Minutes:
Question by Councillor Alan Briggs to the Portfolio Holder for Quality Housing
Councillor Alan Briggs asked the Portfolio Holder for Quality Housing the following question:
“Can the Portfolio Holder for Quality Housing outline what his team are doing to ensure our Council estate communities are maintained to the highest possible standard and what more he believes we can do to ensure we build upon place making standards?”
Councillor Donald Nannestad, Portfolio Holder for Quality Housing, reported that Covid-19 and associated regulations imposed had restricted what the Council had been able to do in communal areas in particular. Cleaning had continued but in some areas and some cases this had not always been possible. There had also been issues experienced in relation to staff needing to self-isolate, those placed on furlough and health and safety implications for staff. Councillor Nannestad reported that the Council had been especially careful in respect of its sheltered housing, ensuring the protection of its most vulnerable residents, which had been very successful and he also reported that grounds maintenance works had been continuing.
In terms of the longer term, the Draft Housing Strategy, which had consisted of a considerable amount of consultation including two briefings for all City Councillors, set out the Council’s future housing aspirations. Ward walks had also taken place with local members which had provided valuable insight, comments following which had been reflected in the Strategy document. Further consultation would be undertaken in due course and it had yet to go before the Housing Scrutiny-Sub Committee. The contents of the Strategy would be reflected in the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan, with further engagement scheduled to take place with tenants via a survey.
With regard to place making, Councillor Nannestad highlighted the new housing schemes being developed at Rookery Lane and Queen Elizabeth Road which provided significant opportunities to drive forward high standards of accommodation. He and officers had been to view other examples of high quality council housing provision at local authorities across the country, which he said would help the City Council with its future plans.
Councillor Nannestad closed by saying that he welcomed feedback from all members of the Council.
Councillor Alan Briggs, as a supplementary question, acknowledged the unprecedented nature of Covid-19 but highlighted on walks he had undertaken in his ward of Birchwood that some gardens had become overgrown and there was evidence of a lack of regular grounds maintenance. He had also seen instances of fly tipping, anti-social behaviour and graffiti and also reported that the standard of weed removal had been poor. Councillor Briggs therefore asked whether more frequent ward walks by officers could be undertaken to address some of these issues in order that the Council’s high standards were maintained.
Councillor Nannestad agreed to investigate this further but asked that all members ensure any such instances be reported to officers in order that necessary action could be taken.
Councillor by Councillor Thomas Dyer to the Leader of the Council
Councillor Thomas Dyer asked the following question to the Leader of the Council:
“Can the Leader please provide Council with an update on the payments made by the City of Lincoln Council in relation to the Government’s Business Closure Grants, both mandatory and discretionary?”
Councillor Neil Murray, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, provided a response on behalf of the Leader of the Council. He reported that the City Council was currently operating two grant schemes to assist businesses impacted by the national restrictions. The first was a scheme for businesses mandated to close during the restriction period and the second scheme was for businesses which had remained open but have been severely impacted by the restrictions.
In terms of the scheme for closed businesses, which commenced on 16 November 2020, a total of 615 applications had been received, with 428 paid equating to £727,902. 94 applications were in the system being processed and 41 applications had been judged as being ineligible for the grant.
The scheme for those businesses open but impacted as a result of the restrictions had only commenced on 30 November and at the time of the meeting four applications had been received.
Councillor Murray reported that applications were being processed as quickly as possible on a rolling basis and the team were working as hard as they could to get through the workload, whilst making sure the Council was making payments to the correct businesses.
As a supplementary question, Councillor Dyer asked whether there were any further updates on additional support packages and, considering that Lincolnshire had been placed in Tier 3, whether an assurance could be given that the Council would make payments promptly.
Councillor Murray reported that the two grant funding schemes, as set out above, were those which the Council was currently administering to support businesses, with the second scheme in relation to those businesses still open providing the Council with more discretion. Details of that scheme were still in the process of being considered in terms of its scope and eligibility criteria. He provided an assurance that the team would ensure the money received from Government was allocated to as many eligible businesses as possible in Lincoln, and as promptly as possible.