Agenda and decisions

The Cabinet welcomes engagement from members of the public. To speak at this meeting please register no later than one working day prior to the date of the meeting via democracy@southkesteven.gov.uk

Minutes of the meetings held on 2 June (ordinary) and 9 June (extraordinary).

To receive a report outlining the terms of a government grant.

Decision

That Cabinet:

1.    Approve the acceptance of the additional £999k Warm Homes Social Housing Fund grant which has been awarded to the Council by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

2.    Approve the award of an additional £1.998m of works to Equans Buildings Ltd who are the Council’s contractor for installing energy efficiency and low carbon measure in Council owned properties.

Reasons for the decision

To ensure the Council is able to proceed with the proposed energy efficiency improvement works detailed in table 1 of the report.

Other options considered

Cabinet could have chosen not to accept the additional grant funding, but this would not have supported the achievement of an EPC rating of C across the Council’s housing stock by 2030.

Small Unmanned Aircraft (SUA) / Drone use is growing at a rapid rate in the UK. Drone usage will provide a safer option for certain work streams, and this Policy sets out the controls required to implement Drones and their use for Council activities.

Decision

That Cabinet:

a)    Approves the policy and the use of Drones for specified works.

b)   Delegates authority to the Chief Executive or Monitoring Officer to make any minor or inconsequential amendments to the policy.

Reasons for the decision

To ensure the Council has an approved policy in place for the use of Small Unmanned Aircraft (Drones).

Other options considered

The Council could have continued to utilise scaffolding and mobile towers with current safety mitigations or engage contractors to undertake the works and inspections

To explain the reasons for a recommendation to implement a pay award in line with the National Employers' for Local Government Services final offer effective from 1st April 2026.

Decision

That Cabinet:

Approved an additional budget of:

·         £214,000 from the Local Priorities Reserve to fund the General Fund impact of the proposed pay award impact for 2026/27.

·         £37,000 from the Housing Priorities Reserve to fund the HRA Impact of the proposed pay award impact for 2026/27.

Reasons for the decision

The staff award is a recognition of the hard work and dedication of our employees. It is proposed to back date the pay award to 1 April 2026. A delay in implementation could negatively impact some members of staff.

Other options considered

Not implementing a pay award would have had a significant impact on staff morale, employee relations, staff retention and relations with the Trade Unions.

To provide an update on the changes to the Waste Policy.

Decision

That Cabinet:

Review and approve the updated Refuse and Recycling Operational Policy.

Reasons for the decision

The proposed amendments to the Refuse and Recycling Operational Policy would impact all residents, and therefore the report recommends that Cabinet:

• Review and approve the updated Refuse and Recycling Operational Policy

These changes have been proposed to ensure the services delivered by the Waste Team provide the best possible service standards for residents. They will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the service. The change in start time will ensure more consistent collections. It will also ensure that waste is not stored on vehicles in the depot yard overnight, which is a breach of health and safety regulations. The variations to Bank Holiday working will reduce the impact of Bank Holiday collection changes on residents and will reduce missed bin numbers. It will lessen the complexity of the collection schedule for residents, resulting in a more consistent collection schedule

Other options considered

The alternative option considered was to do nothing and leave the Refuse and Recycling Operational Policy as it currently stands and not make the suggested changes to start times and Bank Holiday working. This option would not enable the Waste Team to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Waste Service which is a key requirement under the Environment Act 2021

To seek approval on the spending allocation of the Asylum Dispersal Grant Funding received by the Council.

Decision

That Cabinet:

1.    Approved the allocation of proposed asylum dispersal funding as detailed within Table Two in the report.

2.    Delegated authority to the Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing to allocate the remaining funding or reallocate any elements of the funding in Table Two which are not required or under-utilised to other permitted activity, subject to the relevant financial thresholds.

3.    Approved the adoption of the SK Community Fund process to award any elements of available funding to community organisations as detailed in paragraph 3.2 of the report.

Reasons for the decision

The Council has been awarded £666,000 of Government funding and is projected to receive a further amount of £321,600 in financial year 2026/27. The funding can only be utilised to mitigate the impact of asylum seekers in dispersal accommodation within the district of South Kesteven.

