Agenda and draft minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 22 August 2019 be confirmed.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Housing Scrutiny Sub-Committee from 12 August 2019 be noted.

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 Laura McWilliams declared a Personal Interest. Reason: Her partner works for the Lincolnshire Football Association.

Councillor Ronald Hills declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest with regard to the agenda item titled 'Portfolio Holder under Scrutiny - Economic Growth'. Reason: He Lived in the Western Growth catchment area. He left the room whilst this item was being discussed.

Councillor Ronald Hills declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest with regard to the agenda item titled 'Vision 2020 - Economic Growth Progress Report'. Reason: He Lived in the Western Growth catchment area. He left the room whilst this item was being discussed.

Cllr Neil Murray, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth presented a report to update on the progress made within the portfolio in the last year. The following areas were covered:

-       Western Growth Corridor

-       Parking and Transport

-       Heritage and Tourism

-       Planning Policy

-       Park Ward Regeneration

-       City Centre

-       Partnerships

Invited members’ comments and questions.

Question: Members asked what was meant by ‘enjoying high quality speed broadband’ and whether the houses in the Western Growth Corridor would be fitted with solar panels?

Response: Officers wanted to offer cheap environmentally friendly energy.

Comment: Members were surprised that the members briefing for WGC was pulled recently and it would be good to have another one arranged to keep members updated.

Response: New members had not had the benefit of being able to attend the briefing that took place last year. Originally the City Council had been working with Taylor Whimpey but they withdrew. The City Council then tried to enter an agreement with the Scarborough family but this could not be reached. Lindums then offered the Scarbourough Family more money for the land and were successful in purchasing this. The City Council and Lindums were now working together as land owners for the delivery of the WGC. The Land Owner Delivery Partnership was signed in April 2019 and planning application process had started but was a very large application.

Question: Members asked whether more investment in cycling routes in the City would be included in the Transport Plan?

Response: The Transport Strategy covered more than Lincoln and covered parts of North Hykeham. The Strategy was going to County Council’s Scrutiny Committee in December. This document was to include more emphasis on cycling and walking. This Strategy was originally going to be shared with partners in September. This had now been delayed so the members briefing was cancelled and re-arranged for 11^th November 2019. If the Strategy was not received by this date then the briefing would be moved to reflect this. Amendments would not be put forward to County Council until the members briefing had taken place in order for members to have an input. The new Central Car Park was built to replace the one that was originally there and there was a need for parking as a lot of people still drove cars. In future years this would be reviewed. Car parking income was very important at the moment for the Medium Term Financial Strategy. Safe roads and cycle routes were being looked at. Officers were looking at working with other Local Authorities to help with the model shift and getting people to use more public services.

Question: Members asked how the Park Ward Regeneration Scheme was going as no data had been seen and a report hadn’t been received.

Response: Officers were working with businesses on improving shop fronts and had £1.7m to contribute towards this. The Residents Parking Scheme went down well with residents living in the area and they voted in favour. Vernon  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

Pat Jukes, Business Manager, Corporate Policy and Nathan Walker, Senior Corporate Performance and Engagement Officer (Acting) presented the updated Lincoln City Profile for 2018/19.

a)    Highlighted the following key opportunities:

-       Median annual earning for full time worker increased to £24,976

-       Over 90% of new businesses were surviving their first year of trading

-       There were less council tax support claimants – down to 8,598 as of April 2019

-       The number of affordable homes delivered in 2018/19 was 231, which was an increase of 21 on the previous year

-       The average price paid for a property increased for the 6^th consecutive year to £164,372

-       The number of people on the housing waiting list dropped to its lowest figure since 2013/14 to 1,172

-       Lincoln performed at the expected level against the Police Audit Family.

-       Gas and electricity consumption decreased for the 6^th consecutive year

-       Commercial and domestic Co2 contribution decreased for the 4^th consecutive year

-       Household waste per person in tonnes decreased to 0.36pp, which was lower than both England and East Midlands.

b)    Described the following key challenges:

-       More people (both male and female) were claiming benefits such as universal credit

-       Both female and male life expectancy dropped by 0.9 and 0.4 years respectively whilst the English averages were static or improved

-       Lincolns rate of people aged under 75 with cardiovascular and cancer related deaths continued to be the highest and second highest (respectively) in comparison to our nearest neighbours.

-       The prevalence of obesity and excess weight in children increased

-       The average Attainment 8 and Progress * scores had both reduced

-       The total reported offences had increased (more than that of East Midlands and England)

Explained the changes in the 2018/19 edition by introducing new information on Climate Change and merging the Environmental chapter to create a single chapter.

Invited members’ comments and questions.

Comment: Members commented that the Lincoln City Profile was outstanding and the visuals were really good to look at. The raw data was attached in the profile with links.

