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.

There were no questions or statements from members of the public.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ian Stokes and Sarah Trotter.

Councillor Rob Shorrock was unable to attend the start of the meeting and would join proceedings when he was able to do so.

The minutes of the meeting held on 21 November 2024 were proposed, seconded and agreed as a correct record.

The Council noted the Chairman’s engagements.

The Chairman of the Council had seen several engagements cancelled due to inclement weather. Congratulations were offered to officers and members who contributed to the effort to combat flooding during that period.

Thanks were also offered to Fred Mann who had served as one of the Council’s Independent Persons for many years.

Leader of the Council

The Leader of the Council made the following announcements:

·       The draft programme of meetings for 2025/2026 had been circulated to all Councillors. Councillors were advised to respond to Democratic Services with any comments as soon as they could.

·       Local government re-organisation - the Leader of Lincolnshire County Council Councillor Martin Hill sent a letter to government to say that if they were to postpone the upcoming County Council elections in May 2025, he wouldn’t object. An answer from government on this issue was expected imminently.

·       The terms of engagement for local government reorganisation would be learned soon. A reply from government was expected by 31 January 2025 and would be shared with all Councillors.

Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste

The Cabinet Member made the following announcements:

·       Progress on A1 and litter. Officers were working closely with National Highways and their contractor to ensure a safe and effective approach to clearing litter from the A1. On site operation should begin in week commencing 10 February, but it was noted the Council did not control this start date. Local stakeholders and MPs had been informed.

·       New bins for laybys have been staked in place on the A1. Dedicated team will service A1 laybys three times a week with a caged wagon. Commuters would see bins emptied regularly with appropriate capacity for waste disposal on that road. Those that littered the road were condemned.

·       Two teams of staff had been engaged to work in designated areas behind the roadworks – this had ben coordinated with National Highways and their contractor. These works would only be on the offside verge and not in the central reservation as there must be by law a gap of 1.2 metres between an operative and the carriageway. All staff would receive specialist PPE and additional lighting. All vehicles had been upgraded to comply with Chapter 8 standard.

·       Thanks to StreetScene team who worked additional shifts in unsocial hours and dangerous conditions. Further thanks were offered to the leadership team and the Assistant Director (Leisure, Culture and Place).

Cabinet Member for Planning

The Cabinet Member made the following announcements:

·       This year saw the 80^th anniversary of the end of World War II. VE Day would be on 8 May 2025, and VJ Day on 15 August 2025. Informal discussions about events to be tied in with these dates were taking place with appropriate officers and the Armed Forces Champion.

·       The new government had now published the amended National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which would increase the number of houses the Council would be expected to give consent to. Thanks were given to Planning Officers for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58.

To set out the proposed fees and charges to be introduced for the financial year 2025/2026.

The Leader of the Council introduced a report on the proposed fees and charges for the financial year 2025/2026, which if agreed, would raise approximately £8 million towards the delivery of Council services.

The principles and criteria within the Fees and Charges Policy would be reviewed during 2025; the current Policy was attached as an appendix to the report.

There were both statutory and discretionary charges. Statutory charges were set by the government whereas discretionary charges were set by the local authority. There was the opportunity to review statutory charges on an annual basis. Agreed fees and charges would come into effect from the beginning of the civic year.

Many of the charges within the report remained unchanged from 2024/2025, these fee freezes included:

-          Bus station departure charges

-          Market stall charges

-          Bulky waste fees (despite the addition of an additional vehicle)

Building control fees were not yet published and could not be included within the reports pack as they were commercially sensitive due to building control being a competitive service. If agreed, delegated authority would be granted to the Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning to decide these fees.

One charge that was proposed to change was the annual charge for the green waste bin. The proposal was £2 increase on the first bin, with a £2 increase on all subsequent bins.

An amendment in relation to Grantham Cemetery burial fees was moved and seconded, with the objective of removing discrimination against or in favour of Muslims in the cemetery fee structure and lowering the overall fees for infant burials to match what had been proposed for Muslims. The additional proposed recommendations were:

1. Remove all separate fees related to Muslim interments and incorporate all Muslim-specific fees into the standard fee structure.

