Agenda and draft minutes

The Chairman / Monitoring Officer will invite nominations for the election of a Chairman for the ensuing year.  A Chairman will then be elected and sign the declaration of acceptance of office.

Prior to the election of Chairman, the outgoing Chairman thanked Councillors for their support during his two year Chairmanship.  He announced that over the two year period, a total of £21,065.94 has been raised for his Chairman’s charities – Blood Cancer UK and Mencap. 

The outgoing Chairman invited nominations for the election of Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.

Councillor J Whitbourn and Councillor M Le Sage were both nominated and seconded and following a vote, Councillor Whitbourn was appointed as Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.

DECISION:

That Councillor J Whitbourn be elected as Chairman for the ensuing year.

(Councillor J Whitbourn thereupon took the Chair and signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.)

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

The Chairman invited nominations for the appointment of a Vice-Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year. 

Councillor A Harrison and Councillor M Le Sage were both nominated and seconded and following a vote, Councillor Harrison was appointed as Vice-Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.

DECISION:

That Councillor A Harrison be appointed as Vice-Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.

(Councillor Harrison thereupon signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office).

To sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 27 February 2025 (copy enclosed).

Consideration was given to the minutes of the Full Council held on 27 February 2025.

DECISION:

That the minutes of the meeting of Full Council held on 27 February 2025 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 thanked the past Chairman for all his hard work during his two year tenure, and also congratulated him on the monies raised towards his charities.

She stated that it was an honour to be elected to the role of Chairman, that she would work hard for the District over the next year and was determined to continue raising the profile of the Authority.

The Chairman announced that she intended to support the following charities – Spalding Lions Club, Spalding Round Table; and Spalding United Youth Football Team.

The Leader made the following announcements:

·         He wished to congratulate those recently elected as County Councillors to Lincolnshire County Council in the recent LCC elections.  He hoped that all councillors could work together to support the South Holland area, and the Local Government Reorganisation proposals.

·         He advised that Councillor Carter would be standing down as the PSPS Shareholder representative.  She would be replaced in this role by Councillor Redgate.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate, Governance, Communications and Environmental Services made the following announcements:

·         He reminded members of the forthcoming Member Briefing on Waste Services Proposals – this would be held in person to support an effective discussion.

·         Garden waste – In response to a question raised at the last Council meeting around waiting lists for garden waste bins, he advised that residents on the list had been contacted and offered the service, that there was no longer a waiting list, and that the service was currently at capacity.

·         The Portfolio Holder congratulated the Democratic Services Team on running the recent LCC elections for the local area, and also the Assistant Director – Corporate in his first outing in the role of Returning Officer. 

The Portfolio Holder for Community Development provided an update on the Castle Sports Centre.  He advised that early works were underway on site, such as surveying and trenching, with minimal disruption to users.  The dry side work at the site was scheduled to start in September with a move to the site at Red Lion Street site while work was underway.  An opening of the new facilities in 2027 was anticipated.  He also advised that a Briefing would be provided to Councillors to ask questions of the Project Team – its officers were drawing together all details so that full answers could be provided to  questions.

There were none.

Question to: Councillor Worth

Question from: Councillor Barnes

Subject: Portfolio Holder updates

Councillor Barnes understood that the Leader had advised that a short update report was to be provided by each Portfolio Holder to Council meetings.  When would these be available?  Councillor Worth responded that these reports would be forthcoming to each Council meeting and that this would start from the next Council meeting on 23 July 2025. 

Question to: Councillor Casson

Question from: Councillor Booth

Subject: Fly tipping

Councillor Booth raised the potential dangers of fly tipping in rural areas, stating that glass bottles left near dry grass in fields was a potential fire risk.  Was the Authority undertaking a campaign to stop fly tipping and raising these issues, and could the Recycling Centre in Spalding be open for longer to assist in the fight against fly tipping?  Councillor Casson responded that the Recycling Centre was run by Lincolnshire County Council and that longer opening hours would help  - he fully supported longer opening hours.   With regard to awareness campaigns, there was already good coverage but he would request more media output in this area.  With regard to fines, those that were caught fly tipping would be fined.  Following some work undertaken on environmental crime and the Kingdom Contract by a joint scrutiny task group, consideration was being given to proposals with a view to increasing fines and bringing them in line across all three authorities.

Question to: Councillor Taylor

Question from: Councillor M Le Sage

Subject: Use of outdoor space at Castle Sports Complex

Councillor M Le Sage asked why, in light of no building work commencing until September, the outdoor space at the Castle Sports Complex could not have been used for the local Beer Festival and Flower Festival.  Councillor Taylor explained that although work on the site had first been announced two years ago, it would not have been known when planning permission would be considered and granted.  Some work had already started on the site which made it unviable to hold events there, and there were other sites in Spalding that could be used and should be developed going forward.

