Agenda and minutes

The public open forum will commence at 2.00 p.m. and the following formal business of the Council will commence at 2.30 p.m. or whenever the public open forum ends, if earlier.

No members of the public had registered to speak.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Rosemary Trollope-Bellew.

The minutes of the meeting held on 23 November 2023 were proposed, seconded and agreed as a correct record subject to the following amendment:

Under Item 64 – Councillor Vanessa Smith’s motion (Climate and Ecology Bill), the following sentence to be amended to reflect that the motion fell:

It was proposed, seconded and AGREED that the meeting be extended by half an hour. This motion fell.

The word AGREED would be removed, so the sentence would now read:

It was proposed and seconded that the meeting be extended by half an hour. This motion fell.

The Council noted the Chairman’s engagements.

Councillor Richard Cleaver gave a short speech announcing his resignation as Leader of the Council, thanking local residents, relatives, friends, council member colleagues and council officers for their support during his time in office.

Councillors Graham Jeal, Lee Steptoe, Sarah Trotter, Tim Harrison, Charmaine Morgan, Penny Milnes, Mark Whittington, Jane Kingman, Ian Selby, Paul Wood and Anna Kelly each spoke regarding the Leader’s news.

Councillor Mark Whittington apologised unreservedly to the whole Council Chamber for his behaviour at the Full Council meeting held on 23 November 2023, going onto say that his behaviour was unacceptable. He also thanked those individuals that had contacted him to enquire after his wellbeing.

Members were invited to make nominations for the Leader of the Council.

A proposition was moved and seconded to suspend Council Procedure Rule 15.3 (voting by a show of hands) for this item and it be replaced with a secret ballot to vote in a new Leader of the Council.

Debate ensued on the merits and disadvantages of secret balloting. Following this short debate it was proposed that the ‘question was now put’. A request was made that a recorded vote on the motion be taken, as in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.5 any ten or more Councillors present at the meeting of Full Council could request this. 

For a Secret Ballot:            Councillors Matt Bailey, David Bellamy, Pam Bosworth, Helen Crawford, Richard Dixon-Warren, Ben Green, Graham Jeal, Gloria Johnson, Anna Kelly, Jane Kingman, Gareth Knight, Zoe Lane, Robert Leadenham, Nikki Manterfield, Paul Martin, Penny Milnes, Charmaine Morgan, Nick Robins, Penny Robins, Susan Sandall, Peter Stephens, Ian Stokes, Sarah Trotter, Mark Whittington, Jane Wood, Paul Wood, Sue Woolley (27).

Against Secret Ballot:        Councillors Emma Baker, Rhys Baker, Ashley Baxter, Harrish Bisnauthsing, Pam Byrd, Richard Cleaver, Steven Cunnington, James Denniston, Phil Dilks, Patsy Ellis, Paul Fellows, Phil Gadd, Tim Harrison, Philip Knowles, Bridget Ley, Virginia Moran, Chris Noon, Habib Rahman, Rhea Rayside, Max Sawyer, Ian Selby, Rob Shorrock, Vanessa Smith, Lee Steptoe, Paul Stokes, Elvis Stooke, Murray Turner (27).

Abstain:                             Councillor Barry Dobson (1).

The motion therefore FELL; a motion to suspend Council Procedure Rules required a two-thirds majority in favour to succeed.

A proposition was moved and seconded that Councillor Ashley Baxter be elected as the Leader of South Kesteven District Council.  

A proposition was moved and seconded that Councillor Graham Jeal be elected as Leader of South Kesteven District Council. 

A request was made that a recorded vote on the motion be taken, as in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.5 any ten or more Councillors present at the meeting of Full Council could request this. 

For Councillor Ashley Baxter:       Councillors Emma Baker, Rhys Baker, Ashley Baxter, Harrish Bisnauthsing, Pam Byrd, Richard Cleaver, Steven Cunnington, James Denniston, Phil Dilks, Patsy Ellis, Paul Fellows, Phil Gadd, Tim Harrison, Anna Kelly, Philip Knowles, Bridget Ley, Virginia Moran, Charmaine Morgan, Chris Noon, Habib Rahman, Rhea Rayside, Max Sawyer, Ian Selby, Rob Shorrock, Vanessa Smith, Lee Steptoe, Paul Stokes, Elvis Stooke, Murray Turner. (29) 

For Councillor Graham Jeal:         Councillors Matt Bailey, David Bellamy, Pam Bosworth, Helen Crawford, Richard Dixon-Warren, Ben Green, Graham Jeal, Gloria Johnson, Jane Kingman, Gareth Knight, Zoe Lane, Robert Leadenham, Nikki Manterfield, Paul Martin, Penny Milnes, Nick Robins, Penny Robins, Susan Sandall, Peter Stephens, Ian Stokes, Sarah Trotter, Mark Whittington, Jane Wood, Paul Wood, Sue Woolley (25). 