2. Add a new fee for exclusive right of burial for infants under 2 of £165.

Debate ensued on the amendment. In the previous five years there had been four Muslim burials in the Cemetery. The increased cost of a Muslim burial was due to the timeframe associated with such a burial; often for these types of burial a contractor was required. On investigation, the Council was not charging exclusive rights of burial, so a Muslim burial was cheaper than other burials. The financial impact of the additional recommendation 1 being agreed was minimal due to the low levels of this type of burial.

There were very few burials of infants under 2 but these fees were claimed back from the government. Therefore, reducing the fee would be counter intuitive.

A motion without notice was moved to refer this amendment to the Cabinet meeting scheduled for 11 February 2025 where an officer note could be received. Having been seconded this motion was voted on and AGREED.

A second addition to the recommendations was moved and seconded, in relation to food trucks whilst also encouraging the registration of existing businesses given the low current registration rate. The additional recommendations were to:

1. Add  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.

This report reviews the responses to the public consultation of the Council’s Local Council Tax Support scheme, along with the recommendations from the Finance and Economic Overview and Scrutiny Committee which took place on 26 November 2024.

Members reviewed responses to the public consultation of the Council’s Local Council Tax Support Scheme (LCTSS or ‘the Scheme’) 2025/26, along with recommendations from the meetings of the Finance and Economic Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 26 November 2024 and the Cabinet meeting held on 16 January 2025.

Note:  Councillor Rob Shorrock arrived at the meeting.

The Scheme was reported as a ‘no change’ scheme for 2025/2026.

The introduction of the Second Home Premium was included in the Levelling Up & Regeneration Bill, to allow councils the ability to charge a council tax premium of up to 100% for any property left empty for more than 72 days a year. The regulations were laid before Parliament on 8 October 2024 which set out the exceptions to council tax premiums on second homes. These regulations came into force on 1 November 2024 and would be effective from 1 April 2025 and set out mandatory exceptions to the Second Home Premiums. 

As part of the consultation and approval process for the 2024/25 LCTS scheme, Council approved the introduction of the premium from 1 April 2025 at its meeting on 25 January 2024. In November 2024, letters were issued to all owners of second homes (359), making them aware of the exceptions. An exception application form was included with the letter, asking the owner to complete and return this if they believed the second property was eligible for an exception to the premium. The form requested the owner to provide the reason and evidence for the exception. Of the 359 letters issued, 119 had responded. Of those, 100 respondents advised which exception they believed their property should have applied to it, with the remaining 19 providing no details. 

Officers were currently reviewing the responses and evidence provided and would determine whether the property was applicable for the exception. Therefore, of the 359 second properties, 100 were potentially eligible for the exemption and 251 would have the premium applied to the Council Tax account as part of the annual billing process in March 2025, increasing Council Tax annual liability by £520,308 per annum. If this was paid in full, South Kesteven’s share of this additional income would be £46,828 (9%).

Having been moved and seconded, and following a vote it was AGREED:

DECISION

That Full Council approves the Localised Council Tax Support Scheme for the financial year 2025/2026 based on the same criteria as the existing scheme as detailed within the report.

It is a requirement of the Localism Act 2011 that the Council produces an Annual Pay Policy Statement. This summarises current policies and arrangements in place relating to pay. The Pay Policy Statement is approved each year by Council as part of the budget setting and approval process. The Statement was recommended to Full Council by the Employment Committee meeting held on 13 November 2024.

Members considered the Pay Policy Statement for 2025-2026. It was a requirement of the Localism Act 2011 that the Council produced an Annual Pay Policy Statement. This summarised current policies and arrangements in place related to pay. The Pay Policy Statement was approved each year by Council as part of the budget setting and approval process. The Employment Committee had recommended approval of the Pay Policy Statement to Council for 2025-26.

