Agenda and minutes

Councillor Ric Metcalfe proposed that the minutes of the previous meeting be confirmed as a correct record. The proposition was seconded by Councillor Donald Nannestad.

Councillor Thomas Dyer, further to advice from the Council’s Monitoring Officer, could not provide a full explanation as to the reasoning but outlined that all members of the Conservative Group did not agree that the minutes reflected an accurate record of the meeting.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 23 February 2021 be confirmed.

Councillors Alan Briggs, Thomas Dyer, Ronald Hills, Bill Mara, Christopher Reid, Hilton Spratt and Edmund Strengiel requested that their votes against this resolution be recorded in the minutes.

Councillor Pat Vaughan declared a Personal Interest with regard to the agenda item titled 'Medium Term Financial Strategy 2021 - 2026'.

Reason: His granddaughter worked in the Council’s finance department.

No questions had been received.

Questions from members and answers provided were noted as follows:

(a)       Question from Councillor Alan Briggs

Councillor Alan Briggs asked the Chair of the Ethics and Engagement Committee the following question:

“As Chair of the Ethics and Engagement Committee you are responsible for the Member Code of Conduct. You mentioned in your report to Council last week about Councillors interacting in a responsible and respectful way, therefore, do you believe it is appropriate for Councillors to repeatedly interrupt other Councillors during Full Council meetings? Quite clearly this is contrary to the new ways of working as set out by the Mayor. Would you have any comment for those members breaking these rules?”

Councillor Adrianna McNulty, Chair of the Ethics and Engagement Committee, said that Councillor Briggs was correct that the Ethics and Engagement Committee was responsible for promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct by members and that the Committee assisted Councillors in observing the members’ Code of Conduct. The Committee also assessed and heard any alleged breach of the Member Code of Conduct but added that it was the Council’s Monitoring Officer, along with the Independent Person, who had the power to determine whether a complaint merited formal investigation, and whether the Code of Conduct had been breached. Councillor McNulty reminded members that it was the Mayor at Full Council who had the absolute power to regulate and control the meeting, and their ruling was absolute. It was therefore the Mayor who had the power to preserve the conduct of all those present at meetings of Full Council.

Councillor Briggs asked, as a supplementary question, whether the Council had considered further training for those members who were unable to follow procedures, as well as Chairs of meetings in order that they could manage situations effectively.

Councillor McNulty made the point that all members were up to date with mandatory training which had been undertaken by the Monitoring Officer. The provision of any further training would be held at the advice of the Monitoring Officer or at the request of individual members.

(b)       Question from Councillor Ronald Hills

Councillor Ronald Hills asked the Portfolio for Economic Growth the following question:

“To date, for the Western Growth Corridor project and its previous incarnations, what has been the total spending? Please include both staffing costs and any other associated costs.”

Councillor Neil Murray, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, reported that since 2007 £2,424,346 had been spent across revenue and capital budgets on the Western Growth Corridor project to date. This did not include grant funding contributions or internal staffing costs.

(c)        Question from Councillor Christopher Reid

Councillor Christopher Reid asked the Portfolio Holder for Remarkable Place the following question:

“As you are aware, the Council recently had a consultation on plans to reduce the number of public toilets open across the city. With the recent announcement by the Prime Minister of the ‘roadmap’ for easing of coronavirus restrictions, could the Council commit to postponing any closure decisions on this until  ...  view the full minutes text for item 89.

Councillor Donald Nannestad, Portfolio Holder for Quality Housing, provided an update report on the work of his portfolio.

Councillor Nannestad reported that the last twelve months had been an extraordinary time for everyone, with effects of the Covid-19 pandemic impacting all aspects of life. In terms of housing, the service the Council had been able to offer had varied in relation to what level of lockdown was in place at the relevant time. Many areas had been operating in different ways and, where possible, staff had worked from home with some areas, such as supported housing services, being delivered via telephone. The report provided further details in respect of how different elements of the service adapted to continue service delivery throughout the pandemic, with updates also provided on the following:

·         homelessness;

·         tenancy services;

·         housing repairs;

·         voids;

·         housing investment;

·         new build and allocations;

·         private sector housing;

·         health.

In relation to the housing repairs service, this was a pilot project which had sought to scale back journeys from across the city. On average, a reduction of 4,200 miles a month and approximately £2,000 in fuel was being saved. The pilot had not been able to run properly in its first year due to the complexities of the pandemic and various restrictions impacting its operation but the next year would be monitored in order that a true reflection of changes to the service could be measured.

Councillor Nannestad reported that the pressure on allocations continued to be immense which showed how much the Right to Buy legislation affected the Council’s ability to provide Council housing for those who needed it. He highlighted that, upon the introduction of the 1980 Housing Act, the City of Lincoln Council had approximately 11,000 Council houses for rent in the city. Right to Buy had reduced this by about 30% to approximately 7,800 with sales consistently outstripping any efforts the Council had been able to put in place to replace them. Furthermore, Councillor Nannestad reported that properties were being sold at a discount with restrictions on how the authority could spend the receipts and the vast majority of former Council houses inevitably being owned by private landlords. Private rents in the city could be around 80 to 90 percent higher compared to an identical Council property, which was a real concern.

Councillor Bob Bushell reported that feedback he had received in respect of the housing repairs pilot had been very positive. The fact that this pilot involved reducing the Council’s carbon footprint by cutting out journeys across the city was a good contribution to the Council’s zero carbon ambitions. He also acknowledged improvements to the Council’s fleet, highlighting the significant costs associated with electric vehicles compared to diesel equivalents at the current time, but looked forward to when the whole fleet would consist of electric vehicles.

