Agenda item

Questions submitted by Members Under Procedure Rule No. will be published as a supplement following closure of the deadline.

 

 

The Chairman advised the meeting that four questions pursuant to Council Procedure Rule No.9 had been submitted to the meeting.  These had been circulated separately to the agenda.

 

The Chairman invited the first questioner, Councillor Trevor Young, to put his question to the meeting, as follows: -

 

“The Government introduced a number of different financial grants to support businesses during this Covid Pandemic which have been administrated by local authorities.

 

My question is have these business grants been paid to any political associations and groups across the District since their introduction?

If so Leader: -

 

·         please outline how  political parties/ associations would meet the criteria for grant assistance as they are not businesses nor do they provide a service.

·         And if payments have been made please confirm whether these payments have been returned to the Council or whether it is intended for them to be returned.

 

Many local businesses have financially struggled during this Covid Pandemic and many employees are at risk of losing their jobs. People across the district would be disheartened to hear that financial grants intended to support local businesses have been paid to support such groups and associations should that be the case.

 

Thank you”

 

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Owen Bierley, responded as follows: -

 

“Thank you for your question Cllr Young. Yes, one grant payment of £10,000.00 was paid under Small Business Rate Relief on 16^th April 2020.  It was repaid (allocated on the ledger) in two amounts, £5,000.00 on 1^st December 2020 and £5,000.00 on 3^rd December 2020.

 

The eligibility criteria for the Small Business, Retail, Leisure and Hospitality grants (the first phase of business grants in April 2020) was determined by the business rates register. Rate paying organisations were entitled to receive grant support.”

 

Councillor Young thanked the Leader for the response.

 

The Chairman then invited the second questioner, Councillor Mandy Snee, to put her question to the meeting as follows: -

 

“It was great to see West Lindsey District raising the flag to celebrate the beginning of Pride Month.

 

At this event the Chair Councillor England said that “one of his main priorities as the Chairman of the Council was to make sure that everybody in West Lindsey felt supported and included in the District”.  Rightly so.

 

Please:

 

What are the actions in place to ensure this happens?

 

The Annual Equality Statement (drawn from the Equality strategy) and uploaded on W.L.D.C.’s website, records the Equality objectives and actions from 2018.

 

What are the current objectives and how are we going to meet these as a Council?

 

Thank you”

 

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Owen Bierley, responded as follows: -

 

“Thank you for your question Cllr Mrs Snee and for highlighting the fact that the Council fully supports Pride Month and in doing so publicly expresses its commitment to promoting equality and to help bring about an inclusive society.   

 

As a local authority the Council has a responsibility to meet the Equality Duty which is set by law as part of the Equality Act 2010. To ensure this happens, Members are reminded that at the March 2020 meeting of the Prosperous Communities Committee, Members approved the Council’s Equality Strategy and Action Plan. It can be viewed here: https://www.west-lindsey.gov.uk/my-council/how-the-council-works/key-plans-policies-and-strategies/equality/equality-strategy/

 

The Strategy has a four year timeframe 2020 – 2024 and its aim is to support strong, active and inclusive communities who can influence and shape the district of West Lindsey. It is imperative that we work to ensure that no one is marginalised through personal circumstances and everyone is offered the best opportunity to realise their potential.

 

As Members of this Council we all have a responsibility to provide community leadership within the District of West Lindsey and use our role to promote equality and community cohesion as well as sharing ideas and good practice with our partners and other service providers.

 

There are four objectives contained with the Equality Strategy:

 

1.      To review Corporate Plan and Equality objectives to ensure links are clear and objectives are evidence based

2.      To ensure that all our staff, elected Members and volunteers are aware of our responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty

3.      Engage our communities to participate in the determination of our priorities and decision making

4.      Ensure we are transparent in decision making.

 

The Action Plan that accompanies the Strategy contains a number of specific actions to be undertaken to achieve these objectives; including updating the Annual Equality Statement; training and awareness for staff and Members and the provision of guidance and supporting information.

 

Due to unforeseen circumstances there has been a delay in progressing some of this work; however Officers are now back in a position to make headway and ensure that the action plan is delivered.  Information on the Council’s website will also be updated and the objectives will be displayed.  This is also an area in which our new Chairman’s Chaplain, Revd. Jane Foster-Smith, takes a keen interest”

 

Councillor Snee thanked the Leader for the response, but advised that the Equality Strategy did not appear to be loading on the website and the links within Strategy did not appear to fully functional.

