Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest declared at the meeting.

Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 24 January 2022 having been circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and be signed by the chair.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting of the Joint Committee held on 10 December 2021 be received and where necessary approved and adopted.

Presentation by the Director of Public Health

The Deputy Chief Executive on behalf of the Director of Public Health gave an oral presentation updating the cabinet on –

·       Key Milestones from the Government’s ‘Living with Covid19 Strategy’

·       Government’s Response to Living with Covid19, and

·       Greater Lincolnshire Public Health’s response to ‘Living with Covid19 Strategy.’

Resolved – That the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Public Health be thanked for the presentation, and (b) that officers of the council and its partners be thanked for their continuing hard work.

Report of the Director: Children and Families

The Director: Children and Families submitted a report seeking approval of the updated Care Leavers Financial Policy, which outlined the package of financial support available to young people leaving care. The updated policy was attached as an appendix to the report.

The Director in her report explained that the Children Act 1989 ‘Guidance and Regulations Volume 3: Planning Transition to Adulthood for Care Leavers’ set out the requirement for Local Authorities to have a ‘clear written and transparent financial policy’ that ‘sets out what entitlements young people have’. The guidance also stated that the financial policy should be reviewed every year by the local authority and set out how the local authority as a ‘good corporate parent’ would assist the young person with financial support to achieve economic well-being and make a positive and successful transition to adulthood. North Lincolnshire’s financial policy to care leavers was therefore a key component in successfully delivering the outcomes identified within the Multi-Agency Children in Care and Care Leavers Plan 2020-2022.

The report stated that the policy continued to contain financial support available to young people in specific areas, to raise ambitions and promote outcomes. This included financial support to young people to access further and higher education; to promote education and career opportunities; support for young parents to ensure they could be best possible parents to their children and reduce the risk of children of care leavers becoming looked after; financial support to support young people’s social development, in order to reduce social isolation and promote positive emotional wellbeing.

The revised policy contained additional financial support with an increase in the living allowance for young people to help towards their living costs. The plan would be to review this element of the financial policy within six months. In addition, the revised policy included an increase to the financial support ensuring that care leavers aged 18+ were able to keep in touch including the provision of Wifi/Mifi and, in exceptional circumstances, through the provision of a mobile phone. In order to support effective transition to adulthood, access to this support would be needs assessed through identification within the young person’s Pathway Plan. In the case of young people accessing further or higher education or training, the provision of Mifi/Wifi/digital connectivity would always be provided to support ongoing education and learning. Furthermore, the revised financial policy included an increase in financial support towards driving lessons recognising the cost of lessons. It was considered important to support young people in the steps to obtaining a driving licence which could open up further opportunities for employment.

Resolved – That the implementation of the revised Financial Policy attached as an appendix to the Director’s report, be approved in order to provide greater tools and resources to support young people in line with and exceeding national best practices.

Report of the Director: Children and Families

The Director: Children and Families submitted a report presenting the outcomes detailed in the North Lincolnshire Ofsted/CQC Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) inspection letter. The letter details the many strengths of the local area and identifies some areas for further development, notably, there are no significant weaknesses identified and no Written Statement of Action was issued. The excellent inspection outcome should be noted and celebrated.

The report explained that between 6 December and 10 December 2021, Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) conducted a joint inspection of the local area of North Lincolnshire to judge the effectiveness of the area in implementing the SEND reforms as set out in the Children and Families Act 2014. During the inspection week, inspectors spoke with children and young people, parents and carers, local authority and NHS officers. They visited a range of providers and spoke to leaders, staff and governors about how they were implementing the special educational needs reforms.

Inspectors looked at a range of information about the performance of the local area, including the local area's self-evaluation. Inspectors met with leaders from the local area for health, social care and education. They reviewed performance data and evidence about the local offer and joint commissioning.

Ofsted reported on the outcome of the inspection in a published letter with judgements in narrative form rather than a 4-point grading scale. The letter outlined areas of strength and key priorities for improvement. Where inspectors have significant concerns in how a local area is meeting its duty to children and young people with SEND, a Written Statement of Action was issued.  At the time of the North Lincolnshire local area inspection, of the 11 local areas inspected since the resumption of inspections in June 2021, 10 (91%) had received a Written Statement of Action.  Similarly, the outcomes of 13 local areas in the Yorkshire and Humber region were known and of these 13 local areas, 8 (62%) had received a Written Statement of Action.

