The Growth Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to meet on Tuesday, 9 December 2025, to discuss capital repairs and maintenance funding, the Business Lincolnshire Growth Hub, performance reporting, the government budget, and the committee's work programme. The meeting was to be held in the Council Chamber, County Offices, Newland, Lincoln, and was scheduled to be broadcast live on the internet.

2026/27 Capital Repairs and Maintenance Funding

The committee was scheduled to review the 2026/27 Capital Repairs and Maintenance Funding prior to a decision by the Executive on 6 January 2026. The report to the Executive stated that the Facilities Management (FM) service provides key functions to the council to support effective management of the council's operational estate and to ensure compliance with its property related statutory obligations, including:

• Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
• The Management of Health and Safety at Work regulations 1999
• Construction, Design and Management (CDM) Regulations 2015
• Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
• Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998

The Capital Repairs and Maintenance (R&M) programme spans both Lincolnshire County Council maintained schools and non-school assets. The proposed budget limit of the programmes in 2026/27 was:

• Non-schools £3.5m
• Schools £3.5m

The report outlined a risk-mitigation based approach using legal compliance, Health and Safety, building fabric/structural works and condition survey categorisation to influence prioritisation. The condition survey operates with a classification structure which prioritises items in order of current condition and a timescale rating. Each activity within the Programme is assigned a letter (A-D) indicating condition, and a number (1-4) indicating urgency. For example, D1 represents a bad condition requiring urgent action, while C4 indicates a poor condition suitable for future planning.

Appendix A of the Capital Repairs and Maintenance 2026-27 CX report detailed the non-schools capital repairs and maintenance programme for 2026/27, and included:

• Spalding Youth Centre ('Polka Dot Studios'), Westlode Street - Windows & Doors: Framing
• Crowland South View Community Primary School - Sports Hall, Postland Road - Windows & Doors: Ironmongery and Framing, External Remediation Activities - Weatherproof
• Lincoln Usher Art Gallery, Lindum Road - Heat Source & Equipment Heating: Boilers, Ventilation: Equipment/ducting, Heat Source & Equipment Heating: FCUs[^1] [^1]: FCUs are fan coil units, a type of heating and cooling system.
• Grantham Fire Station, Harlaxton Road - Masonry Chimneys: Structure
• Horncastle Fire Station, Foundry Street - Heat Source & Equipment Heating: Boilers
• Horncastle Lime House, Holmeleigh, Foundry Street - Windows & Doors: Framing
• Lincoln Castle, Castle Hill - Paths Paved Areas & Playgrounds: Structure & Surface, VINCI Reactive Works, Fall Arrest Eyebolts to Entire Site
• Stamford Children's Centre, Green Lane (within The Bluecoat School) - Ancillary Premises: Stores, External Remediation Activities - Weatherproof
• Lincoln Museum of Lincolnshire Life, Burton Road - Masonry/Cladding: External Linings/finishes Dpc, Windows & Doors: Framing
• Lincoln Central Library, Free School Lane - External Remediation Activities - Weatherproof, Floor Coverings
• Stamford Fire Station, Radcliffe Road - Flat: Roof Finish
• Stamford Library, High Street - Walls Fences & Gates: Boundary, Roads & Car Parks: Structure & Surface
• Kirton Fire Station, Station Road - Roads & Car Parks: Structure & Surface
• Louth Youth Centre, Park Avenue - Pitched: Roof Finish
• Lincoln Highways House, 4 Nettleham Road - Soft Landscaping: Non Paved Areas
• Leverton Fire Station, Main Road - Surface Water Drainage: Below Ground System, Roads & Car Parks Structure & Surface, External Remediation Activities - Weatherproof
• Market Deeping The Deepings Library and Community Hub, The Park, High Street - Surface Water Drainage: Below Ground System
• Binbrook School House, North Halls - External Remediation Activities - Weatherproof
• Sleaford Library, 13 - 16 Market Place - External Remediation Activities - Weatherproof, Windows & Doors: Framing, Masonry/Cladding: External Linings/finishes Dpc
• Boston Children's Centre, 3 Fishtoft Road - External Remediation Activities - Weatherproof
• Cherry Willingham Library and Community Hub, The Parade - External Remediation Activities - Weatherproof
• Bardney Youth Centre, Harvey Kent Gardens - External Remediation Activities - Weatherproof
• Grantham Household Waste Recycling Centre, Mowbeck Way, Off Alexandra Road - External Remediation Activities - Weatherproof
• Saxilby Fire Station, High Street - External Remediation Activities - Weatherproof
• Sutterton Five Villages Children's Centre, Park Avenue (within Sutterton Fourfields CE Primary School) - External Remediation Activities - Weatherproof
• Lincoln Group Home, 232 Nettleham Road - External Remediation Activities - Weatherproof
• Lincoln Boultham Community Hub and Library, Boultham Park Road - External Remediation Activities - Weatherproof
• Mablethorpe Offices at Inter Agency Building, Stanley Avenue - External Remediation Activities - Weatherproof
• South Witham Children's Centre, Water Lane (within South Witham Academy) - External Remediation Activities - Weatherproof
• Lincoln South Park Campus (Police, Fire and Ambulance), South Park Avenue - External Remediation Activities - Weatherproof
• Grantham Children's Services Property, 17 Denton Avenue - Walls & Partitions: Linings/finishes, Fire Alarm: Whole System (Fire)
• Market Deeping Fire Station, High Street - Windows & Doors: Framing
• Ruskington Youth Centre, High Street South - Windows & Doors: Framing
• Lincoln Museum, Danes Terrace - Flat: Roof Drainage
• Coningsby Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Visitor Centre, RAF Coningsby, Dogdyke Road - External Remediation Activities - Weatherproof, Flat: Roof Drainage, Walls & Partitions: Structure
• Spalding Pode Hole Depot, Bourne Road - Fire Alarm: Whole System (Fire)
• Long Sutton Library and Registry Office, Trafalgar Square - Paths Paved Areas & Playgrounds: Structure & Surface
• Gainsborough 33 Northolme - Pitched Roof Finish
• Lincoln County Offices, Main Building - VINCI External Remediation Activities
• Windmills Contribution
• County Farms Capital Repairs and Maintenance
• Accessibility adaptations
• Asbestos Works
• VINCI Reactive Quotes
• Kier Professional Fees

Appendix B of the report, Appendix B - Schools, detailed the schools capital repairs and maintenance programme for 2026/27, and included:

• Sturton by Stow Primary School - Distribution Boards
• Deeping St Nicholas Primary School - Boiler Replacement, Fire Alarm System
• Bucknall Primary School - Damp Repairs
• Cranwell Foundation Primary School - Window Replacement
• Fiskerton Church of England Primary School - Structural Investigation
• Skellingthorpe The Holt Primary School - External Doors
• Reepham Church of England Primary School - Below Ground Drainage
• Newton-On-Trent Church of England Primary School - Damp Repairs
• Gainsborough St George's Church of England Community Primary School - Coping Stones
• Burgh Le Marsh St Peter & St Paul Church of England Primary School - Boiler Replacement
• Gainsborough Nursery School - Boiler Replacement
• Sibsey Free Primary School - Brickwork Re-Pointing
• Scamblesby Church of England Primary School - Fire Alarm System
• Leasingham St Andrew's Church of England Primary School - Fire Alarm System, Window Replacement, Paving Repairs, Flooding Investigation
• Ingham Primary School - Window Repairs
• Lincoln Monks Abbey Primary School - Dormer Repairs, Ceiling Repairs
• Normanby-By-Spital Primary School - Water Mains, Boiler Replacement
• Fleet Wood Lane School - Timber Floor Repairs, Playground Re-Surfacing, Surface Water Drainage
• Shepeau Stow Primary School - Flat Roofing
• Crowland South View Community Primary School (former University Academy) - Guttering
• Ropsley Church of England Primary School - Stonework Repairs, Ceiling Repairs
• Gedney Drove End School - Fire Alarm System
• Lincoln St Peter at Gowts Church of England Primary School - Below Ground Drainage
• Lincoln The Meadows Primary School - Metal Roofing Repairs
• Donington Cowley Endowed Primary School - Boiler Replacement
• Baston Church of England Primary School - Mobile Refurbishment
• Grantham Cliffedale Primary School - Pitched Roofing, Toilet Refurbishment
• Barrowby Church of England Primary School - Boiler Replacement
• Grainthorpe Junior School - Damp Repairs
• Uffington Church of England Primary School - Mobile Classroom - Floor Repairs
• Corby Glen Community Primary School - Mobile Refurbishment, Structural Investigation
• Spalding High School - Flat Roofing & Roof Lights
• Gainsborough Queen Elizabeth's High School - External Refurbishment, Re-Surfacing
• Grantham St Anne's Church of England Primary School - Boundary Fencing
• Eagle Community Primary School - Oil Tank
• Gainsborough Charles Baines Community Primary School - Below Ground Drainage
• North Hykeham All Saints Primary School - Boiler Replacement
• Stickney Church of England Primary School - Mobile Refurbishment
• Saxilby Church of England Primary School - Boiler Replacement
• Claypole Church of England Primary School - Paving Repairs
• Heckington St Andrew's Church of England Primary School - Conservatory Glazing
• Digby Church of England School, Church Street - Toilet Refurbishment, Playground Re-Surfacing, Surface Water Drainage
• Lincoln Athena School Annexe - Boiler Replacement
• Holton-Le-Clay Junior School - Paving
• Alford Primary School - Toilet Refurbishment
• Billinghay Church of England Primary School - Lighting
• Nocton Community School - Playground Re-Surfacing
• Kier Professional Fees
• Reactive Quoted works

Business Lincolnshire Annual Performance and Future Business Support Landscape

The committee was scheduled to review and comment on the Business Lincolnshire Growth Hub's annual performance and future business support landscape. The Business Lincolnshire Annual Performance and Future Business Support Landscape- Scrutiny Report noted that the Business Lincolnshire Growth Hub aims to serve the support needs of the business community, predominantly small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) by:

• Raising awareness and uptake of business support
• Providing a doorway to business support across all providers
• Delivering business support activities that meet local needs

The report stated that private sector led business support provision is limited in Greater Lincolnshire due to the dispersed geography, especially in rural and coastal areas, making commercial delivery models challenging, and that without access to appropriate guidance and resources, small and micro businesses are less likely to grow and succeed and therefore public funded support is essential.

The report also provided an update on the new www.businesslincolnshire.com website, stating that in the period 1st April 2025 to 30th September 2025, there were 23,323 individual users on the website.

The report noted that the most common reason for negative feedback is where businesses seek larger grants to support growth, which are difficult to find and many are reluctant to access alternative funding sources such as debt or equity.

The report stated that clarity around funding for 2026-27 was being sought, as the UK Shared Prosperity Fund grant which provides £0.900m (52% of total budget) will end in March 2026, but the UK Government are expected to make announcements about a future replacement scheme.

