Agenda and minutes

The Council welcomes engagement from members of the public. To speak at this meeting please register no later than 24 hours prior to the date of the meeting via democracy@southkesteven.gov.uk

There were none.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Vanessa Smith, Richard Dixon-Warren and Peter Stephens.

Councillor Charmaine Morgan substituted for Councillor Vanessa Smith.

Councillor Sarah Trotter substituted for Councillor Richard Dixon-Warren.

Councillor Graham Jeal substituted for Councillor Peter Stephens.

Members are asked to disclose any interest in matters for consideration at the meeting.

There were none.

The minutes of the Joint Meeting held on 18 March 2024 were proposed, seconded and AGREED as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 March 2024 were proposed, seconded and AGREED as a correct record.

There were no actions agreed at the previous meeting.

There were no actions agreed at the previous meeting.

There were none.

A verbal update to be provided by Councillor Sarah Trotter.

Councillor Sarah Trotter provided the Committee with a Police and Crime Panel update, as the Council’s representative:

‘Since I last spoke to you, our meetings have moved from Horncastle to County offices in Lincoln and on Thursday the 27 June I attended a very interesting presentation to the panel by officers from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit about the County Lines and I am delighted that one of the officers, PC Steve Ellis, Development officer, has agreed to attend today and give us a shortened presentation.

Can I request if the committee or non-members have any questions to save them to the end of both presentations, and we will endeavor to answer or will provide written responses later. Equally so if you have any non-operational questions that you would like me to raise at the next Police & Crime Panel meeting, which is scheduled for 20 September, please can you email me.

For those of you new to the Rural and Communities OSC Committee, as in my previous overview, I thought it would helpful to just briefly explain the roles and responsibilities of both the

-          Commissioner,

-          And the PCP & Chief Constable, currently the recently appointed Paul Gibson.

Our current Police Commissioner for Lincolnshire, Marc Jones is scrutinized and supported by the PCP made up of 10 Councilor’s from the County’s eight local authorities and two independent (co-opted members). 

1)    We can review the Commissioner’s decisions and have the opportunity to question him.

2)    We have the power of veto over any precept proposals, the choice of Chief Constable, and we are required to review the Police and Crime Plan before it is published. 

Marc Jones has the vital role in holding the Chief Constable to account for operational delivery on behalf of the people of Lincolnshire. 

The Chief Constable must answer to the Commissioner in terms of delivering efficient and effective local policing to the people of Lincolnshire, and the way resources and spending are managed, as well as ensuring that the force is contributing to ensuring that policing capabilities are available to address national crime threats and cross-border criminality.

On Wednesday the 21^st February, the panel met for an extraordinary meeting and were gathered  to conduct a confirmation hearing for the PCC preferred candidate, Mr Paul Gibson, for the post of Chief Constable for Lincolnshire police. A variety of questions were posed to both the Commissioner and Mr Gibson.

On Friday the 28 June I attended the Panel Meeting, in Lincoln where a variety of questions were put to the Commissioner by panel members, concerns were raised at closure of certain policing hubs, the Commissioner reported that any decisions relating to this matter would be on hold due to the election and no changes would be made to at least the Autumn and a report would be published unless of sensitive material.

Another particular concern was in relation to the policing “funding formular” a guide to the calculations used to work out how much money  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

The Cabinet Member for Governance and Licensing presented the report that outlined the performance of the Council against the Corporate Plan 2020-23 and part Q4 for 2023/24.

The Corporate Plan 2020-23 listed eight actions across the priorities Healthy & Strong Communities, and High Performing Council, which fell within the remit of this Committee. These actions set the Council’s agenda for the life of that Plan.

The first round of performance reporting in 2020/21 introduced a series of criteria for what successful delivery would look like. This criterion has been used as a measure to judge the Council’s overall performance against the stated actions.

The Council achieved seven out of eight stated actions that were set in 2021.

In Q4 for 2023-24, six actions were presented, four were rated green and two of the actions were rated amber.

The new KPI suite with proposed targets for 2024-27 was presented to, considered, and approved by the Committee on 28 March 2024. The first report for those KPIs would be presented in Q3 of 2024/25.

A query was raised on safeguarding matters and whether issues with Council housing were dealt with internal within the Housing department.

The Community Engagement Manager confirmed that all safeguarding matters were dealt with in the same system and procedure. Safeguarding concerns around anti-social behaviour with tenants were dealt with the Neigbourhoods Team.

That the Committee:

1. Review and scrutinise the performance against the Corporate Plan Key Performance Indicators in relation to the delivery of the Corporate Plan 2020-23 priorities and outcomes.

2. Use this report to inform and support the ongoing work programme of the Committee.

The report provides an update on the UKSPF Rural England Prosperity Fund. It outlines the investment into South Kesteven’s communities and highlights the approach for the rest of 2024/25 until the programmes closure on 31^st March 2025. 

The Cabinet Member for Governance and Licensing presented the report.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) was a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and has provided £2.6 billion of funding for local investment between April 2022 and March 2025. It aimed to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK by investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. The UKSPF replaces the European Regional Development Fund and European Social Fund, with all areas of the UK receiving an allocation.

The Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) was a top-up to the UKSPF and succeeds EU funding from LEADER and the Growth Programme which were part of the Rural Development Programme for England. The REPF supports capital projects for small businesses and community infrastructure. The programme seeks to improve productivity and strengthen the rural economy and rural communities. It is complementary to funding used to support rural areas under the UKSPF, with the funding period running from April 2023 to March 2025. Lead local authorities, such as South Kesteven District Council (SKDC) have flexibility over how they deliver the UKSPF and REPF.

In respect to the REPF South Kesteven had been awarded a total of £540,460 in funding for projects which would have to be delivered by the end of the programme, March 31st 2025.

• Year 2: £135,115 was awarded in the financial year 2023 / 2024

• Year 3: £405,345 was awarded in the financial year 2024/ 2025

The Year 2 allocation within the REPF (1st April 2023 – 31st March 2024) was as follows:

• Supporting Rural Business

- Intervention 1.1 - £60,115 (capital grant funding for small scale investment in micro & small enterprises in rural area.)

- Intervention 1.3 - £25,000 (capital grant funding for developing and promoting the visitor economy)

• Supporting Rural Communities

-Intervention 2.4 - £50,000 (capital grant funding for existing cultural, historic and heritage institutions that make up the

- local cultural heritage offers)

The Year 3 allocation within the REPF (1st April 2024 – 31st March 2025) was as follows:

• Supporting Rural Business

-       Intervention 1.1 - £180,345 (capital grant funding for small scale investment in micro & small enterprises in rural area.)

-       Intervention 1.3 - £75,000 (capital grant funding for developing and promoting the visitor economy)

• Supporting Rural Communities

-       Intervention 2.1 - £100,000 (capital grant funding for investment and support for digital infrastructure for local community facilities.)

-       Intervention 2.4 - £50,000 (capital grant funding for existing cultural, historic and heritage institutions that make up the local cultural heritage offer)

To date the UKSPF Board has recommended three applications for approval, totalling £110,301.66. A further have been deferred to return to the July 2024 board for reconsideration, totalling £140,000.

The REPF programme has nine months left to run. If the fund was not spent then it will likely have to be returned to the Government. The recommendations were therefore focused on making every effort to distribute  ...  view the full minutes text for item 78.

The Cabinet Member for People and Communities presented the report.

The SK Community Fund was first introduced in 2015 with the Small Grants Scheme added in 2016. It was important that the application process, including the assessment and funding criteria were regularly reviewed to ensure they remain fit for purpose. The criteria had been reviewed and some proposed changes to the funding criteria had been identified.

The proposed amendments put to committee were:

Re-introduction of the Community Buildings Category to the criteria of the fund

·     The category was temporarily removed in 2023.The change was agreed in light of the many alternative sources of funding available to organisations operating village and community halls to carry out such work. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund also created an overlap of funding for such projects, however, this was shortly coming to an end so the category was recommended for re-introduction to the Fund’s criteria. Whilst alternative sources of funding existed, grants from the SK Community Fund could be used as supporting funding for larger projects.

Introduction of an additional offer within the Community Amenities category to cover monuments and war memorials

·     The Community Engagement Team is often approached by groups looking to renovate such structures and, whilst the maximum grant offered through the SK Community Fund is unlikely to be sufficient to carry out significant work, a grant could support a larger bid or possibly pay for an architect’s report where required.

A tightening up on eligibility for projects related to highways to specifically remove such items as speed signage/cameras and village signs from the criteria at the request of the Awarding Panel

·     This change was a direct request from the Awarding Panel who felt that projects should be funded by those responsible for highways or via a parish precept since the SK Community Fund was established to support projects that had wider community benefit.

A tightening up on eligibility of applications from Parish and Town Councils and Parish Meetings to state that projects that are parish-specific should be supported through the Precept process

·     The condition that Parish and Town Council’s should utilise their precept rather than seeking community funding has always been in the criteria of the fund.  This change was simply a change of wording to underline the fact that, if the project is only of benefit to a specific location (like, for example, the village signage mentioned earlier), the precept should be the first option to fund the endeavour.

It was highlighted that smaller Parish Council’s utilised their precepts on the maintenance of the village and may not have monies left over for village signage.

One Member noted that Denton Parish Council had a precept of £6,200. Denton Parish Council had to save over the last four years for white speed gates, which would cost £4,000 per gate and four were required.

The importance of speed prevention within Denton village was outlined and that applications for speed signs should be supported within the Community Fund criteria.

A Member  ...  view the full minutes text for item 79.

This report was presented at the request of the Committee Chairman.

It was the first in a series of reports that were linked to work undertaken by the Community Engagement Team. 

Going forward, the reports would be themed and based on activities outlined in the Action Plan of the Council’s Community Engagement and Development Strategy.

The report provided a retrospective update on community engagement for 2023/24, based on activities that promoted wellbeing, positive mental health and help to reduce social isolation. 

