Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 21 September 2021 be confirmed.

No declarations of interest were received.

No questions had been submitted by members of the public. 

Councillor Tom Dyer to Councillor Ric Metcalfe, the Leader of the Council

Question

Has the City Council undertaken an analysis of what financial savings can be made if the Council were to follow the steps taken by East Lindsey District Council, Boston Borough Council and South Holland District Council and share officers and further services with our neighbouring districts?

Reply

Councillor Ric Metcalfe stated that the Council had not undertaken any analysis.

Supplementary

Councillor Tom Dyer stated that he was pleased with the response and expressed the hope that such conversations would not take place. 

Reply

Councillor Ric Metcalfe stated that he was pleased that both he and Councillor Dyer were in agreement.  Councillor Metcalfe continued by stating that since 2010 the Council had saved £10 million with minimal effect on front line services and there was more to do.  The Council was already extremely efficient, delivering good value for money to its council tax payers.

Councillor Metcalfe stated that he would not comment on the merits of the particular partnership referred to in the question, except that running smaller rural authorities was very different from running a city of the size and the significance of Lincoln, where sharing senior management would not be effective. 

Councillor Metcalfe added that the Council had some very long-standing and successful partnerships with its neighbours, for example the Central Lincolnshire Joint Strategic Planning Committee, which had produced and overseen the implementation of the Local Plan; and the joint revenues and benefits service with North Kesteven District Council and West Lindsey District Council, which had delivered savings of approximately £2.5 million over the past ten years.

Councillor Metcalfe confirmed that the Council would continue to consider any proposals for joint services on their merits. 

Councillor Chris Reid to Councillor Bob Bushell, Portfolio Holder for Place

Question

As we approach the Christmas period and thankfully the uphill area has started to get busy again with visitors and people out doing their Christmas shopping, will the Council consider re-opening the Westgate toilets temporarily until after Christmas?

Reply

Councillor Bob Bushell stated in reply that owing to the financial restrictions on the Council, it had been necessary to close the Westgate facilities for general use, but they had remained open for people with disabilities. 

Councillor Bushell added that when the city had events, which would create demand, such as the forthcoming Christmas market, the facilities would be open.  Because of the Council’s financial position, there was no plan to open them for an extended period.

Supplementary

Councillor Reid asked what the cost would be to the Council of opening the Westgate toilets for the period of December. 

Reply

Councillor Bushell stated that he did not have the estimated costs of opening the toilets for the period of December.  He reiterated that that they been closed because of financial constraints. 

Councillor Mark Storer to Councillor Bob Bushell, Portfolio Holder for Place

Question

I was delighted to see uphill Lincoln so busy during the recent cycling event and despite the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

Councillor Neil Murray, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, presented his report to the Council, which had been set out on pages 19 – 25 of the agenda.  Councillor Murray highlighted two schemes; firstly, the central market and city square transformation, with work expected to begin on site in January 2022; and secondly, the High Street historic action zone, which included St Mary’s Guildhall and the Barbican / Albion Hotel.

Councillor Murray added that he had restarted visits to various organisations, which had included a visit to James Dawson UK, into which its parent company, Michelin, had recently invested £6 million, which represented great news.  Councillor Murray had also visited Tom Blount, Executive Director of the Lincoln Science and Innovation Park, which had developed as the centre of Lincoln’s hi-tech industry, on a site associated with Lincoln’s engineering history.  Finally, Councillor Murray referred to his visit to Bifrangi UK Lincoln, located on Spa Road, and highlighted the 32,000-tonne percussion screw press, which provided high specification metal forging.  

Councillor Murray also reported that the Local Plan was currently subject to its consultation, with the next version of the plan due to be submitted to the Central Lincolnshire Joint Strategic Planning Committee in February 2022.  The county council had not supported some of the ambitious proposals to address climate change in the plan and had remained committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2050.  This contrasted with the City of Lincoln Council’s ambition for carbon neutrality by 2030. 

Councillor Murray also referred to the preparations for the Lincoln Christmas Market, which were set out on page 24 of his report. 

The Council was provided with an opportunity to make comments and ask questions, where the following points were confirmed:

·         Wage levels in the Social Care Sector – Wage levels were a key factor in recruiting and retaining adult social care staff, whether these levels were just above the level of the national minimum wage or set at around £12.50 per hour, this issue had not been completely addressed by the government’s proposals.

