This week in Lincolnshire:

Waste Partnership Grapples with Food Waste Rollout and Communication Challenges

The Lincolnshire Waste Partnership (LWP) convened to discuss the rollout of Simpler Recycling reforms and separate food waste collections, mandated by the Environment Act 2021. The meeting took place on Thursday, with discussions focusing on communication strategies and partnership collaboration.

Multi-Pronged Approach to Waste Communication

Rachel Stamp, Waste Partnerships and Projects Manager, presented a comprehensive waste communications plan designed to maximize participation in food waste collections and reduce waste sent to recovery. The plan targets all Lincolnshire households, with specific attention to vulnerable groups such as those in flats, HMOs, students, non-English speakers, and communal living spaces.

Key elements of the communications plan include:

• Multi-channel approach: Direct mail, social media, newsletters, school programmes, websites, community events, radio, signage, and vehicle livery.
• Engagement tactics: Pre-rollout letters and leaflets, digital guides, caddy stickers, myth-busting videos, face-to-face engagement, and use of local champions and volunteers.
• Tailored communications: Translated materials for high-need areas and district-specific plans addressing local challenges.

The report recommends that the LWP note the progress to date and continue to support the communications programme across Lincolnshire.

Terms of Reference Under Review

The Lincolnshire Waste Partnership is scheduled to consider its terms of reference for 2025/26. The current ToR state that:

The Lincolnshire Waste Partnership will review its governance and the Terms of Reference every two years, or sooner, if necessary, in the spirit of robust self-assessment and identify where/if changes are appropriate in order to permit the partnership to better meet its main roles.

The last review was undertaken in 2023.

Partner Updates and Forward Planning

Members of the Lincolnshire Waste Partnership are scheduled to provide verbal updates. The Lincolnshire Waste Partnership is scheduled to consider its forward plan for 2025/26.

Audit Committee Reviews Finances, Risks, and Governance

The Lincolnshire Audit Committee met to discuss a range of critical issues, including the Monitoring Officer's Annual Report, external audit findings, risk management, and the council's draft statement of accounts. The meeting took place on Monday, with discussions focusing on financial sustainability, governance, and accountability.

Monitoring Officer's Report Approved

Will Bell, the Monitoring Officer, presented his annual report, which was described as really, really comprehensive by Councillor Andrew Crookham, Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director of Resources. The report provided an overview of the Monitoring Officer's duties, including maintaining the council's constitution, ensuring the council operates within the law, and promoting high standards of conduct.

The committee approved the recommendation to receive and consider the annual report.

External Audit Highlights Value for Money Risks

Claire Welberry, Strategic Finance Manager, presented the External Audit Value for Money Report for Lincolnshire County Council 2024-2025. The report assessed the council's arrangements for securing value for money, focusing on financial sustainability, governance, and improving economy, efficiency, and effectiveness.

The report stated that KPMG had not identified any significant risks but needed to top up its risk assessment in a number of areas.

Councillor P J Roberts questioned whether the value for money audit was value for money, given the work done by Michelle Grady, Assistant Director - Finance, and her team. Rashpal from KPMG responded that the audit was required by statute.

The committee approved the recommendation to consider the report and identify any further information or actions required.

Risk Management Progress Reported

Mandy Knowlton-Rainer, the Insurance and Risk Lead, and Kevin Lane, the Principal Risk Officer, presented the Risk Management Progress Report. Kevin Lane provided an update on the council's strategic risks, noting that the local government reorganisation risk had been added to the register.

Councillor P T Lock asked about the knock-on effects of risks to multiple departments in the council, given that there were planably 24, 25 NSIPs on Lincolnshire as a whole. Kevin Lane responded that the council did have some NSIP risks, but not linking into the impacts of the NSIPs on Lincolnshire as a county, simply to our statutory responsibilities and duties at the minute.

The committee approved the recommendations relating to the status of strategic risks and risk management activity.

Draft Statement of Accounts Reviewed

Michelle Grady, Assistant Director - Finance, presented the draft statement of accounts for 2024/25.

Councillor S Bunney asked how reserves actually get released, and what triggers that. Michelle Grady responded that if they've got some specific purpose, i.e. that they've been given to us through scrutiny and then executive and then on to council.

The committee approved the recommendation to consider and comment on the report and appendices.

Audit Strategy and Charter Approved

Claire Goodenough, Head of Audit and Risk Management, presented the audit strategy and audit charter. She explained that it was good practice to review the charter when there's a fundamental change, such as change to audit, given local government reorganisation.

