Agenda and minutes

The Mayor welcomed all members and officers to the meeting. He referred to the recent sad death of Roni Wilson, Councillor Stuart Wilson’s wife and on behalf of all councillors expressed their thoughts for Councillor Wilson and his family at this sad time. The council then observed a minute's silence in memory of Roni Wilson.

The Mayor summarised recent events he had attended including the recent Lincolnshire Day at Normanby Hall. On behalf of the Council, he also congratulated Peter Thorpe on his appointment as the council’s new Chief Executive and invited him to respond. Peter Thorpe thanked the Mayor and stated that it was a great privilege to be appointed and serve as Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service of North Lincolnshire Council and looked forward to working with all members in delivering their ambitions for North Lincolnshire and its people.

Councillor M Ali

Licence holder with schools transport contract.

Crosby Community Association – Trustee

Councillor T Ellerby

Scunthorpe and Gainsborough Water Management Board – Member.

Resolved – That the minutes of the Ordinary Meetings of the Council held on 25 January and 25 February 2021 (budget meeting), Annual Meeting of 25 May and Special Meeting of 26 July 2021, having been circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and be signed by the Mayor.

Report of the Director: Governance and Partnerships

The Director: Governance and Partnerships submitted a report informing Council of the Treasury arrangements, activity and performance during 2020-21. The key points being:-

·       The level of borrowing was within Prudential Indicator Limits and the Council was able to maintain its policy of avoiding new borrowing, and

·       Investment returns dropped to near zero due to the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic. The Council had taken a cautious approach to investing.

The Mid-Year and Annual Treasury Management Review was attached as an Appendix to the report and covered key issues including: -

·       Investments – The Treasury Management Strategy (TMS) for 2020/21 assumed that interest rates would continue at the start of the year at 0.75% rising to 1.25% by 2022/23. As a result of the Covid 19 pandemic, bank rates were cut back to 0.25% and then 0.10% to counteract the impact of the national lockdown on the economy.

·       Borrowing Requirement – The TMS expected that new borrowing would be required to finance new capital expenditure, replace maturing debt and the rundown of reserves. However, the Council had continued to maintain a position where its need to borrow to finance its capital programme (Capital Financing Requirement (CFR)) was not fully funded by loan debt; cash supporting the Councils reserves, balances and cash flow was used as an interim measure.

·       Repayment of Debt – During 2020/21 the Council repaid £51.6m at scheduled payment dates.

·       The cost of servicing the council’s debt was £10.9m or 9.39% of the council’s net revenue stream. This remained below the 10%-12% range which was seen as the maximum affordable level.

·       Investment Outturn – The Council maintained an average balance of £49.9m of internally managed funds with an average rate of return of 0.03%.

·       Borrowing Outturn – A loan of £9m was drawn for cash flow purposes to fund advanced pension contributions resulting in a net saving of £0.283m

·       No loans were drawn in advance of need and no debt rescheduling was carried out, and

·       Investment income was £13k compared to a budget of £75k.

The Director in her report explained that the annual report was a requirement of the Prudential Code and provided the Council with assurance on the Treasury Management operation in 2020/21, and that the Council had nominated the Audit Committee to be responsible for ensuring effective scrutiny of treasury management arrangements.

Resolved – That the Treasury Management Performance for the 2020/21 financial year be noted.

Report of the Director: Governance and Partnerships

The Director: Governance and Partnerships submitted a report which presented to Council the third annual report of the Audit Committee. It summarised the activities of the committee and demonstrates how it had discharged its duties for the period May 2020 to May 2021. A copy of the annual report was attached as an appendix.

The report stated that the annual report of the Audit Committee was considered good practice and provided a mechanism to demonstrate transparently the effectiveness of the committee and provided assurance on the effectiveness of its role.

The annual report had been approved by the Audit Committee at its meeting of 21 July 2021 and recommended that it be presented to Council in support of the requirements of the Council’s Code of Governance.

Resolved – That the annual report of the Audit Committee for 2020/21 be received.

Report of the Director: Governance and Partnerships

The Director: Governance and Partnerships submitted a report whichattached as an appendix the ninth annual report of the Standards Committee under its standards regime and associated published Standards Arrangements pursuant to the Localism Act 2011.

The report covered the period 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021 and detailed the work and activities of the Standards Committee throughout that time.

The report was approved by the Standards Committee at its meeting on 8 July 2021 with a request that the Monitoring Officer provide a copy to all Town and Parish Councils in the area.

