Agenda item

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 were screened.  Councillors attended to put forward the views of their residents and better engagement to this end was required.  The Council, through decisions made at Planning Committee, had made it clear that it did not support the mass industrialisation of large swathes of BMV land, but did support the right project in the right place.  Although any response from the Planning department would be solely based on planning issues, for the major projects, a further response from the Council was being drawn together and this would be circulated and sent by the Leader.   The Authority was only a consultee on these projects and engagement from all political levels, both nationally and locally, was required.

Question to: Councillor Worth

Question from: Councillor Brewis

Subject: Local Government Reorganisation

Councillor Brewis asked whether it was likely that proposals for Local Government Reorganisation would go forward or be withdrawn in the future.  The Leader responded that feedback to initial proposals that was due to be received in mid-May was now more likely to be received at the end of the month.  It was his view that the process was likely to slip.

Question to: Councillor Taylor

Question from: Councillor Barnes

Subject: Spalding Heritage Strategy

Councillor Barnes asked for further information on progress with the Spalding Heritage Strategy and whether there was a timeframe.  Councillor Taylor advised that some work around the riverside had already taken place.  The Spalding Heritage Strategy was on the forward plan to be considered within the next  couple of meetings – he would advise when there was further information.

Question to: Councillor Astill

Question from: Councillor Alcock

Subject: Utilisation of Kingdom contract to address early presentation of refuse

Councillor Alcock asked whether consideration could be given to publicity regarding the early presentation of waste to alert the public to the rules and regulations surrounding the issue?  He also asked whether the contract with Kingdom could be utilised to investigate and potentially prosecute individuals?  Councillor Astill responded that he would support these proposals.  Councillor Casson reported that he went out with Kingdom a few times each month and advised that they looked at certain streets where there were problems, and that there had been some prosecutions around early presentation.

Question to: Councillor Casson

Question from: Councillor J Le Sage

Subject: Early presentation of refuse

Councillor J Le Sage stated that there continued to be issues in the St Johns ward around early presentation of refuse, and also asked if Kingdom could visit daily and check for early presentation.  He also asked whether a letter had gone out to residents at Lucknow Lane regarding early presentation.  Councillor Casson advised that he would check the situation with regard to a letter to Lucknow Lane residents.  He also stated that there were only three officers dealing with the South Holland area and it would not be possible for them to visit all areas.  They were however doing a good job and prosecutions were being achieved.

Question to: Councillor Casson

Question from: Councillor Hasan

Subject: Anti-Social Behaviour in Spalding Town Centre

Councillor Hasan commented that the recent improvements to Spalding town centre (public toilets and sculptures) were appreciated however, how would anti-social behaviour around the toilets be handled?  The Leader responded that with regard to anti-social behaviour, hot-spot policing was due to start at any time, and a contract was in the process of being signed.  The area around the public toilets in the Sheep Market would be picked up as part of this initiative.

Question to: Councillor Worth

Question from: Councillor M Le Sage

Subject: Rough sleeping in Abbey Passage, Spalding

Councillor M Le Sage asked for an update on the state of the Abbey Passage in Spalding which had been occupied by rough sleepers for some time.  The state of the passageway was so poor as a result that many people were now no longer using it.  The Leader advised that the area that the homeless people were in was private property, owned by Hills Furniture Store.  Anti-Social Behaviour officers had visited on numerous occasions when there had been promises to clear the area up but this had not happened.  The Council could not enforce on this issue as it was on private property.  

Question to: Councillor Astill

Question from: Councillor Eldridge

Subject: Customer Services – call waiting times

Councillor Eldridge commented that there were reports that call waiting times to Customer Services had increased – was this the case, and how would this be resolved?  Councillor Astill responded that waiting times were 12% higher than last year however, ‘Call Back’ and ‘Web Chat’ facilities had since been introduced.  He commented that demand across Revenues and Benefits was particularly high.  He advised that a briefing note on how this worked would be sent to members.  He also stated that the three Portfolio Holders across the Partnership whose responsibility covered Customer Services met regularly to consider how a technical response could be provided for those that wanted it, thus freeing up time to take telephone calls.