 

This fact was disputed by way of Point of Information from another Member, advising that he had successfully accessed the document.  Officers undertook to investigate the documents accessibility on the website after the meeting.

 

The Chairman then invited the third questioner, Councillor Stephen Bunney, to put the first of his questions to the meeting as follows: -

 

“Market Rasen Swimming Pool Business Plan - The former Leader, in his speech to Full Council earlier on in the year, when he outlined the work of  The Council in the civic year 2021 – 2022, he pledged that the schedule would include a review of the business case for a swimming pool in Market Rasen.

 

Could the Leader please confirm that this piece of work is still on the to-do list?

 

Could he also explain the full range of criteria that will be used when determining the business case and confirm that any conclusions made will not be purely on short term economic grounds but also take into account post austerity environment, social, health and wellbeing co-benefits over the working life of a rural community based swimming pool.

 

Thank you”

 

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Owen Bierley, responded as follows: -

 

“Thank you for your question Councillor Bunney.   As outlined by the then Leader of the Council, the workplan for the 2021/22 civic year does include a review of the business case for a swimming pool in Market Rasen.

 

Whilst the full scope of the review is yet to be determined work has commenced and I can reassure residents that it will not purely be based on a financial assessment and will be developed in accordance with our five case model, which ensures we take into account wider considerations.

 

The five case business model looks at: -

 

·         The strategic case – assesses how the project will meet corporate priorities,

·         The financial case – how the project impacts on ongoing resources and availability of funding

·         The commercial case – is there a market for the activity and will it generate income

·         The legal case – do we have the legal power and

·         The operational case – what is the business need”

 

Councillor Bunney thanked the Leader for the response.

 

The Chairman invited Councillor Bunney to put his second question to the meeting, and the fourth and final question for this meeting, as follow.

 

“Levelling Up Fund across The District - The ‘Thriving Gainsborough 2024’ proposal under the auspices of the Government’s Levelling Up Fund initiative is an exciting and extremely beneficial project. Let’s hope that the funding is forthcoming as expected.  The positive developments in the town will have major benefits for the residents, businesses and visitors to the wider West Lindsey Area.  However, for this to happen there needs to be an effective dissemination of the potential initiatives and improved communications/transport links between Gainsborough and the outlying areas.  Currently, there is a prevalent north-south bias, between Grimsby, Lincoln, Leicester and beyond, in such movements within most of the district’s area.  For instance, it is not possible to use the Call Connect bus service from Market Rasen to Gainsborough, to make up for the lack of a regular daily bus service.  

 

What plans are in place to develop these essential links?  

 

If they are still being formulated what brief has been issued to the Officers and what is the anticipated time line for finalising these plans?

 

Thank you”

 

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Owen Bierley, responded as follows: -

 

“Thank you for your question Cllr Bunney.  WLDC work strategically with LCC as the Highways Authority to influence and plan for connectivity across all modal activity. The overarching Transport Plan for Lincolnshire (LTP5) is currently being re-drafted, our Officers are part of a working group with a mandate to ensure alignment with our adopted Corporate Plan. Consultation on LTP 5 will include members of the two Transport Strategy Boards, our Transport Member working group and wider public engagement, to be managed by Lincolnshire County Council.

 

As Members will be aware, the peak and off peak bus service between Market Rasen and Gainsborough, operated by Stagecoach was withdrawn in 2013 as it was no longer commercially viable. This was as a result of low passenger numbers, some of which was driven by changes in school movements. Analysis at the time showed that most journeys were made between Hemswell and Gainsborough, this is now possible on Call Connect.

 

The publication of the National Bus Strategy has reaffirmed aspirations to deliver a bus network fit for the future. LCC are leading work to bring together an Enhanced Partnership and Bus Service Improvement Plan by October 2021 with a view to delivery commencing from April 2022. Officers continue to raise the matter of connectivity across the district and there is commitment from LCC to discuss priorities and aspirations with all stakeholders as the Bus Service Improvement Plan is developed. 

 

Finally, LNER have recently published their draft proposed timetable for May 2022. It appears that the opportunity for the reinstated Cleethorpes to London service (withdrawn in 1993) to stop at Market Rasen (and indeed Barnetby and Habrough) has been overlooked. WLDC will be submitting a formal response to the consultation and I would encourage all Members and partner organisations to also consider making a response. The consultation will be open until 5^th August and can be accessed here: https://lner.citizenspace.com/”

 

Councillor Bunney thanked the Leader for the response in particular the information regarding the LNER consultation. 

 

The Leader gave his assurance that he would continue to raise these matters at relevant meetings.