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 Special Prosperous Communities Committee – 11 July 2017

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Special Prosperous Communities Committee held on 11 July 2017 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

(b) Meeting of the Prosperous Communities Committee – 18 July 2017

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Prosperous Communities Committee held on 18 July 2017 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Setting out current position of previously agreed actions as at 4 September 2017

Members gave consideration to the Matters Arising Schedule which set out the current position of all previously agreed actions as at 4 September 2017.

A Member of Committee noted the ongoing interest from representatives of Age UK to attend Committee to speak to Members about the work of the organisation and asked that a date for this to be arranged.

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.

There were no declarations of interest made at this stage in the meeting.

Members gave consideration to a report regarding the current position and future options for broadband provision across the district. Members were asked to agree that Officers work with BDUK and Onlincolnshire to remove the barriers to include West Lindsey as part of phase 3 and for Officers to lobby Central Government. Further recommendations were made for Members to agree that direct support was provided to local neighbourhoods for a period of 2 years and for Committee to recommend the use of the General Fund Balance for funding of the direct support to the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee.

The Chairman explained that, having further discussed the item with the Director of Resources, she was proposing that only the first two recommendations within the report be considered at this time, and that the second two recommendations be deferred and considered at the Prosperous Communities Committee meeting in October 2017. It was further proposed that recommendation (b) be amended in that it should include the lobbying of Lincolnshire County Council as well as Central Government. The Chairman advised with Committee’s agreement that recommendations (c) and (d) would then be considered in light of this additional lobbying action at a future meeting.

The Chairman also noted an email communication submitted from a fellow Member, Councillor Strange, who had highlighted concerns about the lack of broadband across rural areas of the district and the impact this had on residents. All Members agreed about the importance of this matter.  The contents of the email were shared with Committee.

Discussion ensued regarding the specifics of the provision from existing providers and the options available with a view to achieving much increased broadband coverage. The Director of Resources explained the technical aspects of the project and reiterated the need to lobby County Council and Central Government to highlight that, given the current situation, the district would not be able to achieve 100% local broadband coverage by 2020, which would be contrary to the pledge made by Central Government. A Member of Council commented that recently there had been publicity which suggested the Government had amended the timescale of this pledge with the view to achieving 100% National coverage earlier than 2020. The Director of Resources was not aware of this amended timescale and stated he would look into it further.

On that basis and in light of the discussion

It was RESOLVED that:-

a)    Officers continue to work with BDUK and On-Lincolnshire to remove the barriers in order that West Lindsey is included as part of Phase 3;

b)    Officers lobby Central Government and Lincolnshire County Council; and

c)    recommendations (c) and (d) be deferred and considered again at the committees next meeting in October.

Members were asked to consider a report regarding the details of Part 1 of the Brownfield Land Register. The Chief Operating Officer explained that this was a mandatory requirement to collate and publish a Brownfield Land Register by 31 December 2017. The report further sought to inform Members regarding the requirements in relations to part 2 of the registers. However, it was stressed that The Council currently had no agreed plans to implement this.

The Chairman noted there had been questions circulated from a fellow Member, Councillor Smith, prior to Committee with regards to this matter. The Councillor was in attendance at Committee and addressed his question to the Chief Operating Officer for response and clarification. The Chief Operating Officer explained that the issues raised by the Councillor in his question were specifically relating to Part 2 of the Brownfield Land Register and that it was only the statutory Part 1 of the Register that was being presented to Committee at this stage. The Chief Operating Officer assured the Councillor, and Members, that should Part 2 of the Register come into consideration, it would be subject to a separate report and would be presented to Committee for further deliberation.

A Member of Committee noted the amount of work needed to implement Part 1 and commented on the seemingly short timescales. In response The Chief Operating Officer offered assurance that the Council had the ability to deliver and was currently recruiting a new Monitoring Officer whose role would include the Brownfield Land Register.

            RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted.

Members considered a report in relation to a proposed consultation on the future of garden waste service and were asked to approve a comprehensive consultation exercise with regard to introducing a subscription based garden waste collection service. The Strategic Manager for Trading & Environmental Operations, explained that the report was seeking approval of the consultation exercise only and that following this, Officers would compose a full report of the outcomes and recommendations for presentation to Committee in December 2017.