The committee approved the recommendations to note the internal audit strategy for 2025-2026 and to understand and approve the internal audit charter.

Children's and Culture Scrutiny Committee to Discuss Youth Justice, Holiday Activities, and Library Services

The Children's and Culture Scrutiny Committee are scheduled to meet to discuss the performance of the library service, the Lincolnshire Youth Justice Plan, and the Holiday Activities and Food Programme. The meeting is scheduled to take place on Friday.

Lincolnshire Youth Justice Plan 2025-28

The committee will be invited to consider the Lincolnshire Youth Justice Plan 2025-28, prior to its consideration by the Executive on 2 September 2025, and approval by the County Council on 12 September 2025.

The primary focus of the Future4Me Youth Justice Service is to prevent and reduce offending behaviour in children aged up to 18. Performance is measured against three national indicators: first time entrants into the youth justice system, re-offending, and custodial sentences. According to the report pack, performance in Lincolnshire is strong and in line with local and national averages.

Holiday Activities and Food Programme Annual Report 2024-25

The committee will receive an update on the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme for 2024-25 and developments to the HAF Programme for 2025-26.

The HAF programme supports children and young people in receipt of benefits-related free school meals through holiday periods. Lincolnshire received £2,776,760 for the 2024/25 financial year, and has been allocated £2,841,580 for the year until end of March 2026.

It is recommended that SEND and secondary-specific provision continues to be a key area for development in Lincolnshire.

Performance of Library Service Contract - Year 9

The committee will receive an update on the performance of the statutory library service, which is outsourced to Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL). The Library Service contract with GLL commenced in April 2016 for an initial five-year period with an option to extend for a further five-year period, taking the contract to 31 March 2026.

Between April 2024 and March 2025, the core and mobile libraries in Lincolnshire generated £25,415,711 in social value. LCC's investment in core and mobile library services in 2024/25, has saved the Council and the local health service £25,415,711.

The service is preparing for the end of the contract, reviewing performance and lessons learnt. A successful procurement exercise has been undertaken, with competition and value for money evidenced in bid responses. The new contract will commence on 1 April 2026.

Adult Care Committee Endorses Strategy with Amendments, Reviews Out-of-Area Placements

The Adult Care and Public Health Scrutiny Committee met to discuss the Adult Social Care Strategy 2025-2028, and to review data on out of area placements for adult social care. The committee met on Wednesday.

Adult Social Care Strategy 2025-2028

The committee reviewed the draft of the Adult Social Care Strategy 2025-2028, ahead of its consideration by the executive on 2 September 2025. The strategy sets out the vision, commitments, priorities and strategic goals for transforming adult social care services for working-age adults and older people in Lincolnshire.

Martin Samuels, Executive Director of Adult Care and Community Wellbeing, introduced the strategy, highlighting its purpose in setting out clearly what adult social care is about and what it is trying to achieve for the people of Lincolnshire. He noted that the strategy aims to address unwarranted variation in the type of experience and decisions about care that a Lincolnshire person will experience, which are too often driven by the service rather than the needs of the individual.

Councillor C J Reeve asked how the strategy addresses the recruitment and retention challenges companies within the care sector, mostly areas of Lincolnshire, and whether the council is relying too much on the private sector. Martin Samuels, Executive Director of Adult Care and Community Wellbeing, responded that the strategy is primarily around what the council does, but one element of that is about how the council manages the market, which it has a statutory duty to do under the Care Act.

Councillor Bailey Robinson, replacing Councillor R S Litchfield for the meeting, highlighted the technology in the strategy, and asked how the council intends to use AI specifically to help social workers and their work, and how they might present cost savings in the long term. Martin Samuels, Executive Director of Adult Care and Community Wellbeing, responded that the council is aware that a number of authorities in the country have used AI in terms of social work notes, and that increasingly the AI is able, if a social worker speaks with someone doing their assessment and records it on their laptop, to take the recording and form notes. He said that initial estimates are that that kind of approach can save about a day a week for a social worker.

The committee moved that the committee supports in principle the draft adult care strategy with a caveat of amendments or additional information identified into the debate being reflected.

Out of Area Placements in Adult Social Care

The committee considered a report from Martin Samuels, Executive Director of Adult Care and Community Wellbeing, regarding the number of Lincolnshire residents who are placed outside the county for adult social care.

