Agenda and draft minutes

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

There was no public participation.

The Chairman explained there were two sets of minutes, both for approval.

Having been moved and seconded it was

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Prosperous Communities Committee held on 18 March 2025 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

On taking the second set of minutes, and having been moved and seconded, it was

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Concurrent Meeting of the Prosperous Communities and Corporate Policy and Resources Committees held on 13 February 2025 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

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.

Setting out current position of previously agreed actions as at 23 May 2025

With no comments, questions or requirement for a vote, the Matters Arising Schedule, setting out the current position of previously agreed actions as at 23 May 2025, was DULY NOTED.

Members gave consideration to the Progress and Delivery Quarter Four Report and Summary of Year End Performance for 2024/25, presented by the Performance and Programme Manager. He highlighted to Members there had been some updated figures since the report had been published, those being under Corporate Health: 

·         COF01 - Budget variance -£1.126m

·         COF03 - Overall Council budget forecast outturn -6.68%

The changes came from £56k from minor variances (each under £10k) and £175k windfall government grants. However, both figures were still subject to final audit of statement of accounts.

Additionally, further to the report having been presented for the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee briefing, a requested amendment was for Saturday market data to be included in the performance improvement plan alongside the Tuesday figures.

It was explained that with regard to the overall performance for the quarter, 87% of KPIs were either exceeding or within the agreed tolerance and this was compared to 83% in Q4 of 2023/24 and 78% in the previous quarter.

Members heard that, with regard to the performance improvement plan, there were six measures included. Two measures related to Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs), those being the average number of working days from DFG application to completion of work, and the percentage of DFG referrals completed within 120 working days. It was not expected the performance of those measures would change given the budget position. The third measure was HME07, the percentage of households spending more than 42 nights in bed and breakfast accommodation. This was also expected to remain in the performance improvement plan as the target was set at zero, in line with guidance and what was striven for, however, it was not achievable with the limited temporary accommodation available. Members heard the temporary accommodation project was now in motion which would provide eight additional units, with two of these being outside the Gainsborough area.

With regard to the measure for local land charges market share, it was explained that whilst it was reporting below target, it was accepted that this measure was outside the control of the council. As such, the approved measure sets for 2025/26 had it removed as a target data set, however the detail would remain as a visible statistic within the report. It was also confirmed that the team would continue to focus on maintaining high performance and service delivery.

In addition to markets figures being included in the performance improvement plan, the information had been updated to include updated stalls and layouts, which were due to be delivered in the summer, alongside the opening of the new cinema. A weekly breakdown of markets was included in the year-end report.

The final measure in the performance improvement plan was the Together24 savings delivered, which was an annual cumulative target which was being monitored against the current position.

Members were provided with the details of those measures which had been removed from the improvement plan, including the percentage of Freedom of Information requests (FOIs) completed in 20 days, which was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Committee gave consideration to a report presented by the Economic Growth Team Manager, seeking approval of the Council’s programme for the delivery of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund 2025/26 Programme.

It was explained that the council had been allocated both UK Shared Prosperity Funding and Rural England Prosperity Funding, which was seen as a transitionary continuation of the previous 2022 – 2025 programme. Under the new arrangements for the Greater Lincolnshire Combined Authority, Members heard that North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC) were the Accountable Body for this funding.

Additionally, it was highlighted that the Government had set a spend deadline of 31 March 2026, with any unspent funding being lost. The Accountable Body, NELC, would require the council to report on expenditure in September/October 2025 and January 2026. Any funding at risk of being unspent could be reallocated at those stages.

Members were advised that in line with the Council’s constitution, the Prosperous Communities Committee was required to approve the investment themes and delegate signatory of the funding agreement. The Corporate Policy and Resources Committee was then required to approve the drawdown and expenditure of funds.  It was further highlighted that the proposed investments had been shaped based upon local priorities alongside their fit with the Government’s programme requirements, and Greater Lincolnshire priorities.

The Chairman thanked all those involved in the work and invited comments from the Committee. Members expressed their support and thanks for, not only the presented programme for 2025/26 but also for the work which had been previously undertaken.

A Member of the Committee noted his satisfaction that reserve funds were being used to enhance the programme, in particular relating to environmental sustainability, commenting that it was an opportunity for smaller groups to access the funds to help local sustainability work. It was acknowledged that the Member Working Group for Climate Change, Environment and Sustainability had been instrumental in implementing in how those opportunities could be realised.

Members additionally expressed their support of the cost appraisal for bringing a key town centre building back into use in Gainsborough, as well as a trial of free car parking, with businesses and users having reacted positively to the news. In response to a question regarding the flagship community grant programme, it was explained that the exact timescales had not been confirmed, however the preparatory work was underway to ensure the scheme could be launched as soon as practicable. It was confirmed there would be a focus on communications across the district, and Members were encouraged to interact with the local community groups and to encourage them to apply for funding.

With further support voiced for the investment programme and associated works, the Chairman read aloud the recommendations as detailed within the report, and, having been proposed, seconded, and voted upon, it was unanimously

            RESOLVED that

a)    the identified UKSPF/REPF 2025/26 programme be approved and authority delegated to the S151 officer to sign-off the funding agreement (in consultation with the Chair of this Committee); and

b)    the UKSPF/REPF 2025/26  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

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