Agenda and minutes

Council observed a minute’s silence in memory of the late Councillor Sue Burke.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 3 December 2024 be signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 17 December 2024 be signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

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 Pat Vaughan declared a Personal Interest with regard to agenda items titled ‘Council Tax Base 2025/26’, ‘Localised Council Tax Support Scheme 2025/26’, ‘Council Dwellings and Garage Rents 2025/26’ and ‘Statement of Accounts 2023/24’.

Reason: Both his daughter and granddaughter worked in the finance department at the City of Lincoln Council.

The Mayor was pleased to report on some of the activities he had undertaken since the last meeting of the Council, which included his attendance at the following:

• A visit to Lincoln Manor Care Home in Lincoln: a residential and dementia care home newly opened in January 2025.
• Performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream by second year students at the University of Lincoln.
• The opening of a new YMCA project on the St Giles estate which was considered to be a much needed and beneficial facility for the area.
• A Christmas carol service at HMP Lincoln.
• Officiated at the Lincoln Santa Fun Run starting the event, and handing out the medals to finishers.
• Attended a Bangladeshi cultural event at St Peter at Gowt’s Church hall.
• Visited 18 Lincoln care homes across three days.

The Mayor was keen to emphasise what an honour it was to attend these events and to engage with the people of Lincoln.

There were no questions received.

Councillor James Brown to Councillor Joshua Wells

Question

“In our last full council meeting in December, I asked how many empty stalls there were in the Cornhill Market. The answer then was 9. After talking to stall holders and reading articles in our local press I'm led to believe that number has increased.  What is the answer now?”

Answer

There were currently twelve empty units, which included:

• Two hot food and beverage
• Six retail/food and beverage
• Three fresh produce (identified as fish/butchers/fresh produce)
• One mezzanine floor (identified for a bar – currently used for extra seating during winter months and event activity)

The market had been operating at 67.5%, which was slightly under the projected 70% business case. The National Association of British Markets had estimated the average occupancy rate was 72%, so the Council was not far off the average.

Over the Christmas period, the Council had worked intensively with stallholders to identify any gaps in the Council’s offer, with a view of improving occupancy and diversity. In the meantime, councillors were urged to be positive about the market and support local businesses, many of whom were fledgling and working hard to build their businesses which took a lot of time and energy.

Supplementary Question

“Did the Council regret its investment in the market?”

Answer

No, the Council was very proud of the new Lincoln Cornhill Market, which was an important asset for the City. The market was busier than it used to be and it was a far more modern space. As stated above, the Council was working alongside stallholders to improve occupancy and diversity. There were also plans to increase events at the Cornhill, which in turn would increase footfall.

Councillor Martin Christoper to Councillor Naomi Tweddle

Question

“It was great to see the Leader at the recent Local Motion Poverty Truth event. Please could the Leader share some personal highlights with any members who could not attend on the day?”

Answer

The Leader advised that she had found the event very useful and it was a great opportunity to sit with residents from within the community and to listen to their stories, who had been affected by poverty in a variety of ways. The Leader also commented that she was proud to have sat with the Assistant Director – Shared Revenues and Benefits who, him and his team, had provided vital assistance to the community during the cost of living crisis.

Councillor Clare Smalley to Councillor Naomi Tweddle

Question

“I have heard from many pensioners who have struggled this winter to make ends meet. The labour government’s decision to cut the winter fuel allowance has make the cost-of-living crisis even worse for struggling pensioners. What does the Leader of the Council suggest pensioners in Lincoln should do when faced with a choice between heating or eating?”

Answer

There were a number of organisations and partners who offered help to advise and support residents of Lincoln when suffering cost of living related issues and helped encourage the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

Councillor James Brown moved the following motion:

“This Council Notes:

1. “The Government’s English Devolution white paper in December 2024, which included reference to supporting local government reorganisation.

2. “The proposals being considered and implemented by some counties to merge existing district councils into large, county-wide unitary authorities, as seen recently in North Yorkshire.

3. “The significant concerns of residents, businesses and the third sector across Lincolnshire regarding the negative impact a mega-council would have on local democracy, accountability, and the effective delivery of public services.

4. “The financial situation of mega-councils created in recent years such as Somerset and North Northamptonshire have not improved post-unitarisation. The financial crisis in local government has not been solved by unitarisation.

“This Council Believes:

1. “Decisions affecting Lincoln should be taken in Lincoln.