The following sections of the report were highlighted:

-          There were a number of additional posts that were now covered by the Pay Policy, and these had been included in the new Statement.

-          There had been changes seen to National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates.

-          Information related to the remuneration of chief officers and the lowest paid officers was included.

-          Pay details for the Council’s apprentices was included, as was details on the re-engagement of employees.

-          The Employment Committee held on 15 January 2025 considered the gender pay gap. There were more women than men in senior positions in the authority. The median gender pay gap was 0.80% this year.

Having been moved and seconded, and following a vote it was AGREED:

DECISION

That Full Council approves the Pay Policy Statement 2025-2026.

To consider a recommendation from the Governance and Audit Committee held on 22 January 2025 to amend the Council’s Constitution.

Members considered amendments to the Council’s Constitution as recommended by the Governance and Audit Committee meeting of 22 January 2025.

There were three proposed changes to the Constitution, which were debated and voted on separately.

The following points were highlighted during the introduction to the report and the debate:

-          Currently the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules within the Constitution stated that any member of an Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) or any five members of the Council were entitled to give notice to the Chief Executive that an item be included for the next available meeting of an OSC.

-          An Overview and Scrutiny Chairman had some discretion in adding an item to a work programme before it had been to other bodies.

-          The recommendation within the report would have the effect of asking that any member wishing to add an item to an OSC work programme research background information and consult relevant officers and councillors before the report was accepted.

-          It was suggested that any decisions on the Local Plan be brought in line with the budget and therefore be subjected to a recorded vote.

Having been moved and seconded, and following a vote it was AGREED:

DECISION

That Full Council approves the following amendments:

1. Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules at Part 4 (Rules of Procedure), as set out in paragraph 3.6 of the report.

2. Council Procedure Rules at Part 4 (Rules of Procedure), as set out in paragraph 3.7 of the report.

3. Part 3(c) (Responsibility for Functions – Delegated Powers to Officers) under section 26 (Property, including land), as set out in paragraph 3.11 of the report.

Note:  The meeting adjourned at 3:15pm and reconvened at 3:31pm.

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.

Question 1 – Councillor Max Sawyer to Councillor Ashley Baxter, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance, HR and Economic Development

Councillor Sawyer asked the Leader whether £40,000 for two brown signs was the best possible use of UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) monies.

The Leader of the Council highlighted the need to work alongside National Highways and the fact they had rules that needed to be followed. UKSPF monies were time limited. Debate took place at the latest meeting of the UKSPF Board where this and other issues were discussed, and those Councillors present decided to move forward with the procurement of the signs. If the signs brought increased footfall into the district then the spend was worth it.

Question 2 – Councillor Charmaine Morgan to Councillor Paul Stokes, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture

Councillor Morgan asked for an update on the works to Dysart Park, Grantham, in particular the flooded area.

Councillor Stokes advised that significant drainage works had been undertaken. Phase 1 was now complete, and testing had shown the work to date had been very successful. Phase 2 was underway and would be completed – Councillor Stokes was confident that the works would be successful in tackling the drainage problems.

Significant works in Dysart Park had taken place, including the installation of play equipment, using funding from UKSPF and the Rotary Club of Grantham.

Question 3 – Councillor Zoe Lane to Councillor Virginia Moran, Cabinet Member for Housing

Councillor Lane asked whether the Cabinet Member would meet with her to discuss new social housing for Bourne.

Councillor Moran was more than happy to discuss the Housing Revenue Account budget and where it could be spent.

Question 4 – Councillor Harrish Bisnauthsing to Councillor Virginia Moran, Cabinet Member for Housing

Councillor Bisnauthsing asked for an update on the number of council houses acquired.

Councillor Moran listed 98 council houses that had been purchased; 20 new units at Swinegate, Grantham, 11 units in Market Deeping, 6 at Gorse Rise, Grantham, 36 at Corby Glen, 12 1 bed units at St. Peter’s House in Grantham, 5 units purchased using Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF) money, and 6 properties purchased back from tenants who bought under right-to-buy. The Council was still looking for a bungalow and a 6 bedroomed property.

