Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 26 November 2018 be confirmed.

Please note that, in accordance with the Members' Code of Conduct, when declaring interests members must disclose the existence and nature of the interest, and whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI) or personal and/or pecuniary.

No declarations of interest were received.

This item was deferred to enable further work to be undertaken, as recommended by the Planning Committee at its meeting on 5 December 2018.

To update the Executive on the current position and requirements relating to the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Programme.

Decision

(1)       That the Executive, on behalf of the Council, expresses its willingness and eagerness to join the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Programme and, subject to confirmed support from Lincolnshire County Council, agrees to accept three to five families over the course of the next year.

(2)       That the Executive, on behalf of the Council, commits the staffing and financial resources to join the scheme and continues to work in partnership with the other Lincolnshire authorities and relevant agencies to deliver the scheme.

(3)       That, should support from Lincolnshire County Council not be confirmed to progress with the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Programme, the Executive agrees to support three to five families over the course of the next year should officers advise that it is practicable and possible to do so and that this determination be delegated to the Chief Executive.

None.

In Autumn 2015 the Government pledged to accept 20,000 Syrian Refugees into the country from the official refugee camps in Syria by 2020.

The Strategic Migration Partnership in the East Midlands was led by East Midlands Councils. East Midlands Councils was seeking pledges for 75 to 80 families across the region for the March intake and had requested that Lincolnshire considered accepting additional families into the county. North Kesteven and South Kesteven District Councils had pledged to take further families and South Holland District Council had agreed to take a family. It was proposed that the City of Lincoln Council pledged to take three to five families during 2019.

A Lincolnshire Resettlement Group had been formed and was attended by the District Councils, the County Council and other relevant agencies and organisations. The group was chaired by the Deputy Chief Executive at North Kesteven District Council and it was intended that the group would continue to work together to share resources and good practice to progress the intake of further refugees into the county.

The Resettlement Scheme set out a number of requirements which had to be met by receiving authorities, including their arrival, accommodation, support and healthcare as detailed in paragraph 3.2 of the report.

Since the publication of the report it was understood that the County Council’s status in relation to its direction and support of the Programme may have changed. This would be established in due course, with the recommendation in the report reflecting that the City Council’s commitment would be subject to  confirmed support from Lincolnshire County Council.

Councillor Ric Metcalfe, Leader of the Council, was keen to support this Programme. He proposed that the City Council continued to commit to supporting three to five families as set out in the report even if the County Council did not confirm its support, subject to the City Council’s officers reviewing the situation and advising that it would be practicable and possible to do so. The Executive supported this proposal.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77.

You are asked to resolve that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following items because it is likely that if members of the press or public were present, there would be disclosure to them of 'exempt information'.

In accordance with the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, notice is hereby given of items which will be considered in private, for which either 28 days' notice has been given or approval has been granted by the appropriate person specified in the Regulations. For further details please visit our website at http://www.lincoln.gov.uk or contact Democratic Services at City Hall, Beaumont Fee, Lincoln.

These items are being considered in private as they are likely to disclose exempt information, as defined in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. No representations have been received in relation to the proposal to consider these items in private.

RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business because it was likely that if members of the public were present there would be a disclosure to them of ‘exempt information’ as defined by Section 100I and Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

These items were considered in private as they were likely to disclose exempt information, as defined in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. No representations had been received in relation to the proposal to consider these items in private.

To approve the purchase of a commercial investment.

Decision

That the recommendations contained within the report be approved.

Alternative options considered and rejected were set out in the body of the report.

The principle reason for commercial property investment was to secure the economic wellbeing of the city. Acquisition of land or property assets was a direct way of influencing regeneration and the economic development of the area.

The Asset Rationalisation Strategy that supported the Towards Financial Sustainability Programme set out the criteria for property investment by the Council.

It was considered that the proposed development, as set out within the report, was a very attractive investment due to it being situated in a prime location.

To provide a progress report and cost plan update to the Executive in respect of the De Wint Court scheme.

Decision

That the recommendations contained within the report be approved.

None.

It was reported that officers had progressed De Wint Court in line with previously agreed Executive approvals which was fundamentally to demolish and redevelop De Wint Court.

The scheme would now consist of 70 Extra Care flats and would be supported by grant funding from Lincolnshire County Council and Homes England.

Further details relating to progress made with the scheme, together with the cost plan, as set out in the report, were noted.

Councillor Donald Nannestad put on record his thanks to officers for the consultation that had been held with local members and local residents as part of developing the scheme.

To consider the revised Allotment Tenancy Agreement, which would come into operation from 1 February 2019.

Decision

That the new Allotment Tenancy Agreement be approved and that this comes into effect on 1 February 2019, with minor tweaks delegated to officers prior to implementation.

None.

Before a prospective allotment tenant could take responsibility for an allotment plot, they must complete and return two copies of a signed and witnessed allotment agreement. The current agreement explained, in detail, the rules and regulations which operated on all allotment sites and also acted as a guide as to what tenants could and could not do.

The current allotment agreement had been in place since 2012 and whilst large proportions of the agreement were still valid and required no modification, some parts required updating and other areas required strengthening in order to assist enforcement.

The revised Allotment Tenancy Agreement, as proposed, was appended to the report.

A number of minor tweaks were suggested to some of the sections within the agreement documentation itself, which officers agreed to take into account.

To seek Executive approval for officers, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, to pursue two potential options at this stage in relation to the delivery of the Visitor Information Service.

Decision

That the recommendations contained within the report be approved.

Alternative options considered and rejected were set out in the report.

Details relating to the proposed options for the Visitor Information Service were set out in the report.