Appendix A of the report, Appendix A - Business Lincolnshire Schemes November 2025, listed the Business Lincolnshire Schemes as of November 2025:

• Generalist Advisors
  • Business Lincolnshire Advisers
  • South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership (SELCP)
  • North & North East Lincolnshire (N&NEL)
• Specialist Advisers
  • Paul Ward - Agri /Horti
  • Trevor Durant - Manufacturing
  • Hayley Toyne - Visitor Economy
  • Tony Neul - Resource Efficiency
  • Guy Lewis / Deborah Goodall - Digital / Marketing
  • Russell Copley - Finance Readiness
  • David Regler - Digital Sector Growth
• Specialist Programmes
  • Start Up Academy
  • Next Level Cohort-led programme
  • Manufacturing
    • Greater Lincolnshire Engineering and Manufacturing Network (GLEAM)
    • Made in Lincolnshire Brochure
    • Manufacturing Lincolnshire
    • Six Sigma Courses
    • Sprint workshops
    • East Midlands Made Smarter Adoption
  • Retail, Leisure, Hospitality
    • Your Business Boost 2
    • Retail Accelerator
    • Customer Service
    • Travel Trade
  • Lincolnshire Farm Support programme
  • Social Economy Academy
  • Digital Sector
    • Mosaic Digital Hub events
    • Digital Lincolnshire Brochure
    • AI Adoption Accelerator, Workshops and one to one support
  • International Trade
    • Internationalising SMEs
    • Export Peer Network & Roundtable
  • Resource Efficiency
• Workshops
• Grants

Service Level Performance Reporting against the Performance Framework 2025-26 as at Quarter 2

The committee was scheduled to consider and comment on Service Level Performance reporting against the 2025/26 Performance Framework as at Quarter 2. The Service Level Performance Reporting against the Performance Framework 2025-26 as at Quarter 2- Scrut report detailed the Service Level Performance measures for the Growth Scrutiny Committee that can reported as at Quarter 2:

• 1 measure that exceeded their target
• 0 measure that achieved their target
• 2 measures did not meet their target

The measure that exceeded its target was PI 69 Businesses supported by the Council April 2025 – September 2025, with an actual of 1,769 against a Q2 Target of 1,469 and an Annual Target of 2,500.

The measures that did not meet their target were:

• PI 70 Qualifications achieved by adults April 2025 – September 2025, with an Actual of 574 against a Q2 Target of 942 and an Annual Target of 2,000.
• PI 71 Amount of external funding attracted to Lincolnshire April 2025 – September 2025, with an Actual: £3,389,588 against a Q2 Target of £5,300,000 and an Annual Target of £15,000,000.

Government Budget - Presentation on Implications for Lincolnshire's Growth Programme

The committee was scheduled to receive a verbal report from Justin Brown, Assistant Director – Growth, which presents and invites Members to comment on the implications of HM Government's Budget on the implications for Lincolnshire's Growth Programme.

Growth Scrutiny Committee Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to comment on the content of its work programme for the coming year to ensure that scrutiny activity is focussed where it can be of greatest benefit. The Growth SC Work Programme Report listed the following items for consideration:

• 2026/27 Capital Repairs and Maintenance Funding
• Business Lincolnshire Growth Hub Annual Performance and Future Business Support Landscape
• Service Level Performance Reporting Against the Performance Framework 2025 - 2026 – Quarters 1 and 2
• Government Budget – Presentation on Implications for Lincolnshire's Growth Programme
• Budget Scrutiny - Revenue and Capital Budget Proposals 2026/27
• Coastal Car Park Strategy
• Agri-Tech Sector Facility - South Lincolnshire Food Enterprise Zone Phase II Site Servicing
• Fairfield Industrial Estate, Louth – Extension
• Defence Sector Incubator Space
• Service Level Performance Reporting Against the Performance Framework 2025 - 2026 – Quarter 3
• Lincolnshire Forum for Agriculture and Horticulture – Progress and Plans for the Future
• Advanced Manufacturing Centre – Introduction of Scheme Appraisal (and Next Steps with Made Smarter programme)
• Visitor Economy Update
• Federation of Small Businesses – Update
• Review of Town Centre Improvements- Progress of Action Plan and Recommendations
• Advanced Manufacturing Centre Scheme Appraisal
• County Farms Estate Strategy
• Service Level Performance Reporting Against the Performance Framework 2025 - 2026 Quarter 4