This work was underpinned by the commitment shown within our Corporate Plan under the key priority of “Connecting Communities”.

The report was provided for information and officers were present should members of the committee have any questions.

One Member highlighted the importance of events taking place. It was requested that a programme of events be provided for Members to inform their communities of events taking place.

The Community Engagement Manager clarified that all activities were outlined within the Council’s Action Plan, which had been considered by Committee.

ACTION: For the Community Engagement Action Plan to be sent to all Members

The Community Engagement Manager provided a verbal update on work undertaken in support of the Council’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant:

‘As Members will be aware, our engagement and advocacy work to support our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant is a very important and integral part of the work we do as a Community Engagement Team.  You might also be aware that, apart from anything else - this year marks the 80^th Anniversary of two significant offensives in WW2.  Those being, of course, D Day and Arnhem.

You will, as ever, get an annual review of activities related to our Armed Forces work later in the year but, with your agreement, I’d just like to mention a few significant things that have happened or are planned to happen this year.

D-Day Commemorations

Three well-attended, hosted, information walks (30 May, 5 June and 13 July). These  have taken place at RAF North Witham, now known as Twyford Wood near Colsterworth, location for a top-secret pre-D Day American Pathfinders mission, laying the markers behind the German lines to guide the incoming invasion. An associated talk was also held in the Guildhall Arts Centre on June 6.   All were delivered by Brian Riley, military heritage specialist.

A significant D-Day commemoration was also organised on 8 June at RAF Saltby, hugely significant for American forces on D-Day. There was a commemorative service, military re-enactors, talks, heritage vehicles and the Airborne Forces Riders.

It was attended by the Chairman of SKDC, Chief Executive and our Cabinet Member.  It was also attended by serving and retired American military, including the current commander of 314 Air Lift Wing (modern day equivalent of the US 9^th Troop Carrier Command who flew paratroopers from Saltby for D-Day), Col John Tucker and his Command Chief, Sgt Cameron Davis were with us. Two days earlier Col Tucker had flown the lead aircraft in the Cherbourg flypast.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 80.

To receive a Verbal Update.

The Head of Service – Public Protection provided a verbal update on CCTV.

In March 2024, Cabinet approved the contract award for the Upgrade of CCTV network and to enable connected towns, including the provision of wireless hubs.  The project includes upgrading the existing analogue network across the town centers of Grantham, Stamford, Bourne and Market Deeping.  This upgrade will also include free to access public Wi-Fi networks across the IP fibre network which will help position the council as a digital enabler, supporting digital inclusion.

As part of this project the CCTV Control room will be moved to the Grantham Police Station, which will have a number of benefits including increased partnership working with the police.  The control room equipment will be upgraded to include a new milestone management platform, new workstations and a video wall.

BT was awarded the contract, and the project has commenced following the Cabinet approval.  Weekly meetings have been arranged with BT to manage the progression of the project.

All equipment has been ordered and scheduled to be received at BT’s engineering base in August 2024, there it will be tested and pre-configured as much as possible to reduce installation time on site.

The delivery project plan is complete, identifying resources, individual items of work, grouped into schedules of delivery and dependencies so that the BT project manager can tightly control the planned works and mitigate any slippage, and risk assessments and method statements have been completed.

The Control Room design is approved and in manufacturing. Liaisons and updates are active with Council and Police IT, SKDC & Lincolnshire County Council for street works, wayleaves and street column permissions. New fibre circuits are on order with Openreach and the public Wi-Fi coverage is agreed and will be delivered alongside the CCTV works.  We are currently negotiating the lease agreements at the Police Station.

The project is on plan, with CCTV proposed to be re-located to the Grantham Police Headquarters in Autumn of 2024.  We look forward to updating you as the project continues to progress and inviting you to a grand opening once complete later in the year.

Concern was raised around the need for more CCTV coverage. It was queried how additional CCTV cameras should be requested.

In terms of making requests on the provision of additional CCTV, Officers had to consider whether all other potential avenues had been explored prior to installing CCTV. Going forward, requests for additional CCTV would be reviewed.

It was queried whether the new technology at the Police Station would have the capacity to support more CCTV cameras in the future.

It was confirmed that the technology had been upgraded and would have the capacity to support more CCTV cameras in the future.

The Chairman queried whether the project was on time to be delivered in Autumn 2024.

The target for delivery was September/October 2024. If the project fell off-target, a further update would be brought to the Committee.

To receive the Work Programme for 2024-25.  

The Committee noted the Work-Programme 2024 - 25.

Members requested the following items to be brought to Committee meeting in the future.

·       Parish Council Workshop.

·       Impact of the Forbidden Forest Festival on South Kesteven’s rural communities.

·       KPI report.

·       Crime Disorder meeting.

Councillor Charmine suggested a verbal update be brought to the Committee in December 2024 for the following:

Citizens Advice Bureau

Lincolnshire County Council Health Scrutiny – 6-month report

There were none.

The Chairman closed the meeting at 11:52.