Agenda and minutes

The Mayor welcomed fellow councillors, officers and members of the public to the meeting of North Lincolnshire Council. He thanked all members and officers for their well-wishes following his recent illness, and especially thanked the Deputy Mayor, Councillor J Longcake for standing in for him at several events and functions. He also thanked Kathy Bright, Mayoral Services for her support throughout his year in office and expressed his best wishes to Sarah Newton, Mayoral Services for a speedy recovery following her recent illness.

The Mayor then stated that it was nearly a year since the Russian invasion of Ukraine and referred to the recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria, and asked the council to stand for a period of silence to reflect upon the thousands who had died from these countries and to think about and pray for their families and all associated people still suffering.

Declarations of personal interests were indicated as follows –

It was moved by Councillor N Poole and seconded by Councillor R Hannigan-

That in accordance with Procedure Rule D1.19(s) the Leader of the Council and the Leader of the Opposition be allowed up to 10 minutes to deliver their respective budget speeches.

Motion Carried

Report of the Director: Governance and Communities.

The Director of Governance and Communities submitted a report requesting Council to consider the report of the North Lincolnshire Independent Remuneration Panel in order to approve a Scheme of Members’ Allowances for the financial year 2023/2024 (or for a further reasonable period), in accordance with the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 (the Regulations).  The Panel’s report was attached as an appendix to the Director’s report.

The Council was required to make an annual scheme of Members' Allowances for each financial year. The Council may set a scheme for a minimum of one year or for a further reasonable period; previously the Council approved a scheme for the years 2020/21 to 2022/23 – the final year being the last year of the current period of elected administration. The Council could not make or amend a scheme without first having regard to recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP).

The Independent Remuneration Panel currently comprised four Independent Members, two who also sat on North East Lincolnshire Councils IRP.

Moved by Councillor Waltham MBE and seconded by Councillor R Hannigan-

(a)That the Council respectfully thanks the Remuneration Panel for their work, and (b) that all Members’ Allowances for the financial year 2023/2024 be frozen (as at the levels of allowances within the scheme used for 2022/23, appendix 1 of the IRP report refers).

Move by Councillor L Foster and seconded by Councillor A Davison –

(a)That the council thanks the Independent Remuneration Panel for its work in delivering a proposed annual scheme of Members’ Allowances for 2023/2024, and (b) that furthermore, Council accepts the recommended reduction in special responsibility allowances outlined in the report of the IRP but supports the retention of the present current level of basic allowance (as at the level within the scheme used for 2022/23, appendix 1 of the IRP report refers).

                                                                               Amendment Lost

                                                                                   Motion Carried

Councillor L Foster during the debate on the above item referred to this being the last meeting for two longstanding councillors who would not be seeking re-election in May and therefore this would be their last council meeting. Consequently, this was the last opportunity to record and thank Councillor S Wilson and Councillor S Bainbridge for their years of dedicated public service which totalled almost a century.

Councillor Waltham also referred to this being the last meeting for Councillors Allcock, England and Evison and also paid tribute to their years of dedicated public service as North Lincolnshire councillors.

The Director: Governance and Communities submitted reports relating to: –

Financial Strategy, Budget 2023/24 and Medium-Term Financial Plan 2023/26,

Capital Investment Strategy 2023-26,

Treasury Management Strategy 2023/2024, and the Director: Economy and Environment submitted the following report –

Implementation of the 2023/2024 Pay Policy Statement.

Each of the above issues were addressed within separate reports. The first report set out the council’s financial strategy, and within that framework to seek approval for the budget 2023/24 and the Medium-Term Financial Plan 2023/26.

The Director’s report explained that the Council operated within legally defined powers to fulfil a range of duties informed by the agreed ambition and priorities set out in the Council Plan. The powers included the ability to raise funding to invest locally. The Council set an annual budget based on its spending power, which included government grant, business rates it would receive and the level of Council Tax it set. The report provided assurance on the council’s financial resilience, confirmed that the estimates presented in the report were robust and that reserves were adequate. This met the requirements of section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003 and provided a basis for Council to set a balanced budget. The key decisions required in accordance with Section 31 to 52 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (and subsequent modifying legislation) were:

·                To set the council’s revenue budget for 2023/24

·                To set the Council Tax for 2023/24

·                To approve an indicative medium term financial plan for 2023/26

The Director in her report addressed the above key issues with supporting appendices.

The Council also received a report from the Director of Governance and Communities seeking approval of the Council’s capital investment strategy 2023/26 which was attached as appendix 1, and to approve the £126.1m capital investment for 2023/26. The Capital Investment Strategy met the requirement of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy: Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities. The report explained that the proposed plan for Capital Investment provided an affordable and agile approach to investment prioritisation that acted as a catalyst for investment in North Lincolnshire in support of the council plan, enhancing the quality of life for residents and ensured the safe and efficient operation of the council.

Also presented for Council’s consideration and approval by the Director: Governance and Communities was the council’s Treasury Management Strategy for 2023/24. The Treasury Management Strategy Statement  was set out in appendix 2 of the report, which had been developed in consultation with the council’s treasury management advisors, Link Asset Services Ltd. (this statement also incorporated the Investment Strategy) The report also requested the Council to approvethe Treasury Management Policy Statement set out in appendix 1 of the report,  adopt the Prudential Code 2021, the CIPFA Treasury Management in Public Services Code of Practice and related DLUHC Guidance, approve the proposed Prudential Indicators 23/26, approve the policy on the Minimum Revenue Provision, approve the Investment Counterparties and Limits and approve Maturity Structure of Borrowing Limits.

In  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2905.