There was significant discussion about the validity and worth of the consultation exercise as well as the possible outcome. Members were assured that the scope of the consultation was to garner thoughts and opinions from across the district and that Members would not be asked to consider any possible outcomes until after the consultation period. Officers explained that the options available to those who wished to give feedback were varied and easily accessible and the time scale of the consultation was such as to give maximum opportunity for response.

Members shared their concerns about the possible result of the proposed changes to the collection of garden waste and were reminded that the purpose of the report under consideration was to approve the consultation period. Assurances were given that there would be no final decision made without further presentation to Committee.

RESOLVED that the Consultation exercise on Future Garden Waste Service (as detailed in the report) be formally approved.

Consideration was given to a report on the development of a new crematorium in West Lindsey. Members were asked to note the progress of the development to date and to agree to receive periodic updates on future work. Members were also asked to set up a working party to provide direction on the range of services to be offered to the local community.

The Communities and Commercial Programme Manager gave Members a full background of the project and detailed the proposed timescales from applying for planning permission to completion of the build, including the first public meeting to be held in September. A Member of Committee questioned the communication methods in relation to the project as it was felt that WLDC Councillors had not received the same level of information as the Parish Councillors. Officers acknowledged Members comments and concerns. The Chief Operating Officer stated that Officers would look at the communication framework between Officers and Councillors in order to share information openly whilst also maintaining confidentiality when necessary.

Questions were raised about how the working party would be established and the Chairman explained that this had not yet been set, discussions were ongoing and it would be role of the Committee to approve the membership.

            RESOLVED that:-

a)    the progress with regard to the crematorium development be noted and periodic updates on progress be submitted to the Committee.

b)    A working party be established to provide direction on the range of services to be offered to the local community.

Members gave consideration to the Committee Work Plan. A Member of Committee noted that there appeared to be differences between two items on the Work Plan that were essentially the same matter. It was confirmed this was an administrative error and would be corrected. The Chairman also informed Members she was due to hold a meeting with the Chief Operating Officer to review all items on the Work Plan in detail.

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

The Committee welcomed Mr Brendan Dyson from the National Market Traders Federation who addressed Members, providing the Committee with an overview of alternative ways of running and managing town markets to maximise the benefits to the local community.

Mr Dyson explained that approximately 65% of markets are still run by Councils, although there are an increasing number of markets which are privately operated or run by trader co-ops or community interest groups. Mr Dyson explained that the success of any market, regardless of how it was run, focussed on those managing it having the drive and enthusiasm to encourage new traders and continue the growth and development of the market.

Mr Dyson noted that in 2015 there was around £36 million invested into markets and that although there has been a decline in market trade over the past 10 years there are signs that this is starting to pick up and communities are increasingly likely to embrace the social and economic benefits of having a thriving market place.

A short period of questioning and answering followed, with Members raising issues specific to West Lindsey and these were responded to accordingly.

Mr Dyson was thanked for his attendance. 

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 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 gave consideration to a report about proposed alternatives to ensure the continuation of Gainsborough Market. Members were asked to approve the Vision and Objectives for the Market and to agree to Officers gathering additional data on market options which would inform a further report, including future delivery options, due at Prosperous Communities Committee in December.

There was significant discussion about the benefits of maintaining the market and the positive impact this would have on the town centre. Members were assured that all options in consideration had been chosen with the aim of continuing and improving the market.

All were in agreement that the priority was for the markets to be a success for Gainsborough.

            RESOLVED that:

a)    the Vision and Objectives for the Market be agreed; and

b)    Officers undertake additional market research to present a further report to Committee in December.

The Chairman advised that owing to the fast pace of the development of this project it was necessary to amend the recommendations of the report with up to date information.  This was duly circulated. A 3 minute adjournment was granted in order that Members could consider the revised recommendations.

The meeting reconvened at 8:10pm

Members were then shown a presentation by the Project and Growth Officers to demonstrate the proposed development around Gainsborough. The Director of Economic Growth & Commercial explained that the premise of the presentation and report was to seek agreement from Members to continue with the project and a full report for the extended business case would be presented to Committee in early 2018.

The projected social, economic and environmental benefits of the project were highlighted to Members and discussions were held relating to the inclusion of local woodland areas into the plan. All Members expressed their support and excitement about this project and thanks were extended to the team working on it.

            RESOLVED that all recommendations as set in the addendum circulated  be approved.