Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Benn, Forman, Mrs. Kaberry-Brown, Ms. Kingman, Manterfield, Dr. Moseley and Judy Stevens.

                                                                                                                  (Enclosure)

The minutes of the meeting held on19 January 2017 were proposed, seconded and agreed as a correct record.

                                                                                                                  (Enclosure)

Report number CFM409 of the Leader of the Council, the Executive Member, Resources and the Executive Member, Housing.                                                              (Enclosure)

Decision:

Part A

In relation to the General Fund – Revenue

a.     To set a General Fund budget requirement of £12.441M for 2017/18 shown at Appendix A to report number CFM409 (inclusive of special expenses) taking into consideration the savings and efficiencies shown at Appendix B to report number CFM409

b.     To approve a Council Tax increase of £4 (Band D equivalent) for 2017/18 

c.     To note the indicative base estimates for 2018/19 and 2019/20 as detailed in the summary at Appendix A to report number CFM409.

d.     To approve the fees and charges as shown at Appendix C to report number CFM409

e.     To approve a pay award of 1% for 2017/18 based on the national award

In relation to the General Fund – Capital

f.       Approve  the  General  Fund  Capital  programme  for  2017/18  to  2021/22 detailed at page 1 of Appendix D to report number CFM409

g.     Approve the Capital Financing statement detailed at page 2 Appendix D to report number CFM409

In relation to the General Fund – Reserves and Balances

h.     To approve the use of reserves as detailed at Appendix E to report number CFM409

Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential Indicators

i.       To approve the Treasury Management Strategy provided at Appendix F to report number CFM409

In relation to the Housing Revenue Account – Revenue

j.       To  approve  dwelling  rent  decrease  of  1%  providing  an  average  rent  of £79.28 (an average rental decrease of 81p per week)

k.     To approve an increase in garage rents of 2%

l.       To approve an increase of 3.4% in service charges for communal facilities and community rooms

m.    To approve an increase in shared ownership rents by 2% 

n.     To  approve  the  Housing  Revenue  Account  for  the  year  2017/18  and indicative years 2018/19 and 2019/20 shown at Appendix G to report number CFM409

o.     To approve a pay award of 1% for 2017/18 based on the national award

In relation to the Housing Revenue Account – Capital

p.     Approve  the  indicative  Housing  Investment  Programme  for  2017/18  to 2021/22 detailed at page 1 of Appendix H to report number CFM409

q.     Approve the Capital Financing statement detailed at page 2 of Appendix H to report number CFM409

In relation to the Housing Revenue Account – Reserves and Balances

r.      To approve the use of the reserves as detailed at Appendix I to report number CFM409.

Pay Policy Statement

s.     To approve the pay policy statement shown at Appendix J to report number CFM409

Part B

1)      That the following amounts be calculated by the Council for the year 2017/18 in accordance with Sections 32 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended)

a)      £63,160,000 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 32 (2) (a) to (e) of the Act (including special expense and parish precepts).

b)        £50,104,000 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 32 (3) (a)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 82.

The Leader announced that Councillor King had been appointed to the Executive and would hold the Economic Development Portfolio. Councillor King acknowledged the appointment, stating that he looked forward to working with all Councillors and officers to promote growth and conservation and bringing forward major projects.

Report number LDS202 of the Chief Executive.                             (Enclosure)

Decision:

1.    To appoint Councillor Bob Russell as the Council’s representative on the Black Sluice Internal Drainage Board

2.    To appoint Councillors Craft, Mrs. Kaberry-Brown and Ian Stokes as the Council’s representatives on the Upper Witham Internal Drainage Board

3.    To appoint Councillors Broughton, Dilks, Jacky Smith and Woolley as the Council’s representatives on the Welland and Deeping Internal Drainage Board

Report number LDS202 explained that the three-year term of office for Council representatives on the internal drainage boards was due to expire at the end of March 2017 and Council was asked to consider appointments for the following three-year term. It was proposed, seconded and, on being put to the vote, agreed that the Council’s existing representatives on all three internal drainage boards should continue.

Report number LDS203 of the Chief Executive.                             (Enclosure)

Decision:

1.    That Councillor Brian Sumner be appointed to fill the Conservative vacancy on the Communities Policy Development Group

2.    That Councillor Frank Turner be appointed to fill the Conservative vacancy on the Development Control Committee

Report number LDS203 informed Council of Conservative vacancies on the Communities Policy Development Group and the Development Control Committee. The Leader nominated Councillor Brian Sumner to fill the vacancy on Communities PDG and Councillor Frank Turner to fill the vacancy on the Development Control Committee. These were seconded and, on being put to the vote, agreed.

One Question Without Discussion had been received.

Question 1:

To:       Scrutiny Committee

From:  Councillor Ashley Baxter

Over the last five years, recycling rates in Lincolnshire have fallen from 52.8% down to 47.0% and in South Kesteven District they have fallen from 48.6% down to 43.2% which is almost as low as the national average.

In household recycling league tables, Lincolnshire’s ranking out of 351 local authorities has fallen from 44^th to 118^th. South Kesteven’s ranking has fallen from 88^th down to 172^nd.

Can the Scrutiny Committee please investigate why SKDC recycling rates have fallen so dramatically and what practical steps can be taken to promote waste prevention, recycling and composting in the District?

Article 4.8.3 of the Council’s Constitution required the referral of all questions without discussion to the relevant Policy Development Group. As this question was addressed to the Scrutiny Committee, it was proposed, seconded and agreed that in this instance, in the interest of expediency, the question should be referred directly to that committee.