Councillor Jackie Kirk asked if any further support would be provided to those tenants in rent arrears as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Councillor Hilton Spratt reflected on the considerable financial  ...  view the full minutes text for item 90a

Councillor Naomi Tweddle, Chair of the Equality and Diversity Advisory Panel, provided an update on the work of the Panel.

Councillor Tweddle reminded Council that the Equality and Diversity Panel was an informal advisory working group rather than a formal committee, but played a vital role in ensuring the Council embraced equality and diversity. She took this opportunity to thank all members of the Panel, together with officers for their support, particularly Heather Grover, Ali Thacker, Claire Burroughs and Kate Ellis.

An overview of the body’s membership and topics considered by the Panel since February 2019 were noted, together with a commitment to working towards the Council’s five equality objectives adopted for the period April 2020 to March 2024 as follows:

·         Objective 1: Our services are accessible and do not discriminate on any unjustifiable grounds

·         Objective 2: Local communities, partners and stakeholders are empowered to influence the way our services are provided to them

·         Objective 3: Equality is at the heart of decision making at all levels within the council

·         Objective 4: Our workforce at all levels reflects the makeup of the local community

·         Objective 5: Equalities, social inclusion and community cohesion have all improved with our communities

Councillor Tweddle was pleased to report that the City Council’s gender pay gap had reduced and continued to move in the right direction. This would continue to be monitored by the Panel which was due to meet again on 3 March 2021. Work was also taking place to ensure more gender balance on the Council’s Job Evaluation Panels which would also be considered at that meeting, together with a review of the Council’s Equality Action Plan.

It was reported that better, more consistent and more frequent equality and diversity training was being put in place for staff which was extremely positive given that the above objectives should be reflected across the organisation.

It was noted that Councillor Hilton Spratt had been appointed onto the Equality and Diversity Advisory Panel, which had not been reflected in the report.

The report was noted.

This item is scheduled for consideration at the meeting of the Executive scheduled to be held on 22 February 2021. The agenda for this meeting of Council was published prior to the meeting of the Executive, so a copy of the report and appendices scheduled for consideration at the meeting on 22 February 2021 is attached.

Councillor Ric Metcalfe, Leader of the Council, proposed the recommendations contained within the report in relation to the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2021-2026 and budget.

He reflected on the events of the previous year and its humanitarian impact, with 123,000 deaths in the United Kingdom attributable to Covid-19, 1,500 of those cases being in Lincolnshire. In addition to this, a significant number of individuals, families and businesses had been severely impacted by the virus which had in some cases left them losing everything. He felt it was important, therefore, that in making reference to the plight of the Council’s finances that it be set in that wider sobering context.

Covid-19, combined with a number of measures that the Council had to undertake due to the restrictions imposed at different times throughout the last twelve months, had led to significant costs and a dramatic drop in many traditional sources of income for the Council. Councillor Metcalfe reported that it did take some time to convince the Government that additional support was necessary to effectively prevent many Councils across the country from going bankrupt. 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. Councillor Metcalfe took this opportunity, however, to remind Council that there were lots of financial challenges ahead and further difficult decisions to be made.

Councillor Metcalfe made reference to a recent report which had been published and documented the excellent way in which the Council had responded to Covid-19 and how existing services and the establishment of new services had performed as part of addressing the significant challenges presented. He praised the Chief Executive, her team and the whole Council workforce, together with all members of the Council, for their part in this outstanding response and said that everyone should be very proud. Councillor Metcalfe added that this was a reminder of how this Council and other district authorities across the country knew their local communities.

Councillor Donald Nannestad, Deputy Leader of the Council, seconded the proposition and reiterated the points made in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic, adding that the last twelve months had been the most challenging in living memory. However, he was of the opinion that the Council had risen to the challenge and highlighted the following aspects of the Council’s response to the pandemic as outstanding examples of work:

·         the establishment of the new befriending service;

·         the provision of financial assistance to housing tenants;

·         the partnership approach to provision of Covid-19 testing centres;

·         the allocation of business support grant funding;

·         the continuation of waste collection services throughout the pandemic;

·         the continuation of building new council homes.

The next step for the Council would be to focus on recovery and he wanted the city to be in the best possible position for when restrictions were lifted in accordance with the Government’s plans.

The Mayor, having received  ...  view the full minutes text for item 91a

It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that Council:

(1)       Accepts the 4 January 2021 Executive recommendation that the Council    Tax Base for 2021/22, as calculated in accordance with The Local    Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations                                                         2012, be 24,372.50.38.

(2)       Calculates the following amounts for the year 2021/22 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:

This item is scheduled for consideration at the meeting of the Executive scheduled to be held on 22 February 2021. The agenda for this meeting of Council was published prior to the meeting of the Executive, so a copy of the report scheduled for consideration at the meeting on 22 February 2021 is attached.

It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that Council:

(1)       Approves the Prudential Indicators detailed in paragraph 4.1 and     Appendix 1 of the report.

(2)       Approves the Treasury Management Strategy, including the Treasury         Prudential Indicators and the Investment Strategy, set out in paragraph 4 and Appendix 3 of the report.

(3)       Approves the MRP Policy set out in Appendix 2 of the report.

Councillor Ric Metcalfe proposed the timetable of meetings for the 2021/22 municipal year, which was seconded by Councillor Donald Nannestad.

Councillor Thomas Dyer indicated that he had raised some suggestions with the Leader of the Council via email, to which he had not received a response. Councillor Metcalfe agreed to respond in due course.

RESOLVED that the timetable of meetings for 2021/22 be approved.

Councillors Alan Briggs, Thomas Dyer, Ronald Hills, Bill Mara, Christopher Reid, Hilton Spratt and Edmund Strengiel requested that their votes against this resolution be recorded in the minutes.