Agenda and minutes

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

There was no public participation.

(a)          Meeting of the Prosperous Communities Committee – 4 June 2019.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Prosperous Communities Committee held on 4 June 2019 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

(b)          Meeting of the Concurrent Prosperous Communities Committee and Corporate Policy and Resources Committee – 11 June 2019.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Concurrent Prosperous Communities Committee and Corporate Policy and Resources held on 11 June be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Setting out current position of previously agreed actions as at 8 July 2019.

Members gave consideration to the Matters Arising Schedule which set out the current position of all previously agreed actions as at 8 July 2019. 

It was noted that the remaining green action related to an item which needed adding to the Committee’s work plan.  This would be picked up in due course.

Concern was expressed at the delay in progressing the Social Lettings Policy which would now be considered some 18 months’ since the original motion.

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

Members may make any declarations at this point but may also make them at any time during the course of the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made at this stage of the meeting.

Members gave consideration to a report which assessed the performance of the Council’s services through agreed performance measures, as at the end of Period 1 for the 2019/2020 year.    Members were asked to review performance and recommend areas where improvements should be made, having regard to any remedial measures already included within the report.

The report summary was structured to highlight those areas that were performing above expectations, and those areas where there was a risk to either performance or delivery.

Table two identified measures where performance was outside agreed tolerance for two periods or more.  Measures where additional improvement actions had been requested by Management Team had also been highlighted, these primarily related to the Home Choice Function.

Debate ensued and the majority of Councillors indicated they were pleased with the report and welcomed the improved clarity; the recommendations were moved and seconded.

However concern was raised that the Committee were not being challenging enough. Some Members considered the situation in respect of the Market dire, and suggested the Council had given up and were doing nothing to try and reverse the trend.  It also questioned why the measures had been changed.

In response, Officers advised the report was an exception basis report, and therefore only those measures which were falling above or below their target featured. Assurance was offered that the Markets Team were undertaking lots of work in accordance with the previous decisions undertaken by the Committee. This included an options appraisal with the results due to be reported to the Committee in December.  Concern was expressed that the timeline was too long.

The Executive Director for Economic and Commercial Growth summarised to the committee the current position, in terms of previous decisions.  The Council were currently in a one year contract with Marshalls Yard for increased promotion of the Markets and two Annual Events, the impact of this would be included within Decembers report, as the contract reached its conclusion.

There was a general discussion regarding some of the alternative options which should be explored, including charity markets and boot sales.  The weekend event organised in June had proven that people would come to the Market place if there was something there.  Members spoke at length regarding the challenges Markets across the country faced, although this was disputed by some, with the suggestion that a more inventive stance was required.

In light of the comments raised, particularly regarding the Saturday market operations, it was apparent the Team Manager’s comments included with the report had not satisfied the Committee’s concerns. 

Members therefore requested that the Market Manager be requested to provide additional comments in respect of the improvement works and efficiencies being generated in respect of the Market Operations in the next report.  In the event that Members’ remained dissatisfied, it was suggested that the Markets Manager be requested to attend a future meeting.

On that basis it was RESOLVED that: -

having critically appraised the performance of the Council’s services through agreed performance measures, and having  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

Members gave consideration to a report which aimed to give Members a comprehensive knowledge of the scheme, its progress to-date and sought agreement for West Lindsey District Council to participate.

In response to Members’ questions Officers confirmed any funding allocated from the Home Office could only be used to re-house families identified through the scheme.  The process for selecting families and the background checks undertaken by the Home Office were explained to the Committee.  Officers further confirmed that the District Council would get a choice as to the size of the family located within District and this would be very much dependent on the accommodation the District Council offered up.  Consideration would also be given to local accessible services.

Members noted that the report advised a further report would be submitted to Members in three years’ time. Members requested that they be updated on a more regular basis, and at least advised once any families had been re-located in the area.

Officers indicated they would look to include information in the October / December Members Bulletin, in the event that a family was located in the area.  Members noted an agreement to participate in the Scheme did not necessarily mean a family would instantly be allocated.  This would be dependent on a “suitable match” being identified.