The report stated that the inspection outcome was a positive assessment of the high quality of North Lincolnshire’s services across the early years, education, health and social care.  Inspectors praised the suite of strategies that were in place in North Lincolnshire to help young people achieve better outcomes, access opportunities and lead better lives.  Inspectors recognised the strong partnership working that existed across the local area between the council, health partners, our schools, early years services, colleges and other professionals to enable early identification and continuing support for children and young people with SEND and their families.  Inspectors also acknowledged the effectiveness of the support provided by all agencies at key transition points and the range of opportunities available to develop independence and life skills.  Also highlighted were the quality of leadership, the strength of partnerships, a clear commitment to co-production and the dedication of the teams within North Lincolnshire which clearly helped children, parents and carers in our local communities.  A summary of the statements from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1470.

Report of the Driector: Governance and Communities

The Director: Governance and Communities submitted a report which updated Cabinet on the renewed pledges for Refugee Resettlement in North Lincolnshire, to seek approval for North Lincolnshire Council to support the extension of the local offer previously agreed in June 2021 for both the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and the United Kingdom Resettlement Scheme (UKRS) and confirmed North Lincolnshire Council’s support and involvement in any future Ukraine Resettlement Programme.

The Director in her report explained that North Lincolnshire had been involved in the resettlement of refugees since 2015 and in that period had resettled ten families from Syria and Iraq within the UKRS Scheme. In August 2021 North Lincolnshire Council agreed to be part of the Afghan Locally Employed Staff (LES) Scheme and the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) Commitment was made to relocate and house six families in North Lincolnshire in 2021/22. All the commitments were based on a fair share allocation across Yorkshire and Humber and on population and capacity.

The report stated that a collaborative, cross government approach was being taken to support the effective integration of all Refuges who chose to come to the UK including engagement with local authorities and each of the eleven Strategic Migration Partnerships across the UK.   The two Refugee resettlement schemes were continuing, and North Lincolnshire were required to renew its pledge on future numbers for each of the two schemes over the next two years to March 2024. From a North Lincolnshire perspective, our newly suggested combined allocation, based on the fair share was 30 people, 15 for ARAP and 15 for UKRS, this was likely to constitute six households, with three families from each scheme.

On 14th March 2022 the Government (DLUHC) announced the “Homes for Ukraine” Scheme. The scheme would allow individuals, charities, community groups and businesses in the UK to bring Ukrainians to safety – including those with no family ties to the UK. Phase one of the scheme would allow sponsors in the UK to nominate a named Ukrainian or a named Ukrainian family to stay with them in their home or in a separate property. The Council would support and promote the scheme acting as a link to DLUHC for Charities, faith groups and local community organisations and individuals who wish to be involved in the scheme. If a Phase Two Resettlement Scheme for Ukrainians was launched, North Lincolnshire Council was committed to participate in the scheme based on a fair share agreement and in line with national policy. Financial and related resource implications were set out in the report.

Resolved - That the Cabinet approves the renewal of North Lincolnshire Council’s pledge for 2022- 24 as detailed in the report and receive the number of refugees set out in the report.

Report of the Director: Governance and Communities

The Director: Governance and Communities submitted a report presenting an overview of the ISA and how it would be used to inform strategy development and to seek approval to share the ISA with key stakeholders. The North Lincolnshire Integrated Strategic Assessment (ISA) provided an evidence-based overview of the place and population of North Lincolnshire, highlighting the strengths and challenges, with spotlights on key assets and areas for focus.

The report explained that the production of the ISA had involved the bringing together of a wide range of national and local data sources which had been interpreted and collated to provide a holistic overview of the place and population of North Lincolnshire. The ISA was structured into four key chapters to reflect the strategic outcomes detailed within the Council Plan, these being – Safe, Well, Prosperous and Connected. It would also help to inform the direction of other strategic activity, for example the work of the Health & Wellbeing Board, including the production of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) and would also assist the Community Safety Partnership to produce the Joint Strategic Intelligence Assessment (JSIA).

The previous ISA was produced in June 2019 and this iteration provided an updated position since that time, against a range of macro and micro indicators. The ISA would be published online, made available on the Council’s intranet and shared with partners as a source of reference to be used by colleagues. A summary of the key findings contained within the ISA was provided in appendix 1 to the report.

Resolved - That the North Lincolnshire Integrated Strategic Assessment (ISA) be approved and published.

Report of the Director: Governance and Communities

The Director: Governance and Communities submitted a report updating Cabinet on the delivery of the COVID-19 Mid-Term Recovery Plan, highlighting the Council’s progress and achievements in responding to and recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic between September 2021 and March 2022. It also sought confirmation that the recovery period had now reached a natural conclusion and the Mid-Term Recovery Plan could be ended.

