Agenda item

The Cabinet Member for Property and Public Engagement presented the report which provided an overview of the Health and Wellbeing Action Plan.

In December 2023, Members of the Committee endorsed the Lincolnshire Districts Health and Wellbeing Action Plan and agreed to receive six monthly updates on progress.

The delivery period for actions had come to an end. Officers were working on refreshing the actions over the next 12 months, details could be found in appendix 2 of the report.

The report also provided an overview on the progress of Age Friendly Communities work within South Kesteven. The Committee had previously agreed in February 2025 to receive six monthly progress reports.

In April 2025, SKDC were accepted into the UK Network of Age Friendly Communities which demonstrated the hard work of Officers by achieving this milestone.

Officers would continue to gather data information to create a baseline profile on people’s opinion of living, working and ageing within South Kesteven which would be finalised by March 2025.

Officers were thanked for all their hard work on this project.

It was noted the NHS 10-year plan was recently published. The plan included a major shift from hospital to community and from cure to prevention meaning a greater role for Local Government would be seen in future for community health and wellbeing.

A query was raised on the homeless sector and how the Council were prioritising which empty homes would be brought back into use. It was further questioned whether any targets could be implemented on the number of homes aimed to be brought back into use.

ACTION: For an Officer from Housing to provide how the Council were prioritising which empty homes would be brought back into use and whether any targets could be implemented on the number of homes aimed to be brought back into use.

The Cabinet Member for Housing highlighted additional work was ongoing at present to review long term voids. There had been a concentration on empty homes which could be turned around quickly. If properties were beyond economical repair, they were sold.

The target on void properties for the end of 2025 was 80, and this target had already been achieved. It was hoped the number of voids by the end of 2025 could reach 60.

It was noted that £15,000 of funding had been spent on food support. It was queried whether Council had plans to replenish the funding or build a more sustainable solution.

The £15,000 budget had been established as part of the budget setting process. The funding was offered to all of the foodbanks, community larders and pantries. The funding was not always accepted by these community services.

Central Government had introduced a trial programme on community restaurants for people struggling to feed their families. It was suggested whether the Council could look into the programme and explore options.

The Community Engagement Manager highlighted that cafes within the District offered a ‘pay what you can’ service.

The economic inclusion part of the strategy referred to supporting low paid workers. It was questioned how low paid workers would be identified.

Economic inclusion actions were due to be reviewed once the new Head of Economic Development had started their role towards the end of 2025, and would be brought to a future meeting.

ACTION: For the Economic inclusion actions be brought back to Committee once the new Head of Economic Development had started their role.

One Member queried when the survey would be rolled out to all residents or those residents of a certain age.

The organisation survey was due to be rolled out on 21 July 2025 and would last for 4 weeks. Following the closure of the survey, a review period will take place and feedback of data would form the questions due to be asked to residents. This would be sent to all residents in October 2025, but with a focus on residents over the age of 50 years old.

It was suggested that Parish and Town Council’s be involved and encouraged in making their areas more age friendly.

To provide an update on the progress and delivery of the South Kesteven Health and Wellbeing Action Plan, and the progress of South Kesteven District Council becoming part of the UK Network of Age Friendly Communities