Minutes:
Councillor Thomas Dyer to Councillor Joshua Wells
Question
The North Hykeham Relief Road is a significant infrastructure project which will provide significant traffic mitigation as well as vast economic benefits for both Lincoln and the wider region. What lobbying has the Executive member carried out to support Lincolnshire County Council with re securing this vital funding?
Answer
Completing the ring road around Lincoln had always been strongly advocated and supported by the Council. Both the Council and Lincoln businesses saw it as essential for the continued growth of Lincoln’s economy which therefore benefited the wider area. The Council also recognised that the completed ring road was needed to support much needed house building as well as the next stage of actions to address climate change, removing more traffic from Lincoln’s inner-city highway network, allowing the Council to promote better public transport and sustainable travel.
It was confirmed that conversations with Lincoln’s MP had taken place, who had publicly supported the need for the project and he continued to talk with ministers in DfT about it.
Councillor Rachel Storer to Councillor Bob Bushell
Question
We were all shocked and saddened by the news of the reported events at the crematorium earlier this year. Can the Executive member provide Council with an update on what safeguards have been put in place following the tragic events announced in July?
Answer
It was reiterated that six families did not receive the level of care and service that they and their loved ones deserved and expected. The Council had spoken with all the families identified as being directly affected by this situation and it was working with them to agree on lasting tributes to their loved ones.
The Council had since brought in experienced industry professionals to support the operation of the crematorium. Those experts had helped the Council review all of its policies and procedures and, where improvements had been suggested, they had been made. The Council was committed to delivering a professional service and the Portfolio Holder wished to reassure anyone using the crematorium that the high standards required were being met. The Council had been reassured by the feedback that had been received in recent weeks from everyone involved, and the Portfolio Holder was heartened to know the improvements the Council had made were noted and appreciated.
Supplementary Question
Please can councillors receive a fuller private briefing on this matter?
Answer
Yes, a private briefing could be arranged for councillors.
Councillor Bill Mara to Councillor Joshua Wells
Question
After only a few weeks since its opening, businesses are already complaining that the Cornhill Market is “not sustainable”. Can the Executive member explain how he is supporting the struggling market traders?
Answer
Since opening on 17 May 2024, the Market had been a real success and the Portfolio Holder was particularly pleased that it had won the Regeneration Restoration Project of the Year at the East Midlands Property Awards, which had recognised not just the building itself, but also the platform it had given to new start-up and small independent businesses in the City.
There were 30 main stalls of which only two were vacant with active discussions on-going with five businesses about leasing the vacant space.
While the Council reviewed the viability of a permanent fishmonger and butcher option in the market, it continued to explore how it used the space at Cornhill Market. The weekly Lincolnshire Local Pop-up on a Wednesday on City Square hosted meat, fish and vegetable products.
The vast majority of businesses in the market were trading well and were adapting their business models which was already seeing growth for two of the businesses who were being supported by the team.
The Council continued to support all traders in the market, which had included support from the Council’s business adviser, a 3-month rent-free period and a range of marketing activity which would continue to build, including:
Of those 28 businesses, two had given notice:
The Council continued to review its market offer as a whole, including the cost of operating as a stall holder. What the Council offered was a space that businesses could use to test and tweak their business plans in the hope that one day, they could take on an independent premises of their own.
Supplementary Question
Has the Council engaged with the current traders to establish whether any had plans to leave the market?
Answer
It was confirmed that the market team was in constant communication with all businesses in the market, undertaking daily visits and seeing if anything could be improved.
Councillor Martin Christopher to Councillor Donald Nannestad (Councillor Naomi Tweddle answered in Councillor Nannestad’s absence)
Question
Could the Portfolio Holder for Quality Housing provide figures on the number of complaints/enforcement actions taken against private landlords for homes falling below standards, ideally with a breakdown between HMO/Standard lets?
Answer
During the period from 1 April 2023 to 7 October 2024, the Private Sector Housing Team had investigated 188 complaints. Of this number, 30 complaints had been in respect of disrepair in houses in multiple occupation. In all cases enforcement actions would have been taken and the level of enforcement action would be dependent on the level of co-operation of the landlord. 133 formal inspections had been carried out, fourteen formal notices had been served of which four were of the highest category of an emergency prohibition order. The wards that had received the highest number of complaints were Park: 68, Carholme: 40 and Abbey: 34.
Councillor James Brown to Councillor Sue Burke
Question
How many Fixed Penalty Notices were issued for fly tipping and bins on streets per ward in the last calendar year?
Answer
The figures for the last calendar year 2023 were as follows:
Bins on street Fixed Penalty Notices:
· Abbey - 2
· Carholme - 2
· Park - 11
Fly-tipping Fixed Penalty Notices:
· Abbey - 13
· Moorland - 1
· Park - 13
The Council was asked to note that Fixed Penalty Notices were not the only enforcement tool available to use against Fly-tipping and bins on streets.
There were several stages before the Fixed Penalty Notices stage. For example, with bins on street, the Council would issue a community protection warning and tag the bin. However, if it continued to happen, the Council would issue a Fixed Penalty Notice. If this was not paid, the Council would consider whether it was feasible to take the matter to court for a prosecution.
The Council wanted to make people aware that it took fly tipping seriously and wanted to work with residents to put a stop to this crime. The Council ran weeks of action where it educated residents about fly tipping. In the Sincil Bank area, where there were circa 6000 residents, the Council had carried out its 2nd week of action in March 2024. This remained an ongoing issue across the country.
The Portfolio Holder requested that if councillors and residents saw fly tipping or bins on streets to report it with as much information possible, including photographs and car registrations. There were links on the Council’s website to report fly tipping or bins left on streets, or this could be done via Fix my Street, which was a useful App available on mobile devices.
Supplementary Question
What percentage of the Fixed Penalty Notices, which had been issued, had been paid?
Answer
This information would be provided to the councillor via email, as it was not available at the meeting.
Councillor Clare Smalley to Councillor Naomi Tweddle
Question
Following the first 140 days as Leader of the Council, can the Leader tell us what the greatest challenge has been so far?
Answer
The Leader of the Council reflected on the challenges since being appointed to the position. The Leader believed her biggest challenge was managing her home life and being a new leader of a council, as she was currently on maternity leave with a young family and therefore had to manage her time However, she reflected on the support she had been provided from councillor colleagues and council officers since being in the role, making particular reference to the valuable support of the Business Management Team.
Supplementary Question
Is there anything the Leader would have done differently in hindsight?
Answer
The Leader advised that she did not believe she could have done anything any differently.
Councillor Natasha Chapman to Councillor Bob Bushell
Question
While other parts of the city had community facilities, several of which had been recently revamped, there were none currently in Abbey Ward. Will the council commit to turning the old bowls club on Monks Road into a community facility?
Answer
The Portfolio Holder advised that it was regrettable that the bowls club had ceased operating at the Pavilion on Monks Road, but this had demonstrated a general decline in bowls as an outdoor sport across the city and wider, with other clubs also folding. Whilst the City Council did not currently have the financial resources to upgrade or develop this facility, it was open to exploring options if there was a community group operating locally who might wish to consider taking on and managing the facility - providing their proposed activities would meet the core values and principles of the Council, were a good fit with the neighbourhood it was located within, and they could demonstrate a sustainable business case for its use.