Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 3 June 2024 be confirmed and signed by the Chair as a true record.

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.

Purpose of the Report

To seek approval to submit the Council’s Productivity Plan to the Government. This had been developed in response to the Productivity in Local Government request from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).

Decision

1.    That the submission of the Council’s Productivity Plan to the Government be approved.

2.    That the publication of the Productivity Plan on the Council’s website following the submission be approved.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None were considered. Failure to approve and publish the Productivity Plan would contravene the request from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Reasons for the Decision

Productivity across all public services, including local government was reviewed by the Government. The Local Government Finance Settlement 2024/25 announced that Councils would be asked to produce productivity plans and correspondence was received on 16 April 2024 to formally start the process.

The submission deadline for plans was 19 July 2024. Given the need to rearrange some committee meetings following the announcement of the General Election, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities had confirmed that submission following July’s Executive would be permitted for City of Lincoln Council’s Plan.

There was no prescribed format given for the presentation of the Productivity Plan but key areas to consider presented in the request from Government were summarised as

• How services had been designed, delivered or transformed to make better use of resources
• How Councils planned to use technology and make better use of data to improve decision making, service design and use of resources
• Plans to reduce waste, be efficient and spend effectively
• Assurances on governance, financial approach and performance
• Any barriers to productivity that Government could help to reduce or remove.

The draft Productivity Plan at Appendix A provided a narrative of progress already made by the Council. It gave assurance on our approach, outlined next steps and articulated the challenges faced by local government as a sector and the specific impact this had on delivery of services and on our communities. It set out areas that Government could consider to assist local councils to further improve productivity.

Purpose of the Report

To present to Executive the Lincoln City Profile 2023/24, attached as ‘Appendix A’ to the officer’s report, and to request that approval be given to publish and circulate the Profile with partners.

Decision

1.    That Executive’s review of the ‘Lincoln City Profile 2023/24’ and associated summary, attached as ‘Appendix A’ and ‘Appendix B’ to the officer’s report be noted.

2.    That the 'Lincoln City Profile 2023/24’ be approved, published and circulated with partners.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None were considered.

Reasons for the Decision

The annual Lincoln City Profile 2023/24was a key corporate document that provided vital insight into aspects of the Council’s external environment. Each year, the Profile offered up to date information on the key demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of, and the challenges facing, Lincoln’s population. The Profile provided an evidence base that informed the continued development and implementation of City of Lincoln Council’s Vision 2025 corporate plan, would support development of its next corporate plan ‘Vision 2030’, and assisted the Council with other evidence-based decision making so that it made the most effective use of its resources.

The Profile also had applications beyond the City of Lincoln Council and was used by external partners to support their decision making.

The document was also used as a source of reliable business intelligence to support funding bids by both the Council and its partner organisations.

(Members commended officers on an excellent piece of work).

Purpose of Report

For Executive to consider the contents of the revised Acquisition Policy for approval before publication.

Decision

That the revised Acquisition Policy be approved for publication.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None. Failure to update the Acquisitions Policy would not be in line with current guidance.

Reasons for the Decision

The key amendments to the Acquisitions Policy were outlined within the officer’s report.

The sale of council homes continued to create pressure to replace properties sold via the right to buy (Rtb) and to ensure the RtB retained capital receipts were utilised within the required timescales for the purposes of replacing social housing. There was a continued need for the Council to make best use of funds to replace housing and where possible offer additionality of housing stock due to increasing demand for housing.

Local Authorities had the ability to reinvest Right to Buy (RtB) receipts within Retention Agreements (1-4-1 capital receipt agreements) for a period of 5 years from these sales. RtB receipts could now be used for up to 50% of the capital costs of purchase and repair of a property or new build on the basis that they provided a one for one replacement for social housing (as defined by section 68 (1)(a) of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008).

On the 28 May 2019 the Acquisition Policy was approved by Executive and became policy in June 2019.

On 23 September 2019 Executive approved an amendment to enable acquisitions of varying property types not just ex council housing via delegated authority.

On 17 March 2021 Executive approved the Housing Delivery report and the Acquisitions Policy was amended to enable external housing providers to apply for funding. The process of purchasing homes from the open market or via direct approaches was continuing to work well.

The Acquisitions Policy also allowed for acquiring properties for other funding streams such as specific need government housing schemes. Examples included Next Steps Accommodation and the Local Area Housing fund. Once approval had been granted from Executive to deliver these projects, the acquisitions process was followed utilising the delegated authority in place. This ensured a consistent approach across all acquisitions to the housing stock.

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.

X. This item is being considered in private as it is 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 this item in private.

Y. This item is being considered in private as it is likely to disclose exempt information, as defined in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, and has not been deferred for the reasons established in the published notice.

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.

Purpose of Report

As detailed in the exempt report to the Executive.

Decision

That the recommendations to the Executive, as set out in the exempt report, be approved.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

As detailed in the exempt report to the Executive.

Reasons for the Decision

As detailed in the exempt report to the Executive.

Purpose of Report

As detailed in the exempt report to the Executive.

An addendum to the exempt report was issued to members giving them the very latest information when considering the recommendations in the report.

Decision

That the recommendations to the Executive, as set out in the initial exempt report, be approved.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

As detailed in the exempt report to the Executive.

Reasons for the Decision

As detailed in the exempt report to the Executive.

(Members commended officers on their excellent work on the scheme).