Agenda and minutes

Apologies for Councillor Terl Bryant were submitted but he attended the meeting from 11.04am.

(Enclosure)

The minutes of the meeting held on 3rd June were agreed as a correct record of the decisions taken.

Councillor Mrs Neal referred to an e-mail that she had received concerning a change to the minutes but stated that the minutes were agreed as to their accuracy and nothing could be added which was not said at the meeting.  The Development Control Committee would look at all relevant material considerations for each application with regard to the Wind Energy SPD.

None disclosed.

Report ED927 by the Grow the Economy and Economic Development Portfolio Holder and the Arts and Leisure Portfolio Holder

(Enclosure)

Decision:

That Cabinet approve the Council’s first medium term Cultural Strategy 2013/14 to 2015/16 as appended to report ED927.

Considerations/reasons for decision:

1)       Report ED927 from the Portfolio Holders’ Grow the Economy and Economic Development and Arts and Leisure.

2)       The Cultural Strategy responds to the Council’s priorities by ensuring a coordinated approach to improving the cultural offer in South Kesteven. It provides a framework to help address local needs and describes how aims and priorities can be delivered by working together with partners.

3)       A clear vision for the district is outlined and descriptions of what the strategy will deliver for each of the towns and the rural hinterland.

4)       Consultations have been undertaken through different forums comprising of officers, businesses and the public. 

5)       The document was taken to the Communities PDG on 16th May who following minor text amendments endorsed the document.

6)       Comments made by Portfolio Holders on the visual quality of the document and the need to distribute the document to a wider audience.

Other options considered:

To revise the existing council policies such as the Economic Development Strategy to include the cultural agenda, however, this was not considered appropriate due to the wide areas the cultural strategy covered.  It was felt that a dedicated cultural strategy was needed.

Report HOF237 by the Head of Finance

(Enclosure)

Decision:

That Cabinet approves the proposed Discretionary Council Tax Payment Policy.

(The policy is based upon the existing Discretionary Housing Payment scheme (DHP) which is funded by government grant.)

Considerations/reasons for decision:

1)              Report HOF237 from the Head of Finance.

2)              The abolition of council tax benefit from April 2013 and that Discretionary Housing Payment Schemes can no longer be made towards Council Tax liability.

3)              That Council as part of its budget proposal for 2013/14 had approved a locally funded scheme to be set up to help with cases of extreme hardship that may arise following the introduction of the local Council Tax Support scheme (CTS).

4)              The proposal was discussed at the Resources PDG at their meeting on 28th March 2013 and was given their full support.

5)              The proposed scheme followed the guidance issued by the Department of Communities and Local Government.

6)              Comments made by Portfolio Holders that the funding pot was for one year only and would not be an ongoing benefit.

7)              Regular sessions to be held with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Resources to monitor the funds held.

Report HOF240 by the Head of Finance

(Enclosure)

Decision:

Cabinet recommends to Council:

1)              That the LAMS scheme is extended and a further amount of £1M is given to the Lloyds TSB Bank Plc scheme;

2)              That additional lenders be included such as Teachers Building Society

3)              That the maximum loan size per application is increased to £147,250.

Considerations/reasons for decision:

1)       Report HOF240 by the Head of Finance.

2)       Council approved the implementation of a local scheme in March 2012 in partnership with Lloyds Banks plc up to a limit of £1M and approved plans to extend the scheme across other lenders as they enter the scheme up to a total of £5M.

3)       The success of the scheme to date and the need to promote the scheme more widely in the south of the district.

4)       Comments made by the Portfolio Holder Good Housing concerning the interest from the loans.

5)       Comments made by the Strategic Director Corporate Focus concerning accounting guidance concerning the scheme.

Scrutiny Review of Defibrillator Provision within South Kesteven District Council

(Enclosure)

Defibrillator provision within South Kesteven District Council

Decision:

In principle the Cabinet support the installation of automatic external defibrillators in its buildings across the district and thank the Scrutiny Committee for the work done to date and the brilliant paper that they submitted.  However, before making a final decision the Cabinet wished the Scrutiny Committee to do further work on the following:

1)    Health and Safety implications and implementation.

2)    Budgetary considerations – options for funding

Considerations/reasons for decision:

1)              The Scrutiny Committee’s Defibrillator provision within South Council District Council’s Review document.

2)              No budget provision for the current year.

3)              The need for funding options to be resourced and evidenced.

4)              The need to better understand the Health and Safety implications for the Council.

5)              The usage of the defibrillators by possibly different people (staff/members of the public) and how this would affect the council’s indemnity.

6)              Comments made by Portfolio Holders whose parishes they covered had defibrillators installed in them.

Decisions CO8, CO9, CO11 as made on 1st July 2013 can be implemented by Wednesday 10th July, unless subject to call-in by the Scrutiny Committee Chairman or any five members of the Council from any political group.

Decision CO10 as made on 1st July 1013 stands referred to Council on 11th July 2013.