Agenda and minutes

DECISION

1.         The contents of the report and the work of partners in addressing crime and disorder in South and East Lincolnshire and Lincolnshire as a whole be noted.

2.         The Community Safety Strategy and identified priorities for the SELCSP for the period 2022-2025 be agreed for consideration by Scrutiny prior to returning to Cabinet with any recommendations for endorsement and submission to Council for its agreement.

3.         That delegated authority be granted for the Deputy Chief Executive (Communities) to finalise with the Portfolio Holder a programme for the development of a Community Safety Action Plan subject to the Community Safety Strategy and its associated priorities being agreed at Full Council.

Portfolio Holders and Officer

Cllr Paul Skinner

PH

REASON FOR DECISION

Councillor Paul Skinner introduced a report by the Assistant Director – Wellbeing and Community Leadership setting out a Community Safety Strategy for 2022-25.

The report detailed the duties placed on local authorities and other named statutory agencies in relation to crime and disorder and outlined the current Community Safety Partnership arrangements across the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership area and in Lincolnshire as a whole.

The Community Safety Strategy had been produced to demonstrate the work of the South and East Lincolnshire Community Safety Partnership (SELCSP) which was working collaboratively with the County Safer Lincolnshire Partnership (SLP), to address crime and disorder at a local, sub-regional and County level.

The Strategy had been prepared using the format of the last partnership plan of 2016-19.  An Action Plan for 2022/23 would support the strategy and sit with the SELCSP. 

Information from the county strategic assessment had been reviewed along with routine data on crime and anti-social behaviour from Lincolnshire Police, information from the pilot initiative StreetSafe which allowed people to anonymously report areas they felt unsafe, and perception data from the Lincolnshire Crime and Policing Survey.  This had been considered alongside the county priorities identified for the SLP.

Five priorities were detailed in the plan which was attached at Appendix A of the report:-

• Anti-social behaviour (ASB)
• Hate crime
• Safer streets and night time economy
• The safety of women and girls
• Vulnerability and safeguarding

It was noted that a Strategy had not been produced since 2019, however it was recognised that the work undertaken locally should be acknowledged and communicated to partner organisations and the public.

The Strategy promoted the dedication and commitment of partners working across the SELCP in tackling crime and ASB and aimed to provide a focus for actions to be developed to address the priority community safety issues that impacted on communities within the sub-region.

Following Members comments the Assistant Director - Wellbeing and Community Leadership explained that work is being carried out in terms of homelessness for people with addiction problems.

The Community Safety Manager confirmed that a draft Action Plan has been created and it will be coming back to Cabinet once it has been through relevant scrutiny. It will then be brought to the Community Safety Partnership meeting before being implemented.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

DECISION

1.         That the addition of £300K to the Capital Programme and use of £70k of Reserves to support the installation of 4 new changing places toilets be approved.

2.         That the installation of 4 new toilets within the town, 3 of which would be under the control of the Council, be agreed.

Portfolio Holders and Officer

Cllr Tracey Abbott

AS

REASON FOR DECISION

Councillor Tracey Abbott introduced a report by the Deputy Chief Executive– Programme Delivery, seeking agreement to accept a government grant of £210k to support the installation of four Changing Places toilets within the town centre area.

The report stated that Changing Places toilets were enhanced facilities, more accessible by severely disabled people who required additional support.  Approximately 14 million people nationally were living with long term illness, disabilities or impairments and an estimated 1 million of those required changing places toilets, with the number set to increase year on year.

As part of its commitment towards improving the quality of life for everyone, the Government announced last Spring that it would make £30m of funding available for the installation of new facilities for local authorities to bid for on a competitive basis.  Bids would be assessed on the quality of submissions, the amount of match funding, partnership working and the end destinations.

Following a consultation exercise with key members and stakeholders, a bid was submitted for funding to support the installation of 5 changing places toilets in and around the town centre at the sites of:

• Central Park
• Wide Bargate
• Lincoln Lane
• Blenkin Memorial Hall
• Boston College 

The bids were all successful with the exception of the Boston College site which was not deemed to meet the criteria as it was classed as a new build and therefore not eligible.

The funding applications were heavily oversubscribed, and in March 2022 the Government announced that Boston would receive £210k of funding to support the installation of 4 toilets.  This compared to a total of £660k for the provision of 15 toilets within the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership area and £920k for the whole of Lincolnshire for the provision of 23 toilets.