·         Labour Market – it was commented by a councillor that nationally recent reports had indicated that the long-term impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and the end of the job retention scheme had not led to a spike in unemployment and that many businesses were now struggling to recruit and retain staff.

·         The Drill (formerly the Drill Hall) – a councillor was pleased to highlight that The Drill had recently opened, which was operated by Lincoln College.

·         Fibre Broadband – it was highlighted that it had recently been reported that Lincoln was set to receive a full fibre boost as CityFibre had announced an investment of £21 million in a new city-wide network, which was welcome news for those areas of the City with less than adequate coverage. 

·         Lincoln Central Market – Compensation to Existing Stallholders – Existing stallholders had been offered both a reasonable level of compensation and advice on seeking alternative interim or long-term locations for their businesses.  There was a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27a

The Council considered a request from the Licensing Committee, which had met on 17 November 2021, following its triennial review of the statement of licensing policy.

It was moved by Councillor Loraine Woolley and seconded by Councillor Bill Bilton that the Statement of Principles Policy 2022-2025 under the Gambling Act 2005 be approved.

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

RESOLVED that the Statement of Principles Policy 2022-2025 under the Gaming Act 2005, as set out on pages 33 – 75 of the Council agenda, be approved.

(Note: Following consideration of this item, Councillor Gary Hewson left for the remainder of the meeting.)

The Council noted a report from the Monitoring Officer on a decision by the Hearing Sub-Committee on 10 October 2021 on a complaint in relation to the Members’ Code of Conduct.

A report on the appointment of chairs and vice-chairs to and on membership of certain committees had been submitted as page 83 of the agenda.  A supplement to the report had been circulated.

It was moved by Councillor Ric Metcalfe and seconded by Councillor Neil Murray that:

(1)        Councillor Patrick Vaughan be appointed as the Vice-Chair of the Licensing Committee.

(2)        Councillor Patrick Vaughan be appointed as the Chair of the Performance Scrutiny Committee.

(3)        Councillor Lorraine Woolley be appointed as the Vice-Chair of the Performance Scrutiny Committee.

(4)        The appointment of Councillor Helena Mair to a vacancy on the Performance Scrutiny Committee be noted.

(5)        Councillor Patrick Vaughan be appointed as the Chair of the Housing Scrutiny Sub-Committee.

(6)        Councillor Lorraine Woolley be appointed as the Vice-Chair of the Housing Scrutiny Sub-Committee.

(7)        The appointment of Councillor Jane Loffhagen to a vacancy on the Housing Scrutiny Sub-Committee be noted.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Tom Dyer and seconded by Councillor Hilton Spratt, the effect of which was to delete “Councillor Patrick Vaughan” from (2) and (5) above and replace with “Councillor Christopher Reid”.

Arguments in support of the amendment included:

·         Opposition councillors were given roles chairing overview and scrutiny committees in other local authorities, such as the county council’s Overview and Scrutiny Management Board.

·         National reports and government guidance supported the practice of some of the overview and scrutiny chairing roles being held by opposition councillors, as a means of constructively holding the executive to account.

Arguments against the amendment included:

·         The overview and scrutiny process at the City Council was apolitical and these committees were conducted in a constructive way by all members of overview and scrutiny committees. There have never been any questions raised over the independence of the Council’s overview and scrutiny function, which was fully supported by all members of the Executive.

·         Previous City Council administrations, when controlled by the current opposition, had not taken an approach of offering chairing roles to the opposition group.  

On being put to the meeting, the amendment set out above was declared lost.

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

RESOLVED

(1)          That Councillor Patrick Vaughan be appointed as the Vice-Chair of the Licensing Committee.

(2)          That Councillor Patrick Vaughan be appointed as the Chair of the Performance Scrutiny Committee.

(3)          That Councillor Lorraine Woolley be appointed as the Vice-Chair of the Performance Scrutiny Committee.

(4)          That the appointment of Councillor Helena Mair to a vacancy on the Performance Scrutiny Committee be noted.

(5)          That Councillor Patrick Vaughan be appointed as the Chair of the Housing Scrutiny Sub-Committee.

(6)          That Councillor Lorraine Woolley be appointed as the Vice-Chair of the Housing Scrutiny Sub-Committee.

(7)          That the appointment of Councillor Jane Loffhagen to a vacancy on the Housing Scrutiny Sub-Committee be noted.