Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 20 February 2023 be confirmed and signed by the Leader as a correct record.

Councillor Donald Nannestad declared a Pecuniary Interest with regard to the agenda item titled ‘UKSPF Projecting Funding’. Reason: He sat on the Executive Board for ‘Let’s Move’.

He left the room during the consideration of this item and took no part in the discussion and vote on the matter to be determined.

Purpose of Report

1.    To consider adoption of the Lincolnshire Districts Health and Wellbeing Strategy and associated action plan as a framework for improving health and wellbeing across the County.

2.    To commit to working closely with partners in the public, private and voluntary sector to implement the strategy and positively impact on health outcomes for residents of Lincolnshire.

Decision

1.    That the document ‘The Role of District Councils in tackling Health Inequality and the Social Determinants of Health’ as a summary of the work undertaken by District Councils on the social determinants of health be noted.

2.    That the Lincolnshire Districts Health and Wellbeing Strategy as a document which provided the Council with the framework for improving health and wellbeing in Lincoln be adopted.

3.    That engagement in both the further development of this strategy and the delivery of the actions outlined be committed to in full.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None.

Reasons for the Decision

As part of the response to Covid-19 the seven Lincolnshire Districts developed a culture of working closely together to identify and address challenges. Since then, the Districts had continued to embed this collective approach to both strategic and operational issues, with a particular focus on the role of District councils in addressing health inequalities.

Lincolnshire district councils were committed to developing an ambitious agenda for improving health and wellbeing in Lincolnshire, focussed on:

·       a strategic, long-term approach to improving outcomes

·       a sense of opportunity and ambition - district collaboration

·       a holistic view based on social determinants

·       developing system leadership.

The 2021 Health and Care White Paper and establishment via the NHS of Integrated Care Systems (ICS) underlined the vital importance of health and care partners working together to focus on prevention and addressing the wider determinants of health.

District Councils were reflected in the governance arrangements for the ongoing development of the ICS and tackling health inequalities via membership on the Lincolnshire Health and Wellbeing Board and the Better Lives Lincolnshire Working Group. In addition, all district councils had active relationships with the relevant Primary Care Networks (PCNs) to support the successful delivery of action at a local level.

Districts were in a position, alongside partners, to take a proactive role at this pivotal stage for Lincolnshire in supporting the reshaping of policy, strategy and delivery and improving outcomes. Therefore in 2021 the seven districts collectively engaged PA Consulting to work alongside Leaders, Chief Executives and key officers in developing a county-wide District Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

There have been a number of key activities and early successes of the strategy as detailed within the officer’s report.

Note: Councillor Neil Murray joined proceedings at this stage.

Purpose of Report

To present to Executive the performance measure targets for 2023/24.

Decision

That the proposed targets for 2023/24, as set out in the report, be approved.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

That existing measures remained.

Reasons for the Decision

Performance measure targets were reviewed on an annual basis to ensure they remained appropriate but suitably challenging.

As with previous years, target setting for 2023/24 had focused largely on the analysis of the council’s performance outturn trend over recent quarters / years, alongside the expected impacts over the coming year. Where available benchmarking data had been used, however, the availability of this data was extremely limited.

For 2023/24 target setting some measures had seen their targets reduced due to increasing financial pressures on the council, resource impacts, recruitment pressures and the cost of living crisis - all of which would inevitably continue to impact on performance. However, in some cases the targets had been increased where some improvement in performance was expected.

The Appendix to the report detailed the measures chosen to have targets monitored. The targets had been developed by Assistant Directors in consultation with their Service Managers and then confirmed by Directors and Portfolio Holders. The proposed targets had been considered and supported by the Performance Scrutiny Committee.

Purpose of Report

1.    To advise Executive about the Local Authority Housing Fund, to explain its benefits and process.

2.    To advise the Executive of the Council’s allocation under the Local Authority Housing Fund and request authority to proceed with the purchase of properties utilising this funding alongside a contribution from the Council.

Decision

1.    That the capital funding for the provision of additional local authority housing be accepted.

2.    That the Director of Housing and Investment be authorised, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, to approve the acquisition of nine properties, the resulting budget implications to be reflected in the Housing Investment Programme and the Housing Revenue Account.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None.

Reasons for the Decision

During 2022 the United Kingdom welcomed more than 150,000 Ukrainian into homes and communities under the Homes for Ukraine and Ukraine family schemes. Around 23,000 Afghans who worked with the UK Government and Armed Forces had also been welcomed. Working in partnership with other public sector and charity organisations, help was being provided to support those that had arrived from Ukraine and Afghanistan to find housing in the private sector.

The Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) introduced a £500 million capital fund, the Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF) for local authorities in England that were facing challenges to provide accommodation for those families with housing needs. This funding had been allocated under section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003 using a formula that had a blended grant per property model. It was left to local authorities to determine how the accommodation would be delivered using this grant.

Households on the following schemes were eligible for the housing:

·         Afghan Citizen Resettlement Scheme (including eligible British Nationals under this scheme) (ACRS)

·         Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP)

·         Ukraine Family Scheme (UFS)

·         Homes for Ukraine (HFU)

·         Ukraine Extension Scheme (UES)

The Council would allocate the properties made available through this scheme in order of priority using the Homelessness Reduction Act and Lincoln Allocations Policy criteria.

The LAHF was announced in January 2023 with confirmation of funding being received in February 2023 which had resulted in the requirement to fast track the approval process to enable the allocation to be split across two financial years.

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.

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.

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.

Note: Councillor Donald Nannestad left proceedings at this stage.

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.

Note: Councillor Donald Nannestad rejoined proceedings at this stage.

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.