Agenda item

Councillor Rosie Kirk, Portfolio Holder for Reducing Inequality:

 

a)    presented a report to Performance Scrutiny Committee covering the following key points:

 

-       Development and launch of a brand-new befriending service to provide direct support to vulnerable and isolated residents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

-       Launch and delivery of a Community Support Helpline to assist those most in need during the pandemic to access vital supplies.

 

-       Over £100k had been raised by Lincoln Community Lottery for good causes since its launch in August 2018.

 

-       Continued success of the Lincoln Social Responsibility Charter, which had seen local businesses encouraged to go above and beyond to support their employees and the local community during this difficult time.

 

-       Under the governments ‘Everyone In’ initiative the council successfully offered a place of safety to every person sleeping rough, or at risk of sleeping rough, during the pandemic.

 

-       267 successful awards of £500 had been made under the National Test and Trace Payments Scheme (as of 21 January 2021).

 

-       The Business Rates Team had been instrumental in supporting businesses in 2020/21, awarding £27million in Expanded Retail Discount.

 

-       The council had been successful in securing in excess of £1million to provide 15 units of accommodation with support for the rough sleeping cohort.

 

-       In 2020 a PSPO was brought in covering Lucy Tower Street, Broadgate and Central Multi-story Car Parks with the aim of further reducing ASB in these areas and enhancing the public image and safety of our city.

 

b)    explained the key achievements over the past year for the following areas/services:

 

-       Befriending Service

-       Community Helpline

-       Food Vouchers for Vulnerable Families in the School Holidays

-       COVID-19 Crisis Fund

-       Lincoln Community Lottery

-       Lincoln Social Responsibility Charter

-       Universal Credit and Welfare Reform

-       Test and Trace Payment Scheme and Winter Grants Scheme

-       Welfare and Benefits Advice

-       Housing Benefit/Council Tax Support

-       Discretionary Rate Relief Policy

-       Financial Inclusion

-       Skills and Training (including Adult Learning and The Network)

-       Asylum Seekers and Refugees

-       Homelessness and Rough Sleeping

-       Equality and Diversity

-       Public Protection and Anti-Social Behaviour (PPASB Team)

-       Intervention Team

-       City Centre Issues and Partner Collaboration

-       Safer Lincolnshire Partnership

-       Protecting Vulnerable People

-       Response to COVID-19

-       CCTV Service

-       World Hello Day

-       Holocaust Memorial Day

 

c)    invited members’ comments and questions.

 

Question: Members asked if what had already been achieved and what more could possibly be achieved within the remit of the portfolio could be looked into in readiness for the next member to take over the portfolio?

 

Response: Cllr R Kirk was hopeful to meet with the new Portfolio Holder once this had been agreed and carry out a handover.

 

Question: Members asked how much money was given to Bridge Church and what areas this money was to be used for?

 

Response: £10,000 was put forward in October to help families that were struggling. Not all this money was initially used and was carried forward to Christmas. This enabled Bridge Church to plan and provide for families over the holidays. The money also enabled the church to gain additional funding. The funding that remained was now being carried forward to Easter. Bridge Church covered the whole of the City via food banks and the community larder. Over the Christmas period the church went out to schools to offer food vouchers and assisted in identifying children/families that needed help.

 

Question: Members asked about the Discretionary Rate Relief Policy.

 

Response: There was a panel that met quarterly to look at this policy. The panel last met a couple of weeks ago. There had understandably been a reduction in uptake for this since the impacts of Covid-19 commenced.  The policy is regularly reviewed, and will be reviewed in line with what may be required under economic recovery from Covid-19.

 

Question: There had been only one registered incident of dog fowling in 2019 which was disappointing as it was an issue within the City. Members asked what was being done to help tackle this issue?

 

Response: It was incredibly difficult to catch people allowing their dogs to fowl. If someone was being watched then they tended to pick up the mess and most of the incidents seemed to take place during darkness. There were informal actions that took place for dog fowling.

 

Question: Members asked whether frontline staff could be trained on domestic violence such as the ‘Ask Annie Scheme’?

 

Response: There were frontline staff that were trained to deal with domestic abuse and information had been shared on our safeguarding page.

 

Question: Members asked whether action could be taken to try to avoid making cutbacks in CCTV as it was vital to the city centre and had picked up 1000’s of matters requiring attention.

 

Response: The Council wanted to do all we could to protect this service and would strive for more contributions as this was very important to the city and the Police.

 

Question: Members asked why the Portfolio Holders attendance was low at the Police and Crime Commissioner meetings?

 

Response: Attendance was low due to a bereavement and unfortunately substitutes could not be sought.

 

Question: Members asked how many noise complaints resulted in prosecution.

 

Response: There were 600 complaints received due to noise and 80% of these were resolved when a letter was sent. 20% would move on for evidence gathering but only a few would go all the way to a prosecution. Changing behaviour could be tricky.

 

Question: Members asked who paid for the Police Constable who worked in City Hall?

 

Response: This post was fully funded by Lincolnshire Police.