Agenda and minutes

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To confirm and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the Prosperous Communities Committee held on Tuesday, 7 December 2021

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Prosperous Communities Committee held on 7 December 2021 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Setting out current position of previously agreed actions as at 17 January 2022

With no comments or questions, the contents of the Matters Arising schedule were duly 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 made at this point in the meeting.

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 they involve 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.

Note:              The meeting entered closed session at 6.34pm

The Assistant Director of Commercial and Operational Services introduced an exempt report regarding the future of West Lindsey markets. He explained the process of the consultancy work and explained the premise that was being presented. He stated that the work would link in with the Levelling Up Fund and, rather than being focussed on the Gainsborough Market, the proposals would also incorporate Market Rasen and Caistor towns. It was explained that the intention was to make the markets a destination event, rather than a purely transactional focus, with a three-year plan proposed to achieve it.

There was support for the proposals from Members of the Committee, although there were concerns raised regarding the intended timescale and focus on ‘café culture’. It was emphasised that the timescale was for the full realisation of the proposal and that work would begin as soon as practicable. With regards to the prospect of achieving a continental style ‘café culture’, it was acknowledged that British weather could have an impact on the outside dining opportunities, however it was highlighted that the essence of the markets being a destination event, rather than merely a transactional centre, was the aim.

The Committee was encouraged by the proposal to encompass all three market towns however there were questions as to whether the individual identities of the towns had been fully considered. It was explained that the consultancy report provided a strategic direction however it would be important for each location to be involved in the evolution of the proposals.

There was discussion regarding the resources required within the proposal, with Members enquiring about detail of job descriptions and purpose of the role. It was clarified that agreement for the role was being sought at this stage and further details could be discussed once the role was confirmed.

The importance of incorporating sustainability into the plan as well as developing it as part of a drive to encourage growth within the district was emphasised, with Members agreeing that the markets needed to be seen as part of a range of events and attractions across the district.

Whilst there were further concerns raised regarding the timescales, assurance was provided that the intention was to start moving on the plans as soon as possible, with the stated three-year plan being the end goal.

Members of the Committee recognised the concerns raised, however on the whole supported the proposals put before them. The Chairman thanked all Members for their comments and the depth of the discussions, and thanked all those involved with the work to date.

Having been moved and seconded, upon being voted upon it was

            RESOLVED that

a)    the vision for West Lindsey Markets at set out at 4.1, recognising that they are key cultural and heritage assets that perform a wide socioeconomic function in the District, be supported; and

b)    the proposal for a three year plan to regenerate markets across West Lindsey based on the principles set out at 6.1 be supported; and

c)    the extension of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62.

Note:              The meeting returned to open session at 7.57pm

The Committee gave consideration to a report presented by the Assistant Director of Commercial and Operational Services regarding the revised Waste Services Policies. It was explained that the purpose of the report was to provide commentary on the proposed Waste Service Policies resulting from the forthcoming introduction of separate paper and cardboard collections. The Committee heard that the document was first introduced when the triple bin scheme was introduced in 2009 and had been updated on a couple of occasions since then. It was now timely to update the document given the upcoming introduction of Purple Lidded bins in April. It was noted that most policies within the document were working well and had not changed, with those that had changed summarised as follows.

Note:              Councillor M. Devine returned to the Chamber at 8.00pm

Policy 8 was around the new separate paper and card collections. All residents who currently received a wheeled bin collection service would receive a purple lidded bin to enable them to separate out their paper and card. There was no opt out, any resident who indicated they did not want a bin would be visited by Officers and a solution would be found to their individual issues, this had worked well in North Kesteven and Boston. All purple lidded bins would be free until April 2024, there was no capacity to supply more than one of these bins and there had been very little demand for this in other districts. The exception to this service would be properties mainly in the South West Ward of Gainsborough, but also other areas around the district, who currently had a sack based collection regime. This was because the current end destination contractor did not have the ability to split bags, however, there was work ongoing to resolve this, meaning the service may be expanded in due course.

Policy 12 was around side waste, where the council had traditionally taken recycling side waste in sacks. Given the need to keep paper and card clean and dry and improve the quality of the other dry recyclate, it was proposed that no side waste should be taken from the date of implementation.

Policy 14 was in relation to missed bins and the council would continue with the pledge to empty missed bins within five working days, whilst wherever possible keeping the waste in the correct stream.

Within Policy 15 it was proposed to remove the need to give a crime reference number when replacing stolen bins as it was not a major issue in or district and the practice simply caused unnecessary delays and demands on the Police and Customer Services staff.

Policy 18 referred to the supply of bins to new properties. Purple lidded bins would be free until 2024 at new properties, after which there would be a cost. Finally, Policy 25 recognised that the purple bins would be supplied free to village halls.

The Assistant Director of Commercial and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63.

The Committee gave consideration to a report from the Business Support Team Leader, setting out the proposed budget for 2022/23 and the forecast budget for the following four years for services within the Prosperous Communities Committee. It was explained that the budgets excluded central support and capital charges in order to show the controllable cost of services only, and to aid year on year comparison. The figures included those pressures and savings which had been reported and approved throughout the year.

The net movement from the 2021/22 base budget for this Committee was an increase of £336,100 – however this included an increase of £41,500 for approved use of earmarked reserves for projects. It was highlighted that the details of use of reserves, and contributions to reserves, were contained within the report at Appendix 4. The movement also included an increase in Pension Deficit contribution of £48,900. The overall pension deficit had increased by £91,000 across both committees following the actuarial review in 2019, and was allocated to services on the basis of staffing levels.

Members heard that, excluding these items, there was an increase of £245,700 from the 21/22 base budgets for services within this committee.

This movement was made up of approved pressures, offset by increased income. The significant increase in expenditure related to movements within the establishment budgets of £441,800, details of which were provided at section 2.10 of the report. This included the impact of a 1.75% pay award for 21/22, which was yet to be agreed, and an estimated further 2% pay award for 22/23, both of which equalled a total increase in costs of around £204,000 for 2022/23.

There had also been an increase in National Insurance rates, which increased employee costs within the committee by around £41,000 per year, however the government had announced a grant to contribute towards this cost which had been rolled into the new Services grant.

It was explained that this increase in expenditure was offset by several areas of increased income, the most significant being:

·                     Green Waste Charging – additional income of £101,700 from subscription fees – the increase in income was offset by additional costs attributable to the service held within Corporate Policy and Resources Committee, as well as capital and central support costs which were excluded from this report 

·                     Crematorium – an increase in projected income of £45,500 for 22/23 to reflect the anticipated level of demand and service operational costs.

·                     Development management – where the planning fee income had been reprofiled to reflect the local plan cycle, with an increase in income of £45,000.

The Business Support Team Leader highlighted that the budgets for the markets would be updated for the financial implications of the ‘Future of West Lindsey Markets’ report which had been presented earlier in the meeting, before the draft budget for this committee was due to be presented to Corporate Policy and Resources committee in February 2022.

Members were asked to note that there was a £400 budget for the business unit  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64.

Members gave consideration to the Committee Work Plan and, with no comments, questions, or requirement for a vote, the Work Plan was DULY NOTED.