Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Sarah Devereux.

Members were invited to disclose any interests.  None were received.

To confirm the Open and Exempt Minutes of the Meeting held on 8^th December 2025.

The Open and Exempt Minutes of the Meeting held on 8^th December 2025 were confirmed as a correct record.

No actions from the previous Meeting.

There were no actions from the meeting held on 8^th December 2025.

To consider the adoption of a new Safeguarding Policy.

·       That the joint SELCP Safeguarding Policy be adopted.

·       That authority be delegated to the Assistant Director in consultation with the Portfolio Holder to make minor amendments to the policy, ensuring it remains up to date with legislative changes and operational requirements.

·       That a full review of the policy be undertaken by the Assistant Director every four years, with any proposed revisions presented to Cabinet for approval to maintain strategic oversight and governance.

A report was presented to consider the adoption of a new Safeguarding Policy.

During his introduction of the report on behalf of the Portfolio Holder for Partnerships, the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Leisure and Culture and Carbon Reduction informed Members that following the creation of the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership (SELCP), a review of the Safeguarding Policies had been undertaken.  To standardise the Council’s approach to safeguarding children and adults in the work undertaken, a single policy covering all three councils had been developed.

The key aim of the policy was to ensure East Lindsey’s residents, officers and Councillors would have a clear understanding of their responsibilities under the Children’s Act 1989 and the Care Act 2014.

Members were advised that all local authorities were legally required to have safeguarding procedures in place.  The policy provided clear and consistent guidance to officers and councillors across the SELCP area on how to respond to concerns relating to the safeguarding of vulnerable adults and children, including advice on where to seek guidance and how to refer cases for further action. 

It was noted that the policy would be subject to an annual review to allow for minor amendments, such as updates to practice arising from case reviews.  These reviews would be overseen by the relevant Portfolio Holder and officers.  In addition, a full review of the Policy would take place every four years, with any proposed revisions reported to the Executive Board for approval in order to maintain appropriate strategic oversight and governance.

The policy formed part of the Council’s wider safeguarding framework and would support the effective administration of the Council’s safeguarding responsibilities.  This included ensuring that appropriate safeguarding training was in place and undertaken annually by all officers and councillors.

The Portfolio Holder passed his thanks to the officers for the considerable work undertaken in the preparation of the report.

The full background and details were included at Sections 1 to 3 of the report, pages 14 to 16 of the Agenda refer.  The draft policy was attached at Appendix 1 to the report referred.

Members were invited to put their comments forward. 

The Portfolio Holder for Housing Communities and Better Ageing stated that he fully supported the report.  He advised Members that he had attended the relevant Overview Committee meeting at which the Policy had been considered in detail and was well received by Members.

Members were advised that the policy clearly identified the designated officers at the front of the document, ensuring there was no ambiguity regarding points of contact should any safeguarding concerns arise.

It was noted that while Council policies typically identified officer posts rather than named individuals, the Assistant Director had explained at the Overview Committee that safeguarding was a particularly sensitive and important area.  For that reason, it was considered essential to name the designated officers directly, including their contact details such as telephone numbers and email addresses to enable issues to be reported swiftly and without uncertainty.

The Leader of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 150.

To consider approval of the Action Plan to inform delivery against the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership Tree and Hedgerow Strategy

That the Tree and Hedgerow Action Plan be adopted.

A report was presented to consider adoption of the Action Plan to inform delivery against the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership (SELCP) Tree and Hedgerow Strategy.

During his introduction of the report, the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Leisure and Culture, and Carbon Reduction advised Members that the SELCP adopted its Tree and Hedgerow Strategy in 2022 to deliver the ambitions and commitment of the three Councils.

The report sought approval for an action plan that set out the approach to taking forward a variety of work areas and projects to ensure trees and hedgerows throughout the sub-region were appropriately managed, protected and enhanced for the benefit of all.

The Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Leisure and Culture, and Carbon Reduction highlighted that the strategy was underpinned by three core objectives: Protect, Plant and Participate.  These objectives recognised the need to manage and enhance existing resources, ensure a careful and considered approach to new planting, and involve local communities and stakeholders in future delivery.  It was emphasised that ongoing maintenance was essential to ensure the long?term health and success of new planting.

The importance of hedgerow corridors in connecting woodland areas and supporting wildlife movement was also highlighted.  Members were informed that the recently appointed Arboricultural Officer had been actively involved in developing the Strategy, which would apply across the entire Partnership area.

The full background and details were included at Sections 1 to 3 of the report, pages 46 to 48 of the Agenda refer.  A copy of the Tree and Hedgerow Action Plan  and the Tree and Hedgerow Strategy were attached at Appendices 1 and 2 to the report referred.

Members were invited to put their comments forward.

The Portfolio Holder for Market Towns and Rural Economy stated that the strategy represented a strong piece of work and welcomed its presentation to the Committee.  It was noted that the Council had already demonstrated its commitment to woodland protection through its support in the previous year for the Woodland Trust’s purchase of the Burwell and Muckton woodland, recognised as the largest area of ancient woodland in the county.  Reference was made to Lincolnshire being the least wooded county in the least wooded country in Europe, highlighting the importance of the strategy.

