Agenda and draft minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 3 June 2025 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.

To seek Executive’s approval to undertake a Warm Homes project to deliver low carbon heating and insulation works to properties within the housing stock that had an SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) rating of Band D or below.

That the inclusion of a budget allocation of £4,591,385 in the Housing Investment Programme, as set out in section 6.1 of the report, to enable delivery of low carbon heating and insulation works to 200 properties to improve the SAP rating to band C or above be approved.

Due to over-subscription, the co-funded grant from WHSHF to the Council was reduced to 140 properties (69%). An option was considered to only improve those 140 homes with the reduced grant, but in doing this, the target of 200 homes would not be met.

The Government set a 2030 target for social landlords to ensure all properties had an SAP rating of band C or above, which the Council committed to in its 30-Year Business Plan.

The Council also committed to improve the environmental performance of its homes whilst planned improvement works were delivered, which included works to retrofit properties during the next five years (2024-2029).

Maintaining the full scope of the project would help to meet these targets as well as improving energy efficiency, and the health, wellbeing and comfort of Council tenants in those homes.

To make Executive aware of both the request by Lincolnshire County Council for the City Council to adopt separate paper and card recycling, in full or part, and the recent Government mandate under its ‘Simpler Recycling’ initiative to collect paper and card separately as a statutory requirement.

·         That installing separate paper and card collections in the city be delayed until such point as it is viable to devote resources to further detailed consideration, based on a revised TEEP (Technical Economic Environmental and Practical) reasons assessment, and that a review be undertaken in 2027 if it has not been possible to progress this before that time.

·         That engagement with Lincolnshire County Council to develop an education and enforcement campaign in support of lowering contamination and improving recycling rates be approved.

·         That the Portfolio Holder for Remarkable Place undertake review work to look into the risks that side waste is causing contamination, and any recommendation to withdraw that service be brought back to the Executive.

The following alternative options were considered:

1.    To introduce paper and card recycling only at properties with 240L wheeled bins, which was approximately two thirds of the city. Whilst it was recognised that residents with 240L bins were issued them due to having more space at their property, having an additional bin for paper and card would undoubtedly still lead to more bins left on streets, not least as food waste caddies had yet to be introduced.

2.    To introduce paper and card recycling in all areas except those without wheeled bins (eg bag collections, or communal bins). As with the reason stated above, this would affect properties with less space and would also lead to greater numbers of bins left on streets, not least as food waste caddies had yet to be introduced.

An assessment based on TEEP had been undertaken to assess the viability of establishing separate paper and card recycling. This had resulted in a recommendation to delay consideration of implementing the scheme until 2027 based on the below factors:

1.    Set up costs including the costs of additional bins was high.

2.    Many properties in Lincoln would struggle to accommodate an extra bin.

3.    Food waste collections would begin in April 2026 adding more change and extra caddies on streets.

4.    It was expected the Extended Producer Responsibility regulations would see a reduction in paper and card packaging in the waste stream which may call into question whether there would be sufficient paper and card to warrant an additional bin in the longer term.

5.    Extra staff resources, not only for collections, but also enforcement would be required.

6.    A strict timetable of Community Services contracts re-letting for waste, cleansing and ground maintenance (some of the largest in the Council) were being observed with a commencement date of September 2026. This added a significant work pressure.

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.

As detailed in the exempt report to the Executive.

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

As detailed in the exempt report to the Executive.

As detailed in the exempt report to the Executive.