Question 1

Councillor Hesketh

Subject

Capital projects in 2026 budget exceeding £20k

Response by

Councillor Thomas Kemp, Portfolio Holder for Finance

Supplementary

Can you detail the process, assessment criteria, and expected return on investment for major capital spending clearly set out and ensure that such documentation be made available following budget approval and for future cycles?

Response:

As discussed previously, this is an area we are actively working on and the concerns you have raised will be fully taken into account.  The formal documentation setting out the process, assessment criteria and associated financial information is currently being drafted, therefore no specific figures are available at this stage.  However, as this work progresses, I will ensure that the relevant details are provided so that the methodology behind our capital decision?making is transparent.  The Council remains committed to openness and to demonstrating strong value for money for residents.  Both the Executive and the wider organisation continue to place emphasis on sound financial management.  While our financial position is comparatively strong, we have no intention of becoming complacent.  Once the budget is approved, the documentation you refer to will be made available, and we will continue to develop and refine this information for future budget cycles.

Question 2

Councillor Stef Bristow

Subject

Doubled Council Tax Charges

Response by

Councillor Thomas Kemp, Portfolio Holder for Finance

Supplementary

I welcome the additional detail but as a parish clerk and town councillor, please can you provide clarification on the share allocated to parishes and town councils including how the distribution will be made between the precepting bodies and whether parish and town councils have been included?

Response

The Portfolio Holder stated that he and Councillor Bristow had already discussed the matter and confirmed that he would provide her with the relevant details in due course.

Question 3

Councillor Ellie Marsh

Subject

Spilsby Buttercross Car Park

Response by

Councillor Adam Grist, Portfolio Holder for Market Towns and the Rural Economy/Councillor Martin Foster, Portfolio Holder for Operational Services

Supplementary

None

Question 4

Councillor Ellie Marsh

Subject

Traders on Spilsby Market

Response by

Councillor Adam Grist, Portfolio Holder for Market Towns and the Rural Economy

Supplementary

None

Question 5

Councillor Ellie Marsh

Subject

Public Toilets across the district

Response by

Councillor Martin Foster, Portfolio Holder for Operational Services

Supplementary

None

Question 6

Councillor Ellie Marsh

Subject

Grassroots sports

Response by

Councillor Graham Marsh, Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Leisure and Culture and Carbon Reduction

Supplementary

Please could you provide clarification on the number of towns over which the £100,000 per year, over two years, will be distributed?

Response

The funding total was £110,000 over two years and this will be distributed across seven market towns.  The allocation was intended specifically for market towns and larger settlements that did not contain Magna Vitae assets.

Question 7

Councillor Ellie Marsh

Subject

Councillor Community Grant Money

Response by

Councillor Craig Leyland, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Affairs

Supplementary

None

Question 8

Councillor Ellie Marsh

Subject

Dog Fouling

Response by

Councillor Martin Foster, Portfolio Holder for Operational Services

Supplementary

86 fixed penalty notices over two years does not represent a successful response to the scale of dog fouling – are there any plans in place to improve the rate of enforcement?

Response

Much of the dog fouling occurs during the early hours of the morning, often in winter months and in darkness, which presents challenges for enforcement activity at those times.  Enforcement officers are deployed regularly and the instruction to them has been to follow the ‘three Es’: to engage with the public, to educate in the first instance, and to enforce only where necessary.  I think the level of fixed penalty notices issued reflects the effectiveness of engagement and education in encouraging compliance.

Question 9

Councillor Travis Hesketh

Subject

Unused beach huts in Sutton on Sea

Response by

Councillor Steve Kirk, Portfolio Holder for the Coastal Economy

Supplementary

Can a plan be developed for the beach huts, for example to be used, sold, or otherwise utilised to generate income rather than remaining unused?

Response

A response to be provided by the Portfolio Holder for Coastal Economy.

Question 10

Councillor Jill Makinson-Sanders

Subject

Volunteering Policy

Response by

Councillor Craig Leyland, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Affairs

Supplementary

None

Question 11

Councillor Jill Makinson-Sanders

Subject

Sutton on Sea Colonnade

Response by

Councillor Craig Leyland, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Affairs

Supplementary

Why would you have to submit a health and safety risk to actually be allowed to go out on the balcony for people to go out and enjoy the view from this beautiful building?  Why are we spending all these millions on a building that you can't go outside and enjoy the sea air and look at the vista - how are we going to solve this problem?