The Member emphasised the need for early action following approval, noting that the actions within the plan were of significant importance.  The value of enhancing nature corridors, particularly across East Lindsey, was stressed, together with the importance of working proactively with landowners to improve connectivity.

The Member also encouraged renewed consideration of initiatives such as community orchards and engagement with parish councils, especially in light of discussions around enhancing the East Lindsey Investment Fund Plan and reviewing available grant funding.  It was hoped that the strategy would be prioritised within these workstreams to secure a meaningful environmental legacy ahead of anticipated local government reorganisation, during which rural?focused strategies might otherwise be overlooked.

The Member concluded by expressing support for the strategy’s approval and looked  ...  view the full minutes text for item 151.

To consider approval of the Partnership Social Media Policy

That the Partnership’s Social Media Policy attached at Appendix A to the report referred be approved.

A report was presented to consider approval of the Partnership Social Media Policy.

During his introduction of the report, the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Affairs advised Members that as part of the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership’s ongoing Communications Strategy, a policy document had been prepared to consider the adoption of a consistent approach to social media channels and tactics when using social media to communicate to residents across the sub-region.

The draft policy document would be an addendum to the existing Partnership Communications Strategy and would cover topics such as house rules - how followers should behave when replying or responding to messaging; how replies and comments were consistently handled; what content was best suited for channels; what strategic focus should each channel have; and security and housekeeping protocols.

The full background and details were included at Section 1 of the report, page 74 of the Agenda refers.  A copy of the Partnership Social Media Policy 2025/26 to 2028/29 was attached at Appendix A to the report referred.

Members were invited to put their comments forward.  None were received.

RESOLVED

That the Partnership’s Social Media Policy attached at Appendix A to the report referred be approved.

Reasons

• To have a coordinated and clearly communicated approach to East Lindsey District Council’s use of social media when communicating to residents.
  
  
• To provide clear ‘house rules’ for those wishing to interact and communicate with East Lindsey District Council on all of its social media channels.

• To provide a strategic framework underpinned by audience data and analytics for all social media messaging and campaigns.

Other Options

None

To consider approval of the South and East Lincolnshire Housing Standards Policies.

That the draft Empty Homes Policy at Appendix 1, the draft HMO Policy at Appendix 2, and the draft Housing Standards Enforcement Policy at Appendix 3 to the report referred be approved.

A report was presented to consider approval of the South and East Lincolnshire Housing Standards Policies.

During his introduction of the report, the Portfolio Holder for Housing Communities and Better Ageing advised Members that there were three draft Housing Standards Policies that had been fully reviewed, updated and aligned across the Partnership.  These were the Houses in Multiple Occupation, Empty Homes and Housing Standards Enforcement Policies.  Reviewing these policies ensured any updates were captured within the new aligned Policies, as well as ensuring the policies were still fit for purpose and complied with all relevant statutory requirements and guidance and would ensure the Council was prepared for any changes required under the Renters’ Rights Act coming into force later in the year.

The Portfolio Holder reported that significant consultation had taken place, including engagement with Portfolio Holders across the Partnership to ensure alignment.  The policies had also been robustly reviewed by Overview Committee at its meeting held on 9 December 2025, Minute No. 76 refers, where they were well received and supported.

The full background and details were included at Sections 1 to 3 of the report, pages 96 to 97 of the Agenda refer.  A copy of these polices were attached to the Agenda as follows:

Empty Homes Policy (Appendix 1) – pages 101 to 120 of the Agenda refer.

Houses in Multiple Occupation Policy (Appendix 2) – pages 121 to 170 of the Agenda refer.

Housing Standards Enforcement Policy (Appendix 3) – pages 171 to 442 of the Agenda refer.

All documents can be viewed on this link: Agenda for Executive Board on Wednesday, 21st January, 2026, 6.00 pm - East Lindsey District Council 

The Portfolio Holder noted the extensive work undertaken over recent months and thanked officers, particularly the Group Manager – Safer Communities, the Housing Standards Team Leader, and Assistant Director – Communities and Housing Services for their contributions.

In response, the Assistant Director – Communities and Housing Services reiterated that the development of the policies had been a significant undertaking, but confirmed that they had been designed to provide clear guidance and support for both landlords and tenants, ensuring clarity of obligations.  She stated that although the policies were substantial in scope, they placed the Council in a strong position ahead of the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act later in the year.

Members were invited to put their comments forward.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance acknowledged that the policies represented significant pieces of work and were necessary in preparation for forthcoming legislative changes and considered it prudent for the Council to put these measures in place and expressed thanks to those who had prepared the documentation, commenting that it placed the Council in a strong position moving forward.

The Portfolio Holder for Coastal Economy fully recognised the highly regulated nature of the area, where accuracy and compliance were essential and highlighted that the aim of housing standards work was to secure high?quality accommodation and that the Council must ensure its approach was legally  ...  view the full minutes text for item 153.

The programmed date for the next Meeting of this Board will be Thursday 19^th February 2026.

The date of the next meeting was confirmed as Thursday 19^th February 2026.