Agenda and draft minutes

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.

There were no declarations of interest received.

The Chair reported that a decision made by the Executive on 20 February 2023 entitled ‘Events and Culture in the City – Christmas 2023 and Beyond’ had been called in by Councillors Thomas Dyer and Rachel Storer, who had cited three reasons for the call in, and had suggested four outcomes, which were laid out on pages 4 and 5 of the agenda pack.

A.       Reasons for the Call in Request and Suggested Outcomes

Reasons for the Request for the Call In

Councillor Thomas Dyer, as the lead call in member, provided detail on each of the grounds for the call in request as follows:

(a)  The process in which the decision had been made to re allocate the existing budget provision for the Christmas Market to provide a wider events programme throughout the year including a new ‘Christmas in Lincoln’ offer, had been made without sufficient public consultation. Opposition Councillors and backbench Members of the controlling group were notified one day prior to the public announcement. The strength of public feeling was referenced and was evidenced by the petition entitled ‘Save the Lincoln Christmas Market’ organised by Rachel Whitaker. Despite a significant number of signatories, the organiser was declined the opportunity to address Executive Members. The Council had fallen short of the necessary consultation that local stakeholders expect from a local authority.

(b)  There had not been adequate discussions held with Members, stakeholders and the wider public to consider the alternative options suggested by the multi-agency Safety Advisory Group (SAG). There had been limited anecdotal discussion however no detailed data had been provided to demonstrate the feasibility of the alternatives.

(c)  The decision to re-allocate the existing budget provision for the Christmas Market to provide a wider events programme throughout the year, including a new ‘Christmas in Lincoln’ offer had not been taken with due regard to possible alternative options.

Suggested Outcomes

Councillor Thomas Dyer also explained the four suggested outcomes;

(a)  The City of Lincoln Council (CoLC) issue a full public apology for its poor engagement with local stakeholders, businesses and residents.

(b)  To undertake a review of the decision making process to ensure that decisions could not be made in the future in the absence of engagement standards having been met.

(c)  That the decision to re-allocate the existing budget provision away from the Christmas Market be paused until such time a full public consultation comprehensively considers the feasibility of alternative arrangements.

(d)  In the instance that the CoLC formally decide to re-allocate the existing budget provision for the Christmas Market, that the budget would receive full protection from decrease for five full financial years, commencing from 2024 – whereby an events programme was due to commence.

Statement from Councillor Rachel Storer in Support of the Call In Request

Councillor Rachel Storer, as a signatory to the call in, made a statement in support of the call in request:

(a)  It was disappointing that the decision to re-allocate the existing budget provision away from the Christmas Market  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.