Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 22 February 2022 be confirmed and signed as the Chair as a correct record.

Councillor Pat Vaughan declared a Personal Interest with regard to the agenda item titled 'Medium Term Financial Strategy 2022-2027'.

Reason: His granddaughter worked within the finance department at the City of Lincoln Council.

The Mayor thanked the Alive Church for hosting meetings of the Council, which had enabled it to meet in accordance with social distancing measures in its risk assessment.

The Mayor invited the Leader of the Council to reflect on the tragic events in Ukraine.  A message of sympathy and support had been issued by the Council to the Ukrainian community within Lincoln.  The Council was liaising with other local authorities on readying itself for people seeking sanctuary within the county, including Lincoln. 

The Mayor was sad to report the death of Peter Robinson, who had previously been an officer of the City of Lincoln Council. 

The Mayor referred to her engagements since the last meeting of the Council, which had included:

·         The unveiling of artwork created by a local artist and school children had been unveiled at Lincoln train station.

·         A fundraising event in Newark.

·         The South Holland District Council’s Civic Service.

No questions had been submitted by members of the public.

Councillor Thomas Dyer to Councillor Bob Bushell, Portfolio Holder for Remarkable Place

Question

Can the executive member provide council with an update on the impact of Lincoln’s air quality, with reference to pollution hotspots such as Lindum Hill, following the opening of the Lincoln Eastern by-pass?

Reply

The Lincoln Eastern bypass had opened on 19 December 2020 so a full year of monitoring data since the bypass opened was now available.  The Council monitored both nitrogen dioxide and particulates smaller than 10 microns (PM10).

The monitoring data had shown there had been a significant reduction in roadside pollution levels from 2019 to 2021 at the sites the Council monitored.  However, there were a number of factors that could have influenced the decrease on top of the opening of the Eastern Bypass, including the Covid-19 response measures during 2021 and the closure of Pelham Bridge for several weeks during 2021.  The extent of the reductions due to the opening of the Lincoln Eastern Bypass would become clearer once all 2022 air quality data was available (assuming pandemic restrictions were not re-introduced).  Additionally, there would be other issues that the council was currently unable to quantify, such as whether the opening of the bypass had changed traffic routes, therefore creating new air pollution hotspots elsewhere.  The Council would continue to work with Lincolnshire County Council’s Highways department to establish whether this was the case.

Councillor Christopher Reid to Councillor Bob Bushell, Portfolio Holder for Remarkable Place

Question

Can the portfolio holder provide Council with the details of fly-tipping statistics that lead to formal and informal action?

Reply

527 reports of fly tipping on the public highway and 165 reports of fly tipping on council owned land had been received since 1 April 2021.  These figures did not include collections that had been requested by Customer Services, Community Services or proactive collections undertaken by Biffa. 

Any reports where the incident had been witnessed, or where cases had evidence, were fully investigated by the team and a decision would be made dependent on the evidence available as to the action which would be taken. However, there were many occasions when the team received reports in relation to fly tipped mattress, fridges or sofas and there had been no witnesses or evidence.  In these cases it would result in no further enforcement action being able to be taken.

Informal action may take the form of advice and verbal warnings, where it could be reasonably expected that informal action would achieve compliance. Officers within the team would carry out investigations and these might reveal an incident which could be deemed as fly tipping.  However, on occasions it might have been due to a genuine lack of understanding in relation to the illegal deposit of waste.  The use of informal action was a frequent occurrence whilst carrying out their duties and would involve discussing presentation and providing educational information in relation to the disposal.

Formal action would be taken where appropriate, and these would include the use  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55.

It was moved by Councillor Jackie Kirk, seconded by Councillor Donald Nannestad and

RESOLVED that Council Procedure Rule 17.4 regarding the content and length of speeches be suspended to allow the Leader of the Council and the Leader of the Opposition unlimited time to speak on Minute 56a. 