Comment: Members felt that it was disturbing to see rape, sexual assault and hate crime had increased. This rang alarm bells for performance as Lincoln was considered a great place to live.

Response: Officers were very concerned about this and it had been discussed amongst management. The crimes seem to have increased as victims were being encouraged to report them through an awareness campaign. Weapon crimes didn’t appear on the figures but did nationally.

Question: Members asked whether the statistics for the crimes had incident numbers associated with them?

Response: If the description stated ‘incident’ then this would have an incident number associated with it.

Question: Members asked whether data was available for how many people were registered disabled and received a state pension?

Response: This data was available and the percentage would be added.

Question: Members asked how the Lincoln City Profile would be disseminated as there would be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

Kate Ellis, Director of Major Developments on behalf of Gill Wilson, Principle Development Officer provided Performance Scrutiny Committee with an update on progress towards the ‘Let’s drive economic growth’ strategic priority in Vision 2020.

Explained what was covered in Appendices A B and C as follows:

-       Appendix A was the position statement which captured some of the key ‘day to day’ work by the Council that supported the delivery of the strategic priority

-       Appendix B was the Economic Growth Project Monitoring Table which provided an overview of the main projects that were being delivered in the second phase of the strategic priority

-       Appendix C was Contextual Performance Indicators which summarised performance against key economic indicators based on the targets and forecasts outlined in the Central Lincolnshire Economic Needs Assessment (ENA) 2015. The assessment reviewed a series of indicators across the Labour Market, Employment Sectors, Business Type, Business Accommodation/Commercial Property Market, and future demand trends to estimate growth expectations for the plan period 2012-2036.

Invited members’ comments and questions.

Question: Members asked what the vision was for the Greyfriars building as it was a wonderful asset?

Response: The idea for the Greyfriars building was to open it up to the public. The ground floor would tell you all about the history of Greyfriars and that it was once part of an estate. The second floor was being considered as a function room and an organisation was looking at running their operations from there.

Question: Members asked why the percentages for Jobs in were the most negative?

Response: The issue with the figures was that the baseline was established by economic forecasters. Construction percentages related to 2017 returns. Traditional skills were on the decline due to modular construction techniques and modern construction types.

Question: Members asked what was going to happen to the office space above the coffee shop at the bus station?

Response: There was interest in the office space and this was being dealt with by Property Services.

Question: Members asked what the Visit Lincoln Winter Launch 2019/20 public launch was?

Response: Officers explained that there hadn’t been a big launch due to changes in Visit Lincoln over the past year. There was a campaign that had been prepared for health and new medical students were due to arrive. This launch should take place in January and would hopefully bring better health provisions to the city.

Question: Members asked why Officers thought the economy in the last 6 years was out performing what was predicted?

Response: This went back to the late 1980’s as the decline in manufacturing meant that the economy needed to diversify and the University occupied a brown area which brought in a whole range of students who wanted to stay and set up their own businesses. Compared to other cities, Lincoln still had some very skilled people. There were big expansion plans for Waddington and Cranwell. Tourism and Heritage was very strong.

Simon Colburn, Assistant Director for Health and Environmental Services provided a verbal event report for the Christmas Market.

Explained that:

-        94 coach bookings had been received already out of a possible 200.

-       166 stalls had confirmed and paid out of a possible 210 which was more than the previous year.

-       Stalls for the medieval market would be placed at Wickham Gardens near the water tower.

-       A new area at St Paul in the Bail offered a great opportunity for live performances, including a possibility of a brass band.

-       The theme would be Victoriana for stalls and stallholders and there would be a prize for the best dressed stall and holder.

-       There would be a new lighting scheme where the castle wall walk would be lit up, new lighting scheme at the cathedral and the water tower at Wickham Gardens.

-       The castle wall walk would be open for visitors.

-       St Paul’s area would be more child friendly.

Invited members’ comments and questions.

Question: Members asked whether the wall walk would be charged for?

Response: Yes, the wall walk would be charged for and the income from this would be kept by Lincolnshire County Council. Our costs for the hire of the castle grounds would not increase this year as a positive consequence.

Clare Stait, Democratic Services Officer:

1. presented the draft work programme for 2019/20 as detailed at Appendix A of her report

2. advised that the work programme for the Performance Scrutiny Committee was put forward annually for approval by Council; the work programme was then regularly updated throughout the year in consultation with the Performance Scrutiny Committee and its Chair

3. reported that items had been scheduled in accordance with the existing work programme and officers’ guidance regarding the meetings at which the most up-to-date information could be reported to the committee; the work programme also included the list of portfolio holders under scrutiny

4. requested any relevant comments or changes to the proposed work programme for 2019/20.

RESOLVED that the work programme 2019/20 as detailed at Appendix A to the report be noted.