As of 31 May 2025, there were a total of 192 Lincolnshire people, who were funded by Lincolnshire County Council, who were known to be placed outside the county. They represented 4.3% of all residential / nursing home placements, and 0.9% of all community placements. Working age adults are significantly more likely to be placed out of area than are older people. Of the total of 146 individuals placed out of area, 99 are in bordering LAs.

Councillor C J Reeve asked whether Martin Samuels, Executive Director of Adult Care and Community Wellbeing, is content with the numbers of people that's being placed out of county, or whether the council has any plans in place to increase the local provisions provided by Lincolnshire County Council to reduce those out of county numbers. Martin Samuels, Executive Director of Adult Care and Community Wellbeing, responded that he thought the position with older people was appropriate, but that it's been too often that the council has been in a situation where someone has needed a working age adult has needed a particular kind of care it hasn't been available in the county.

The committee suggested to thank the executive director for compiling information on the outer area placement and to note the outer area placement overall present a figure below five percent of the residential and nursing home placements with a high proportion of those placements in adjacent counties.

Community Safety Committee Reviews Coroner, Fire, and Trading Standards Reports

The Community Safety Scrutiny Committee met to discuss annual reports from His Majesty's Senior Coroner for Greater Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, and Lincolnshire Trading Standards, focusing on food standards and metrology. The committee met on Tuesday.

Coroner's Service Faces Challenges After Merger

The committee reviewed the annual report from Paul Smith, His Majesty's Senior Coroner for Greater Lincolnshire, which provided assurance on the progress and performance of the coroner's service up to 31 December 2024.

Smith explained that 2024 had been a difficult year due to the merger of Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire and Grimsby coroner services, as well as the impact of death certification reforms. He noted that Greater Lincolnshire holds the unhappy record for the highest number of road traffic collisions.

The committee endorsed the annual report and requested a further update in 12 months.

Fire and Rescue Statement of Assurance Endorsed

The committee reviewed and commented on the contents of the Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue's (LFR) Statement of Assurance for 2024/25, presented by Mark Baxter, Chief Fire Officer.

Baxter explained that the statement is part of LFR's legislative responsibility under the Fire Service Act 2004 and the Fire and Rescue National Framework. He highlighted that Lincolnshire is a large rural county with approximately 713 staff, nearly 600 of whom are operational.

The committee endorsed the Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Authority's Statement of Assurance 2024/25 for publication on LFR's website.

Trading Standards Focuses on Food Safety and Metrology

The committee reviewed the report on Trading Standards' food standards activity for 2024/25, presented by Mark Keel, Head of Trading Standards.

Keel explained that Trading Standards enforces food standards, investigating issues such as chemical contamination, adulteration, and incorrect labelling. He noted that the service rationalised its database of food businesses, reducing the number from nearly 13,000 to approximately 7,000, and is reassessing premises risk scores.

The committee reviewed the report and was assured on the delivery of food standards work undertaken by Trading Standards.

The committee reviewed the report on Trading Standards' metrology activity for 2024/25, presented by Mark Keel, Head of Trading Standards, and was assured on the delivery of metrology work undertaken by Trading Standards.

Upcoming Meetings

• Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee - Monday 28 July 2025
• Growth Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday 29 July 2025
• Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority - Audit Committee - Wednesday 30 July 2025
• Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority - Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday 30 July 2025
• Environment Scrutiny Committee - Friday 01 August 2025

This week in Lincolnshire:

Solar Farm Faces Objections: Council Voices Concerns Over Landscape and Land Use

Lincolnshire County Council's Planning and Regulation Committee reviewed an application for the One Earth Solar Farm, a massive project proposed by One Earth Solar Farm Limited that could generate up to 740MW of power. The committee met on Monday to discuss the council's Local Impact Report (LIR) and consider its formal position on the project.

The proposed development spans across Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, and includes ground-mounted solar PV panels, battery energy storage systems, and underground cabling connecting to the National Grid substation at High Marnham.

The council identified several issues with the application, including:

• Landscape Character: The development would significantly harm the landscape, conflicting with the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan policies.
• Loss of Agricultural Land: The project would result in the loss of valuable agricultural land, going against national policy.
• Archaeology: The council believes that the archaeological investigations are inadequate, potentially conflicting with Central Lincolnshire Local Plan policy.
• Waste Management: The council needs more information on how waste from solar infrastructure would be managed sustainably, potentially conflicting with the Lincolnshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan.
• Minerals: The council believes that the Minerals Safeguarding Assessment fails to provide a detailed assessment of the sand and gravel mineral resource.
• Grid Connection: The council has concerns about the certainty of the grid connection.
• Cumulative Impacts: The council believes that the cumulative impacts of the solar farm, combined with other developments, could be significant.