Response

There is no health and safety issue with the barrier at the edge of the balcony; the matter simply requires appropriate management.  Once a site operator is in place the area can be used safely, provided it is properly supervised and I anticipate that this issue will then be resolved.

Question 12

Councillor Jill Makinson-Sanders

Subject

Attracting NHS Professionals to East Lindsey

Response by

Councillor Craig Leyland, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Affairs

Supplementary

None

Question 13

Councillor Jill Makinson-Sanders

Subject

Mayor of Lincolnshire visit to East Lindsey

Response by

Councillor Craig Leyland, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Affairs

Supplementary

I don’t think my original question has been answered.  I wanted to know how many times the Mayor had visited East Lindsey specifically to view the area and discuss what support would be provided.  I was referring to visits ‘on the ground’ rather than attendance at meetings elsewhere, please can you provide a more definite response?

Response

I am unable to provide an answer regarding the number of times the Mayor has visited East Lindsey.  Discussions have taken place with the Mayor’s office on issues such as flood defences, skills and transport, but I cannot say whether the Mayor has undertaken any detailed visits to the district.

Question 14

Councillor Andrew Leonard

Subject

Enforcement of fine issued in Skegness

Response by

Councillor Craig Leyland, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Affairs

Supplementary

None

Question 15

Councillor Jill Makinson-Sanders

Subject

Rubbish on Louth Bypass

Response by

Councillor Craig Leyland, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Affairs

Supplementary

Although the County Council has recently cut the grass, this had exposed significant amounts of litter along the roadsides - why do residents have to endure such poor environmental conditions?

Response

The Council is aware of the issue and is actively addressing it.  The time of year has not been ideal for undertaking this type of work, but as daylight hours increase the Council will commence its usual spring?cleaning programme, both inland and along the coast.

Question 16

Councillor Daniel Simpson

Subject

Scrutiny Recommendations from ‘To review the running of Invest East Lindsey Limited – with a particular focus on Kingfisher Caravan Park (KCP)’ Scrutiny Panel

Response by

Councillor Craig Leyland, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Affairs

Supplementary

None

Question 17

Councillor Daniel Simpson

Subject

Shortfall in revenue on KCP

Response by

Councillor Craig Leyland, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Affairs

Supplementary

I do not consider my earlier question to have been answered.  They referred to the 725 pitches, of which only around 400 were currently in use, when will the remaining pitches be brought back into operation? It is in the Council’s interest to ensure all pitches are usable through appropriate investment in infrastructure repairs - have those repairs been completed, or are they likely to be completed, before Local Government Reorganisation?

Response

This issue remains a continuing focus for the Council and for the operator, and there are wider challenges currently faced by the coastal caravan industry, where other operators are also experiencing difficulty in selling pitches.  I will provide a detailed response from officers regarding the position on the infrastructure improvements and repairs.

Question 18

Councillor Daniel Simpson

Subject

Sale of Invest East Lindsey properties

Response by

Councillor Craig Leyland, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Affairs

Supplementary

None

Question 19

Councillor Daniel Simpson

Subject

Invest East Lindsey projects

Response by

Councillor Craig Leyland, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Affairs

Supplementary

None

Question 20

Councillor Daniel Simpson

Subject

Issues with planning portal

Response by

Councillor Tom Ashton, Portfolio Holder for Planning

Supplementary

None

Question 21

Councillor Daniel Simpson

Subject

Latest position on East Lindsey Local Plan

Response by

Councillor Tom Ashton, Portfolio Holder for Planning

Supplementary

None

Question 22

Councillor Daniel Simpson

Subject

Progress of Local Plan Development

Response by

Councillor Tom Ashton, Portfolio Holder for Planning

Supplementary

None

Question 23

Councillor Daniel Simpson

Subject

Timeframes for reports to inform Local Plan Development

Response by

Councillor Tom Ashton, Portfolio Holder for Planning

Supplementary

None