Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Grist, Kirk and Marsh.

At this point in the meeting Members were invited to declare any interests, no such declarations were received.

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 1^st November 2023.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 1^st November 2023 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

To confirm Actions following the Meeting held on 1^st November 2023.

The actions were confirmed as complete.

To consider the adoption of the Lincolnshire Discretionary Housing Financial Assistance Policy.

1)       That the Policy and Explanatory Notes attached at Appendices A and B be approved for adoption with effect from 01/04/2024;

2)       That authority be delegated to:

a.       the relevant Assistant Director to make minor and inconsequential variations to the Policy in consultation Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Housing, if agreed on a countywide basis. This delegation will not be used to make changes to the Policy that substantively change the purpose of the Policy;

b.       the relevant Assistant Director to:

i.        make amendments to the local variations detailed within the Explanatory Notes in consultation with the Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Housing. This delegation will not be used to make amendments to the Explanatory Notes that impact other districts, unless agreed on a countywide basis and

ii.        remove and update any superseded policy provisions relating to discretionary housing assistance contained within the relevant existing council policy in consultation with the Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Housing;

c.       the Chief Executive Officer to suspend the awarding of new discretionary assistance under this policy in consultation with the relevant Assistant Director and Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Housing;

3)       That, in addition to the minor and inconsequential variations permitted within the Policy, authority be delegated to:

a.       the relevant Assistant Director to make initial amendments to the Policy in consultation with the Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Housing; to enable any appropriate recommendations from other Lincolnshire district councils’ scrutiny of the Policy to be considered and incorporated, if agreed on a countywide basis;

4)       That approval be given for the ELDC delegations to officers as set in the Explanatory Notes.

A report was presented to recommend the adoption of the Lincolnshire Discretionary Housing Financial Assistance Policy.  The Discretionary Housing Financial Assistance (DHFA) policy (the Policy) (Appendix A) had been developed by all seven Lincolnshire district councils working collaboratively with Lincolnshire County Council, to:

•         create a level of consistency across the county and maximise the contribution that DFG / BCF can make;

•         enable vulnerable people to live independently in a home of their own; and

•         reduce the need for more expensive health and social care service interventions.

District councils had in many cases already adopted discretionary policies under the Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order 2002 (the "RRO") using Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) / Better Care Funding (BCF) from the Government to support works above the mandatory DFG limit of £30,000. These policies allowed home repairs, improvements and other forms of assistance to be funded to assist eligible vulnerable clients where necessary and appropriate. However, this had led to a postcode lottery for Lincolnshire residents with financial support available for different things, with different eligibility criteria in different areas.

The Policy and accompanying Explanatory Notes (Appendix B) had been recommended by the Lincolnshire Housing, Heath and Care Delivery Group to all district councils for adoption as part of the overall vision of the Lincolnshire Homes for Independence blueprint for people to live independently, stay connected and have greater choice in where and how they lived.

During discussion Members supported the detailed recommendations contained within the report as highlighted by the Portfolio Holder for Communities and Better Ageing.  The preparation work undertaken by Officers was also acknowledged.

RESOLVED

1)       That the Policy and Explanatory Notes attached at Appendices A and B be approved for adoption with effect from 01/04/2024;

2)       That authority be delegated to:

a.       the relevant Assistant Director to make minor and inconsequential variations to the Policy in consultation Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Housing, if agreed on a countywide basis. This delegation will not be used to make changes to the Policy that substantively change the purpose of the Policy;

b.       the relevant Assistant Director to:

i.  make amendments to the local variations detailed within the Explanatory Notes in consultation with the Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Housing. This delegation will not be used to make amendments to the Explanatory Notes that impact other districts, unless agreed on a countywide basis and

ii.  remove and update any superseded policy provisions relating to discretionary housing assistance contained within the relevant existing council policy in consultation with the Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Housing;

c.       the Chief Executive Officer to suspend the awarding of new discretionary assistance under this policy in consultation with the relevant Assistant Director and Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Housing;

3)       That, in addition to the minor and inconsequential variations permitted within the Policy, authority be delegated to:

a.   the relevant Assistant Director to make initial amendments to the Policy in consultation with the Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Housing;  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

To consider a summary of the current financial position for the Council at the end of the second quarter of 2023/24 forecasting to the year end.

That the current forecast unbudgeted surplus of £861,000 and the detail set out in Appendix A be noted;

That Full Council be recommended to amend the Capital Programme to take into account the changes set out in Table 4;

That the delegated decision of the S151 Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance on 5 October 2023 to prematurely repay the £20m of PWLB borrowing as per the Audit and Governance report attached at Appendix B be noted.

