NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL 28 February 2019 - Present - THE MAYOR - Councillor J Briggs Councillors Ali, Allcock, Armiger, Bainbridge, Clark, A Davison, J Davison, Ellerby, England, Evison, L Foster, T Foster, Glover, Godfrey, Gosling, Grant, Kataria, Kirk, Longcake, Marper, Mumby-Croft, Ogg, Oldfield, O'Sullivan, Poole, Reed, Robinson, Rose, Rowson, C Sherwood, N Sherwood, Swift, K Vickers, P Vickers, Waltham MBE, Wells and Wilson. The council met at the Civic Centre, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe. 2633 MAYOR’S REMARKS – The Mayor referred to the recent sad death of former Councillor Margaret Simpson who had served on Scunthorpe Borough Council 1994 to 1996, North Lincolnshire Council 1996 to 2011 and had been the Mayor of North Lincolnshire in 2001/2002. Her funeral had been held that morning. He paid tribute to her years of dedicated public service and on behalf of all councillors expressed their thoughts for former Councillor Margaret Simpson’s family at this sad time. The council then observed a minute's silence in memory of former Councillor Margaret Simpson. 2634 DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTERESTS AND PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS AND SIGNIFICANT LOBBYING – Declarations of personal interests were indicated as follows - Member Subject/Minute Councillor M Ali Licence Holder with schools transport contract. Crosby Community Association – Trustee Councillor R Allcock Member of Haxey Parish Council Isle of Axholme and North Nottinghamshire Water Management Board Councillor M Armiger Scunthorpe and Gainsborough Water Management Board Bottesford in Bloom Councillor J Briggs Humberside Fire Authority Isle of Axholme and North Nottinghamshire Water Management Board 25 COUNCIL 28 February 2019 Councillor P Clark North East Lindsey Internal Drainage Board Councillor J Davison Bottesford in Bloom Councillor J England Scunthorpe and Gainsborough Water Management Board Messingham Parish Council Councillor T Ellerby Scunthorpe and Gainsborough Water Management Board – Member Member of Gunness Parish Council Governor of Frodingham Infants Councillor J Evison Ancholme Internal Drainage Board Barton Town Council Governor of Baysgarth School Councillor L Foster Bottesford Town Council Councillor T Foster Scunthorpe and Gainsborough Water Management Board Member of UNITE Councillor I Glover Ancholme Internal Drainage Board Boughton Town Council Councillor S Godfrey Governor of Lincoln Gardens Primary Councillor D Longcake Bottesford in Bloom Councillor E Marper Skippingdale in Bloom Councillor H Mumby-Croft Broughton Town Council Trustee of Sir John Nelthorpe School Ancholme Internal Drainage Board Councillor R Ogg Scunthorpe and Gainsborough Water Management Board West Halton Parish Council Governor of Winteringham School Skippingdale in Bloom 26 COUNCIL 28 February 2019 Councillor D Oldfield Scunthorpe and Gainsborough Water Management Board - Member Member of Gunness Parish Council Member of Burringham Parish Council Personal Licence Holder Councillor N Poole Scunthorpe and Gainsborough Water Management Board Personal Licence Holder and Waste Contract Messingham Parish Council Councillor J Reed Isle of Axholme and North Nottinghamshire Water Management Board Crowle Peatland Railway Crowle and Ealand Regeneration Group Councillor D Robinson Isle of Axholme and North Nottinghamshire Water Management Board Epworth Town Council Councillor D Rose Isle of Axholme and North Nottinghamshire Water Management Board CPRE Chairman and Regional Member Councillor H Rowson Scunthorpe and Gainsborough Water Management Board – Member Skippingdale in Bloom Governor at Winterton Junior School Councillor C Sherwood Ancholme Internal Drainage Board Brigg Town Council Councillor N Sherwood Humberside Fire Authority Ancholme Internal Drainage Board Brigg Town Council Councillor K Vickers Barton Town Council Councillor P Vickers Barton Town Council Friends of Baysgarth Park Councillor R Waltham MBE Humberside Fire Authority Ancholme Internal Drainage Board Brigg Town Council Brigg in Bloom 27 COUNCIL 28 February 2019 Councillor D Wells North East Lindsey Internal Drainage BoardBarnetby-le-Wold Parish CouncilKirmington & Croxton Parish Council Goxhill & East Halton Schools Federation 2635 BUDGET SPEECHES – It was moved by Councillor J England and seconded by Councillor N Poole:– That in accordance with Procedure Rule D1.19(s) the Leader of the Council and the Leader of the Opposition be allowed up to 20 minutes to deliver their respective budget speeches. Motion Carried 2636 (9) MEMBERS’ ALLOWANCES - REMUNERATION PANEL – The Director of Governance and Partnerships submitted a report requesting Council to consider the report of the North Lincolnshire Independent Remuneration Panel in order to approve a Scheme of Members’ Allowances from the Annual