Question to: Councillor BIngham

Question from: Councillor Eldridge

Subject: Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) under second stage of consultation process – response

Councillor Eldridge commented that there were currently four NSIPs at the second stage of their consultation processes.  Could a combined statement be sent to the Secretary of State to reflect the Authority’s views?  Councillor Bingham responded that the Council had sought outside assistance to deal with these hugely complex projects in order to ensure that the best and most detailed responses could be given in the interests of residents. This was being paid for , in most cases, by an extra charge to the developer.  The Portfolio Holder had attended the online consultation the previous evening for two of these projects and had not been impressed – all questions had to be in writing, no conversation on points was allowed and questions  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

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

a)    Governance and Audit Committee - 30 January 2025

b)    Planning Committee - 5 February 2025

c)     Policy Development Panel - 11 February 2025

d)    Planning Committee - 4 March 2025

e)    Performance Monitoring Panel - 12 March 2025

f)      Governance and Audit Committee - 20 March 2025

g)    Planning Committee - 2 April 2025

The minutes of the following Committees and Panels were noted:

·       Governance and Audit Committee – 30 January 2025

·       Planning Committee – 5 February 2025

·       Policy Development Panel – 11 February 2025

·       Planning Committee – 4 March 2025

·       Performance Monitoring Panel – 12 March 2025

·       Governance and Audit Committee – 20 March 2025

·       Planning Committee – 2 April 2025

To consider the recommendations of the Cabinet in respect of:

·       2024/25 Quarter Three Finance update

(report of the Cabinet enclosed).

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

2024/25 Quarter Three Finance update

The Portfolio Holder for Finance presented the report which had been presented and discussed fully at Cabinet.

DECISION:

1)    That the Capital Programme at Appendix A (to the Cabinet report) – Table 4b be amended to take into account the changes set out in the Cabinet report;

2)    That the Capital Programme at Appendix A (to the Cabinet report) – Table 5A be amended to take into account the changes set out in the Cabinet report.

Consideration was given to the Key Decision Plan.

DECISION:

That the Key Decision Plan be noted.

To provide a six monthly update on Partnership performance (report of the Assistant Director – Corporate enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Corporate which provided a six monthly update on Partnership performance.

The Leader of the Council presented the report.

DECISION:

·         That progress of the Alignment and Delivery Plan (section 2) be noted;

·         That the Performance Framework 2025/26 (section 3) be noted;

·         That the updates from the Priority Partnerships (section 4) be noted;

·         That the Partnership Scrutiny update (section 5) be noted.

To report on 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.

a)    To confirm in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990 the allocation of committee seats to political groups and to agree a reduction in the number of Committee seats subject to a further report to Full Council; b) To confirm in accordance with the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990, appointments to committees and outside bodies and to review membership; c) To agree the 2025/26 Schedule of meetings; and d) To appoint a second Independent Person (report of the Assistant Director – Governance (Monitoring Officer) enclosed).

(Appendices A and B to follow).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Governance (Monitoring Officer), the purpose of which was: a) To confirm in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990, the allocation of committee seats to political groups and to agree a reduction in the number of Committee seats subject to a further report to Council; b) To confirm in accordance with the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990, appointments to committees and outside bodies and to review membership; c) To agree the 2025/26 Schedule of Meetings; and d) To appoint a second Independent Person.

The Assistant Director – Governance (Monitoring Officer) presented the report. 

In an amendment to Appendix B, it was clarified that Councillor D Wilkinson would not be proposed as a member of the Policy Development Panel.

Members considered the report and the following issues were raised:

·         Concerns was raised by a number of members regarding the proposal to reduce the number of seats on the Performance Monitoring Panel, Policy Development Panel, Planning; and Licensing Committee/Committee of the Licensing Authority.  Particular concern was raised regarding the reduction in numbers on the Planning Committee and members asked for the reasons behind the proposal.

o   The Leader responded that a reduction in numbers would result in greater flexibility for members as they would not need to be appointed to as many committees, and it would also allow for greater flexibility in appointing members with particular skills to specific committees.  With regard to Planning in particular, ward member could always attend to raise specific issues in their ward.

In accordance with Standing Order 16 (paragraph 16.3) of Part 4A of the Constitution (Procedural Standing Orders), a recorded vote on recommendation 5 was agreed and undertaken.  The vote was as follows:

DECISIONS:

1)    That the Council approves that the following Committees be appointed to in accordance with political proportionality legislation and approves the committee sizes and allocation of seats as detailed in Appendix A:

·         Performance Monitoring Panel;

·         Policy Development Panel;

·         Licensing Committee;

·         Chief Officer Employment Panel

·         Chief Officer Employment Appeals Panel

·         Standards Panel;

2)    That the Council approves that the following Committees be appointed to without being politically balanced and approves the committee sizes and allocation of seats as detailed in Appendix A:

·         Planning Committee;

·         Governance and Audit Committee;

·         Committee of the Licensing Authority;

·         Appeals Panel;

·         Settlements Agreements Sub-Committee;

·         Independent Panel

3)    That the Councillor Development Working Group be re-appointed to, reflecting cross  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

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.  Appointments to Committees and Outside Bodies had been dealt with during the previous item.

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

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

DECISION:

That the report be noted.

There were none.