Following receipt of this report by Council, the Monitoring Officer would continue to deal with relevant legislation and guidance, deal with complaints against councillors and provide training to North Lincolnshire Council and town and parish members and clerks, using the report to inform the itinerary.

Resolved – That the report of the Standards Committee for the period 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021 be received.

Report of the Director: Governance and Partnerships

The Director: Governance and Partnerships submitted a report in accordance with requirements of the Council’s Constitution ‘Access to Information Procedure Rules’ executive key decisions taken over the last year where the making of the decision was agreed as urgent. The report in an appendix summarised five executive key decisions taken as urgent over the last year and stated that the required public notice of the decisions to be taken were published on the council’s website, and the required agreement for the decisions to be made were obtained from the chairs of the relevant scrutiny panels.

Resolved – That the annual report summarising executive key decisions where the making of the decision was agreed as urgent be received and noted.

To appoint Lynsey Norris (Lincoln Diocesan Assistant Director of Education) to the Church of England vacancy

That Lynsey Norris (Lincoln Diocesan Assistant Director of Education) be appointed to the vacancy.

Planning Committee -

           (16 December 2020, 27 January, 24 February, 24 March, 26 April, 2 and 30 June and 28 July, 2021)      

           Licensing Committee -

            (7, 14 and 19 January, 4 March, 7 April, 15 June, 1 July, 12, 16 and 24 August and 2 September 2021)

            Audit Committee -

            (27 January, 8 April and 21 July 2021)         

            Standards Committee -

            (14 and 20 January, 16 February, 17 March and 25 March(x2), 29 June, 8 July(x2), 1 and 15 September 2021)  

            Health Scrutiny Panel –

            (22 February, 12 March and 29 July 2021)

            Governance Scrutiny Panel

            (9 April 2021)

            Places Scrutiny Panel

            (3 February 2021)

            Children and Education Scrutiny Panel

            (1 February, 16 March and 20 July 2021)

            Health and Wellbeing Board

            (18 January, 22 March and 28 June 2021)

            Appointment and Employment Committee

            (15 June, 16 and 22 July, 2021).

Resolved - That the minutes of the meetings of the Planning Committee held on 16 December 2020, 27 January, 24 February, 24 March, 26 April, 2 and 30 June, and 28 July 2021 be received with the exception of minutes 2076 (vii) and 2014(i) -

With regard to the excepted portion it was -

Moved by Councillor N Sherwood and seconded by Councillor C Ross -

That the minute be received.

                                                                                                  Motion Carried

Resolved - That the minutes of the meetings of the Licensing Committee held on 7, 14 and 19 January, 4 March, 7 April, 15 June, 1 July, 12, 16 and 24 August and 2 September 2021 be received with the exception of minute 1748 –

With the regard to the excepted portion it was –

Moved by Councillor K Vickers and seconded by Councillor P Vickers -

That the minute be received.

                                                                                              Motion Carried

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting of the Audit Committee held on 27 January, 8 April and 21 July 2021 be received, approved and adopted.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meetings of the Standards Committee held on 14 and 20 July, 16 February, 17 and 25 March (x2), 29 June, 8 July (x2) and 1 and 15 September 2021 be received.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meetings of the Health Scrutiny Panel held on 22 February, 12 March and 29 July 2021 be received.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting of the Governance Scrutiny Panel held on 9 April 2021 be received with the exception of minute 68 –

With the regard to the excepted portion it was –

Moved by Councillor D Robinson and seconded by Councillor T Gosling -

That the minute be received.

                                                                                  Motion Carried

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting of the Places Scrutiny Panel held on 3 February 2021 be received.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meetings of the Children and Education Scrutiny Panel held on 1 February, 16 March and 20 July 2021 be received with the exception of minutes 54 and 59-

With regard to the excepted portion (a) it was –

Moved by Councillor T Foster and seconded by Councillor L Yeadon-

That the minute be received.

Motion Carried

With regard to the excepted portion (b) it was –

Moved by Councillor T Foster and seconded by Councillor L Yeadon-

That the minute be received.

Motion Carried

Resolved – That the minutes of the meetings of the Health and Wellbeing Board held on 18 January, 22 March and 28 June 2021 be received with the exception of minute 27 –

With regard to the excepted portion (b) it was –

Moved by Councillor R Waltham MBE and seconded by Councillor J Reed -

That the minute be received.

                                                 Motion Carried

Resolved – That the minutes of the Appointment and Employment Committee held on 15 June, 16 and 22 July 2021 be received.