Agenda and minutes

To sign and confirm the minutes of the last meeting.

The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 9^th November 2022 were agreed and signed by the Chairman.

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors; Richard Austin and Nigel Welton

To receive declarations of interests in respect of any item on the agenda.

None were recorded.

To answer any written questions received from members of the public no later than 5 p.m. two clear working days prior to the meeting – for this meeting the deadline is 5 p.m. on Friday 2 December 2022

None.

A recommendation from the Environment and Performance Committee meeting held on the 22^nd November 2022.

Subject:  Boston Markets.

Report and recommendation attached.

Reports has been considered by the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee and comments were included as appropriate.

An interim report on the activity of the BTAC requested by the Leader of the Council.

At the request of the Leader of the Council, the Chairman of BTAC, Councillor Paul Goodale presented an interim report on the activity of the BTAC.

Four meetings had taken place within the Municipal year, a breakdown of each meeting was contained in the report.

Following Member’s questions Councillor Goodale confirmed that BTAC agreed to award £5,000 to Christmas In Boston as this was the maximum amount BTAC could award without going to a feasibility study.

The Leader informed the BTAC Chairman that both the Finance Portfolio Holder and the Town Centre Portfolio Holder would be present at all Chairman’s briefings of BTAC going forward.

A report by the Assistant Director – Wellbeing and Community Leadership

The Homelessness Act 2002 required that all Local Authorities carry out a review of homelessness in their areas and formulate and publish a strategy at least every 5 years based on the findings of this review.

The current strategy expires this year and therefore a revised strategy must be published.

The new draft strategy had been written following consultation with key stakeholders from across Lincolnshire which has helped to formulate the priorities for the next 5 years.

Following a question relating to the low response rate of the Consultation – the Portfolio Holder confirmed that the consultation was shared on all platforms.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet approve and adopt the new Lincolnshire Homelessness and Rough Sleeper strategy.

A report by the Assistant Director - Regulatory

The Leader introduced a report which set out the Council’s approach to how it will carry out its regulatory enforcement activities, of individuals, groups and businesses. This policy had been developed in collaboration with the other District Councils that comprise the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership, in order to ensure that the way in which the Councils regulate business and individuals was both lawful and consistent across the partnership.

The report demonstrated how undertaking regulatory activities in accordance with the policy would ensure that the Council meets its responsibility to regulate and enforce fairly, openly, consistently and proportionately.

The Environmental Health Manager outlined changes to the recommendations made since the Corporate & Community Committee.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet approve;

1. The revised Corporate Enforcement Policy
2. That the Environmental Health Manager and the Assistant Director Regulatory be given delegated authority to make such amendments to this policy as may, from time to time, be required in order to (i) reference any links or amendments to other documents and (ii) reflect any issues over which the Council has no discretion, including, but not limited to, references to any legislative changes and amend guidance. For information purposed Members will be kept up to date regarding any revision that are made under delegated decision. Any material amendments to the policy will be subject to the usual approval in line with the Constitution

That all service managers responsible for enforcement action that falls within the scope of this policy be given delegated authority to take, in exceptional circumstances, such action in departure from any parts of this policy as they consider appropriate. This will be subject to (i) the reason for such departure being documented and (ii) following consultation with the relevant portfolio holder or Committee Chair.

A report by the Safer Communities Service Manager

The Leader presented a report which brought forward two updates to the Private Sector Housing Policy Framework to introduce Locally Adopted Charger for the enforcement of Minimum Energy Enforcement Standards (MEES) and Electrical Safety Standards. Both pieces of legislation had been in force for some time and will enable the Housing Standards Team to take appropriate action where landlords are non-compliant.

A funded award from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) had been secured to undertake a project specifically focussing on enforcement of the MEES regulations and these Charges need to be in place so that where engagement and Compliance Notice fail, the Council has the power to proceed to issue Civil Penalties.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet agrees the Locally Adopted Charges in relation to enforcement of Minimum Energy Enforcement Standards and Electrical Safety Standards and approves the required amendments to the Private Sector Housing Policy Framework.

A report by the Head of Revenues and Benefits (PSPS)

The Finance Portfolio Holder presented a report which outlined the final proposals for the 2023/24 Local Council Tax Support scheme. The framework for localism of Council Tax Support was introduced by the Local Government Finance Act 2012.

The Finance Portfolio Holder outlined that the Revenues and Benefits team had been successful in reducing backlog and minimising the LAError Rate.

Concerns were raised regarding the timing of a fundamental scheme review – the Finance Portfolio Holder outlined that it would mean a lot of Officer time would be redirected to the review.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet;

1. Approves, and recommends to Council the continuation of the current Council Tax Support scheme, including uprating in line with DWP’s annual update of allowances and premiums for 2023/24.

Delegates approval for the 2023/24 final scheme policy to the Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, including administrative and minor changes.

A report by the Insights and Transformation Manager

The Leader presented a report which is brought to Cabinet quarterly, the report covered performance and risk monitoring information for Quarter 2 of 2022/23.

A joint performance management framework had been agreed across the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership for 2022/23 to support joint delivery of services. Key performance Indicators (KPI) had been agreed through the service planning process to capture performance against the strategic priorities of the Partnership and the individual Councils. A combined performance report had been presented to Strategic Leadership Team (SLT) and the information had then been split out by Council for Executive reporting.

The Leader emphasised that it was extremely difficult to achieve a green status.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet note the quarterly monitoring information for Quarter 2022/23

A report by the Strategic Finance Manager

The Finance Portfolio Holder presented the 2022/23 Quarter 2 Finance Update which set out the summary of the current financial position for the Council at the end of the second quarter of 2022/23 for Members consideration.

Throughout the year quarterly monitoring reports are completed forecasting the expected year end outturn against the budget. The report provided information on the forecast full year financial performance at 30 September 2022.

Members questioned whether lowering the parking charges in the town centre would increase the demand, resulting in a higher revenue.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet;

1)    Note the report the current projected overspend of £218,000 and the details set out in Appendix A

2)    Note the planned delegated use of the Covid smoothing reserve of £183,000 (Car Parking Income) and £197,000 (Leisure Income)

To Consider resolving that under section 100(A)(iv) of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to information)(Variation) order 2006, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of schedule 12A of the order.

RESOLVED:

That under Section 100(A)(iv) of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Order.