Agenda and minutes

To sign and confirm the minutes of the last meeting.

The minutes of the last meeting held 22 February 2022 were agreed and signed by the Leader.

To receive apologies for absence.

No apologies of absence were received

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

Councillor Jonathan Noble declared an interest in relation to the Procurement and Contracts function on the agenda, as he was currently a member of the PSPS board.

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 24^th March 2023.

None

There were none for this meeting

There were none for this meeting

(A report by Suzanne Rolfe, Group Manager – Insights and Transformation)

The Assistant Director – Corporate introduced a report which presented the performance information for Boston Borough Council for Quarter 3 of 2022/23 (as at December 2022). 

The report explained that 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’s) 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 and the information had then been split out by Council for Executive reporting.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet note the quarterly monitoring information for Q3 2022/23.

(A report by Andy Fisher – Assistant Director – General Fund Asset)

The Portfolio Holder - Finance presented the report which set out the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership Asset Management Strategy 2023-28. The aim on the strategy was to manage a well-planned and well maintained property portfolio, ensuring that we can demonstrate value for money, and by using our assets well, secure wide value for our communities.

The Strategy had been considered by each sovereign Council’s scrutiny function and referred to each executive body.

The draft had been purposefully crafted to be high level in that it sought to set the guiding principles for Asset Management across the SELCP and only sought to be a focussed number of high level actions in order to shape and drive the detailed work necessary within each Council to manage and maintain their respective assets.

Members made comments relating to the positive impact having one team working on a single system would allow the Council to respond to changes or absences far quicker, and in a more cost effective manner. 

The Assistant director clarified that surplus assets would only be sold without Member consultation if the asset was below £5,000 as is allowed under the Officer Scheme of Delegation. It was agreed that if the asset was below the £5,000 limit but was deemed to be controversial Members would be informed. 

Members requested that a review of the Scheme of Delegation is required next time the Constitution is being reviewed.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet endorse the draft South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership Asset Management Strategy 2023-28 and recommend its adoption to Full Council  

(A report by Sarah Baker, Assistant Director – Climate Change and Environment)

The Embargo surrounding this report has now been lifted so it is no longer necessary to discuss this item in closed session.

The Climate Change and Environment – Group Manager presented the report which set out the proposed operational arrangements and eligibility criteria for the next round of grants which launches in April 2023. The funding would be managed within the Climate Change and Environment Team on behalf of the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership (SELCP). The report also set out, in more detail the arrangements that would enable Council officers to lead on the delivery of Sustainable Warmth.

A provisional funding announcement by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy had confirmed that funding of £15.8 million had been secured for the next phase of Green Homes Grants delivery – known as Sustainable Warmth – across the three Partnership Councils.

In August 2021 the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (ESNZ) launched the Sustainable Warmth competition and SELCP managed to make consortium bids for the sub-region totalling in £7,254,966 for works to be delivered between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023. Those works were across two funding streams, the Local Authority Delivery grants for properties on the gas grid and the Home Upgrade Grant for properties with no mains gas grid connection.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet approve the operational arraignments as set out in the report and the following specific recommendations

1. That East Lindsey District Council acts as the lead authority and accountable body delivering the Sustainable Warmth programme on behalf of Boston Borough Council
2. That Cabinet notes the resourcing arrangements being put into place to facilitate the delivery of this programme of activity
3. Approve the entering into of an appropriate written agreement between East Lindsey District Council and Boston Borough Council for delivery of the programme, subject to legal advice, with delegated authority given to the Assistant Director Regulatory in consultation with the Portfolio Holder to agree the terms of the agreement.
4. Approve the continuation of a Programme Board for Sustainable Warmth with appropriate Portfolio Holder representation from each of the three Partnership Councils and Assistant Director Regulatory to monitor quarterly progress.

Cabinet authorises the Executive Board of ELDC to administer delivery of Green Homes Grant to Boston Borough residents.

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 items of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt

Information.

Before entering into closed session the Leader took the opportunity to thank staff across the Partnership for their hard work throughout the year.

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 items of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt Information.

(A report by James Gilbert, Assistant Director - Corporate)