i) Chairman of Council
ii) Leader of the Council
iii) Head of Paid Service
Minutes:
Chairman
The Chairman noted that he had attended a number of engagements, which had been circulated to Members. One particular highlight was a visit to a business in Saxilby, which had begun as a single individual who then moved into farm buildings to expand, and subsequently went on to employ over 100 people. There were plans to expand further, and all this was over a period of just seven years. This was a good example of a real success story.
The Chairman also noted the distribution of envelopes, containing surveys, in front of Members, requesting that they distribute these in their wards. This was an important project, initiated by the Prosperous Communities Committee to establish the level of Broadband Provision across the district. It was particularly important that the surveys were returned to the Council in order for the results to be collated and a clearer view of the area’s facilities obtained.
Leader of the Council
The Leader informed the Council of various meetings he had attended and speakers heard. On 1 February Andrew Percy MP had confirmed that the Devolution process had ceased. On 2 February the Leader had met with a number of MPs at the District Councils Network Conference. Gavin Barwell had spoken regarding the Housing White Paper and emphasised the need to build for the future, and outlined plans for loans to developers and first time buyers. Greg Clark, the Minister for Business, Energy and Industry had highlighted the need for infrastructure and spoken on the emerging Green Paper, urging a response to be made. Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government discussed greater integration with CCGs and to provide more support to Adult Social Care. There was a £2.3b fund available from April, which it would be good to access, but would have been more accessible, had Devolution progressed.
There had also been a meeting with Lincolnshire Leaders at the Farming Forum, and Thonock and Somerby Estates had discussed the water course through Blyton which was to be modified. The Trent meeting of the associated drainage authorities, where discussion took place on the Environment Agency’s intention to hand over responsibility for water courses to either local authorities or riparian owners. This needed to be monitored as it was felt that Drainage Boards would be a better option.
The Leader had also attended the County Council’s meeting where the County Leader affirmed that opinions were to be sought from District Councils regarding the proposals for a unitary authority.
Head of Paid Service
The Chief Executive noted that the Leader had briefly mentioned the Devolution process, the Partnership working with the other authorities was clearly not at the same point as six months previously, and the Housing and Infrastructure Group was not meeting as regularly now as partners focus on other priorities and in absence of a Combined Authority for Greater Lincs and funding to it no longer being the driver. The current situation was not clear and an update would be provided following the May elections.
Work was ongoing with the LEP and the University to form partnerships in order to facilitate accessing funding. Bids had been submitted however there was not yet any news.
Priorities at the moment included the Gainsborough Town Centre regeneration project and the Market Rasen Leisure Centre. There was a focus on the Planning and Enforcement services. The Chief Executive would be leading on this with officers. Much work had been done with recruitment of officers and the formulation of the Local Plan. There had been an increase in planning applications and there needed to be a consistent approach to dealing with these, and lessons learned from complaints. A report was to be submitted to the Prosperous Communities Committee.