Agenda and draft minutes

The Mayor welcomed all members and officers to the meeting. She explained that she had already covered 110 civic engagements and summarised recent events she had attended since the last meeting of the council and also referred to taking part in the Christmas lights switch on in Scunthorpe and Mayoral Christmas concert as part of festive celebrations and in aid of her charity appeal. Details of tickets for the Mayor’s charity ball and other events would be available soon.

Declarations of personal interests were indicated as follows –

That the minutes of the Ordinary Meetings of the Council held on 5 October 2023, Extraordinary Meeting held on 5 October 2023 and Special Meeting held on 3 November 2023 having been circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and be signed by the Mayor.

Report of the Head of Paid Service/Director: Outcomes.

The Head of Paid Service/Director Outcomes submitted a report asking Council to support:-

·       the terms of a proposed devolution deal for Greater Lincolnshire,

·       a draft proposal for the creation of a new Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority to give effect to the devolution deal and

·       the carrying out of public consultation to inform a later decision whether the Council should submit a formal proposal to the Secretary of State under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 for the creation of a Greater Lincolnshire Mayoral Combined County Authority. 

The Head of Paid Service/Director in her report explained that ‘Devolution’ provided an opportunity to seek the transfer of a range of powers and budgets from Government that could be targeted to local need, used to boost growth in the local economy and level up communities. It also provided the opportunity for some current local authority powers to be exercised on a wider footprint.

In December 2022 the three upper tier councils of Lincolnshire County Council, North Lincolnshire Council and North East Lincolnshire Council, agreed to engage with government officials to secure a devolution deal for Greater Lincolnshire; agreed in principle for devolution to a mayoral county combined authority for Greater Lincolnshire; and for continued engagement with key stakeholders to put Greater Lincolnshire in as strong a position as possible to secure a deal. The report to that meeting set out the stages when Members would be asked to formally consider progress at key decision points including:

(i)              Seek a deal and enter into negotiation with government (December 2022 meeting of the Council)

(ii)             Consult on a draft devolution proposal following negotiations with Government (this meeting of the Council)

(iii)           The final proposal and to establish a mayoral county combined authority (future report to a future meeting).

The report detailed the second decision point for Council and provided for  consideration of a draft proposal for the creation of a new Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority to give effect to a Greater Lincolnshire devolution deal.  Decision making to agree the draft proposal and to consult on the draft proposal was an Executive function of the Council. In accordance with the process set out in the December 2022 Council report, the Leader of the Council was seeking the support of the Council before taking/reaching a decision.

The attached report and appendices set out the proposed decision and advice to the Leader of the Council (appendix 1) and steps required to implement the deal and to progress the process for creation of a Combined County Authority covering Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire in accordance with the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act - as the only mechanism for delivering on that deal. The report’s recommendations also enabled the upper tier councils to progress the next stages of the process including ensuring that appropriate consultation was undertaken, and comments sought from stakeholders and were considered prior to consideration of approval of a final proposal.

The report asked Council to consider and support the proposed decisions as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2967.

Report of the Director: Outcomes.

The Director: Outcomes submitted a report requesting the council to consider and approve the council tax base to be used for each part of the council’s area for formula grant and tax setting purposes.  The key points in the report were to note the council tax base for grant purposes as submitted to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), to set a tax base for setting Council Tax for the council, local parishes and major precepting authorities, and to confirm the implementation of the empty property surcharge for properties empty for between 12 and 23 months from 2024/25.

The Director in her report explained the above key points, analysed options, addressed financial implications and set out associated information in appendices 1, 2 and 3.

Resolved – (a) That the council tax base for grant purposes set out in Appendix 1 of the report be noted; (b) that the council taxbase for the Council and other precepting bodies in 2024/25 be set at 51,824.10 band D equivalents as detailed in Appendix 2 and 3 of the report, and (c) that the empty property surcharge 100% premium be charged to properties when they become empty for 12 months and over from 2024/25.

Report of the Director: Outcomes.

The Director: Outcomes submitted a report providing an overview of the Council’s treasury performance during the first six months of 2023/2024, and set out national factors that affected the Council’s Treasury activity.

The report fulfilled the authority’s legal obligation under the Local Government Act to have regard to both the CIPFA Code and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), previously Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, Investment Guidance.  The CIPFA Code required that Council received a report at the start of the financial year, mid-year and year end. The Audit Committee also received regular updates regarding treasury activity, providing assurance on the effectiveness of the council’s treasury management arrangements.

