To consider approval of the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership Sub-regional Strategy.

The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Affairspresented a report that sought approval for the South and East Lincolnshire Councils (SELCP) Sub-Regional Strategy.  A copy of the Strategy was attached at Appendix A to the report, pages 41 to 54 of the Agenda refer.

The background to the report was highlighted to Members, as set out at Paragraph 1, pages 34 to 35 of the Agenda refer.

Members were requested to consider approving the recommendations as the Strategy enabled the opportunity to align strategic priorities across the Councils through a single Sub-Regional Strategy which provided a Partnership platform to further realise the benefits of collaborative working.  Furthermore, the single Strategy would demonstrate to external partners the Partnership’s alignment in key areas and collective focus on addressing the issues of strategic importance to its sub-region.  This would be particularly helpful when engaging with Government and funders.

Following which the recommendation was duly Proposed and Seconded.

Members were invited to put their comments and questions forward.

• A Member commented on a lack of reference in the Strategy to priorities that may be influenced by devolution as a substantial injection of money may change the Council’s direction of travel.

• A Member further highlighted the reference to ‘Work with local communities delivering art and leisure projects in the local area in line with the objectives in the adopted cultural framework’, when in reality residents were badly affected by the cost of living crisis, struggling to buy food and living in sub-standard accommodation and considered this as a low priority due to such circumstances at the current time.

• With reference to ‘Encourage and facilitate more town centre development for housing in the district’ it was highlighted that the Council had been talking about flats over shops for many years and considered that the local priorities specific to ELDC lacked ambition.  It was further highlighted that there was no reference to ELDC prioritising delivery of good quality core services and no reference to addressing issues with vulnerable people.

In response, the Leader commented that he disagreed with the comments made and stated that looking through the Strategy for growth and prosperity, healthy lives and safe and resilient communities, the points mentioned were directly linked to those for the sub region and highlighted that the Council undertook incredible work for vulnerable residents.  The ambition for the Council was to create an economic strategy that would cover market towns and other issues raised.  This was part of a piece of work as a result of funding, put together in tiers of capacity across the three councils to deliver these projects and was significant in what it was proposing to do.

The Leader further advised Members that the funding for devolution was not directed at districts and that it went directly to the upper tiers.  However, the Council may benefit from investment in its area and was why it needed to be part of the programme to get a fair share in terms of growth and infrastructure.  As had been shown in the first pickup of £28.9m, a large amount of this was coming to East Lindsey and the Council’s representatives had worked hard to make sure this happened.

The Leader assured Members that the Council would continue to fight for any benefit in terms of the skills agenda mentioned and infrastructure proposed, particularly with the flood defence work it wanted to be engaged with and it was important that this was part of the devolution deal.

• A Member referred to the £50b GDF Project that would affect East Lindsey and queried why this was not listed within the priorities for the Council.

In response, the Leader stated that the GDF Project had yet to be delivered and the outcome was unknown, therefore it was not unreasonable that this was not detailed in the strategy.  In terms of its potential, it would be picked up in the corporate and sub regional strategies in terms of growth and prosperity, healthy lives and safe and resilient communities and advised Members that the Council was involved in a consultation programme through the work of the Community Partnership in that respect.

Upon being put to the vote, it was

RESOLVED

• That the Sub-regional Strategy at Appendix A be approved.
  
  
• That the Sub-regional Strategy be designated a line of inquiry in the Partnership’s Annual Scrutiny.