Agenda item

Motion 1 – Squaddie Box 

“Members - Council recognises the difficulties for ex Armed Forces personnel with no fixed address to accessing services and understand they can struggle to navigate complex transitions back into communities. The WLDC  Armed Forces Covenant housing position recognises that this cohort can face challenges linked to relationship breakdown, mental health issues and the broader difficulties that can arise during transition to civilian life. 

In those circumstances, services may technically be available, but engagement can still be fragile. Something as simple as having a stable and recognised correspondence address can make a meaningful difference to how individuals reconnect with services to gain help and support.

Members note the ‘Squaddie Box’ initiative (Home - Squaddie Box (CIC)which helps by providing a secure personal mailbox with 24-hour access where veterans are able to collect their correspondence privately and at a time that suits them, without needing to attend public offices. Other vulnerable cohorts could also potentially benefit from this with the opportunity to expand this to civilians being explored.  

Council resolves to ask the relevant committee to consider rolling out a pilot of this initiative to assess the benefits of such a scheme to vulnerable households in West Lindsey and consider whether it could be implemented to identify a need for this type of service across the District.  

I so move”

Councillor Karen Carless

Motion 2 - Driving Test Centre Provision

“Members - This Council notes that young people living in rural districts such as West Lindsey face significant barriers when accessing employment, education, and training due to limited public transport.

The Council further notes that the nearest practical driving test centres for residents are currently located in Lincolnand Scunthorpe. As a result, learner drivers from towns such as Gainsborough must pay for extended driving lessons simply to travel to and practise around these locations.

This significantly increases the cost of learning to drive and places many young people and low-income residents at a disadvantage. In rural communities, the ability to drive is often essential for accessing employment opportunities, apprenticeships, and further education.

This Council believes that improving access to driving test facilities would support social mobility, economic opportunity, and fairness for residents living in rural areas.

Therefore, this Council resolves to:

1. Write to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency requesting that it reviews the availability of driving test facilities within West Lindsey District.
2. Lobby the Department for Transport to consider establishing a driving test centre in Gainsborough or elsewhere within the district.
3. Work with local MPs, including the Member of Parliament for the area, to advocate for improved access to driving test provision for rural communities including exploring whether a temporary satellite or periodic driving test facility could be established locally to reduce travel costs for residents.

I so move”

Councillor Lesley Rollings

Motion 3 –  Amendment to Rule 9 (Questions at Full Council)

“This Council notes that:

• Under the current provisions of Rule 9 of the Council Procedure Rules, questions to Full Council must be submitted in advance within a specified notice period;
• This requirement can prevent councillors from raising urgent or time-sensitive matters that arise shortly before a meeting;
• Effective democratic scrutiny relies on the ability of elected members to respond promptly to emerging issues affecting their residents.

This Council believes that:

• Greater flexibility should be introduced to enable councillors to raise pressing concerns without unnecessary delay;
• Any such flexibility should be balanced with the need for orderly and well-managed meetings.

This Council resolves to:

1. Request that the Monitoring Officer facilitates a  review of Rule 9 of the Council Procedure Rules; to include

(a)  proposed amendments to allow questions to be submitted without prior notice on the day of a Full Council meeting, at the discretion of the Chairman;

(b)  Ensuring  that appropriate safeguards are included to maintain the efficient conduct of Council business;

2.    the outcome of the review and any proposed constitutional changes be presented  to a future meeting of Full Council within 3 months for consideration.

I so move”

Councillor Trevor Young