Agenda and minutes

Councillor Calum Watt, Chair of the Community Leadership Scrutiny Committee, opened the meeting with a brief round of introductions and offered a warm welcome to external guest speakers. Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Hilton Spratt, Councillor Rachel Storer and Councillor Aiden Wells. Councillor Mark Storer was in attendance as substitute.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 26 September 2023 be confirmed and signed by the Chair as an accurate record. Councillor Matthew Fido wished his abstention be recorded as he was not present for the meeting to which the minutes related.

No declarations of interest were received.

The Committee received a collaborative presentation from guest speakers, Charlotte Brooks, (Director, Local Motion), Vicky Henderson, (Community Commissioner, Local Motion), Tinashe Chipawe, (Community Commissioner, Local Motion), Graham Metcalfe (Partnership Manager, Department for Work and Pensions) and Martin Walmsley (Assistant Director, Shared Revenues and Benefits, City of Lincoln Council and North Kesteven District Council). During consideration of the presentation, the following points were noted:

Charlotte Brooks – Local Motion

·       LocalMotion was a national network, comprised of six national funders

·       LocalMotion worked around post-industrial locations and was part of a ten-year journey which would run to 2031

·       A decision was awaited for the funding allocation for phase three to support the programme to 2031

·       Within phase two, called Building Momentum and Development, approximately £350,000 was issued to Lincoln which enabled exploration of what held people back, how residents felt about living in Lincoln and what their aspirations and visions were for a flourishing future

·       Themes that emerged and under continuous development were around community-led prosperity, aspirations and sustainability

·       Community led evaluation included investigators on the ground. 180 people applied for the role and work had occurred with every applicant to ensure their voice was heard during the movement.

·       Under Prosperity was the Lincoln Poverty Truth Commission where commissioners met on a regular basis and had commenced in January 2023.

·       There had been a story telling event in March 2023 whereby five brave commissioners shared their personal experiences of poverty and struggle.

·       Consideration had been given to what poverty looked like post pandemic in Lincoln in 2023

Vicky Henderson and Tinashe Chipawe, Community Commissions, shared their personal stories with Members of the Committee. Within the presentation, the following points were noted:

·       There was a desire to be part of a change for future generations

·       If organisations had worked together and had joined up more effectively, negative outcomes could have been avoided

Martin Walmsley, Assistant Director, Shared Revenues and Benefits - City of Lincoln Council and North Kesteven District Council

·       Confirmed attendance to the first meeting of the Poverty Truth Commission and was surprised by the lack of formality – however this was a positive

·       Within the revenues department, money was paid and collected but consideration needed to be given to what had changed for people. The service was not merely transactional and could have a significant positive impact on people’s lives

·       The pandemic happened and from that,  cost-of-living challenges ensued. Work with the voluntary sector increased significantly and it was important to take ownership of an individual circumstances and to make a difference

·       The sessions encouraged perceived decision makers not to signpost individuals elsewhere but to facilitate help and follow it up

·       There was an internal cost of living team comprised of three people that delivered for North Kesteven District Council (NKDC) also and there were no targets on calls as a focus on outcomes was of more importance

·       The Commission was in the business planning stage which included performance indicators however the focus was predominantly on outcomes

·       Current changes that had been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54a

Consideration was given to the Committee’s Work Programme. Further to scoping discussions, the Democratic Services Officer confirmed that the focus of the Committee’s work for the beginning of the new calendar year would include an update on Youth Engagement which would be brought before the Committee in January 2024. The Democratic Services Officer advised that confirmation of attendance had been received from Toby Ealden, Artistic Director & CEO - Zest Theatre and Sukhy Johal MBE, Director of the Centre for Culture and Creativity - University of Lincoln.

It was agreed that Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (LPFT) be invited back before the Committee for an update on the temporary Closure of Lincolnshire's Male Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) - The Hartsholme Centre. The Democratic Services Officer confirmed that the item would be brought before the Committee during the first meeting of the new calendar year, 2024.

It was agreed, at the Chair’s request, that Development Plus and a representative from Lincolnshire County Council be invited to attend Committee in relation to Sheltering Our Citizens. It was agreed that the item would be brought before the Committee in March 2024.