Question 5 – Councillor Elvis Stooke to Councillor Richard Cleaver, Cabinet Member for Property and Public Engagement

Councillor Stooke wished to know whether Grantham Hospital’s Accident and Emergency provision would be reconsidered.

Councillor Cleaver agreed that the provision should always be under constant review, particularly with an ageing population. The Integrated Care Board and NHS Lincolnshire was undertaking a full stakeholder review with Stamford residents regarding health services in Stamford. There would be pressure to review all towns around the county, and this would include Grantham.

Question 6– Councillor Rosemary Trollope-Bellew to Councillor Ashley Baxter, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance, HR and Economic Development

Councillor Trollope-Bellew asked  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63.

In September 2022 and in response to a series of code of conduct violations, group leaders from South Kesteven district council signed the Local Government Association campaign statement on Debate not Hate. This is reprinted in full below:

"The intimidation and abuse of councillors, in person or otherwise, undermines democracy; it can prevent elected members from representing the communities they serve, deter individuals from standing for election, and undermine public trust in democratic processes. Seven in 10 councillors reported experiencing abuse and intimidation over the last 12 months and councillors reported feeling that abuse is becoming more common and increasing in severity. Debating and disagreeing with one another has always been, and will continue to be, a healthy part of democracy. However, the right engagement matters and abuse and intimidation crosses the line into dangerous territory and has no place in politics.”

This Council reaffirms the principles of the LGA “Debate Not Hate” campaign.

Councillor Graham Jeal proposed the following motion:

In September 2022 and in response to a series of code of conduct violations, group leaders from South Kesteven district council signed the Local Government Association campaign statement on Debate not Hate. This is reprinted in full below:

"The intimidation and abuse of councillors, in person or otherwise, undermines democracy; it can prevent elected members from representing the communities they serve, deter individuals from standing for election, and undermine public trust in democratic processes. Seven in 10 councillors reported experiencing abuse and intimidation over the last 12 months and councillors reported feeling that abuse is becoming more common and increasing in severity. Debating and disagreeing with one another has always been, and will continue to be, a healthy part of democracy. However, the right engagement matters and abuse and intimidation crosses the line into dangerous territory and has no place in politics.”

This Council reaffirms the principles of the LGA “Debate Not Hate” campaign.

In moving the motion Councillor Jeal highlighted the diligent handling of Councillor Code of Conduct complaints, where there had been breaches of the Code found against two Councillors.

An amendment to the motion was moved and seconded and accepted by the mover of the original motion. It therefore formed part of the substantive motion:

In September 2022 and in response to a series of code of conduct violations, group leaders from South Kesteven district council signed the Local Government Association campaign statement on Debate not Hate. This is reprinted in full below:

"The intimidation and abuse of councillors, in person or otherwise, undermines democracy; it can prevent elected members from representing the communities they serve, deter individuals from standing for election, and undermine public trust in democratic processes. Seven in 10 councillors reported experiencing abuse and intimidation over the last 12 months and councillors reported feeling that abuse is becoming more common and increasing in severity. Debating and disagreeing with one another has always been, and will continue to be, a healthy part of democracy. However, the right engagement matters and abuse and intimidation crosses the line into dangerous territory and has no place in politics.”

Since the election of the leader of the council in early 2024, there has been a significant increase in the number of code of conduct complaints – many of which have been deemed so serious to merit external investigation and hearings. With bullying, intimidation and widespread abuse at unprecedented levels in South Kesteven District council, the leader of the council has failed to uphold the principles of the LGA Debate not Hate campaign which he signed as a group leader in 2022. For these reasons, this motion proposes the removal of the leader of South Kesteven District Council until such time as a new leader can be elected by full council.

A point of order was raised regarding the validity of the motion. The Monitoring Officer advised that in his view the amendment was linked to the original motion and therefore could be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65.

The meeting closed at 4:41pm.