Agenda and minutes

Councillor C Proctor substituted for Councillor S Shreeve.

No declarations of interest were declared by members.

That the minutes of the meeting of the Joint Committee held on 19 March 2021

be approved as a correct record and authorise the chair to sign.

The Deputy Chief Executive, North Lincolnshire Council submitted a report which informed the Joint Committee of and confirmed proposed joint principles and definitions of strategic infrastructure across Greater Lincolnshire, and based upon these principles identified, confirmed and prioritised the joint strategic infrastructure needs that needed to be addressed on a Joint Lincolnshire basis.

The report explained that recently local authorities across greater Lincolnshire and the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) had collaborated to create a single pipeline of schemes which arose from the Strategic Infrastructure Delivery Plan and the LEP Plan for Growth.  The pipeline was debated at the LEP board on 23^rd April 2021 and there were plans to have a similar debate with local authorities following the recent elections.  This pipeline provided the best overview of project ambitions, but it was not comprehensive, and its delivery would require significant leadership. The single pipeline included a number of transport and of flood management/water management schemes.  These were large scale schemes which would require a strategic dialogue with the Department for Transport, Midlands Connect, Transport for the North, the Environment Agency, and other bodies in order for them to progress.

To build upon direction and momentum it was proposed that the Joint Committee identified core principles of how to define a true cross cutting infrastructure project or programme that benefitted the whole of the Greater Lincolnshire sub-region, demonstrated issues of joint interest for the Joint Committee’s members, and from that identified key infrastructure programmes where a unified greater Lincolnshire approach could add real value. On this basis the role of the Joint Committee was one of “lifting” such programmes and projects from these plans, spotting key strategic gaps and commissioning where a unified Greater Lincolnshire approach would be more beneficial and adding clear strategic oversight and support.

The Deputy Chief Executive, North Lincolnshire Council in his report proposed guiding principles of strategic Greater Lincolnshire infrastructure programmes or projects with:

-        Clear intra-boundary evidence led need and resulting economic, environmental or social benefit for Greater Lincolnshire.

-        Strategic fit within existing Greater Lincolnshire supporting documentation and where active awareness of each other’s key infrastructure projects will enable better strategic planning and deployment.

-        Where a Greater Lincolnshire collaborative approach would enhance a programme / projects success of successful bidding for funds.

Based upon these principles it was proposed that the Greater Lincolnshire Joint Strategic Oversight Committee agrees to take on board the strategic oversight of the following infrastructure programmes and projects which were set out and described in the report under the following headings –

Ø  Programme: strategic road transport corridors –

Trans Midlands Trade Corridor

A1 capacity improvements between Peterborough and Blyth

Ø  Programme: strategic rail links –

East – West South Humber Rail Link

Cleethorpes to London direct rail link

Ø  Programme:  water and flood management -

Development and implementation of the Humber and East Coast Flood Strategies

Fluvial and surface water strategies

Ø  Programme:  digital infrastructure -

Acceleration of roll-out of gigabit technology to all parts  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

The Deputy Chief Executive, North Lincolnshire Council submitted a report informing the Joint Committee of progress within the Industrial De-Carbonisation agenda and highlighted key existing work strands within the De-Carbonisation approach and which organisation would lead on them.

The report explained that to ensure that existing industrial sectors within Greater Lincolnshire remained competitive and that re-investment occurs, in addition to the public policy agenda of reducing the carbon footprint of business to meet Government targets, the De-Carbonisation agenda had gathered some considerable momentum over the last few years. This had been reflected in the decision by the Joint Committee to select De-Carbonisation as one of its key sectors of oversight. Also due to the scale of the issue and by its very nature its explicit reliance on all organisations undertaking complementary activity it was agreed that the Greater Lincolnshire activity should align and complement with that already underway through the auspices of the Humber Leadership Board. To ensure that a strategic fit and complementarity occurs a joint oversight group had been established, chaired by North Lincolnshire Council.

