Agenda item

Report of the Leader of the Council.

The Deputy Leader introduced the report that updated Cabinet Members of any recommendations that had been made to Cabinet by the Council or Overview and Scrutiny Committees since it last met on 7 February 2019.

The Chairman of the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee referred to its most recent meeting at which it considered modern slavery following a notice of motion that had been put to Council. One of the outcomes from the meeting was a recommendation that the Council’s modern slavery statement be moved from its current position to the front page of the Council’s website, which mirrored the practice of large companies and organisations.

The Chairman of the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee also stated that, following a suggestion made by the Deputy Leader that it would be appropriate for him to do so, he had written to Matt Hancock, MP, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care about Grantham Hospital. The Chairman referred to a recent announcement about proposals for Grantham Hospital and the launch of the “health conversation” programme. He stated that the “health conversation” event in Grantham was taking place on 20 March 2019 between 2pm and 7pm. The Chairman asked the Deputy Leader whether he would encourage members of the public to attend the “health conversation” and whether he would support the petition to build a new hospital for Grantham.

The Deputy Leader advocated members of the public attending the event and said that he would make sure that that the Council’s Communications Team promoted the event. He also added that he would give his support to the proposal for a new hospital. He said he cautiously welcomed the announcement as it secured the future of the hospital and provided a 24/7 urgent treatment facility but further information was needed about Lincolnshire Community Health Services running the urgent treatment centre.

The Chairman of the Culture and Visitor Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee stated that the Committee’s next meeting was taking place on 14 March 2019.

The Chairman of the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee stated that the Committee’s next meeting was on Tuesday 12 March 2019 at which he hoped the matter of street lighting would be concluded.

The Chairman of the Growth Overview and Scrutiny referred to its previous meeting and those items that would carry forward to the new term of office and the revised overview and scrutiny arrangements that had been agreed at Council on 1 March 2019. He also referred to a matter that had been raised following the meeting of the Development Management Committee on 5 March 2019. He asked the Cabinet Member for Growth and Communications about the Council’s placing in respect of the housing delivery test. The Cabinet Member for Growth and Communications explained that the housing delivery test was a measure for net additional dwellings provided in the local authority area; the Council achieved 81%. All local planning authorities that achieved 95% were required to prepare an action plan; those below 85% also needed to build a buffer into their housing land supply.

CO90.Representations and questions from Non-Cabinet Members

The Cabinet Member for Retail and Visitor Economy was asked for an update on the planned Saturday market in Market Deeping. The Cabinet Member stated that the market would begin on 20 April 2019 starting at 8:30am. Lining of the area and erection of signs was taking place at the end of March in preparation for the market opening. He added that all towns in the district would enjoy an event on 16 March 2019 as part of a celebration of the high street. It would entail street artists, food and market stalls.

A comment was made about the work on streetlighting that had been undertaken by the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee. A report with recommendations had been referred to Cabinet; members had considered the report but raised a number of questions and referred it back to the Committee. He said that Cabinet would welcome the Committee’s report but emphasised that there was no intention to turn off any of the district council-owned street lights.

The Deputy Leader was asked a question about the Council’s flag-flying protocol and the decision to fly the pride flag. Reference was made to a notice of motion that had been put before Council in 2018 to fly the flag during LGBT history month, which was not supported. In response to the question, the Deputy Leader stated that on reflection it was the wrong decision to not fly the flag. He stated that the pride flag was flown at government buildings across the country. The flag was flown at all of the Council’s offices with flagpoles and it was anticipated that it would also be flown in future years.