Agenda and minutes

The Mayor highlighted that information on his recent civic engagements was available for viewing via his social media profiles and that his final charity function would be a ceilidh on 7 April 2018.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 23 January 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.

Councillor Liz Maxwell declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest with regard to the agenda item titled 'Portfolio Holder for Housing'. Councillor Maxwell was a residential landlord in Lincoln and it was noted that she would leave the meeting room if housing in multiple occupation was discussed as part of this item of business. No such discussion took place so no action was taken.

Councillor Ralph Toofany declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest with regard to the agenda item titled 'Portfolio Holder for Housing'. Councillor Toofany was a residential landlord in Lincoln and it was noted that he would leave the meeting room if housing in multiple occupation was discussed as part of this item of business. No such discussion took place so no action was taken.

Councillor Donald Nannestad declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest with regard to the agenda item titled 'Medium Term Financial Strategy 2018 - 2023'. Councillor Nannestad leased an allotment from the Council.  A dispensation had been granted to all members who had a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest for any license to occupy land in the area of the authority for a month or longer and the nature of the business specifically related to the consideration of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy as a whole. Councillor Nannestad therefore remained in the meeting during consideration of the item.

Councillor Ralph Toofany declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest with regard to the agenda item titled 'Medium Term Financial Strategy 2018 - 2023'. Councillor Toofany leased an allotment from the Council.  A dispensation had been granted to all members who had a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest for any license to occupy land in the area of the authority for a month or longer and the nature of the business specifically related to the consideration of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy as a whole. Councillor Toofany therefore remained in the meeting during consideration of the item.

No questions had been received.

No questions had been received.

Councillor Pete West, Portfolio Holder for Housing, presented an annual report on the work of his portfolio. He highlighted that all figures set out in the report reflected the position at the end of December 2017, reporting that at the end of January 2018 the position had not changed.

Councillor West, as part of his presentation, made the following additions to support his report:

·         Yvonne Fox had recently been appointed as the Assistant Director for Housing Management;

·         works on new housing schemes were progressing, with the scheme at Blankney due for completion and formal handover today;

·         negotiations regarding the Section 106 Agreement in respect of the Queen Elizabeth Road development were progressing;

·         works at De Wint Court would be completed towards the end of May 2018;

·         the rogue landlord initiative continued to deliver results, with a £10,000 prosecution having recently been made and a further two prosecutions expected to be finalised very soon;

·         Bob Ledger, Strategic Director of Housing and Regeneration, would be retiring in May 2018. Mr Ledger had moved the department forward on many fronts and placed the Council in a good position from a housing perspective. Councillor West, on behalf of the Council, wished him well for his future endeavours.

Councillor West highlighted that this would be his last report to Council as Housing Portfolio Holder due to deciding not to stand for the City Council elections in May 2018. He thanked officers for their forbearance in his time as Portfolio Holder and, in particular, placed on record his thanks to Alison Hewson, Democratic Services Officer, for the support she had provided to him.

The Mayor and a number of members expressed their thanks to Pete West for the work he had done as Portfolio Holder for Housing and wished Bob Ledger well for his retirement, noting that there would be further opportunities for members to express their gratitude before they both left the authority.

Councillor Edmund Strengiel asked a question regarding voids. Councillor West reported that the target of 25 days to fill voids was not likely to be met and anticipated the actual performance to be approximately 27 days. This level of performance for 2017/18 had been expected, but the service had put itself in a position where the 25 days target would be achievable in future years.

Councillor Strengiel also expressed his concerns in respect of asbestos in that it was still being found and having to be dealt with. Councillor West responding by saying that asbestos could appear anywhere and that it was not always obvious where it had been used or was located. As soon as asbestos was found as part of any works carried out by the Council it would be removed and disposed of accordingly.

In accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, a recorded vote is required for this item.

It was proposed, seconded 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 Leader of the Opposition unlimited time to speak on this item.

It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that:

(1)       The Chief Finance Officer’s statement on the robustness of the budget and the adequacy of reserves be noted.

(2)       The Medium Term Financial Strategy 2018-2023 and the Capital Strategy 2018-2023 be approved, including the following specific elements:

·         a council tax increase of 2.95% for 2018/19;

·         a housing rent decrease of 1% for 2018/19;

·         the Council being a member of the Lincolnshire Business Rates pilot for 100% business rates retention in 2018/19;

·         the general fund reserve forecast 2018/19-2022/23 as shown in Appendix 1 of the report and the main basis on which the budget had been calculated;

·         the general investment programme 2018/19-2022/23 as shown in Appendix 2 of the report and the main basis on which the programme had been calculated;

·         the housing revenue account forecast 2018/19-2022/23 as shown in Appendix 3 of the report and the main basis on which the budget had been calculated;

·         the housing investment programme 2018/19-2022/23 as shown in Appendix 4 and the main basis on which the programme had been calculated.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.7 a recorded vote was taken, the result of which was detailed below:

In accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, a recorded vote is required for this item.

It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that:

It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that:

(1)       The prudential indicators be approved.

(2)       The Treasury Management Strategy, including the treasury management prudential indicators and the Investment Strategy, be approved.

It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that:

(1)       The basis of rent calculation for changes to individual council house rents, as set out in paragraph 6 of the report, which represents a decrease in the average 52 week net rent in 2018/19 of 1% for housing rents be approved.

(2)       That council garage rents for 2018/19 be increased by 3% in accordance with the proposal set out at paragraph 6.1 of the report.

It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that the timetable for meetings for 2018-19 be approved.