Therefore, it is necessary to determine how the funding can be best utilised to support asylum seekers and the wider community. The amounts allocated in Table Two are estimated amounts and may be subject to change. Therefore, it was recommended that delegated authority be provided to reallocate any elements of the funding which are under-utilised or not required. As the proposals include elements which will be delivered by community organisations (Voluntary Sector fund, and leisure and cultural activities) it will be important that the Council establishes a clear and transparent process for community groups to bid for the monies available.

Other options considered

The Council has received funding specifically to support asylum seekers and the wider community in relation to the Government’s Asylum Dispersal Scheme. It will be necessary to report on how the funding has been allocated and spent. Therefore the ‘do nothing’ option has been discounted.

To consider the future direction of Local Plan preparation and associated governance arrangements.

Decision

That Cabinet:

1.    Agree that the Council ceases work on the existing ‘legacy’ Local Plan.

2.    Agree that plan-making activities under the new Local Plan-making system are initiated.

3.    Delegate authority to the Assistant Director of Planning and Growth, following consultation with the portfolio holder for Planning to:

a)    Authorise publication of a Notice of Commencement at the earliest appropriate opportunity to start the plan-making process;

b)   Authorise publication of a Local Plan Timetable (based on the indicative timetable attached at Appendix A, or any variation of) to provide full details of the programme for production of the Local Plan on the Council’s website;

c)    Authorise the carrying out of a Scoping Consultation exercise with stakeholders and publish a summary of the scoping consultation; and;

d)   Prepare and approve the documents and actions that are required to support the self-assessment requirements for passing Gateway 1.

Reasons for the decision

Continuing work on the existing legacy Local Plan to its current timetable would involve abortive work and most likely fail to deliver a Local Plan capable of meeting tests of soundness. Option 1 has therefore been discounted as it carries the greatest risk to the Council.

Other options considered

Potential to apply faster build out rates, higher densities to achieve higher overall numbers has been considered and rejected. Officers have in confidence consulted with MHCLG, Planning Advisory Service and the Planning Inspectorate. The common response has been to be understanding of our position and open to our proposed change in Local Plan approach. MHCLG officers have asked to be kept advised of Cabinet’s decision. Officers have reviewed how the Council should respond to the new plan-making system and draft guidance. Two options have been considered:

Option 1 - Continue under current regulations and submit by December 2026

·         If the submission deadline is missed, or the plan is found unsound, the Council would need to restart plan preparation under the new system. This would make much of the work already undertaken abortive and create reputational risk for SKDC.

·         It is no longer realistic to complete the evidence base and draft Regulation 19 Local Plan in time for consultation in September 2026. This option is therefore not feasible.

Option 2 - Transition now to the new plan-making system (Recommended)

·         This would provide clarity and certainty. A single statutory pathway, with defined gateways, would reduce risk and establish clear expectations.

·         It would make best use of existing work. Existing options, plan content and evidence could be developed further and redirected to address the need for additional sites to support the Council’s housing supply.

·         At the time of writing, the shape of Local Government Reorganisation and its implications for the Local Plan process are unknown. The indicative Local Plan timetable therefore reflects the need to consult neighbouring authorities to maximise alignment on timescales and boundaries before final timelines are confirmed.

A draft Stock Management Policy has been developed for consideration and approval by Cabinet.

Decision

That Cabinet:

Approve the Stock Management Policy

Reasons for the decision

It is essential that the Council has a Stock Control Policy to ensure that Council assets are protected thereby reducing the risk of theft.

It is also important that the Council is aware of its stock levels in the event of an insured peril where it would need to be evidenced as part of any claim

Other options considered

The alternative option was not to be approve a Stock Management Policy, but this has been discounted as there is a clear recommendation from Internal Audit supported by Section 151 officer to put in place a formal Stock Management Policy in place.

Part 4 –(4) Cabinet Procedure Rules section 7.6 states that

The Leader may put on the agenda of any Cabinet meeting any matter that they wish, whether or not authority has been delegated to Cabinet, a Cabinet Committee or any Cabinet Member or Officer in respect of that matter. The Proper Officer will comply with the Leader’s requests in this respect.

