To note the Overview and Scrutiny Recommendation Tracker.

Members were referred to the Overview and Scrutiny Recommendation Tracker, pages 99 to 134 of the Agenda refer.

 

Members were invited to review the tracker and put their comments and questions forward.

 

Overview Standing Reference Group

 

Sutton on Sea Colonnade Project

 

Recommendation No 4 ‘Explore opportunities with universities and museum services to develop the exhibition space’, page 99 of the Agenda refers.

 

The Scrutiny and Policy Officer provided Members with a verbal update that the National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) team were preparing a list of events exhibitions for the space for the summer months and years ahead and advised that the work was still in progress.

 

Recommendation No 5 ‘Include more soft landscaping in the final design, page 101 of the Agenda refers.

 

The Scrutiny and Policy Officer provided Members with a verbal update that the landscaping for phase one had been concluded, and that the play equipment and wider soft landscaping layout design has been shared with the local community and Ward councillors at community meetings.  It was confirmed that the most recent meeting was 23^rd April 2025.

 

• A Member commented on the poor communication that Ward Members had received after previously being promised fortnightly updates.

 

• A Member requested assurance that the play equipment was not made of plastic.  In response, a Member confirmed that equipment was largely made of wood and that the layout had been similar to the equipment at Mablethorpe’s Leisure Centre.

 

• Members were further advised that the project was being undertaken to enhance the facilities at the King George V playing fields with equipment for older age groups and to provide a new MUGA pitch funded by the Council and the Football Foundation.

 

• A Member queried the status of the King George V play area.   In response, a Member confirmed that the field was being run as a charity and was being leased to the Playing Fields Association.

 

• A Member referenced concerns with communication that was identified during the peer review and queried the role of Debbie McLatch, Interim Consultant for Culture and Regeneration.  In response, Councillor Graham Marsh as Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Leisure and Culture, and Carbon Reduction advised Members that Debbie McLatch had replaced Lydia Rusling, Assistant Director (Economic Growth) on a temporary basis.

 

• Members commented on the difficulties in establishing who to contact and identifying where staff were based. 

 

To explore the issues surrounding caravan licensing and enforcement

 

• The Chairman advised Members that the green recommendations were usually removed from the recommendation tracker and that they would remain listed while an annual progress update was expected.

 

• A Member highlighted the need to address the caravan recommendations in adequate time to become part of the Council’s legacy.

 

Recommendation No 1 ‘To recognise the need to make Caravan Enforcement a priority for the new Council, with the first priorities dealing with the issue of unauthorised occupancy and to review and strengthen licence conditions’, page 103 of the Agenda refers.

 

• A Member commented on concerns for capacity within the organisation and stated that the work on prioritising Caravan Enforcement could only be delivered when more staff resources had been approved.  In response, the Chairman encouraged Members to submit a scrutiny topic suggestion form in relation to workforce capacity.

 

The Scrutiny and Policy Officer advised Members that the Caravan Enforcement work was intended to occur across several years with the end date of 2029/30.  Members were assured that it had been acknowledged that the capacity had been approved and would be addressed in future reports.

 

• A Member highlighted that staff were working long and additional hours with no reward and that the Council had a duty of care to its staff.

 

Recommendation No 13 ‘As the council dealing with the largest concentration of caravans in Western Europe, use this experience to consider offering training for other councils on best practice in the caravan industry. This could potentially provide an additional income stream for the Council’, page 108 of the Agenda refers.

 

• Councillor Graham Marsh as Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Leisure and Culture, and Carbon Reduction advised Members that he understood that the situation with the caravans had been frustrating and highlighted that the Council needed to be careful of the consequences of any decisions.

 

Members were further advised that in certain circumstances a large wave of homeless people could come to the Council to look for accommodation and that the better solution was to negotiate with the site owners.  In response, the Chairman acknowledged that it had been an ongoing situation for a number of years.

 

How can ELDC help improve the design, quality, and choice of new and existing housing in the district?

 

Recommendation No 1 ‘ELDC will set local energy efficiency minimums above and beyond the minimum standards required by building regulations, in line with its carbon commitments. This commitment will be a clear and central part of the reviewed Local Plan’, page 110 of the Agenda refers.

 

• The Chairman advised Members that an update to the recommendation was expected at the June 2025 Meeting.

 

To monitor the implementation of Magna Vitae's 5-year plan, including Key Performance Indicators (part 2)

 

Recommendation No 1 ‘ELDC communications team to look at developing a promotional campaign to help increase membership numbers via their social media and communication channels’, page 114 of the Agenda refers.

 

• A Member queried whether there was to be a joint promotional campaign rather than where it had evolved into a sharing of media output.  In response, the Scrutiny and Policy Officer advised Members that a more detailed update would be requested for the next Meeting. 

 

Recommendation No 5 ‘To link the Economic Growth Team with the Healthy Living Board to enable further collaboration between health, leisure, culture, thus making our area not just sight tourism but also active tourism’ page 117 of the Agenda refers.

 

• A Member highlighted concerns for the procurement of a new leisure provider following the loss of Active Nation that had ceased trading.

 

• A Member further queried the involvement of the Council.  In response, Councillor Graham Marsh, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Leisure and Culture, and Carbon Reduction explained to Members that when the Council first entered the Partnership it had been examined what services could be procured to save cost.   Members were further advised that once all bids had been received, a report had been requested for Full Council to give the Executive Board a steer.

 

• Members were reminded Members that when the service was not suitable for East Lindsey district, the Council was not obliged to take the cheapest option.

 

• A Member highlighted whether there was a lack of Members’ views taken into consideration in relation to procurement. 

 

Recommendation No 1 ‘ELDC communications team to look at developing a promotional campaign to help increase membership numbers via their social media and communication channels’, page 114 of the Agenda refers.

 

• A Member queried the role of Scott Higgings, Leisure Services Officer.  In response, Councillor Graham Marsh, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Leisure and Culture, and Carbon Reduction explained to Members that Scott Higgins was deputy for Phil Perry, Assistant Director (Leisure and Culture).   Members were further reminded that the Council did not have any control over Magna Vitae’s charges as they were a private company.

 

To review the running of Invest East Lindsey Limited, with a particular focus on Kingfisher Caravan Park, page 124 to 131 of the Agenda refers.

 

• A Member commented that an update should be requested from Lincolnshire County Council on their cycling, walking and transport plans to prevent officers replicating work.   In response, the Chairman advised Members that requesting updates may be premature at this stage.

 

Review of the Carbon Reduction Plan and associated carbon reduction activity at ELDC, page 131 to 134 of the Agenda refers.

 

Councillor Graham Marsh, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Leisure and Culture, and Carbon Reduction informed Members that he was fully aware that the government would be looking at carbon reduction plans and assured Members that the Partnership Councils were still committed to reducing its carbon output and hitting targets.

 

The Chairman thanked everyone for their comments.

 

No further comments or questions were received.

 

Following which it was,

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the Overview and Scrutiny Recommendation Tracker be noted.