Meeting of the Council in May 2019, in accordance with the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 (the Regulations). The Panel’s report was attached as an appendix to the Director’s report. The Council was required to make an annual Scheme of Members’ Allowances or set a scheme for a further period; previously the Council approved a scheme for a period of four years 2015/19 – the full term of the current elected administration. The Council cannot make or amend a scheme without first having regard to the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel. The Independent Panel comprises four members representing the voluntary and business sectors of the local community. Moved by Councillor Waltham MBE and seconded by Councillor J Reed – (a) That the Remuneration Panel be thanked for its work, and (b) that the current Scheme of Allowances as detailed in Appendix 1 of the Remuneration Panel’s report be approved and adopted as the Scheme of Members’ Allowances for the 2019/20 Council Year (Annual Meeting 2019 up to the Annual Meeting 2020). At the request of members and in accordance with Procedure Rule 1.22(d) the names of members voting for, against and abstaining from the motion are as follows – FOR: Councillors Allcock, Armiger, Briggs, Clark, J Davison, England, Evison, T Foster, Glover, Longcake, Marper, Mumby-Croft, Ogg, Poole, Reed, Robinson, Rose, Rowson, C Sherwood, N Sherwood, K Vickers, P Vickers, Waltham MBE and Wells. 28 COUNCIL 28 February 2019 AGAINST: Nil ABSTAINING: Councillors Ali, Bainbridge, A Davison, Ellerby, L Foster, Godfrey, Gosling, Grant, Kataria, Kirk, Oldfield, O’Sullivan, Swift and Wilson. Motion Carried. 2637 (10) FINANCIAL STRATEGY, BUDGET 2019/2020 AND MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL PLAN, CAPITAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY AND CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2018/2022, TREASURY MANAGEMENT AND INVESTMENT STRATEGY 2019/2020 AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2019/2020 PAY POLICY STATEMENT – The Director: Governance and Partnerships submitted reports relating to: – Financial Strategy, Budget 2019/20 and Medium Term Financial Plan; Capital Investment Strategy and Capital Programme 2018/2022; Treasury Management and Investment Strategy 2019/2020, and Implementation of the 2019/2020 Pay Policy Statement. Each of the above issues were addressed within separate reports. The Council operated within legally defined powers to deliver a range of local services. These included powers to raise funding to meet the costs of delivery. The Council must decide on its spending power, taking into account how much government grant, business rates it would receive and the level of Council tax it wished to set. The Council also had a legal requirement to set a balanced budget for the next financial year and a robust forecast for the medium term financial planning period. This year a four year plan had been produced which would support the Council in linking its anticipated resources over the period to its strategic direction and took into consideration potential future structural changes to local government finance, which were discussed in the initial report of the Director. The Director in her report on the Financial Strategy, Budget 2019/20 and Medium Term Financial Plan 2023 also provided assurance on the council’s financial resilience, confirmed that the estimates presented in the report were robust and reserves were adequate. This met the requirements of section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003 and provided a basis for Council to set a balanced budget. Key decisions required in accordance with Section 31 to 52 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (and subsequent modifying legislation) were to set the Council’s revenue budget for 2019/20, set the Council Tax for 2019/20 and to approve an indicative medium term financial plan for 2010/23. The report considered some key issues and relevant factors under the following headings: – 29 COUNCIL 28 February 2019 Local Government Financial Framework and Funding Local Government Finance Settlement 2019/20 Future of Local Government Finance The Council Plan Financial Strategy Financial Resilience Medium Term Financial Plan Managing Risk and Opportunity, and Legal Requirements. The Council also received a report from the Director of Governance and Partnerships seeking approval of the council’s Capital Investment Strategy 2019-22, which included a proposed Capital Investment Plan of £99.5m, and the revised Capital programme 2018/19. These were set out in appendices to the report. The Director’s report explained that capital expenditure was a key enabler for the Council to fulfil its duties and delivery of its ambitions and Council Plan priorities. Investment in the right things could underpin and support the achievement of improved