 5 October 2022

Performance Monitoring Panel - 19 October 2022

Planning Committee – 9 November 2022

The minutes of the following Committees and Panels were noted:

·         Performance Monitoring Panel – 14 September 2022

·         Governance and Audit Committee – 22 September 2022

·         Policy Development Panel – 4 October 2022

·         Planning Committee – 5 October 2022

·         Performance Monitoring Panel – 19 October 2022

·         Planning Committee – 9 November 2022

Consideration was given to the Key Decision Plan.

DECISION:

That the Key Decision Plan be noted.

To consider the recommendations of the Cabinet in respect of:

a)    UK Shared Prosperity Funding and Rural England Prosperity Funding – To seek agreement to recommendations necessary to progress the delivery of South Holland District Council’s UKSPF programme, and progress decisions required to secure the Council’s Rural England Prosperity Funding (Cabinet minute 46) (Cabinet agenda item 8).

b)    South and East Lincolnshire Community Safety Strategy – To consider the South and East Lincolnshire Community Safety Strategy 2022 – 25 prior to adoption (Cabinet minute 47) (Cabinet agenda item 9)

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

UK Shared Prosperity Funding and Rural England Prosperity Funding

The Portfolio Holder for People, Places and Economy presented the report.

Members noted that Parish Councils would have the opportunity to access the funding and asked whether other community groups would also be provided with assistance.  It was confirmed that this was likely to be the case.

In response to a question on what the timescale for workshops would be, members were advised that this was currently being drawn up and relevant bodies would be advised in due course.

DECISIONS:

a)    That, subject to Government approval, Full Council agree receipt of the 2022/23 £328,822 grant funding, and the creation of a budget for 22/23 for use in accordance with the UKSPF investment plan; and

b)    That delegated authority be given to the Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Deputy Leader, Council to enter into the grant agreement.

South and East Lincolnshire Community Safety Strategy

The Portfolio Holder for People, Places and Economy presented the report.

The following points were raised:

·         Members asked whether there were any proposals for any satellite offices in outlying areas beyond the main towns in the district.  These areas suffered from much anti-social behaviour with issues around the availability of the police to respond to them. The Portfolio Holder responded that the report contained a high-level strategy and that the action plan coming forward would concentrate on the priorities. Officers also advised that these concerns would be raised with the local inspector and the Police Crime Commissioner.

·         Members requested that under the ‘How you can help us’ section of the Strategy, contact details to report anti-social behaviour be added.  Officers confirmed that this could be included.

·         Members raised issues with regard to road safety concerns.  The Portfolio Holder advised that the Community Safety Partnership met regularly and any concerns could be raised there to be escalated to the relevant body.  It was also noted that road safety matters were the prime focus of the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership.

DECISIONS:

a)    That the contents of the report and the work of partners in addressing crime and disorder in South and East Lincolnshire and Lincolnshire as a whole be noted;

b)    That the Community Safety Strategy and identified priorities for the SELCSP be adopted for the period 2022-25.

c)    That delegated authority be provided to the Deputy Chief Executive (Communities) to finalise with the relevant Portfolio Holders a programme for the development of a Community Safety Action Plan.

To seek Council’s approval for revised HR Policies (report of the Assistant Director – Corporate enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Corporate which sought Council’s approval for revised HR Policies.

DECISION:

That the HR polices appended to the report be approved.

To report to Council reasons for urgency relating to a Non-Key Decision, as required by the Council’s Constitution (report of the Assistant Director – Governance (Monitoring Officer) enclosed). 

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Governance (Monitoring Officer) which reported to Council the reason for urgency relating to a Non-Key Decision, 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.

Following the passing of Councillor A Newton, a vacancy had arisen as a Company Director on the board of Public Sector Partnership Services (PSPS) Ltd.

It was proposed and seconded that Councillor C J T H Brewis be appointed as Company Director for PSPS Ltd.

DECISION:

That the appointment of Councillor Brewis as Company Director to the board of PSPS Ltd be approved.

To provide South Holland District Council with an update following the latest meeting of the Health Scrutiny for Lincolnshire Committee (report of Councillor Glynis P Scalese enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of Councillor Scalese in respect of Health Scrutiny for Lincolnshire.

DECISION:

That the report be noted.

To seek a decision on whether the authority should purchase 38 S106 affordable homes from the developer of a site in Weston (report of the Assistant Director – Strategic Growth and Development)

The Vice-Chairman advised that this item had been withdrawn.

There were none.