Agenda and draft minutes

To receive apologies for absence and notification of substitutes (if any).

There were apologies for absence from Councillors Alan Bell, David Brown, Viven Edge, Martin Howard, Judith Skinner and Yvonne Stevens.  Councillor Judy Welbourn was attending to substitute for Councillor Howard and Councillor Paul Goodale was attending to substitute for Councillor Bell. 

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

Councillor Paul Goodale declared that he was Chairman of the Boston Town Area Committee (BTAC), Councillor Stephen Woodliffe that he was Vice-Chairman of BTAC and Councillors Alison Austin and Anton Dani that they were BTAC Members. 

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 Thursday, 12^th August 2021.

None.

(A report by Lorraine Bush, Democratic Services Delivery Manager)

The Democratic Services Delivery Manager presented a report, which set out information relating to the possibility of conducting a Community Governance Review (CGR).

The Boston Town Area Committee (BTAC) had issued a request that the Council considered conducting a Community Governance Review of the town wards of the borough area under section 80 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.  The details of the request from BTAC were set out in Appendix A.

The Committee was asked to consider the information and options contained in the report and make a recommendation to Cabinet on whether a CGR should be undertaken.

The purpose of a CGR was to secure an arrangement that would bring about improved community engagement, better local democracy and result in more effective and convenient delivery of local services.

The CGR had to take account of the identities and interests of the community in that area and those arrangements for community representation and engagement already in place.

Members were asked to consider if this would be achieved by conducting a CGR of the Boston Town wards or whether the current governance arrangements of the town wards – being an unparished area with BTAC raising a precept for a special area expense account to deliver specific services – was effective and the preferred method.

The report set out the issues considered by BTAC, which led to the Committee’s decision to request that a CGR be carried out for the town wards of the borough area with a view to creating a Boston Town Council to operate in the same way as a parish council.  A copy of the report and minutes of the meeting were attached to the report for information at Appendix 1. 

Cabinet’s consideration of the request had concluded that the views of Scrutiny Members be sought before making a recommendation to Full Council. 

The report outlined the CGR process and the guidance a principal council had to have regard to, issued by the Secretary of State and the Electoral Commission, was attached to the report at Appendix B.  It also set out a number of matters that should be taken into account that would have a direct strategic, financial and operational impact on the Borough Council.  There was an alternative process to a standalone CGR, which would be for Town Councils to be created following local government reorganisation of an electoral area or combined electoral areas.

If Full Council was to agree to trigger a Community Governance Review for the Boston Town wards outside of any future local government reorganisation for Lincolnshire, the expectation would be for it to commence in October/November 2021 for completion within a year.  As there were no elections scheduled for 2022 this would provide the time necessary to concentrate on the CGR process.

The first step in the CGR process would be to convene a cross-party working group of Members and appropriate officers to agree terms of reference, considering the current arrangements, including wards, number of members  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

(For Members to discuss the Committee’s work programme for the year ahead)

The Interim Deputy Chief Executive advised Members that representatives from the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (ULHT) had accepted the Committee’s invitation to attend its next meeting on 16^th September and that representatives from the Clinical Commissioning Group would also be present.  Members of the Environment & Performance Committee would also be invited to attend.  Members were urged to submit questions in advance and no later than 6^th September in order to allow representatives to prepare answers.  Guests had been advised that Members’ preference was that they attend in person, but they had to option to join virtually if they considered this necessary due to the pandemic. 

Another suggestion put forward was the licensing of rented properties in relation to properties that were not classed as Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), but were perceived to be overcrowded.  The issue of empty properties was also raised.  In response, the Interim Deputy Chief Executive agreed to add an item on the legal framework for housing control to the Committee’s agenda for its January meeting.