The committee was scheduled to discuss informing the One Earth Solar Examining Authority of the County Council's objection to the Development Consent Order application.

Transport Board Charts Future Course: Local Transport Plan and Rural Connectivity

The Greater Lincolnshire Transport Board convened to discuss the Greater Lincolnshire Local Transport Plan and the development of a Rural Transport Group. The board met on Wednesday to review the current status of the Local Transport Plan, endorse its future development, and offer guidance on its progression and monitoring. They were also scheduled to endorse the creation of a Rural Transport Group, confirm its proposed functions, and consider delegating authority to the Interim Chief Operating Officer to approve a Department for Transport contact and co-opt them onto the Transport Board.

The proposed vision for the Greater Lincolnshire LTP is:

Supporting the creation of a sustainable transport system that will connect communities to create good lives, with independence, wealth and good health.

The draft LTP sets out a number of possible interventions and projects, including:

• Rural bus pilot: Demand Responsive Transport providing buses on-demand for example through a mobile phone app.
• Measures to improve bus services including service frequency enhancements, bus priority measures, simplified and integrated ticketing, modernising bus fleets, improved waiting facilities (bus stops and stations) through implementation of Bus Service Improvement Plans;
• Improved rail infrastructure and services to improve journey times, frequency and reliability of services.
• Mobility hubs: Interconnected hubs across Greater Lincolnshire.
• New and improved walking and cycling routes as part of coherent networks including segregated cycling infrastructure through implementation of Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans;
• Strategic road improvements, including improvements to the Major Road Network and Strategic Road Network;

The Greater Lincolnshire Devolution Deal set out a new national transport role:

The mayor of Greater Lincolnshire will establish and chair a rural transport group alongside existing Level 3 combined authorities, that will lead the national debate on transport in mayoral rural areas. The group will champion innovation and work in partnership with the Department for Transport to identify pilot projects to address rural connectivity and accessibility challenges.

The Rural Transport Group will be launched in November 2025 in Westminster. The first formal meeting of the group will be held in early 2026.

Supporting Children in Care: Panel Reviews Performance and Future Plans

The Corporate Parenting Panel met to discuss the Leaving Care Service Annual Report, the Adoption Service Annual Report, and the Children in Care Performance Report. The panel met on Thursday to review performance data for children in care, consider annual reports on adoption and leaving care services, and discuss its work programme for the coming year.

The panel considered the annual report on the Leaving Care Service, the first update since the Lincolnshire Leaving Care Service was insourced into Lincolnshire County Council on 1 April 2025. The report summarised the achievements of the last year and the impact of the newly insourced service, as well as its progress against the Improvement Plan.

The panel was also scheduled to discuss practice and the young people's journey, including the allocation of a named leaving care worker to 100% of young people in custody.

The panel also considered the Adoption Service Annual Report 2024-25, intended to inform the panel about the work of the Adoption Service, in accordance with the requirements of the Care Standards National Minimum Standards and the Adoption and Children Act 2002.

The panel also considered and commented on the Children in Care Performance Report for Quarter 4. Of the 18 measures relating to CiC, five did not meet their target, and six measures were ahead of their target.

Health Scrutiny Committee Examines NHS Performance and Mental Health Services

The Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire met to discuss the Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group, local mental health services, and the committee's work programme. The committee met on Wednesday to discuss the Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group, local mental health services, and the committee's work programme.

Karen Dunderdale, Chief Executive, and Daren Fradgley, Chief Integration Officer, from Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group (LCHG) provided an overview of the group's arrangements, aims, performance and current challenges.

The group's aims include:

• Improving patient care through streamlined services.
• Becoming a high-performing group known for excellence and innovation.
• Being an outstanding place to work.

Chris Higgins, Chief Transformation Officer, Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT) provided an overview of the services offered for local mental health, dementia, learning disabilities and autism.

LPFT provides a range of mental health services across all age groups, from community-based talking therapies to crisis and inpatient care. It also provides specialist services for eating disorders, veterans, those in the criminal justice system and mental health support for those with long term conditions such as cancer.