Thanks were expressed to the Housing Team for the quality report.

RESOLVED that West Lindsey District Council participate in the Home Office Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme and agree to accommodate two households.

Members gave consideration to a report designed to offer support to the Rural Services Network campaign for a fully funded Rural Strategy, and in response to a motion submitted to Council earlier in the year.

Members across the Chamber were supportive of the campaign’s plight.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)           the challenges set out in the report are the challenges that a fully funded Rural Strategy would need to address; and

(b)           the RSN Campaign be supported and the Chairman of the Prosperous Communities Committee write to Sir Edward Leigh and the relevant government minister in support of the RSN campaign for a fully funded Rural Strategy ahead of Brexit.

Changes in National Policy, including updates as detailed in the report, had made a review to the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan necessary. 

West Lindsey District Council in the role of consultee had an opportunity to provide comments on the initial Issues and Options Paper, which consisted of 26 questions and considered a range of policies and some suggested updates.

This was the first of a number of consultations on the Local Plan review which gave West Lindsey District Council an opportunity to comment, shape and inform the final draft to be submitted for examination.

Prosperous Communities Committee as West Lindsey District Council’s Policy Committee were requested to consider the Issues and Options Consultation paper and provide where appropriate responses to the issues raised.

The Chairman and Vice Chairmen of Prosperous Communities Committee, with the support of Officers, had provided an initial consultation response on behalf of West Lindsey District Council, which was attached as appendix A to the report.  The Committee were asked to consider, agree and endorse the consultation response for submission.

Debate ensued during which the following points were noted for re-checking before the submission was made: -

·         Question 6c – the sentence was repeated.

·         Question 13b – the response was fairly repetitive and both yes and no were ticked

·         Question 6e - the clarity of the wording was questioned.  The real issue was in fact that a greater understanding as to how the village boundaries and numbers had been calculated in relation to address points.  Taking the specific example of Middle Rasen, this had moved from a large to a medium village.  It was assumed that this was because the methodology was looking at dwellings within a defined grouping on a map rather than looking to the historic Parish boundaries and as such why there were some discrepancies between numbers.

·         There was a missing “d” from one of the responses contained on page 111.

·         The call for sites elements always caused concern and as such careful thought in relation to the sustainability of villages needed to be considered at all times.

In response to other comments expressed, Members acknowledged it was important to promote the consultation to Parishes to ensure they made specific responses in regards to their areas. A separate panel was undertaking a review of designated areas such as AONBs and this work did not sit specifically with the Local Plan.

RESOLVED that: -

(a)         Members agree and endorse the proposed consultation submission in relation to the Reg.18 Public Participation stage as identified within the indicative timetable contained with the Local Development scheme (Jan 2019), subject to comments made during the course of the debate detailed above; and

(b)         Authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Economic and Commercial Growth (in consultation with the Chairman of the Prosperous Communities Committee) to submit the final version of West Lindsey District Council’s formal response to the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan Issues and Options Consultation incorporating the additional comments expressed and agreed throughout the debate. 

Member gave consideration to a report which sought to appoint Member Champions for 2019/2020 – 2020/21 Civic Years.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)            the Members named at Section 1.6 of the report be appointed as Member Champions for the 2019/2020 – 2020/21 Civic Years namely: -

(b)         the information contained in section 2 of the report be noted, namely: -

·         Member Champions to provide a report for the West Lindsey Members Newsletter at least every 6 months; the first of these reports for new appointments will be due for the January 2020 newsletter;

·         a review of Member Champion roles be carried out every two years from May 2019 (next review due May 2021

·         the appointments above will run until the Annual Council meeting in May 2021.

Members gave consideration to the Committee Work Plan. 

RESOLVED that the workplan 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 item 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 item 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.

To note the exempt record of the concurrent meeting held on 11 June 2019.

The exempt record of the concurrent meeting held on 11 June 2019 was noted.

At the request of the Committee the Executive Director of Economic and Commercial Growth provided a brief update on progress achieved since the meeting.