To note the Overview and Scrutiny Recommendation Tracker.

Members were referred to the Overview and Scrutiny Recommendation Tracker, pages 47 to 78 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 47 of the Agenda refers.

·         A Member queried the name of the officer that had been appointed to the role of Interim Consultant for Culture and Regeneration.  In response, the Scrutiny and Policy Officer advised Members that further confirmation on the appointment would be forthcoming.

To explore the issues surrounding caravan licensing and enforcement

Recommendation No 1 ‘To recognise the need to make Caravan Enforcement a priority for the new Council’ page 51 of the Agenda refers.

• A Member highlighted the need to ensure that the Council did not leave work in relation to caravan enforcement unfinished and suggested that an interim report should be brought to the Committee at six monthly intervals.

• A Member highlighted an issue in relation to concerns about water supply safety at caravan parks.  In response, the Chairman advised Members that water safety was believed to fall under the responsibilities of the Council’s Environmental Health team.

• A Member further commented on the strict requirements for testing water safety, particularly in relation to legionella.

• A Member highlighted that the caravan recommendations should be referred to the Planning Policy Committee for further consideration.  In response, the Scrutiny and Policy Officer confirmed that the information would be brought to the attention of the Planning Policy Committee’s Chairman.

• A Member considered the need for a Memorandum of Understanding between the Overview and Planning Policy Committees.

• A Member queried the reason that the caravan enforcement work was taking 7 years to complete.  In response, the Scrutiny and Policy Officer advised Members that the long time period had been agreed at a time when it had been seen as a significant undertaking.

• Councillor Graham Marsh as Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Leisure and Culture, and Carbon Reduction explained to Members that there was an additional need to be cautious when addressing caravan enforcement to prevent an increase in homelessness.

• A Member further stressed that the concerns in relation to caravan enforcement needed to be referred to the Planning Policy Committee to help inform Councillors and aid policy development.

Public Convenience Provision in East Lindsey

Recommendation No 1 ‘The panel recommend that Parish and Town Councils should be offered the existing free to use public conveniences in their area via an asset transfer’, page 61 of the Agenda refers.

• Members discussed the importance of considering which assets would be handed over to the new councils following Local Government Reorganisation, or distributed to town and parish councils.

• A Member queried whether the creation of the new councils would have implications for parish precepts.  In response, the Chairman did not believe there would be an impact.

• Councillor Graham Marsh as Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Leisure and Culture, and Carbon Reduction explained to Members that discussions had already occurred with many market towns about the costs involved with taking on the Council’s assets.

• A Member highlighted that asset transfers could result in the need for precept funds to increase. 

Partnership Task Group - To review the scope and proposed arrangements for a Sub-Regional Leisure Facilities Operator Contract

Recommendation No 1 ‘To ensure Member engagement and awareness throughout the process at appropriate intervals;’ page 61 of the Agenda refers.

·           A Member queried the status on receiving updates in relation to the Sub-Regional Leisure Facilities Operator Contract. The Scrutiny and Policy Officer explained to Members that a timetable for further briefings had been agreed for November 2025 as noted at page 66 of the Agenda.

• Councillor Graham Marsh as Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Leisure and Culture, and Carbon Reduction highlighted to Members that Recommendation Numbers 2 and 3 were also due an update in November 2025.

• A Member queried whether the arrangements for a Sub-Regional Leisure Facilities Operator Contract was being dealt with by procurement.  In response the Scrutiny and Policy Officer confirmed that was correct. 

To review the running of Invest East Lindsey Limited, with a particular focus on Kingfisher Caravan Park

Recommendation No 11 ‘Investigate tax efficient use of company dividends to support local projects’, page 74 of the Agenda refers. 

Further to a discussion, Members agreed to leave the update marked as green on the tracker for ongoing monitoring.

• A Member queried whether any minutes were available from the Shareholders Supervisory Board.   In response, the Scrutiny and Policy Officer advised Members that bi-annual updates were provided to the Audit and Governance Committee and an annual update to the Executive Board.  Members were further advised that Minutes from Shareholders Supervisory Board Meetings could be requested.

• The Chairman reminded the Committee that it was necessary to be careful not to duplicate work across different Committees.

• A Member expressed concerns with the availability of minutes from the Shareholders Supervisory Board.  In response the Scrutiny and Policy Officer explained to Members that sometimes information was commercially sensitive and could not be disclosed.  Members were further advised that exempt and non-exempt information was provided in regular updates to the Audit and Governance Committee and that reports were intended to be as transparent as possible.

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.