A report was presented to summarise the current financial position for the Council at the end of the second quarter of 2023/24 forecasting to the year end.

During his introduction of the report the Portfolio Holder for Finance made reference to:

·        General Fund Provisional Outturn - Quarter 2 data provided a 6-month view on which to base the full year forecast in what was a volatile and inflationary environment; these figures were therefore susceptible to further change.  The full year outturn based on current projections and assumptions was a forecast net service surplus of £861,000.

The major variances related to a reduction in car parking income, housing benefit and council tax related budget changes, increases in agency costs which had been off-set by increased investment income and additional garden waste income.  The forecast position by Assistant Director and Corporate Areas was detailed at Table 1 together with an analysis of  variations.

·        Savings Target - When setting the budget certain assumptions had to be made around inflation pressures particularly pay, fuel, power and support for IDB costs. As a result of this approach when the budgets were not required e.g. as budgets became more accurate, these were being offset again the savings target and this information was detailed in  Appendix A – Table 2 of the report. The current position was £1,305,000 of potential savings had been identified at quarter 2 against a target of £1,608,000 and further areas had been identified for detailed consideration.

·        IDB’s - The financial pressure generated by the Internal Drainage Boards had been supported by government for 2023/24 in the sum off £927,000 in respect of which the council was very grateful. However, the issue and challenge of a longer-term solution to this problem had been raised again with government officials at DLUC and BEIS in order to seek a resolution that enabled the Council to make use of the Council Tax it raised for the purpose set. A Special Interest Group had now been established and more activity was underway to support this lobbying effort.

·        Reserves - General Fund Specific Reserves had seen a reduction in balances of £1,439K. Further specific details were set out in Appendix A – Table 3 with associated narrative and members are requested to note the use of reserves detailed in that section.

The General Fund Reserve Balance remained at £1.822m.

·        Capital – General Fund - The total revised General Fund Capital programme for 2023/24 was £69.812m as detailed in Table 4 of Appendix A. It included an updated budget carry forward due to slippage on the GF Capital Programme of £0.087m, in addition to an adjustment to the UKSPF budget which was required and which was recommended for onward approval by Full Council.

·        Treasury Management - Section 2.4 provided details of the Council’s Investments held on 30 September 2023.

The original profiled net budget for investment income as at Q2 was £1.536m and actual investment income was estimated to be £2.399m. This was an increase in income above budget  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

To consider information relating to the Council’s Performance and Governance Framework at the end of Quarter 2, 2023/24 (as at September 2023) including a revised Risk Management Framework.

1.               That the Performance and Governance Framework Quarter 2 Monitoring Report be noted;

2.               That Executive Board recommends the Risk Management Framework at Appendix C to Council for approval, with delegation to the Assistant Director – Governance to make any small amendments to the Framework in future in consultation with the portfolio holder.

A report was presented that brought together information relating to the Council’s Performance and Governance Framework at the end of Quarter 2 2023/24 (as at September 2023).

During discussion the Portfolio Holder for Planning referred to the positive trend in planning indicators referenced on pages 205-6 of the Agenda.

RESOLVED

1.           That the Performance and Governance Framework Quarter 2 Monitoring Report be noted;

2.           That the Risk Management Framework at Appendix C be recommended to Council for approval, with delegation to the Assistant Director – Governance to make any small amendments to the Framework in future in consultation with the portfolio holder.

Reasons:

To monitor delivery of performance and governance objectives and to support future planning and decision making within the Council.

Other options:

Alternative reporting arrangements.

To consider the approval of the Freedom of Information and Environmental Information Regulations Policy.

That the draft Freedom of Information and Environmental Information Regulations Policy be approved.

A report was presented that enabled consideration of a draft updated FOI /EIR policy for the Council.

RESOLVED

That the draft Freedom of Information and Environmental Information Regulations Policy be approved.

Reasons:

To ensure the Council is meeting its statutory requirements in relation to FOI and EIR.

Other options:

None.

The programmed date for the next Meeting of this Board will be 10^th January 2024.

The programmed date for the next meeting was noted as 10th January 2024.

RESOLVED

That under Section 100(a)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item on the grounds that, if they were present, there could be disclosed to them exempt information as defined in paragraph(s) 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act (as amended).

To consider an Exempt Report.

That the recommendation contained within the confidential report be approved.

An Exempt Report was presented for consideration.

RESOLVED

That the recommendation contained within the confidential report be approved.

Reason:

As contained within the Exempt Report.

Other options:

As contained within the Exempt Report.