Abstain:                                       Councillor Barry Dobson (1). 

Therefore, the motion was AGREED, and Councillor Ashley Baxter was appointed as Leader of the Council.

Councillor Baxter gave a short speech of thanks to the Council Chamber, and informed Council that the membership of Cabinet and the portfolios currently associated with the Cabinet Members in post  ...  view the full minutes text for item 82.

To approve the Pay Policy Statement 2024/2025 following a recommendation from Employment Committee.

Members considered the Pay Policy Statement for 2024/2025, which had been recommended to them by the Employment Committee meeting held on 17 January 2024.

It was a requirement of the Localism Act 2011 that the Council produced a Pay Policy Settlement every year and published it on the South Kesteven District Council website.

The Pay Policy Statement included information related to the salary of its chief officers, its lowest paid employees and others, including information on apprentices. It also included the policy on allowances and pension rates.

The following points were highlighted during debate:

·       The Council had a remarkable team of employees and officers at all levels, and its staff was its primary strength.

·       The information on apprenticeships was useful but it there was no record within the document of the 18 current apprentices that the Council employed.

·       The Gender Pay Gap Policy was being reported to the Employment Committee in March 2024.

Having been proposed and seconded and upon being put to the vote, it was AGREED:

DECISION:

That the Council approves the Pay Policy Statement for 2024/2025.

To present the draft Corporate Plan for the period 2024 to 2027 to Council, and to recommend its approval and adoption from 1 April 2024.

Members considered the Corporate Plan for 2024-2027, as recommended by the Cabinet meeting held on 18 January 2024.

The mover of the report, with the consent of Council was allowed to speak for a further five minutes on this motion.

In moving the report, the Cabinet Member for Corporate Governance and Licensing outlined that this was a Plan grounded in a comprehensive evidence base, informing the Council’s strategic direction and priorities. It was designed to be ambitious, realistic, dynamic and adaptable, with a long-term focus of where the District needed to be in the medium term.

The development of the ‘Plan’ was guided by three fundamental principles:

·       Listening and being responsive to the needs of all our communities.

·       Building public trust and confidence by promoting a culture of openness, transparency and accountability.

·       Providing value-for-money for residents and businesses through responsible and prudent use of resources. 

The Corporate Plan was based on a golden thread. This was the thread that connected all work, at all levels of the organisation, directly to the overarching vision, priorities and ambitions. The vision was to be ‘A thriving district in which to live, work and visit’.

The Priorities were the core of the Plan. There were five, each representing a key sphere of activity for the Council:

Priority 1 - Connecting Communities: To enhance the strength, wellbeing, security and capacity of all our communities for a thriving and cohesive society that all our residents are proud to belong to. 

Priority 2 - Sustainable South Kesteven: To meet the challenge of climate change and ensure a clean, green and healthy natural and built environment for present and future generations.

Priority 3 - Enabling Economic Opportunity: To enable and support a dynamic, resilient and growing local economy, which benefited all our communities.

Priority 4 - Housing: To ensure that all residents can access housing which is safe, good quality, sustainable and suitable for their needs and future generations.

Priority 5 - Effective Council: To deliver trusted, high quality and value-for-money services that fulfilled the needs and expectations of all our residents.

Each Priority contained a series of Ambitions. Each Ambition stimulated a range of programmes and projects. Below the Ambitions sat the Actions, detailing specific pieces of work the Council would be undertaking over this Corporate Plan cycle. The Actions would be monitored through the suite of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), which would be reported to the Overview & Scrutiny Committees and Cabinet.

Each Priority contained a number of 2034 Outcomes. The Outcomes introduced an element of longer-term strategic planning. The Plan recognised that the Council could not solve these challenges or deliver the Vision for the District alone. The Outcomes were intended to provide long term focal points to bring together residents, businesses, skills providers, partners and community groups to develop and deliver action– united by the common goal of a thriving South Kesteven. This provided a positive strategic framework for the Council to face to the future, rather than being purely reactive to events.

The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 84.

To provide Full Council with an opportunity to appoint to an Outside Body (Grantham Transport Strategy Group).

The report also provides the South Kesteven Coalition Group with an opportunity to appoint Members to vacancies on Committees and enables the Council to appoint a Chairman of the Finance and Economic Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Note:  Councillor Barry Dobson left the Council Chamber and did not return.

Members considered a report that provided the Council with an opportunity to appoint Members to a vacancy on an outside body (Grantham Transport Strategy Group). Members were also requested to fill vacancies for the South Kesteven Coalition Group on the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Finance & Economic Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Standards Committee and Planning Committee.

There was a Chairman vacancy on Finance and Economic Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

The report provided Group Leaders with an opportunity to make any further amendments to their representation on Committees.

