Agenda

To sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 13 May 2026 (enclosed).

(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.)

To note Portfolio Holder updates on work being undertaken within each of their Portfolios (report of the Leader enclosed).

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

a)    Planning Committee – 29 April 2026

b)    Special Joint Performance Monitoring Panel and Policy Development Panel – 19 May 2026

c)    Performance Monitoring Panel – 26 May 2026

d)    Policy Development Panel – 2 June 2026

To consider the recommendations of the Cabinet in respect of:

·            Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF) Round 4 for the provision of Temporary and Resettlement Homes; and

·            2025/26 Draft Outturn Finance Report

(report of the Cabinet enclosed).

The following motion has been received under Standing Order 8:

Motion:Objection to the Proposed Booking System at Spalding HWRC

Proposed by: Cllr Paul Barnes       

Seconded by: Cllr Gary Taylor

1.    The Council Notes:

·         That Lincolnshire County Council is considering an appointment-only booking system at its Household Waste Recycling Centres, including the Spalding site on West Marsh Road.

·         That South Holland District Council’s transition to wheelie bins includes a strict "no side waste" policy, meaning any waste left outside or next to bins will be refused.

·         That the Spalding Recycling Centre currently operates on a highly restricted 5-day schedule, opening only on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday from 08:00 to 16:00, while remaining entirely closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

2. The Council Believes that:

·         Digital Exclusion Barrier: An online-only or app-based booking system creates an unfair barrier for elderly residents, vulnerable individuals, and those without reliable internet access or smartphones, locking them out of an essential public utility.

·         Unfair to Working Residents: An appointment system is deeply unfair to fulltime employees, tradespeople, and shift workers who require flexibility to visit the tip when their unpredictable work schedules allow, rather than planning days in advance.

·         Compounding Waste Pressures: The "no side waste" policy leaves residents with zero flexibility for excess household refuse, directly forcing them to transport it to the Spalding tip themselves.

·         Flawed Council Logic: It is entirely contradictory to restrict roadside collections while simultaneously restricting tip access via an artificial, digitally exclusive booking barrier.

·         Surge in Environmental Crime: Blocking tip access while banning side waste creates a perfect storm for a severe spike in local fly-tipping, costing taxpayers more in clean-up fees.

·         We recommend that the LCC makes all HWRC sites a top priority and increases investment into these resources.

·         The Solution is Expanded Access: To cope with the inevitable surge in resident-led drop-offs, the Spalding HWRC must expand its capacity by opening 7 days a week from 08:00 to 18:00.

·         Cost-Neutral Staffing Plan: This extended service can be achieved without increasing headcount or requiring additional staff budget by introducing a modern, efficient shift rotation system for existing site operatives.

·         The possibility of an additional site just to receive green waste should be investigated for South Holland as it is believe the majority of material taken to Spalding HWRC falls within that category.

3. The Council Resolves to:

·         Formally object to Lincolnshire County Council regarding the proposed appointment system on the grounds of both unfair rigidity and digital discrimination.

·         Demand that Spalding HWRC remains fully open without booking restrictions to ensure equitable, flexible access for all taxpayers.

·         Call for the implementation of a 7-day, 08:00–18:00 operational schedule using a staff shift system to maximise public access at zero extra personnel cost.

·         Send this motion to the relevant portfolio holders at both South Holland District Council and Lincolnshire County Council.

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

To provide Members with the Annual Treasury Report 2025/26 in accordance with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s Code of Practice on Treasury Management to ensure best practice is maintained (report of the Executive Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer) enclosed).

To seek approval to amend the Establishment in order to strengthen the Housing Repairs Service structure, ensuring sustainable service delivery and continued regulatory compliance (report of the Service Director – Housing enclosed).

To receive, from political groups, nominations for any changes to Committees and other seats and to consider any proposed changes to the Constitution.

To seek Council approval to make permanent the sharing of the Democratic Services Manager post with Boston Borough Council under a Section 113 agreement (report of the Service Director for Legal and Governance (Monitoring Officer) enclosed).