2. “Lincoln is a historic seat of democracy, with the UK’s oldest parliamentary constituency and a mayoralty that has existed for over 800 years. This history would be lost in a mega-council, county wide unitary.

3. “Whilst the current two-tier system presents some challenges, the solution does not lie in the creation of vast and remote mega-councils that would diminish local voices and accountability.

4. “If unitarisation is to be implemented in Lincolnshire, it should be based on smaller, more localised areas that are aligned with existing communities and their identities, rather than one or two, county-wide mega-councils.

5. That any restructuring of local government in Lincolnshire must be driven by the genuine needs and preferences of local communities, and should not be a top-down imposition that disregards local concerns.

“This Council Resolves:

1. “At the current time, to reject the creation of a large, county-wide mega-council for Lincolnshire.

2. “To call upon the Leader of the City Council to write to all Council Leaders in Greater Lincolnshire and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to inform them of Lincoln’s wish to remain Lincoln, and request that they abandon any plans for a county-wide mega-council.

The above motion was seconded by Councillor Martin Christopher, who urged Council to vote in favour of the motion. It was stated that this was a difficult junction for the city and it was therefore imperative that this Council made its view known. It was possible for Lincoln’s identity to get lost in any proposed countywide mega council and therefore this Council should formally reject this possibility to protect its democratic heritage. The motion would also require the Leader to write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to inform them of Lincoln’s wish to remain Lincoln, and request that any plans for a county-wide mega-council were abandoned.

The Mayor invited speakers on the motion. The following amendment to the motion was moved by Councillor Naomi Tweddle (Leader of the Council):

Amendment to delete the second part of “This Council Resolves” so it now reads:

“This Council Resolves:

          “At the current time, to reject the creation of a large, county-wide mega-council          for Lincolnshire.”

The Leader explained the rationale behind the amendment was that it  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

Councillor Donald Nannestad, Portfolio Holder for Quality Housing, presented his report to Council, which was detailed on pages 17 – 42 of the agenda pack.

The report was noted.

Councillor Rebecca Longbottom, Portfolio Holder for Customer Experience, Review and Resources, presented her report to Council, which was detailed on pages 43 – 58 of the agenda pack.

The report was noted.

Councillor Calum Watt, Chair of Community Leadership Scrutiny Committee, presented his report to Council, which was detailed on pages 59 – 76 of the agenda pack.

A discussion took place regarding the return of an Armed Forces Day, which was considered a tangible and positive outcome of the Committee.

The report was noted.

Councillor Emily Wood, Chair of Audit Committee, presented her report to Council, which was detailed on pages 77 – 86 of the agenda pack.

The Chair of Audit Committee expressed her thanks to Jaclyn Gibson (Chief Finance Officer) and Amanda Stanislawski (Internal Audit Manager) for their work and support to the Committee.

The report was noted.

It was moved, seconded and

RESOLVED

(1)           That it be noted that there were no special items as defined in Section 35 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended) applicable to any part or parts of the City of Lincoln local authority area in respect of its Council Tax Base.

(2)           That approval be given to the Chief Finance Officers’ calculation of the Council Tax Base for the financial year commencing 1st April 2025 and ending 31st March 2026, as set out in the Appendix to the report.

(3)           That, in accordance with the Chief Finance Officers’ calculation, and pursuant to the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992 (as amended), that the Council Tax Base for the 2025/26 financial year be approved as £25,764.25.

It was moved, seconded and

RESOLVED

(1)  That approval be given to a ‘no change’ to the core Council Tax Support Scheme for the financial year 2025/26, as set out in Section 4 and subject to technical amendments, as described at paragraph 5.3 of the officer’s report.

(2)  That approval be given for an Exceptional Hardship Fund of £25,000 to be available for the financial year 2025/26.

(Minute of Executive 20 January 2025 to be tabled)

It was moved, seconded and

RESOLVED

(1)  That the basis of rent calculation for individual Council house rents be approved as set out in paragraphs two and four of the report, which increased dwelling rents by 2.7% for social housing and affordable rents from 7 April 2025.

(2)  That an increase to Council garage rents for 2025/26 be approved, in accordance with the proposal in paragraph two of the report, by 3% from 7 April 2025.

It was moved, seconded and

RESOLVED that the Statement of Accounts 2023/24 be approved.

It was moved, seconded and

RESOLVED

(1)  That an increase of 2.50% be applied to the existing basic allowance and special responsibility allowances from 1 April 2024 and again from 1 April 2025.

(2)  That the Members’ Allowances Scheme, as detailed in the Council’s Constitution, be amended accordingly.