In moving nominations from the South Kesteven Coalition Group the Leader of the Opposition requested a delegation to himself to fill the vacancies on Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Standards Committee at a later date following this meeting. It was confirmed that although vacancies on committees could not be carried indefinitely, Council could approve this delegation should they wish to.

There were two nominations to the vacant role of Chairman of the Finance and Economic Overview & Scrutiny Committee that were proposed and seconded – Councillor Bridget Ley and Councillor Nick Robins. There were also subsequently two nominations to the role of Vice-Chairman of the Finance and Economic Overview & Scrutiny Committee – Councillor Nick Robins and Councillor Lee Steptoe.

The Leader of the Council was content that candidates for the Chairman and Vice-Chairman roles were suitable, but did question whether in the future the Leader needed to confirm the suitability of Councillors for Chairman roles.

Having been proposed and seconded and upon being put to the vote, it was AGREED:

DECISION:

That Full Council:

1.    Approved the appointment of Councillor Tim Harrison to sit on the Grantham Transport Strategy Group outside body.

2.    Approved the following appointments:

·       Councillor Nick Robins to fill the vacant seat on Finance and Economic Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

·       Councillor Helen Crawford to sit on Planning Committee, replacing Councillor Gloria Johnson.

·       Councillor Sarah Trotter to fill the vacant seat on Planning Committee.

·       A delegation to the Leader of the South Kesteven Coalition Group to fill the vacancies on Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Standards Committee before the next meeting of Full Council on 29 February 2024.

3.    Approved the appointment of Councillor Bridget Ley as Chairman of the Finance and Economic Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

4.    Approved the appointment of Councillor Lee Steptoe as Vice-Chairman of the Finance and Economic Overview & Scrutiny Committee

To set out the proposed fees and charges to be introduced for the financial year 2024/25.

Members considered a report setting out the proposed fees and charges to be introduced for the financial year 2024/2025.

The item had been debated at Cabinet on 18 January 2024 as well as being considered by the Budget Joint Scrutiny Committee Meeting on 15 January 2024.

An additional recommendation to Council was added at Cabinet on 18 January 2024, which as related to the discharge of Planning obligations, approval of details pursuant to a planning obligation (Section 106 agreement) per clause £162 plus VAT.

As reported at Cabinet, there would be no increase in bus departure increases, as was originally proposed.

The following points were highlighted during debate:

·       There was a proposal to freeze green bin charges at £49, with the income to be found within savings on catering costs, conference expenses and consultation fees. It was felt by some that the £15 increase on a second and subsequent green bins was a large rise. The proposal was seconded, but following a vote this proposal was not successful and therefore FELL.

·       The average increase over previous administrations on green bins was 8%.

Note:  Following a vote the meeting was extended to 6pm at the latest as it was about to exceed 3 hours in length. Councillors Nikki Manterfield, Susan Sandall, Emma Baker, Mark Whittington and Sarah Trotter left the Chamber and did not return.

·       The fees to non-profit making organsations at Bourne Corn Exchange were set to rise by 46%.

·       There were local variances in the fees for market stalls. The market in Stamford was thriving and well used, which justified an increase in charges. There was a freeze at current levels for Grantham market stalls for 2024/2025.

·       Another local variance was the leisure fees at Grantham being slightly higher than the fees in Stamford.

·       The increased fees were based on recovering the costs of delivering services.

Having been proposed and seconded and upon being put to the vote, it was AGREED:

DECISION:

That Full Council:

1.    Approve the following fees and charges proposals for the financial year 2024/25:

a) Green waste bin annual collection charges:

– increase of £2 on the first bin to £51

– increase of £15 on all subsequent bins to £42

b) Increase of discretionary fees and charges as set out in Table 2 of the report.

2. Approves a Discharge of Planning obligation, approval of details pursuant to a planning obligation (Section 106 agreement) per clause £162 plus VAT

Note:  Councillors Paul Wood, Jane Wood, Penny Robins, Nick Robins and Robert Leadenham left the Council Chamber and did not return.

This report seeks approval for in-year amendments to the Budget Framework for the financial year 2023/2024.

Members considered a report seeking approval for in-year amendments to the Budget Framework for the financial year 2023/2024.

This report was also considered by Cabinet at their meeting on 18 January 2024.

Note:  Councillors Matt Bailey, Vanessa Smith, Helen Crawford and Penny Milnes left the Chamber and did not return.

The situation around LeisureSK Ltd. was discussed, as £150,000 was agreed by Cabinet on 18 January 2024, and a further £123,000 was being requested. Whilst members were in support of this funding to aid the running of the District’s leisure centres, it was highlighted that the current situation around LeisureSK Ltd. was less than ideal and needed monitoring, which was something Cabinet had committed to do.

