Up to 15 minutes are allowed for public participation.  Participants are restricted to 3 minutes each.

There was no public participation.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the previous meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 27 July 2017 were approved as a correct record.

Members may make declarations of Interest at this point or may make them at any point in the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

Setting out current position of previously agreed actions as at 13 September 2017.

Members gave consideration to the Matters Arising Schedule which set out the current position of all previously agreed actions as at 21 September 2017.

RESOLVED that progress on the Matters Arising Schedule, as set out in the report be received and noted.

Consideration was given to a report that updated Members with regard to progress on carbon efficiency projects.

West Lindsey District Council (WLDC) are to look at a range of schemes with the aim of minimising their carbon footprint.  These schemes should also have the benefit of cost savings, and the financial savings should lead to the schemes being able to pay for themselves.

Officers informed Members that WLDC are responsible for about 1000 lamps, predominantly around pathways and alleyways, and pay for the energy. 

RESOLVED that the Capital Budget for this programme be increased to £270,000 with funding from the £127,000 Carbon Reduction Earmarked Reserve already created and the balance of £143,000 to be sourced from prudential borrowing.

Consideration was given to a report highlighting the opportunities and risks around the battery storage of electricity.

The Director of Resources informed Members that further information on the detail of the project would be provided in a future paper.

RESOLVED that members agree to officers continuing to work on Option 3 detailed in paragraph 3.2 of this report taking into account all procurement and planning considerations, and agree to receive a further report in order to confirm the level of investment required, and how this will be sourced at the appropriate time.

Consideration was given to the request to agree to release up to £30,000 from the Capital Earmarked Reserves for a replacement Civic vehicle.

Members debated the options around the civic vehicle, and the following points were raised:

·         The costs of maintaining the current car are not ridiculous, but it is time to look at a replacement vehicle;

·         There are other alternatives to purchasing a replacement car, such as hiring, getting a sponsored civic car, or using car finance;

·         The Civic function is very important to West Lindsey;

·         A figure of £51,000 was originally allocated for the car – this could be looked at as a saving of £21,000;

·         Not all of the £30,000 needs to be spent; there are viable options available below this amount;

·         With the announcement of fees and charges for diesel vehicles, options such as hybrids, fully electric and petrol cars will be looked at;

·         A British made car may be favoured.

RESOLVED to approve the capital expenditure of up to £30,000 funded from the Civic Earmarked Reserve for the purchase of a replacement Civic vehicle and that delegated authority be granted to the Monitoring Officer to negotiate and purchase such a vehicle.

Note:   Councillors Young, Rollings and Boles requested that their votes against the above recommendation be recorded.

Consideration was given to a report providing an update on the application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for Townscape Heritage funding for Gainsborough Town Centre.

Members supported the paper, and congratulated officers on getting it to the current stage.

RESOLVED to:

1.    proceed with the submission of a Stage 1 Townscape Heritage bid;

2.    approve the use of the Investment for Growth Reserve as capital match funding within the application;

3.    approve a revised budget within the Capital Programme as detailed within the financial implications.

Consideration was given to a report outlining the submission of a funding bid to the Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) to support the delivery of housing in Gainsborough as part of the growth programme.

There was one eligible end project – the infrastructure to open up the southern neighbourhood.  The content of the bid would be agreed by the S151 Officer.

RESOLVED to:

1.    To approve the proposal to submit a funding bid to the Housing Infrastructure Fund to support the delivery of housing as part of the growth programme in Gainsborough;

2.    To delegate the sign-off of the final funding bid to the S151 Officer, as required by the funding process.

Members gave consideration to the Committee Work Plan.

RESOLVED that the Work Plan as set out in the report, be received and noted.

To resolve that under Section 100 (A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

RESOLVED that under Section 100 (A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Members considered a report on Gainsborough Marina - Blue and Green Infrastructure Bid.

                        RESOLVED to agree the recommendations as written in the report.

Members considered a report on a Replacement Housing Register (CBL) and Homelessness IT system.

                        RESOLVED to agree the recommendation as written in the report.

Members considered an update report on Unlocking Housing.

                        RESOLVED to agree the recommendations as written in the report.