Agenda item

To allocate and authorise the use of a budget for the development of a final plan to Government (report of the Assistant Director – Corporate).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director Corporate which requested allocation and authorisation of the use of a budget for the development of a final plan (Local Government Re-organisation) to Government.

The Leader presented the report and provided an overview of the proposals that had been put forward by SHDC and other local authorities, and this was detailed further within the report, along with reasons for the requested budget.  The Leader also advised that it was possible that some Government funding could also be forthcoming and the full amount of £175,000 being requested may not be required, but it was important to get funding in place should it be required.    .

Consideration was given to the report, and the following issues were raised:

·         This was a good chance to shape what a future unitary should look like, and a partnership with North Kesteven and South Kesteven should reap further rewards.

·         Why was there no mention of any area within South Holland at paragraph 4.3 (Criteria 4) of the proposals attached at Appendix A?

o   Paragraph 4.3 focussed on the north of the County however, rural areas of the County were very different to the northern part of Lincolnshire.  It was important to look at what was done in the more rural areas of Lincolnshire, spending time and money looking at the data around this.  It was also important to consider the balance of deprivation in the east as opposed to the west of the County.

·         Could there be a detrimental effect in potentially splitting East Lindsey in half?  The north of the district generated more revenue with the south bringing more costs.

o   Reassurance was provided that there was no proposal to split East Lindsey.

·         Paragraph 6.3 (Criteria 6) of the proposals at Appendix A referred to community engagement – at what stage would Parish Council involvement occur?   There were concerns with regard to responsibilities filtering down either with or without finance. 

o   LALC was a main stakeholder and liaison with them had already been set in motion.  Parish Councils were an important part of the process and it was important to ensure that they were adequately funded for any additional responsibilities that would potentially arise, although it was still too early to say what these could be.   The Leader also advised that he would attempt to liaise with all Parish Councils to find out their concerns. 

·         Paragraph 2.7 of the covering report stated that the budget of £175,000 may be supplemented by contributions from other Councils – would additional monies be coming forward from other Councils?
Members were advised that ELDC’s  Executive Board would meet tomorrow evening and it was the  intention that ELDC would also be contributing £175,000.

·         It was stated that contractors would be required as there were insufficient skills/expertise held by existing staff.  What confidence was there that  there was sufficient skill to monitor the contractors themselves?

o   Members were advised that a broad range of skills was required to move the proposals forward and that no one person within the Authority had the sufficient skill set to do this.  Other authorities may have expertise however, this would be a very complex piece of work and the best people possible were required to do this successfully.  There may be some Government funding coming forward however, by getting this additional funding in place early would allow us to be ‘ready to go’ if required.  It was also stated that this was a competitive process, and it was important to develop the best possible proposal.

·         In respect of the S&ELCP, there was concern that BBC was not included within the proposals.

o   The Leader responded that BBC had not yet made clear which option they wished to support.  SHDC was currently working with East Lindsey on proposals and attempting to get more Councils on board, including West Lindsey, with these proposals.  There were currently 8 proposals on the table for the Lincolnshire area and some authorities may be waiting until the Government had considered the proposals before confirming intentions.

·         Parish Councils had a bond with their local Councils and there was concern around a potential loss of connection and local knowledge.?  The Leader agreed that local connections were important. He also stated that following the recent significant changes in representation at the County Council, it could be possible that they may wish to change their proposals to central Government.

DECISION:

1)    That the allocation and use of £175,000 (to be funded as identified at 2.9 of the report) to support the development of a final proposal to Government for Local Government Re-organisation, be approved; and

2)    That the proposed governance arrangements set out at 2.10 of the report be noted.

(Other options considered:

·         Not to allocate the resource – the work required is complex and specialist.  If the Council chooses to develop a final proposal, it is important that the Council can secure the skills and expertise necessary to produce a high-quality submission to Government;

·         To rely on any Government allocation that might be forthcoming – there is no certainty the Council will receive a grant allocation, or its value.  Allocating resources now enables the Council to move quickly should it choose to develop a final proposal;

Reasons for decision:

·         To allow this Council to engage the expertise necessary (along with any other Councils that support its proposal) to develop a final proposal to Government for Local Government Re-organisation).