Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 9 January 2024 be confirmed and signed by the Chair as a true record.

No declarations of interest were received.

Kieron Manning, Assistant Director of Planning and City Services:

a.    presented a report to update committee on the Regulation 7 Direction on lettings boards in certain areas of the City which removed deemed consent for lettings boards on residential properties

b.    advised that the approval from the Secretary of State  for the Regulation 7 Direction was implemented on 8 April 2019, this restriction required renewal after a period of five years

c.    requested that committee consider whether to apply to the Secretary of State for a ten year renewal of the Regulation 7 Direction which expired in April 2024

d.    outlined the areas covered by the Direction which were  Monks Road area, West End area, Sincil Bank area, Union Road and Waterloo Street. These areas were identified through enforcement complaints from residents and Councillors and by officers as being the areas where the most lettings boards were being displayed

e.    explained that a survey of the five areas currently covered by the Regulation 7 Direction was carried out on 15 January 2024. During the course of the survey only two lettings boards were identified within the restricted areas. The letting agents were contacted and reminded of the Direction and these were removed

f.     invited members questions and comments

Question:  What was the rationale for choosing the areas that were covered by the Direction?

Response: It was a combination of factors including the tracking of planning enforcement complaints, concerns raised by ward Councillors and Officers and there was also a visual survey of the City completed. Evidence that there was an issue within the areas had to be provided to the Secretary of State on application for the Direction.

Question: What would be the process if the Council wanted to extend the areas covered within the Direction?

Response: A new application would have to be made and the same process followed to provide evidence that there was a need for the Direction in the area.

Question: What was the process for the renewal of the current Direction?

Response: It was a lighter touch process, the Council did not have to follow the same process as when the application was made. This was because it would be difficult to provide evidence of an issue when the Direction was working successfully.

Question:  How was the Direction enforced?
Response: It was enforced through the Planning Enforcement Team.  There had been some isolated breaches but every case had been resolved promptly and they only required the first informal contact before the board was removed. The Direction had been a success.

Question: Did the Direction relate to lettings boards only? In the Sincil Bank area there were now advertisements on bins and in windows?
Response: The Direction related to lettings boards only. Advertisements were difficult to enforce and we could not stop people from placing advertisements in their windows. Advertisements on bins could be addressed via other areas within the Council, however, it was not covered by this Direction.

RESOLVED that the proposal to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

Emily Kate Holmes, Assistant Director – Transformation and Strategic Development:

a.    presented the revised Safeguarding and Protecting Vulnerable People Policy to request feedback before consideration by Executive

b.    gave the background to the report advising that the Council had statutory duties to undertake in relation to safeguarding and to promote the wellbeing of individuals and communities

c.    explained that the report provided an updated version of existing policies and framework to fulfil statutory duties and demonstrate safeguarding competence and compliance following a full review

d.    summarised the key policy changes as follows:

·         Updated Policy title to include Protecting Vulnerable People

·         Roles and responsibilities updated to reflect change in personnel

·         Sectioned the policy into parts for ease of navigation and to enable clear version control and updates for topics

·         Updated guidance on domestic abuse to reflect the implementation of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and joint multi-agency domestic abuse protocol

·         Updated to reflect multi-agency working practices including the joint agency escalation protocol, self-neglect protocol and joint multi-agency domestic abuse protocol

·         Updates to Prevent reflect the updated statutory guidance and Venue Hire Policy

·         Refreshed and updated links to external resources and guidance

e.    invited members questions and comments:

Question: There had recently been the first conviction for cyber flashing. Would it be included in the policy?

Response:There were areas covered the policy and procedures and multi-agency work that would cover inappropriate images but not explicitly referencing cyber flashing.  This could be looked into further. 

Question: The revised format of the policy and procedures was much more accessible. How would the policy be accessed by staff and members? Could it be circulated to Members for information?

Response: Once agreed the policy would be circulated to Members. It would also be placed on the Hub, an article would be placed in ‘In Brief” and All Member Briefings would be held. There would also be specific member sessions held on PREVENT.

RESOLVED that the updated Safeguarding and Protecting Vulnerable People Policy and procedures be supported.

The Chair of Policy Scrutiny Committee circulated a document which provided the main points discussed at the Health Scrutiny Committee meetings held on 24 January and 21 February 2024. She invited members questions and comments:

The Committee discussed the report by NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board, which provided the Health Scrutiny Committee with a summary of the proposed health care service provision to support the residents who would be living at RAF Scampton. Some disappointment was expressed that a representative  from the NHS was not in attendance at the meeting. It was noted that the NHS may not have had the relevant information to present to the Committee at the time. The Chair advised that the NHS had promised to respond to questions raised by the Health Scrutiny Committee, but no response had been received to date.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

The Democratic Services Officer:

a.    presented the report ‘Draft Policy Scrutiny Work Programme 2024-25 and Executive Work Programme Update’.

b.    presented the Executive Work Programme March 2024 – February 2025.

c.    requested councillors to submit what items they wished to scrutinise from the Executive Work Programme and policies of interest.

d.    invited members questions and comments.

Councillor Watt suggested that the meeting scheduled for 6 August 2024 be moved due to the holiday period.

RESOLVED that:

1.    The work Policy Scrutiny work programme be noted.

2.    The Executive work programme be noted.

3.    The meeting scheduled for 6 August 2024 be moved to 29 July 2024.