Minutes:
The Leader made the following announcements:
· Councillor Tyrrell would be stepping down from his role on the Cabinet, as Portfolio Holder – Environmental Services. His Portfolio responsibilities would be taken on by Councillor Astill, Portfolio Holder – Corporate, Governance and Communications. The Leader thanked Councillor Tyrrell for his work during his time on the Cabinet.
· Christine Marshall (Deputy Chief Executive – Corporate Development (S151) and John Leach (Deputy Chief Executive – Communities) were both shortly due to be leaving, and this would be their last Council meeting:
o John Leach was leaving to become Chief Executive at Redditch Borough Council and Bromsgrove District Council. John had been with the authority for almost three years and had served the authority and the Partnership well. The Leader commented that it was satisfying to see his progression to the role of Chief Executive and wished him well in his new role.
o Christine Marshall was leaving to become the Executive Director – Corporate Services and S151 Officer at Peterborough City Council. She had worked for 40 years in the government sector and was now returning to Peterborough. Christine had been with this Authority since 2017, in the role of S151 Officer and Director at the then partnership between South Holland District Council and Breckland Council, and then performing her current role within the S&ELCP. He thanked Christine for her service and wished her well in her new role.
The Portfolio Holder for Corporate, Governance and Communications made the following announcements:
· The Authority would shortly be publishing details through its communications channels of some accessibility tools (Recite Me and Relay UK) which would assist in making the Authority’s services more accessible.
· The Authority had been approached by ‘Keep Britain Tidy’ with regard to cigarette littering in Spalding. The project was in its early stages and the team was working with ‘Keep Britain Tidy’ to understand how the scheme would work. It appeared that the scheme would be at zero cost to the Authority and would include supply of bins and other intervention activities.
The Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing, Conservation and Heritage and Tourism announced the following:
· Following discussion at the last two Council meetings around development of a local list of important buildings in the area in a poor state of repair, the Civic Society have picked up on this issue and had included it within an article in its monthly newsletter. The article included a form for completion by individuals to be sent to their local Councillor to then forward on to the Portfolio Holder. There had been a suggestion that the Johnson Hospital could be included, and all suggestions for sites important to the area were welcome.
The Portfolio Holder for Strategic and Operational Housing announced the following:
· Notification had been received from the Regulator of Social Housing that it would be undertaking an inspection at SHDC. Timelines had been shared with the Conservative Group, and the Leader and Deputy Leader of the main opposition group. The Portfolio Holder and officers were happy to provide responses to any questions members may have.
· With regard to the Tenant Engagement Strategy, consultation was currently underway via a roadshow, focus groups etc. Encouraging responses were being received, with many tenants using the QR code to respond. Feedback would be taken on board to shape strategy. One issue that had been raised was the use of less technical and more basic language and this would be incorporated going forward.
· The Portfolio Holder wished to personally thank the Deputy Chief Executive – Corporate Development (S151) for her skill, knowledge and assistance over the years. The Portfolio Holder held Christine in very high regard and wished her well.
The Portfolio Holder for Community Development announced the following:
· A date for an all member briefing on the Health and Wellbeing Hub project was close to being set – the Portfolio Holder was working on a date, hopefully in early April, and members would receive notification of this shortly. The briefing would provide details on the latest plans, the decision making process and procurement of the new operator, as well as providing a forum for members to ask questions of the Portfolio Holder and the project team.
· At the last meeting, members had asked the whereabouts of the tall poles from which hanging baskets had hung in the past in the town centre. These posts, when removed were deemed to be in a poor condition and had therefore been disposed of. However, there would be planting this year on the riverside and Ayscoughfee Gardens, and with the new street scene and public realm, the focus was now on year round colour and trees. In addition, the new milestone way markers, as part of the Spalding Re-connect project were in place. Finally, the Spalding Water Taxi returned this year, and would be relaunching on Saturday 5 April.