Issue - meetings

The Committee heard from the Senior Democratic and Civic Officer, with a report seeking approval for the recommendation from the Community Awards Panel to sponsor an award within an existing awards scheme, in lieu of holding a West Lindsey District Council Community Awards ceremony in 2023. It was explained that this recommendation had come about due to concerns raised regarding the waning support for a West Lindsey District Council awards scheme, the heightened time constraints due to the all-out elections in May 2023, with any ceremony having to take place prior to 13 March 2023, as well as overall recognition for the district-wide community involvement over the preceding few years, meaning there was some reluctance to recognise only a limited number of individuals or groups.

There was general agreement amongst Committee Members that the existing scheme no longer seemed suitable, however there was limited support for the proposed sponsorship of an award within an existing scheme. An alternative proposal was moved, that the existing recommendations be replaced with the following:

‘the Committee recommends for the Community Awards in 2023 to be suspended, on the agreement that further work is undertaken to review the awards scheme with any subsequent proposals for 2024 onwards being presented to this Committee no later than November 2023’.

This was duly seconded, and on being voted upon, it was

RESOLVED that the printed recommendations be replaced with a single motion, as detailed above.

There was further discussion amongst Members, with one noting he thought it a shame that there would be no award scheme. With the final comments from the Chairman being to recognise the opportunity to refresh the scheme as a whole, and on having had the amended motion moved and seconded, she called the vote and it was

RESOLVED that the Community Awards in 2023 be suspended, on the agreement that further work be undertaken to review the awards scheme, with any subsequent proposals for 2024 onwards to be presented to this Committee no later than November 2023.