Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 5 December 2024 be confirmed as a true record.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 25 November 2024 be received.

No declarations of interest were received.

Joshua Wells, Portfolio Holder for Inclusive Economic Growth:

a)    advised that this Portfolio was last scrutinised in September 2023 and since then he had enjoyed fully emerging himself in his new role as Portfolio Holder.

b)    presented his report to Performance Scrutiny Committee providing an insight into key activities and achievements and covered the following main areas:

·       Building Control

·       Car Parks

·       Commercial Development

·       Contaminated Land

·       Cultural and Events Activities

·       Economic Development and Growth (Charterholme (Western Growth Corridor) and Sustainable Urban Extensions

·       Heritage

·       Innovation and Inward Investment

·       Markets

·       Planning

·       Public Realm

·       Regeneration

·       Small Business Support

·       Tourism and Marketing

·       Transport

c)    highlighted the key stand out events that he had been involved with since he took on the role as Portfolio Holder, these were:

-       Charterholme – the delivery of the first phase of infrastructure onto the site had now been completed.

-       Cornhill Market – a £5.9 million investment from the Government’s Towns Fund programme through the ‘Be Town Deal’, £1.9 million from the City of Lincoln Council and £918,000 from the Heritage Action Zone resulted in major regeneration works and completion of the new Cornhill Market at the end of 2023.

-       Events in Lincoln – The brand for the events delivered by the City Council’s events team and creating an all-year-round cultural experience for visitors of the City Centre and Uphill area. The programme was currently thriving with a lot of upcoming events e.g. Lincoln Festival of History and an awards ceremony drawing people into the city and working with stakeholders to help grow the events.

d)    extended his thanks to the team of officers that supported his Portfolio for their hard work, dedication and commitment to supporting the residents of Lincoln

e)    invited members’ comments and questions.

Question: In relation to the current market, there had been a lot of reports received about it being shut Monday and Tuesday. What had been done about this?

Response: The opening times had been contentious with the stallholders. Officers were working closely with them and had successfully agreed some core opening times. There was a mixture of hot food and beverages, hot food being the most popular. In terms of being closed on a Monday and Tuesday, this was due to small local businesses not having the resource to open, however they did open on bank holidays and during school holidays on those days. There had been a lot of reports on social media which went back to when the initial idea developed on refurbishing it. A plan was fitted out with stalls, street food and retail elements and the market was promoted on that basis. A lot had changed since and the model was different now to what was expected at the beginning. One business was finding it difficult to trade in a sustainable way to which business support was being provided. This week officers commissioned some more marketing funding in promoting events.

Question: With regards to advertising, could the Racecourse on the West Common be used as a way  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.

Jess Cullen, Democratic Services Officer:

a)    presented the Scrutiny Annual Report for 2023/24 for comments, prior to being referred to Full Council for approval

b)    advised that within the Constitution it states that the scrutiny committees should produce an annual report to Council. Chairs of the Scrutiny Committees did produce individual reports to Council during the municipal year, however, the attached Scrutiny Annual Report summarised the work of the scrutiny committees for the full year and highlighted the key achievements made under scrutiny in 2023/24.

RESOLVED that the content of the report be noted.

The Chair:

a)    presented the draft work programme for 2024/25 as detailed at Appendix A of the report

b)    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

c)     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

d)    requested any relevant comments or changes to the proposed work programme for 2024/25.

RESOLVED that:

a)    An update report be submitted to Performance Scrutiny Committee on the first meeting of the new municipal year to review the options going forward regarding inspections on flats owned by Leaseholders.

b)    The work programme 2024/25 be noted.