The Director highlighted the key points of the mid-year report stating that –

·       Investment returns in the first six months of the year amounted to £1.021m due to increases in interest rates.

·       Interest Rates are currently forecast to remain at 5.25% until the middle of next year as the bank of England seeks to reduce inflation.

·       Borrowing remains comfortably within the control levels set and no new borrowing was undertaken.

·       Treasury activity was compliant with the Prudential Indicators set for the financial year.

Resolved – That the Treasury Management Mid-Year Report 2023/24 be  received and noted.

Report of the Director: Outcomes.

The Director: Outcomes submitted a report requesting Council to consider, approve and adopt a draft revised ‘Protocol on Member/Officer Relations’ (Part E Code 3 of the council’s Constitution) attached as appendix 2, as recommended to Council by the Standards Committee.

The Director in her report explained that the Council at its meeting on 5 October 2023 (minute 2927 refers) approved a review of the above protocol as requested by the Leader of the Council and his Executive, which complied with good practice to review regularly codes and protocols contained within Part E of the council’s Constitution. In accordance with requirements of Article 15 (15.01) ‘Review and Revision of the Constitution’ this review and a recommended revised draft protocol had been carried out through and considered by the council’s Standards Committee at its meeting on 9 November 2023. The Committee recommended to Council that the reviewed draft protocol be approved and adopted.

The review of the Protocol on Member/Officer Relations included research of corresponding protocols of other councils, and considered the associated content of the council’s Code of Conduct for Members, Code of Conduct for Officers and the council’s Media Relations and Publicity Management Policy. The council’s current ‘Protocol on Member/Officer Relations’ is attached as appendix 1 and a draft revised protocol is attached as appendix 2. The revised draft protocol provided an enhanced guide for members and officers of the Council in their relations with one another in such a way as to ensure the smooth running of the Council and to foster good working relationships.

The protocol also sought to reflect the principles underlying the respective Codes of Conduct which applied to members and officers. The shared objective of these Codes was to enhance and maintain the integrity of local government and the Codes, therefore, demanded very high standards of personal conduct. Members and officers must at all times observe the protocol. Consequently, a breach of the provisions of the protocol may also constitute a breach of those Codes. 

Resolved - That the revised draft ‘Protocol on Member/Officer Relations’ Relations’ be approved and adopted and included as Part E Code 3 of the council’s Constitution.

Planning Committee –

(6 September and 4 October 2023)

Licensing Committee –

(21 and 28 September, 19 and 26 October and 2 November 2023)

Audit Committee –

(6 October 2023)

Standards Committee –

(9 November (x2) 2023)

Health, Integration and Performance Scrutiny Panel -

(26 September and 3 October 2023)

Place Scrutiny Panel -

(20 September and 18 October 2023)

Children’s Scrutiny Panel -

(3 November 2023)

Appointment and Employment Committee –

(20 and 30 October 2023)

Health and Wellbeing Board -

(2 October 2023)

Resolved – That  the minutes of the meetings of the Planning Committee held on 6 September and 4 October 2023 be received with the exception of minutes 2458 and 2474 -

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

Moved by Councillor N Sherwood and seconded by Councillor J Davison -

That the minute be received.

Motion Carried

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

Moved by Councillor N Sherwood and seconded by Councillor J Davison -

That the minute be received.

Motion Carried

Resolved - That the minutes of the meetings of the Licensing Committee held on 21 and 28 September, 19 and 26 October and 2 November 2023 be received.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting of the Audit Committee held on 6 October 2023 be received with the exception of minute 744 –

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

Moved by Councillor K Vickers and seconded by Councillor T Foster -

That the minute be received.

Motion Carried

Resolved – That the minutes of the meetings of the Standards Committee held on 9 November 2023 (x2) 2023 be received.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting of the Health Integration and Performance Scrutiny Panel held on 26 September and 3 October 2023 be received.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meetings of the Place Scrutiny Panel held on 20 September and 18 October 2023 be received.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting of the Children’s Scrutiny Panel held on 3 November 2023 be received with the exception of minute 22 -

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

Resolved – That the minutes of the meetings of the Appointment and Employment Committee held on 20 and 30 October 2023 be received.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board held on 2 October 2023 be received.