The Deputy Chief Executive, North Lincolnshire Council in his report explained that the ‘De-Carbonisation Joint Oversight Group had met twice with representation from: North Lincolnshire Council, Greater Lincolnshire LEP, Humber and East Yorkshire LEP, CATCH, Orsted and Marketing Humber. Guiding principles of the group were:

-        To ensure that De-Carbonisation projects and programmes are aligned in their strategic direction and positioning and that economies of scope can be achieved.

-        That through this approach any unnecessary duplication of resource is removed.

-        That common platforms and data can be shared

-        Where a Greater Lincolnshire / Humber collaborative approach would enhance a programme / projects success of successful bidding for funds.

-        Increasingly national strategies are framed within a decarbonisation agenda and the group therefore can ensure a Greater Lincolnshire context for national engagement and programme delivery

Discussions had centred around coherent messaging, brand development and further research into activity.  Existing large-scale projects included:

·       Humber Industrial Cluster Plan (CATCH / HER LEP)

·       Waterline (Marketing Humber)

·       Greater Lincolnshire Energy Council – Energy Investment Proposition (GL LEP)

·       Humber Zero (P66 + private sector + Innovate UK Govt)

·       Renewables Cluster Initiative (Orsted)

·       East Coast Hydrogen (Centrica)

·       Green Growth Plan (GL LEP)

Future activity was to research and audit the full extent of activity within the Humber and Greater Lincolnshire region, the relevant targets set (to seek a standardisation where possible) and from this develop a coherent narrative and associated target audience mapping.

The report proposed that as part of the programme management approach previously agreed that a coordinated update report be presented to the Joint Committee on a quarterly basis through the Greater Lincolnshire Joint Intelligence Strategy Unit to ensure members have clear sight of progress and synergy through such an approach. This would allow the Joint Committee to have strategic capacity and oversight whilst also be aware of the performance of each of the strands of activity. The Joint Committee’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

The Chief Executive, Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership (GLLEP) provided a verbal update report providing the Joint Committee with progress since the last meeting in held in March 2021.

Her report confirmed that the principles of the UK Food Valley Business Plan considered by the Joint Committee at its last meeting had now been approved by the GLLEP Board at its meeting in April 2021. Following this a logo and a microsite had been developed and an interim UK Food Valley Director appointed until September 2021 using LEP funding.

The Chief Executive GLLEP summarised work under the following headings –

-        Inward Investment Trade Mission, November 2021 – working with the Department for International Trade involving interested investors meeting ‘the market’ in relation to those financial organisations providing funding for the sector.

-        Investors Conference for Greater Lincolnshire and the UK Food Valley – November 2021 working with all partners and Department for International Trade.

-        Funding Bids Submitted – (i) £1m bid submitted with partners to the ‘Community Renewal Fund’ for the UK Food Valley which would test the principles of the Business Plan through the Business Support Programme, including De-Carbonisation in the food sector especially ‘Cold Storage’ and ‘Transportation’ and also innovation and to amplify the ‘inward investment’ message. (ii) A bid to national government through the comprehensive spending review to make the bigger the UK Food Valley Programme.

-        Current Inward Investment Activity – Out of 35 current inward investment enquiries in Greater Lincolnshire, 20 are in the food sector, which included private sector organisations working with the public sector.

-        Next Steps – (i) A proposal to operate a small team in the future to amplify messages nationally and a longer-term programme to support the growth of the sector. Guidance is being provided by the GLLEP Food Board whose membership includes representatives 25 of the largest food companies.

Members also discussed the need to consider as part of this ongoing project work the inclusion of (i) minimising and reducing food packaging (ii) reducing food waste during manufacturing and by consumers, and (iii) new trading patterns, positioning and opportunities post membership of the European Union.

Resolved – That the Chief Executive, GLLEP be thanked for her informative progress report, the position be noted, and further reports be submitted to future meetings.

The Executive Director: Place, Lincolnshire County Council submitted a report which set out proposals for maximising the impact of Lincolnshire Day and sought continued support from each partner authority on a programme of activities, and recommended approval of a proposed programme of activity to promote and celebrate Lincolnshire Day.

