i) Chairman of Council
ii) Leader of the Council
iii) Chief Executive
Minutes:
The Chairman started his announcements advising that Civic commitments for obvious reasons had been limited, and following the Government announcement on Saturday were likely to remain the same for some time.
He had however had the pleasure and privilege of travelling around the district meeting and presenting the Community Awards in person to the worthy recipients. Having had to forgo the usual awards ceremony, a different approach had been adopted this year, presenting the awards at the recipient’s home or workplace. The Chairman considered, in many ways, it had been ideal, allowing him to spend more time chatting and getting to know the winners than a ceremony would usually allow, making it a far more personal affair.
What had been apparent from these doorstep visits, from all the winners their humility and a desire to “put something back into the community” approach.
In concluding his announcements, the Chairman publicly congratulated the winners again, thanked them for the great work they undertook in in their communities and wished them well for the future, before handing over to the Leader.
Leader
The Leader made the following address to Council: -
“Members will be aware that Lincolnshire was not included as one of the areas to go forward for local government reorganisation this year. I welcome that for a number of reasons, with the need to focus all of the resources we have available, both financial and human, in supporting businesses, communities and individuals through the coronavirus pandemic being foremost among them. However, to be clear, I remain steadfastly supportive of the need for fairer funding for rural areas in general and for Lincolnshire in particular and for the principle of devolved powers and budgets.
I very much welcome the announcement that the John Coupland Hospital now serves as an Urgent Treatment Centre. Already a great asset to Gainsborough and the wider area this is an appropriate and pragmatic development made even more significant by the second national lockdown.
Finally I’m pleased to confirm that West Lindsey District Council’s response to the recent consultation on the Planning for the Future White Paper has been submitted. Thank you to all Members and officers who contributed to the process.”
Chief Executive
The Chief Executive addressed Council, and started his announcements by providing an update in respect of COVID-19 and the work that would be undertaken in the coming days / weeks, following the Government’s announcement of a further national lockdown to take effect, Thursday, this week. He was currently working with the Management team to ensure the authority were in a position to be able to offer appropriate support to businesses and the community over the next four weeks.
Final details on the support being offered were still emerging from the Government and the Chief Executive undertook to include as much detail as possible in his weekly message to Members on Friday.
With regards to National Lockdown Business Grants, again recently announced by the Government, as with previous grant regimes the authority would establish a local grant support programme as soon as it was able to. The headline guidance, was outlined to Members, as follows:
Businesses required to close in England due to local or national restrictions will be eligible for the following:
• For properties with a rateable value of £15k or under, grants to be £1,334 per month, or £667 per two weeks;
• For properties with a rateable value of between £15k-£51k grants to be £2,000 per month, or £1,000 per two weeks;
• For properties with a rateable value of £51k or over grants to be £3,000 per month, or £1,500 per two weeks.
It was anticipated that there would also be a discretionary fund, as with previous rounds. Further guidance was expected either tomorrow or the following day and Management Team were working with colleagues across the county and the LEP to align support and establish a response as quickly as possible.
Moving to Local Government Reorganisation, also referenced by the Leader previously, in October three County areas were invited to submit plans for re-organisation. Lincolnshire was not one of them.
It was clear the White Paper has been postponed until at least next spring, at the earliest, and the Secretary of State Robert Jenrick had publicly stated that it is no longer a current issue and the focus for Local Government should be Covid and Brexit. That said a letter from the Minister for Local Government Luke Hall indicated he was still willing to hear plans from other County areas that have wide support.
Moving on, the Chief Executive was pleased to announce that the final appointment had been made to the Management Team. Nova Roberts would be joining the authority on 7th December as Assistant Director – Regulatory Services and Change Management.
In concluding his announcements, the Chief Executive advised that he had taken the decision to postpone the remaining Ward Visits with a view to rescheduling them from March 2021. He thanked Members for their understanding.
Councillor Cotton, as Chairman of the Joint Staff Consultative Committee, requested that staff receive all the necessary support they required acknowledging the difficult circumstances in which they were continuing to deliver services.
In response, the Chief Executive outlined to all Members the numerous measures which had been taken to ensure staff were both physically and mentally well. All staff had previously been surveyed and this information had been used to further tailor support, on an individual basis if necessary. As circumstances continued to change and absence from the main office continued, a further survey was currently underway to ensure staff continued to be supported and engaged. A further round of virtual Corporate Updates for all staff was also planned for early December.