Agenda and minutes

The Mayor reported that he had attended 11 functions in the 15 days since he had been officially elected as Mayor. This had included two wonderful events in the Cathedral and the launch of the Getty heritage website at the Guildhall which he said did the city very proud.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings held on 10 April 2018 and 15 May 2018 be confirmed.

Councillor Gary Hewson declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest with regard to the agenda item titled 'Extension of Six Month Attendance Rule'. Councillor Gary Hewson is married to Councillor Gill Clayton-Hewson, who was the subject of the proposed dispensation.

No questions were received.

No questions were received.

No reports were received.

Councillor Ric Metcalfe, Leader of the Council, proposed that the Council:

·         approved an increase of 8% for new stallholder fees in 2018 and a price freeze for returning 2017 stallholders;

·         approved a price freeze on park and ride and coach booking fees;

·         approved the application of Market Licence Charges to any markets during the Christmas Market.

Councillor Donald Nannestad, Deputy Leader of the Council, seconded the proposal.

Councillor Hilton Spratt, Leader of the Opposition, understood the need to increase stallholder fees but was concerned that an increase of 8% was more than double the rate of inflation. He therefore proposed an amendment that the Council approved an increase of 4% for new stallholders fees in 2018 and a price freeze for returning 2017 stallholders.

Councillor Ronald Hills seconded the amendment and understood that Lincoln Castle was considering holding a separate Christmas Market which, with such an increase in stallholder fees, could result in some traders attending that Christmas Market instead. He felt that the Council should be seeking to work in partnership with Lincoln Castle and increase the scope of the Christmas Market, rather than hold separate events which would potentially compete with each other.

Councillor Metcalfe outlined that the 8% increase would only apply to new stallholders for 2018, which he estimated impacted 20% of stallholders and that the vast majority of stallholders returning to the Christmas Market would have no increase in fees. The proposed increase of 8% was simply to address the increasing deficit as he did not think it was reasonable to inflict the deficit onto taxpayers.

In voting on the amendment, the amendment was lost.

Voting on the original motion it was RESOLVED that the Council:

(1)       Approves an increase of 8% for new stallholder fees in 2018 and a price freeze for returning 2017 stallholders.

(2)       Approves a price freeze on park and ride and coach booking fees.

(3)       Approves the application of Market Licence Charges to any markets during the Christmas Market.

It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that the proposal for new charges in respect of memorial leaves on the Remembrance Tree at the Crematorium, as set out in the appendix to the supplementary report, be approved.

It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that a dispensation for Councillor Gill Clayton-Hewson from attending meetings of the Council in order to avoid Councillor Clayton-Hewson ceasing to be a member of the authority under Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972 be approved.