The report stated that since the last meeting of the joint committee discussions had been held with BBC local radio across the region to garner their support for proposed Lincolnshire Day activities this year, and representatives from partner councils had met to develop proposals providing opportunities for partner councils, communities and schools to celebrate Lincolnshire Day and promote local businesses and the visitor economy across Greater Lincolnshire.

The Executive Director: Place, Lincolnshire County Council in his report requested that the Joint Committee consider three key elements of this year's Lincolnshire Day celebrations the details of which were set out under the following headings –

(i)              Civic Celebration

(ii)             Great Lincolnshire Menu

(iii)           Schools

He also stated that to further promote the day within our communities, contact would also be made with town and parish councils and other local organisations and businesses encouraging them to decorate for Lincolnshire Day. An amount of flags or bunting could be bought to distribute to interested towns and parishes on a first-come-first-served basis and a suite of digital resources would to be produced for each authority to use on their website and social media channels in the run up to, and on Lincolnshire Day.

Members of the joint Committee emphasised the importance of promotion and publicity across all three key elements, and requested that officers give consideration to (i) including other community groups (ii) consult the Lincolnshire Association on their involvement in promoting the day (iii) involving tree and shrub planting with schools as a green element of celebrations (iv) involving known Greater Lincolnshire chefs to promote locally produced and cooked food (v) involve café, pubs and restaurants and (vi) reconnect and involve the Federation of Small Businesses across Greater Lincolnshire.

Resolved – That the content of the report and the development of the initiatives through engagement with key stakeholders be agreed and supported, with the addition of suggestions presented and discussed by members highlighted (i) to (vi) in the last paragraph above.

The Executive Director: Resources, Lincolnshire County Council submitted a report providing the background and supporting information to enable a recommendation on whether to support the submission of an agreed joint business case from Lincolnshire County Council, North Lincolnshire Council and North East Lincolnshire Council to the Her Majesty’s Chief Coroner. The business case proposed the merger of the two existing coronial areas to create a single area, to be named Greater Lincolnshire which would be coterminous with the three authorities. The business case proposed a model on how the service would be structured, financed and governed by the three authorities.

The Executive Director: Resources in his report explained that there were currently 88 coroner areas in England and Wales. The Chief Coroner and the Ministry of Justice have had a joint long-term plan to reduce this to around 75. On the retirement of the Senior Coroner for Grimsby and North Lincolnshire in December 2018, North and North East Lincolnshire Councils were informed their area was too small to be maintained as a separate area and they should seek to merge with another area. Discussions have been on-going since this date, delays have occurred due to the Coronavirus pandemic. An alternative business case was submitted to the Chief Coroner by Hull and East Riding to create a Humberside Coroners Area in 2019.

The Chief Coroner has been informed of the collaborative approach to developing a Greater Lincolnshire option and therefore had currently stayed the decision process, prior to receiving the proposal attached, in summer 2021. Mergers were made by Statutory Instrument; the process was outlined in appendix 1 of the report.

The Greater Lincolnshire proposal had been developed with these under pinning principles –

(i)                 No increase in cost to any of the three authorities.

(ii)                Phased approach to cost sharing to ensure (i)

(iii)              Staff and service delivery (inquests) retained in current localities to ensure   communities are served appropriately.

(iv)              Shared governance through committee and operational board. Including decisions on moving to next phase, and

(v)               Adoption of relevant IT and technological solutions to improve service to the public and drive efficiencies.

The report stated that a business case proforma has been provided by the Ministry of Justice which was currently a working document. Key areas were outlined in the report under the headings – ‘Operational Structure and Governance’ which proposed as option C that Lincolnshire County Council becomes the lead authority with North East Lincolnshire Council staff transferred across to Lincolnshire CC and a phased approach to cost sharing be adopted, especially around contracts. The revised service would adopt a single operating process supported by a single software program. Governance of the merger would sit with the Joint Committee with a possible operational board with officers from all three authorities reporting to it, and ‘Finance’ which gave a detailed breakdown of current and future financing phases and any associated future savings. Consultation on the agreed proposal would be carried out with key stakeholders.

Resolved – (a)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.