Agenda item

Councillor Ric Metcalfe, Portfolio Holder for Our People and Resources:

·         Presented a report to highlight the following:

-       Key achievements for ‘Let’s Drive Economic Growth’

-       Key achievements for ‘Let’s Reduce Inequality’

-       Key achievements for ‘Let’s Deliver Quality Housing’

-       Key achievements for ‘Let’s Enhance Our Remarkable Place

-       Key achievements for ‘High Performing Service Delivery

·         Explained in detail the Key achievements for ‘Our People and Resources’ for the following areas:

-       Financial Sustainability

-       Revenues Shared Service

-       Procurement

-       Asset Optimisation

-       Emergency Planning

-       Business Continuity

-       Risk Management

-       Corporate Health and Safety

-       Human Resources

-       Work Based Learning – Apprenticeships

-       Craft Apprenticeship Scheme

-       Corporate Communications and Media Relations

-       Annual Report

-       Civic and International Partnerships

·         Highlighted future projects moving into Phase Two of Vision 2020.

·         Invited members’ comments and questions.

Question: Members asked what was happening with the UC Team and whether there were any plans? Had the draft travel plan been taken forward or was there a plan for the staff?

Response: Our UC Team had provided a first class service and had won awards. Citizens Advice Bureau asked for more funding from central government so in return government asked them to carry out UC work. Our UC Team would remain in place until the end of September. A report was going to Executive in September on how this could be moved forward. Expertise that our staff had would be missed with the Citizens Advice Bureau. Our service would be extended as much as it could.

The staff travel survey had been done regularly. The results were going to CMT and then would be passed to members before implementation.

Question: Members asked what had come out of the ‘One Council’ organisational review to make us more streamlined?

Response: Attempts had been made to stop ‘silo’ working. This was in the early stages and had a number of staff working on this. Updates would be received as the review progressed.

Question: Members asked whether any work had been done to reach out to food banks and any other third parties to help UC claimants? Members also stated that it would be a good idea to make larders aware that there could potentially be an increase in footfall when UC transfers to Citizens Advice Bureau.

Response: This work was done through the Benefits Advice Team. Relationships between third parties was well joined up and a lot of effort was being made to work together. Channels of communication with the third sector would be in place in readiness for the transfer of UC.

Question: Members asked whether there were any examples of service withdrawal?

Response: Service withdrawal had been resorted to in the past but was only ever taken up as the last resort. Proposals were yet to be brought forward if needed.

Question: Members asked whether there was anything in the pipeline to close the gap in savings that needed to be made?

Response: This was currently being worked on. Investment opportunities had been successful and if there were to be further opportunities to gain revenue through investment then this would be a good thing. Work was continuing to look for such opportunities.

Question: Members asked whether there was any interactive data for social media posts as this would be interesting to see. The IT disaster recovery needed to be upgraded so members asked whether the new system would last longer than 4 years.

Response: Interactive data was handled by the communications team so this information should be able to be received. IT systems become obsolete very quickly and IT was changing all the time to meet our needs.

Question: Members asked whether more income was collected due to the rising population in Lincoln?

Response: More income had been collected and had risen substantially due to the number of domestic properties. However, it needs to be remembered that only 16% of this was received by the City of Lincoln Council – with the rest going to LCC and the Police.

Question: members asked how businesses were being helped to maintain their shops?

Response: There was a lot of work taking place in regards to the high street including how to maintain vitality. The reason visitors came into the city centre would have to change so that it was not just for shopping. Planners used the character assessment criteria when looking at planning applications within the city centre and would continue to do so. An expression of interest regarding a grant for shop frontages was being put in to Historic England.

Question: Members asked whether the new allotment site on Melbourne Road was open?

Response: The works had been specified and were ready to start work on site once land had been appropriated from HRA.

Question: Members asked how much had been spent on Western Growth Corridor?

Response: About £1.4m had been spent to bring the project to planning application stage. Cllr R Metcalfe was confident that this had been money well spent and would soon see the benefits to the city.

Question: Members asked whether there would be an all member consultation on Western Growth Corridor?

Response: There had been a significant amount of improvement with regard to the public opinion on the project. the results of the public consultation undertaken by the development team were available on our website as are the replies to the formal planning consultation process.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder Report be noted.