Agenda and minutes

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There was no public participation.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Prosperous Communities Committee held on 19 March 2024.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Prosperous Communities Committee held on 19 March 2024 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Setting out current position of previously agreed actions as at 15 April 2024

With no comments, questions or requirement for a vote, the Matters Arising Schedule setting out the current position of previously agreed actions, as at 15 April 2024, was 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 of interest.

The Committee gave consideration to a report presented by the Development Management Team Manager seeking to consider and agree the submission of a Local Impact Report (LIR) and Written Representations (WR) to the Examining Authority considering the Viking CCS Pipeline NSIP project. It was explained that the Viking CCS Pipeline was a development proposal by Chrysaor Production (UK) Limited. It would be a 55km long pipeline intended to transfer captured carbon from Immingham (N E Lincolnshire), to Theddlethorpe (E Lindsey) where it would then be piped into the North Sea and injected into depleted gas reservoirs under the sea.

The Committee heard that within West Lindsey itself, the project proposed for the pipeline to run below ground, approximately 2km – across agricultural fields, approximately 2.5km to the south east of the village of Keelby; and within 2km to the north east of the hamlet of Riby. The pipeline would be designed for a minimum operational life of 25 years. The pipeline was expected to have an external diameter of 24” (609 mm) and be buried to a minimum depth of 1.2 m to the top of the pipe. This would be greater at crossing points of railways, roads and watercourses.

The project qualified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) and was subject to a separate consenting regime under the Planning Act 2008. The developer therefore was seeking a Development Consent Order (DCO) from the Secretary of State. The Planning Inspectorate were the Examining Authority (ExA) which would examine the project and make recommendations to the Secretary of State. The examination commenced on 26 March 2024 and was scheduled to have completed by 26 September 2024. As part of the examination, the ExA had invited the Council to submit a Local Impact Report (LIR) and written representations (WR) by Friday 26 April 2024.

Members were advised that it was recommended that an LIR and WR be submitted to the examination, with draft documents presented to the Committee for approval and to delegate authority to the Director of Planning, Regeneration and Communities to complete, finalise and submit the final LIR and WR by the examination deadline, taking into consideration committee’s comments, and having consulted with the Chairman.

Members of the Committee thanked the Development Management Team Manager for his report and work on the project. They sought assurance as to the safety of the proposed line, with Officers confirming that the risk of a leak occurring was deemed low, however in West Lindsey the line would be running through open space meaning the impact of a leak would also be low.

Having been assured, and with thanks again to Officers, the recommendations contained within the report were duly proposed and seconded. On taking the vote it was unanimously

            RESOLVED that

a)    the invitation be accepted and the submission of a Local Impact Report (LIR) and Written Representations (WR) to be made on the Viking CCS pipeline project at its current examination be approved; and

b)    the draft LIR/WR had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 85.

The Committee heard from the Director of Planning, Regeneration & Communities regarding the West Lindsey Cultural Strategy. She explained that in January 2020 the Corporate Peer Challenge highlighted there was potential to align and increase the use of, and maximise income from, the district’s existing and planned cultural assets such as the Trinity Arts Centre and the planned town centre cinema. In recognition of this significant potential, the peer review recommended that the council consider the development of a cultural strategy in order to achieve a clear strategic position and to guide work moving forwards.

Supported by Tom Flemming Creative Consultancy, the strategy was the product of many hours of engagement, with the Prosperous Communities Committee, wider Member input, with Officers and with the varied and dedicated network of existing and potential future providers, including valued community organisations. The input had shaped the vision and the four emerging priorities, and the Council was looking forward to developing these important relationships as it moved into delivery.

The strategy set culture at the centre of communities and the economy, recognising that access to culture can support the well-being and distinctiveness of a place.

Four priority themes had been developed to shape and guide the work, and it had taken time to ensure these priorities reflected the Council’s aspiration for cultural activity. Members heard these priorities were:

Grassroots Culture: this work would focus on developing the ‘West Lindsey Way’ for culture, which meant working with community cultural organisations and assets to develop a local approach, in order to ensure that anything undertaken left a legacy of strong, local providers and provision.

Great Places: Through this priority it would be ensured that culture played a role in place making, that the regeneration plans provided inclusive cultural opportunities and that the programming of events and activity was district wide.

Community Well-being: the Council saw culture as a foundation to a happier, healthier district, enhancing quality of life and boosting pride and confidence.

Dynamic Talent and Practice. Championing local talent and providing opportunities for talent to work in the district through innovative programming and touring opportunities.

It was explained that, alongside the strategy, a short executive summary had been developed, which was designed to be accessible and set out a brief overview of the vision and priorities. The strategy was supported by a three year action plan. For year one, the action plan set out 19 priority actions that aimed to set in motion the delivery of the strategy, bring in the resources needed for the delivery and create the monitoring framework, with partners and providers that would be used to drive the evaluation of the work. Actions for years two and three were included, with further work to continue to develop interventions as the plan was enacted.

A key pillar of this strategy required the creation of new roles to drive forwards the work. Funding had been made available through the MTFP to create a new, permanent Community Cultural Officer. It would be the responsibility of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 86.

The Committee gave consideration to a report presented by the Homes, Health & Wellbeing Team Manager, seeking to provide an update on the Gainsborough Housing and Support project being delivered in partnership with P3. It was explained that in 2020, the Council and P3 entered into a partnership to deliver a viable housing solution for Gainsborough. This was named the Gainsborough Housing and Support project. The vision for the project was “To improve the lives of and the opportunities for the people in the South-West Ward of Gainsborough through the provision of affordable, quality, sustainable housing” 

The project set out to deliver circa 100 properties that P3 would rent at an affordable rent focussing on the South West Ward of Gainsborough within a 5-10 year period and disrupt the private rented sector in that area which made up almost 50% of the housing with the ward. The project was designed to rejuvenate the housing stock and the environment across the South-West Ward of Gainsborough and deliver on a number of key areas of social return which included:

·         Safe, affordable and quality housing

·         A safer place to live

·         Community stability

·         A lifetime tenancy for the people of Gainsborough

Members heard that in its first two and a half years the project has been successful in securing 64 properties in the South West Ward of Gainsborough, which had also brought 18 empty properties back into use. Officers were keen to understand the value of the impact of the project, and so engaged with Red Quadrant to undertake an evaluation. Red Quadrant, as an impartial party, were able to engage with P3, Council Officers and Members, along with some partners in the voluntary sector and P3 tenants of the project, to gain a full picture of the project and the impact it was having against the detailed outcomes.

It was also important, with this being a long term project, for a set of baseline data to be determined, from which Officers could start to monitor wider successes of the project rather than focus on numbers of properties acquired or empty properties brought back into use. The project was set out to tackle some wider objectives around improving community stability and offering a safer place to live and this also needed to be monitored.

The report highlighted the achievements of the project so far and evidenced the way in which the outcomes were being met. The full evaluation was included within the appendix and detailed the evidence for the success of the majority of the outcomes so far. The evaluation also highlighted challenges that P3 had faced with the project, further demonstrating the positivity of the successes which had been achieved even with obstacles to overcome.

It was explained that Officers had been keen to bring an update to Members to enable greater understanding and knowledge of the work being undertaken through the project, and also to seek re-confirmation of the support for the project and continued successes.

Members expressed their support for the project,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 87.

With no questions or comments, the work plan was DULY NOTED.