In addition to the three recommendations within the report, an additional recommendation was proposed and seconded.

Having been proposed and seconded and upon being put to the vote, it was AGREED:

DECISION:

That the Council:

Approves the following budget amendments to the 2023/2024 Budget Framework:

1.    Subject to a successful outcome of the Phase 3c Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, increase the Capital General Fund Decarbonisation Scheme contribution to £492,500.

2.    To delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Cabinet Member with the responsibility for Finance to accept the Phase 3c Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme funding if the grant application is successful.

3.    Provide an additional management fee of £123,000 to LeisureSK Limited for the current financial year 2023/24 only.

4.    Agrees the formation of a Leisure Reserve of £850,000 in order to fund the contribution towards the refurbishment of the Deepings Leisure Centre.

This report reviews the responses to the public consultation of the Council’s Local Council Tax Support Scheme 2024/25 and recommends Council approves a Scheme for 2024/25.

Members considered the Local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2024/2025, which reviewed the responses to the public consultation of the aforementioned Scheme.

This report was recommended to Full Council by the Cabinet meeting held on 5 December 2023, and had also been considered by Finance and Economic Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 28 November 2023.

Members directly involved with discussions around the aspirations for the future Armed Forces discount were invited to meet together ahead of any report being considered by Finance and Economic Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

Having been proposed and seconded and upon being put to the vote, it was AGREED:

DECISION:

That the Council:

1.    Approve the Local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2024/25 based on the same overarching criteria as the existing scheme and including the following:

a.    Continuation of the War Pension and Armed Forces Compensation Disregard for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support with effect from 1 April 2024 (as detailed in paragraph 3.3 of the report).

b.    The alignment of the value of the capital tariff limit and disregard for working age claimants to the pension age claimant values with effect from 1 April 2024 (as detailed in paragraph 3.4 of the report).

c.    The introduction of a second home premium of 100% with effect from 1 April 2025, following the required 12 months’ notice to those ratepayers impacted by this change (as detailed in paragraph 3.5 of the report).

To provide an update regarding the St Martin’s Park, Stamford redevelopment project, as well as outlining the preferred option recommended by the members of the Finance and Economic Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 15 January 2024 related to the next steps with the project.

The St. Martin’s Park Redevelopment Project, Stamford was not considered due to time constraints and may be considered at an extraordinary meeting prior to 29 February 2024.

Following introduction at Full Council on 23 November 2023, Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered the motion on 12 December 2023 to support the Climate and Ecology Bill.

The Climate and Ecology Bill report was not considered due to time constraints and may be heard at the next ordinary meeting of Full Council on 29 February 2024.

A 45-minute period in which members may ask questions of the Leader, Cabinet Members, the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees and opposition group leaders excluding the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee, Licensing and Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment Licensing Committees and Governance and Audit Committee.

Members’ Open Questions were not heard due to time constraints.

Note: The motion proposed by Councillor Zoe Lane at the 23 November 2023 meeting of Full Council is no longer required and has been withdrawn.

The UK's current voting system (known as First Past the Post, FPTP) originated when land-owning aristocrats dominated parliament and voting was restricted to property-owning men.

Currently in Europe, only the UK and authoritarian Belarus still use archaic single-round FPTP for general elections. Internationally, Proportional Representation (PR) is used to elect the parliaments of more than 80 countries. These countries tend to be more equal, freer and greener.

PR ensures all votes count, have equal value, and that seats won match votes cast. Under PR, MPs and Parliaments better reflect the age, gender and protected characteristics of both local communities and of the nation.

MPs better reflecting the communities they represent in turn leads to improved decision-making, wider participation and increased levels of ownership of decisions taken.

PR would also end minority rule. In 2019, 43.6% of the vote produced a government with   56.2% of the seats and 100% of the power. Fair, proportional votes also prevent ‘wrong winner’ elections such as occurred in 1951 and February 1974.

The current FPTP system leads to some of the electorate questioning the point of voting since they do not feel their views are represented. This contributes to apathy and subsequent low turnout in elections. Engaging with the electorate is vital for a functioning democracy.

PR is the national policy of the Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, Green Party, SNP, Plaid Cymru, Reform UK and Women’s Equality Party along with a host of Trade Unions and pro-democracy organisations. 31 District, Borough, City and County Councils have already passed motions asking for Proportional Representation to be used in General Elections.

PR is already used to elect the parliaments and assemblies of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. So why not Westminster?

South Kesteven District Council therefore resolves to write to H.M. Government calling for a change in our outdated electoral laws and to enable Proportional Representation to be used for UK general elections.

Councillor Vanessa Smith’s motion was not considered due to time constraints and may be heard at the next ordinary meeting of Full Council on 29 February 2024.

The meeting closed at 5:42pm.