1.         From Councillor Phil Dilks

Illegal hare-coursing in Lincolnshire is a growing menace which can be described at best as an unwelcome resource challenge for our already stretched Lincolnshire Police and at worst an epidemic affecting the lives of decent law-abiding citizens who regularly feel threatened and intimidated by gangs of men with dogs.

In the last so-called hare-coursing ‘season’ from September 2015 to March 2016, there were 2,169 incidents involving hare coursing reported to Lincolnshire Police who made 174 arrests or reports for summons. Sadly, there has been a noticeable increase in hare- coursing incidents in the current ‘season’.

Over one weekend last month (11^th and 12^th February 2017), 31 incidents were reported to police across the county, with more arrests and seizures of vehicles with our police officers spending a total of 168 hours on ‘Operation Galileo’ patrols and dealing with hare-coursing incidents.

At the last meeting of Deepings Neighbourhood Police Forum, residents of Deeping Fen and Langtoft Fen told shocking accounts of how they live in constant fear of gangs of up to 20 men with lurcher-type dogs arriving from all corners of the country, damaging property and threatening violence to anyone who gets in the way of their illegal activities:

A father told how he was forced to move his children away after hare-coursers barricaded a local road and threatened to burn down his family home. A mother described how she is frightened to let her children play outside for fear of the coursers dogs.

The National Farmers Union locally recently complained that illegal hare-coursing is getting ‘out of control’.

As part of their ongoing ‘Operation Galileo’ to tackle hare-coursing, Lincolnshire Police recently confronted coursers on Deeping High Bank and near Hall Meadow Road, Deeping St James and have had some success with arrests and convictions. 

In his first media interview since taking over, our new Chief Constable Bill Skelly said he was committed to tackling illegal hare-coursing and when he met with more than 100 South Lincs farmers concerned at the rise in hare-coursing, promised more resources to tackle the issue.

However, in discussions with myself and other local community representatives to explore what more can be done, Chief Inspector Jim Tyner - District Commander for North & South Kesteven and district tactical lead for Operation Galileo - suggested that a formal Public Spaces Protection Order may be helpful in policing and preventing hare-coursing in our area.

Such an order could be made by this council, using the powers of Section 71 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, and in consultation with Lincolnshire Police, to prohibit would-be hare-coursers from using certain public roads, and creating an offence for failure to comply.

Therefore, this Council resolves to:

1.    Welcome the new Chief Constable’s commitment to tackling illegal hare-coursing.

2.    Work closely with Lincolnshire Police to take all reasonable steps possible to combat hare-coursing in South Kesteven including full consideration of a formal Public Spaces Protection Order as appropriate to help improve  ...  view the full agenda text for item 87.

Decision:

Illegal hare-coursing in Lincolnshire is a growing menace which can be described at best as an unwelcome resource challenge for our already stretched Lincolnshire Police and at worst an epidemic affecting the lives of decent law-abiding citizens who regularly feel threatened and intimidated by gangs of men with dogs.

In the last so-called hare-coursing ‘season’ from September 2015 to March 2016, there were 2,169 incidents involving hare coursing reported to Lincolnshire Police who made 174 arrests or reports for summons. Sadly, there has been a noticeable increase in hare- coursing incidents in the current ‘season’.

Over one weekend last month (11^th and 12^th February 2017), 31 incidents were reported to police across the county, with more arrests and seizures of vehicles with our police officers spending a total of 168 hours on ‘Operation Galileo’ patrols and dealing with hare-coursing incidents.

At the last meeting of Deepings Neighbourhood Police Forum, residents of Deeping Fen and Langtoft Fen told shocking accounts of how they live in constant fear of gangs of up to 20 men with lurcher-type dogs arriving from all corners of the country, damaging property and threatening violence to anyone who gets in the way of their illegal activities:

A father told how he was forced to move his children away after hare-coursers barricaded a local road and threatened to burn down his family home. A mother described how she is frightened to let her children play outside for fear of the coursers dogs.

The National Farmers Union locally recently complained that illegal hare-coursing is getting ‘out of control’.

As part of their ongoing ‘Operation Galileo’ to tackle hare-coursing, Lincolnshire Police recently confronted coursers on Deeping High Bank and near Hall Meadow Road, Deeping St James and have had some success with arrests and convictions. 

In his first media interview since taking over, our new Chief Constable Bill Skelly said he was committed to tackling illegal hare-coursing and when he met with more than 100 South Lincs farmers concerned at the rise in hare-coursing, promised more resources to tackle the issue.

However, in discussions with myself and other local community representatives to explore what more can be done, Chief Inspector Jim Tyner - District Commander for North & South Kesteven and district tactical lead for Operation Galileo - suggested that a formal Public Spaces Protection Order may be helpful in policing and preventing hare-coursing in our area.

Such an order could be made by this council, using the powers of Section 71 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, and in consultation with Lincolnshire Police, to prohibit would-be hare-coursers from using certain public roads, and creating an offence for failure to comply.

Therefore, this Council resolves to:

1. Welcome the new Chief Constable’s commitment to tackling illegal hare-coursing and congratulates Lincolnshire Police on Operation Galileo and work currently being undertaken.

2. Work closely with Lincolnshire Police to take all reasonable steps possible to combat hare-coursing in South Kesteven including full consideration of all the options as appropriate  ...  view the full minutes text for item 87.

The meeting was closed at 16:50.