Latest market testing showed that costs of installation were approximately £75k per toilet.  This would require match funding of £23k per toilet.  However, the Blenkin Memorial Hall had agreed to meet its own costs above their allocation of £52k.  Therefore Cabinet was requested to support use of existing reserves of £70k for the project.

It was anticipated that the majority of revenue costs could be absorbed within existing budgets as the facilities were to be located adjacent to existing toilets so inspection costs would be accommodated within existing staff budgets.  Additional costs of repairs and maintenance, consumables and annual testing were not anticipated to be significant.

The initiative would contribute to enhancing the lives of everyone and was a positive step for the Council to take.  Installing the facilities in the town centre area also allowed for Boston to become an end destination for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

DECISION    

That the Sustainable Products Policy be adopted in line with the Council’s commitment to resource and waste management, and mitigation and adaption to Climate Change, as specified in the Environment Policy.

Portfolio Holders and Officer

Cllr Paul Skinner

HP

REASON FOR DECISION

Councillor Paul Skinner presented a report by the Climate Change and Environment Officer seeking adoption of a Sustainable Products Policy.

The report stated that a Sustainable Products Policy had been developed to address environmental concerns created by single use products and resultant waste from their usage and disposal and to support the Council’s net zero targets and aims of the Environment Policy.

The Policy set out the Partnership’s commitment to discontinuing the procurement of single use products as far as possible and finding best alternative solutions where single use products could not be eradicated completely.  To achieve this the policy would be embedded in the procurement framework of the partnership authorities to ensure an aligned approach to procurement and establish a culture of reuse and recycling across the partnership where such products could not be completely eliminated.

A comprehensive audit on the use of single use products would be carried out including the identification and potential financial implications of alternative products used both in offices and Council services and operations.  Alternative solutions should demonstrate best value both in financial and environmental terms, the reasons for usage of the products should be ascertained and given due consideration.  It was noted where items were purchased for health and safety reasons, alternatives may not be viable.

Following Members questions the Climate Change and Environment Officer confirmed that the Policy is currently in the process of being heard by the other executive processes within the Partnership.

OTHER OPTIONS OR ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

Not to adopt the Single Use Products Policy.

RECORD OF ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST

None.

RECORD OF ANY DISPENSATION GRANTED

None.

DECISION    

That the quarterly monitoring information for Q1 of 2022/23 be noted.         

Portfolio Holders and Officer

Cllrs Paul Skinner and Jonathan Noble

SR

REASON FOR DECISION

Councillor Paul Skinner and Councillor Jonathan Noble jointly introduced a report by the Insights and Transformation Manager setting out the performance, projects and risk monitoring information for Quarter 1 of 2022/23, as at June 2022.

The report stated that of the 37 KPIs set 25 were on or better than target; 2 were within tolerance, 7 were worse than target and 3 were not available at time of reporting.  Full details of the performance information was set out in Appendix A of the report.

A joint project management framework was in place across Boston and East Lindsey Councils which included monthly reporting to the Senior Leadership Team and quarterly reporting to Cabinet and relevant scrutiny committees. 

The Strategic Risk Register had been reviewed and signed off by the Senior Leadership Team in May 2022, and was attached at Appendix B of the report.

Members expressed their thanks to staff across the Partnership for succeeding targets.

OTHER OPTIONS OR ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

None.

RECORD OF ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST

None.

RECORD OF ANY DISPENSATION GRANTED

None.

DECISION

That Cabinet noted the details set in the report and the forecast deficit position of £299,414 (taking into account potential full year implications of certain variances) at the end of the first quarter of 2022/23 as shown in Table 1.

Portfolio Holders and Officer

Cllr Jonathan Noble

SK

REASON FOR DECISION

Councillor Jonathan Noble introduced a report by the Strategic Finance Manager (PSPS) and the Deputy Chief Finance Officer (PSPS) setting out the Council’s draft financial position as at the end of quarter 1 for 2022/23.

Full details of the financial position of the authority were attached at Appendix A of the report, including:

• The General Fund Revenue Budget;
• The General Fund Reserves Position;
• The Capital Outturn for 2021/22; and
• High level Treasury Management Performance for the year.

Proposals for movements between reserves and amendments to the capital programme were set out in the appendix to the report.

Members sent their thanks to the Finance Team.

OTHER OPTIONS OR ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

None.

RECORD OF ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST

None.

RECORD OF ANY DISPENSATION GRANTED

None.