Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies of absence were received from Councillor Sarah Sharpe

To sign and confirm the minutes of the last meeting held on 20^th September 2023.

The minutes of the last meeting held 20^th September 2023, were agreed.

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

None.

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 20^th October 2023.

No questions were received

The Chairman of the Overview & Scrutiny - Corporate & Community Committee was in attendance at Cabinet to present comments from Members following a Joint Scrutiny meeting with the Overview & Scrutiny - Environment Performance Committee to consider the Sub-Regional Strategy for the South & East Lincolnshire Council’s Partnership.

Cabinet heard from the Chairman of the Joint Committee that significant debate took place regarding the main areas of concerns, these included; ongoing Anti-Social Behaviour, retailer’s no longer reporting theft resulting in loss of crime figures, the wording of the strategy was intended on being an outward facing document but was not written as such.

The Committee made the following recommendations to Cabinet;

• Consider the wording of the version presented in respect of how it was visualised and how by simplifying the wording, a clearer understanding and forward facing document could be achieved to encourage the engagement of the public.
• Add the local priority community engagement back in;

“Develop a mechanism to engage the local communities to shape further service delivery” to be picked up in the Annual Delivery Plan 24/25.

• Consider adding in reference to an increased CCTV provision.
• Consider including a specific reference to the PE21 project within the local priorities.
• Review the inconsistency of the wording in the slides for each Council to ensure a consistency in terminology of the 1^st and 3^rd person and also their content in respect of the mention of Parish Council’s and to also review working with the ‘Monitoring and Review’ page.

No recommendations were received for this meeting

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

The Leader presented the report which set out the Sub-regional strategy for the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership.

Following the formation of the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership the Business Case identified an opportunity for greater alignment and closer working on a range of strategic issues that were common across each Council within the sub-region.

As part of the Annual Delivery plan Councillors had previously approved the development of a Sub- Regional Strategy to replace the existing Corporate Strategies.

The Strategy set out the Partnership’s shared priorities over the next 5 years, these being; Growth and Prosperity, Healthy Lives, Safe and Resilient Communities, Environment, Efficiency and Effectiveness. Along with Boston’s local priorities; promoting arts, culture, heritage and tourism, improving infrastructure, managing budgets and assets, and community safety.

Following extensive discussion from Members, with agreement from the Chairman of the Joint Scrutiny Committee, Cabinet agreed to amend the wording to the report as follows;

• Page 47 of the agenda pack. The line “Support improvements to Boston Town Centre, Markets and Events – the Town Centre Strategy” be amended to read “ Support improvements to Boston Town Centre, Markets and events – The Town Centre Strategy, including the PE21 Project”
• Also on page 47 of the agenda pack. The line “Encourage a feeling of civic pride in the Borough of Boston and support community cohesion within the parishes, villages and town” be amended to read “Encourage a feeling of civic pride in the Borough of Boston and support community cohesion through community engagement within the parishes, villages and town”

As part of debate the Leader also confirmed that last year the Council had received funding to increase CCTV infrastructure as part of the Safer Streets initiative. It was also confirmed that this strategy would be a ‘live’ documents and would be regularly reviewed.

RESOLVED:

• That Cabinet recommends the Sub-regional Strategy, including the above amendments to page 47 to reflect the views of the Joint Scrutiny Committee, to Full Council, subject to any final consultation feedback as agreed by the Portfolio Holder.

That Cabinet recommends to Council that the Sub-regional Strategy becomes a line of inquiry in the Partnership’s Annual Strategy.

(A report by Martin Gibbs, Head of Procurement & Contracts PSPS)

The Portfolio Holder – Finance outlined the Procurement Strategy 2023 to 2026 report. The Strategy provided commitments to be delivered over the course of the proposed 3-year period.

The Annual Delivery Plan 2023/24, which was approved by Full Council in March 2023, included a specific action to bring forward a Procurement Strategy for adoption following the recognition that significant savings could be achieved across the South & East Lincolnshire Partnership.

During discussion the Head of Procurements & Contracts, PSPS confirmed that;

• Boston Borough Council did not receive audit recommendations surrounding their Procurement Strategy in the same way as South Holland District Council and East Lindsey District Council had.
• It was the teams intention to have a ‘down tools’ day where members of the team would visit local small business within the Borough with the aim of assisting and developing the procurement process.

Comments from the Overview & Scrutiny – Corporate & Community Committee were included in the report which included; a request for a change in terminology – removing the term “preferred provider” to clarify that the Council would not be giving any supplier preferential treatments, and a request to remove the reference to Social Value Portal as other suppliers were in the market. Both of these comments has been noted and the report amended before coming to Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

1. That Cabinet recommends to Council the adoption of the Procurement Strategy at Appendix 1 of the agenda pack.

That Cabinet notes the feedback from Overview & Scrutiny Corporate & Community Committee.

(A report by John Leach, Deputy Chief Executive – Communities)

The Deputy Leader presented the report which provided Cabinet with the Boston Town Centre Strategy and Action Plan covering the period 2023-2027. It was stressed that this document was a ‘live’ working document.

The Strategy contained seven strategic objectives along with seventy three actions that cover the themes of; clean and safe, open for business, culture, heritage and events and transformation. It was expected that the action number would rise as Cabinet continue to strive forward to improve the Borough.

Cabinet thanked the Deputy Chief Executive (Communities) for his enduring hard work and support that enabled this Strategy and Action Plan to be considered by Committees two months earlier than initially planned.

RESOLVED:

1. That Cabinet approve the Boston Town Centre Strategy and Action Plan 2023-2027 entitled, “A Town Centre for Everyone”
2. That delegated authority be given to the Deputy Chief Executive (Communities) in consultation with the Leader and Deputy Leader/Portfolio Holder for the Town Centre to keep the Strategy and Action Plan up to date, as new work emerges.
3. That, on page 8 of the strategy, the line that reads:-

• “A new public park between the river and the Len Medlock Centre. The park will include green spaces, improved pedestrian routes, artwork, and other features to create an inviting, safe, accessible and enjoyable place for all.”

           Be amended to read:-

·           “A new public realm between the river and the Len Medlock Centre. This area will include green spaces, improved pedestrian routes, artwork, and other features to create an inviting, safe, accessible and enjoyable place for all.”