The Director in her report emphasised that but as national legal restrictions had come to an end, the council’s efforts to keep people safe from COVID-19 and continue the local recovery would form part of business-as-usual activity and be guided by the new Council Plan 2022-25. The Council would continue to monitor local COVID-19 data and respond to any further national policy changes as they arise. The local ‘Living with Covid Framework’ remained in use to keep the Council workforce safe and well, keep local resilience at a generally manageable level and ensure that COVID-19 positive cases among staff remained low. The update Mid-Term Recovery Plan was attached as an appendix to the report.

Resolved – That the report be noted and and the decision that the COVID-19 Mid-Term Recovery Plan is brought to a close and that going forward, the Council’s COVID-19 protection efforts will be integrated into regular business-as-usual activity be endorsed.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report which briefed Cabinet on Central Government policy regarding Devolution policy, and sought its approval for a proposed joint engagement through the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership with the business community of Greater Lincolnshire seeking their views to help inform potential future policy decisions.

The report referred to devolution options and opportunities provided through and since the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016, and new opportunities proposed through the Government’s Levelling Up White Paper. The Deputy Director in his report stated that the Government saw Devolution Deals as a central plank towards their Levelling Up agenda. As such, the key and prioritised elements of their framework are economic in focus. The key identified economic areas included:

·       Skills – at all levels, including skills improvement plans and contracted employment programmes,

·       Business Support – through bespoke and measured schemes, Shared Prosperity Funds and an enhanced advocacy role,

·       Infrastructure – enhanced and better aligned budgets for transport, broadband and utilities, and

·       Investment – new regeneration partnership role for Homes England, possibility of Development Corporations and access to Brownfield land remediation.

The report recommended as Option1 that a structured and prioritised business engagement model was entered into to ensure that the possible benefits of devolution were conveyed successfully to the business community and that in return this sectors views were heard and understood. Such an approach would help both direct and strengthen any final “deal” submission to Government. It was proposed that the central coordinating organisation for undertaking such an approach is the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership (GLLEP). The GLLEP had both an existing three – county reach and direct contact to both larger and SME businesses. The GLLEP would utilise a model of information, advice and guidance on what a “deal” may bring and the implications for the business community

To enable this approach to happen both quickly and to have the desired reach the three upper tier authorities and districts would make available commensurate resources from their respective business development teams. The aim was to receive both qualitative and quantitate business and business organisations responses by the end of June 2022. The outcome would be truly representative engagement and endorsement from business and their sector and trade organisations to help set direction and support any future potential bid for a devolution deal. The report also outlined a further two options.

Resolved – That a joint engagement through the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership with the business community of Greater Lincolnshire seeking their views to help inform potential future policy decisions be approved.

Report of the Director: Economy and Environment

The Director: Economy and Growth submitted a report which considered and sought approval of a policy for the implementation of 20mph speed limits and zones in North Lincolnshire.

The Director in her report explained that a ‘20mph limit’ was where the speed limit had been reduced but there are no physical measures to reduce vehicle speeds in the area. Drivers were alerted to the speed limit with 20mph signs and repeaters. A ‘20mph zone’ used traffic calming measures to reduce the adverse impact of motor vehicles on built up areas. The principle was that the traffic calming slowed vehicles down to speeds below the limit and in this way the zone becomes ‘self-enforcing’. Speed humps, chicanes, planting and other measures could be used to physically and visually reinforce the nature of the road. There was good evidence that traffic calming measures reduced speed to at least 24mph or less.

The report stated that to allow for more consistency in the application of speed limits the Department for Transport (DfT) had produced guidelines for local authorities to follow when applying speed limits. The government currently advised that 20mph should be self-enforcing. Guidance from both the Department for Transport (DfT) on implementing a 20mph limit and National Police Chief Council (NPCC) on enforcement, must be observed. Guidance from the Department for Transport and the National Police Chiefs Council was that both 20mph limits and 20mph zones should be self-enforcing.

A proposed ‘North Lincolnshire Council 20mph Speed Limit Policy’ was detailed in an appendix to the report enabling requests for 20mph limits or zones to be assessed using the policy. Streets meeting the criteria could then be considered for a reduction in speed limit where resources allowed. Where demand was greater than the resources available the scheme prioritisation criteria would be used to manage that demand.

Resolved – (a) That the proposed ‘North Lincolnshire Council 20mph Speed Limit Policy’ and accompanying prioritisation criteria for managing demand for 20mph speed limit requests as set out in appendix 1 be approved, and (b) that Cabinet be kept informed of progress on delivery of programmes associated with 20mph speed limits.