Councillor Ric Metcalfe, Leader of the Council, proposed the recommendations contained within the report, as detailed on page 18 of the agenda pack, in relation to the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2022-2027 and budget.

He reflected on the events of recent years, particularly focusing on the impact of Covid-19 on the Council, combined with a number of measures the Council had to undertake due to the restrictions imposed at different stages throughout the pandemic, all of which had led to significant costs and a drop in many traditional sources of income for the Council.  The City Council was very well financially managed and due to its excellent financial stewardship had been able to stabilise the position and rebuild its finances for a sustainable future in line with continuing to support the Council’s vision.  Reference was made to the continued uncertainty faced by the labour market and its associated supply issues, which was impacting on many sectors. 

Reference was made to the longstanding uncertainty with regards to local government financing, where the Council had achieved £10 million of revenue savings over a period of ten years.  It had been hoped that the Levelling Up White Paper would address inequality within Lincoln, however, this had not been included. Similarly, the Council was awaiting detail on the Shared Prosperity Fund.  However, the Leader was pleased to highlight the successful projects which had received funding via the Lincoln Town Deal Fund.  Councillor Metcalfe took this opportunity, however, to remind Council that there were lots of financial challenges ahead owing to the ongoing uncertainty in funding.

An increase of 1.89% in council tax was proposed, which averaged approximately 7-8p per week.  It was highlighted that 14% of the total council tax bill for the City of Lincoln was attributable to the City Council, with the remainder going to Lincolnshire County Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Councillor Donald Nannestad, Deputy Leader of the Council, seconded the proposition and reiterated the points made in relation to the reduction in government funding and the ongoing financial challenges faced by the Council, as a result of this reduced funding and also Covid-19.

The Mayor, having received notice of the Leader of the Opposition’s intention to propose a number of amendments, permitted that more than one amendment may be discussed and debated at once to facilitate the proper and efficient conduct of the Council’s business in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 17.6(b). She reported, however, that each amendment would be voted upon separately.

Councillor Thomas Dyer, Leader of the Opposition, proposed the following amendments to the Medium Term Financial Strategy, which were seconded by Councillor Christopher Reid, Deputy Leader of the Opposition:

Amendment 1 - the increasing of Enforcement Fines:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 56a

The recommendations to the Council, as set out on pages 173 and 174 of the agenda and report pack, were duly moved and seconded and in accordance with the Council Procedure Rule 19.7, a recorded vote was taken, the result of which was as follows:

The motion was declared carried.

RESOLVED

That the following, as submitted, be approved:

1.    Acceptance of the 4^th January 2022 Executive recommendation that the Council Tax Base for 2022/23, as calculated in accordance with The Local Authorities (Calculation of Council tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012, to be £25,310.01.

2. That the following amounts be calculated for the year 2022/23 in accordance   with Sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:

being the amounts given by multiplying the amount at 2f) above by the number which, in proportion set out in Section 5(1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular band divided by the number which in proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in Valuation Band D, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 36(1) of the Act, as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 56b

The recommendations to the Council, as set out on page185 of the agenda and report pack, were duly moved and seconded.

On being put to the meeting, the motion set out above was declared carried.

RESOLVED

(1)  That the Treasury Management Strategy, including the treasury management prudential indicators and the Investment Strategy, as set out in section 4 and Appendix 3 to the report, be approved.

(2)  That the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy, as set out at Appendix 2 to the report, be approved.

(3)  That the Treasury Management Practices, as set out at Appendix 4 to the report, be approved.

The recommendation to the Council, as set out on page 268 of the agenda and report pack, was duly moved and seconded.

On being put to the meeting, the motion set out above was declared carried.

RESOLVED

That the Pay Policy Statement, as set out at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved.

It was duly moved and seconded that the Calendar of Meetings for 2022/23 be approved.

On being put to the meeting, the motion set out above was declared carried.

RESOLVED

That the Calendar of Meetings for 2022/23 be approved.