Local Government Reorganisation - Government Decision

Part 4 –(4) Cabinet Procedure Rules section 7.6 of the Constitution states that The Leader may put on the agenda of any Cabinet meeting any matter that they wish, whether or not authority has been delegated to Cabinet, a Cabinet Committee or any Cabinet Member or Officer in respect of that matter. The Proper Officer will comply with the Leader’s requests in this respect.

Decision

That Cabinet:  

1.    Delegate authority to the Director of Law and Governance to urgently obtain independent specialist legal advice on the Government’s decision and the process by which it was reached.

2.    Delegate authority to the Leader of the Council, in consultation with the Chief Executive, to seek from Government the reasons, evidence, comparative assessment and consultation analysis underpinning its decision.

3.    Delegate authority to the Leader, in consultation with the Chief Executive, to engage with affected local authorities, Members of Parliament and other relevant stakeholders regarding the Government’s decision and any shared concerns arising from it.

4.    Request that as soon as feasible following receipt of independent specialist legal advice, the Director of Law and Governance reports back to Cabinet on the options available to the Council in respect of challenging the Governments decision on Local Government Reorganisation.

To seek approval for the Air Quality Management Area Order 2026, which will supersede Air Quality Management Area Order 2013. This is required due to improvements in Air Quality resulting in the need to remove the Hourly Nitrogen Dioxide designation from the Air Quality Management Area Order.

Decision

That Cabinet:

Approves the designation of an Air Quality Management Area Order 2026 to replace any previous Orders under Environment Act 1995 Part IV Section 83(1) to ensure South Kesteven District Council meets its statutory requirements in relation to Air Quality.

Reasons for the decision

There have been no reported exceedances of the National Air Quality Objectives for the NO2 1 hourly mean objective of 200µg/m3 for the last 8 years. Air quality continues to improve in respect of NO2 within the district; the AQMA Statutory guidance requires the reviewing and removal of the hourly mean from the AQMA as it is no longer required.

Other options considered

To not approve the designation and the existing Order. However, the preferred option is option 1, as the current designation is no longer meeting the statutory requirements and requires varying by way of a new designation to remedy this.

Decision

That Cabinet:

1.    Reviews the provisional Housing Revenue Account Revenue and Capital Outturn position and the supporting appendices for the financial year 2025/26.

2.    Notes the revenue and capital budget carry forwards in para 3.5 and para 4.8 of the report, respectively.

Reasons for the decision

It is important that Cabinet are aware of the financial position of the Housing Revenue Account to ensure they can make informed decisions that are affordable and financially sustainable for the Council. Effective budget management is critical to ensuring financial resources are spent in line with the budget and are targeted towards the Council’s priorities. The report provides an overview of the provisional Housing Revenue Account outturn financial position for 2025/26.

Other options considered

Cabinet have oversight of the Council’s budgets and therefore, the option of not producing a provisional outturn report was discounted.

To provide details of the General Fund provisional outturn position for the Financial Year 2025/26. The report covers the Revenue Budget, Capital Programme and a Reserves Overview.

Decision

That Cabinet:

1.    Review the provisional General Fund Revenue and Capital Outturn position including the supporting appendices for the financial year 2025/26.

2.    Note the revenue and capital budget carry forwards in Appendix B and C of the report.

3.    Endorse the proposed reserve movements in table 3 of the report in readiness for presentation to Governance and Audit Committee with an additional reserve of £200,000 to be called the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Reserve.

Reasons for the decision

It is important that members were aware of the financial position of the General Fund to ensure they can make informed decisions that are affordable and financially sustainable for the Council. Effective budget management is critical to ensuring financial resources are spent in line with the budget and are targeted towards the Council’s priorities.

The report provides an overview of the provisional General Fund outturn financial position for 2025/26.

Other options considered

Cabinet have oversight of the Council’s budgets and therefore, the option of not producing a provisional outturn report was discounted.

Decision:

That Cabinet noted the use of Emergency Powers by the Head of Paid Service.

Reasons for the decision

To note the report as is required by the relevant provision in the constitution.

This report provides an overview of decisions taken by individual Cabinet Members since the last ordinary meeting of the Cabinet on 2 June 2026.

This report highlights matters on the Cabinet’s Forward Plan.