Religious Education Syllabus Update: Council Reviews Action Plan

The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) met to discuss the locally agreed syllabus, Ofsted and SIAMS inspection reports, religious education support, and the SACRE action plan. The meeting took place on Tuesday.

The council considered a report on Ofsted inspections from February to June 2025. The report noted that Ofsted has a responsibility to judge the quality of education in Religious Education (RE) in local authority voluntary controlled schools and in academies that were formerly local authority schools. However, Ofsted will not judge the quality of education in RE in voluntary aided schools or in academies that were formerly voluntary aided. In these schools, the quality of education in RE is judged by the relevant religious authorities, such as SIAMS for Church of England / Methodist schools and CSI for Catholic schools.

The council also reviewed its agreed action plan, which included the following priorities:

• Management of the SACRE and partnership with the LA and other key stakeholders
• Standards and quality of provision of Religious Education
• The effectiveness of the locally agreed syllabus
• Collective Worship
• Contribution of SACRE to promoting cohesion across the community

Upcoming Meetings

• Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee - Monday 28 July 2025
• Growth Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday 29 July 2025
• Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority - Audit Committee - Wednesday 30 July 2025
• Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority - Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday 30 July 2025
• Environment Scrutiny Committee - Friday 01 August 2025
• Lincolnshire Waste Partnership - Thursday 24 July 2025
• Audit Committee - Monday 21 July 2025
• Community Safety Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday 22 July 2025
• Adult Care and Public Health Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday 23 July 2025
• Children's and Culture Scrutiny Committee - Friday 25 July 2025

This week in Lincolnshire:

Council Backs Lincolnshire Reorganisation Plan Despite Concerns

Lincolnshire County Council's Executive has voted to move forward with option one for local government reorganisation, which would see the council retain its existing boundaries. The Executive met on Tuesday to discuss the proposal, despite some concerns about the size and remoteness of a single authority.

Councillor R A Gibson, Executive Councillor for Community Engagement, supported option one, emphasizing the importance of not splitting up adult services, children's services, and fire and rescue. He moved that the council recommend option one to the executive to vote on, which was seconded by Councillor Steve Clegg, Executive for Adult Care and Health, and carried.

The decision follows feedback from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), which emphasized effective collaboration between councils and the use of the same data sets.

Critics, including some members of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board, felt that neither option fully captured Lincolnshire's unique geography or the needs of its communities. Concerns were also raised about whether a single Lincolnshire authority might feel too large or remote for residents.

Pension Fund Update: Government Consultation and Compliance

The Lincolnshire Council Pensions Committee and the LGPS Local Pension Board were scheduled to meet to discuss a range of topics related to the Lincolnshire Pension Fund. The LGPS Local Pension Board met on Thursday, and the Pensions Committee also met on Thursday.

Key topics included:

• Government Response to Fit for the Future Consultation: The committees were scheduled to discuss the government's response to the consultation, which focused on proposals for the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)[^1]. The government confirmed that the deadline of March 2026 remains in place for the new minimum standards. [^1]: The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) is a public sector pension scheme in the United Kingdom that provides retirement benefits for local government employees.
• Annual Report and Accounts: The committees were scheduled to receive the draft accounts for the Pension Fund and an update on the audit for the financial year 2024/25.
• TPR General Code: The committees were expected to receive an annual update on the fund's compliance against the General Code from the Pension Regulator[^2]. [^2]: The Pensions Regulator (TPR) is the UK regulator of work-based pension schemes.
• Pension Fund Update Report: The committees were scheduled to receive an update on fund matters for the quarter ending 31 March 2025.

Council Reviews Financial Performance Amidst Borrowing Concerns

The Executive reviewed the council's financial performance for 2024/25, noting an underspend of £9.851 million on council budgets, alongside a £2.420 million overspend on schools' budgets. The Executive met on Tuesday to discuss the report.

Councillor P J Roberts, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board, presented the board's comments, noting their unanimous endorsement of the report and its recommendations. Key discussion points included:

• Borrowing and Capital Investment: Concerns were raised about the council's approach to borrowing, with debt up to £459 million, and reduced reserves.
• Financial Resilience: The board examined the use of reserves and sought assurance on sustainability.
• Education and SEND Funding: Concerns were raised about pressures on the high-needs block and the rising cost of home-to-school transport.
• Waste Disposal Costs: Scrutiny focused on an overspend caused by outages at the Energy From Waste Facility.

Councillor Steve Clegg, Executive for Adult Care and Health, raised concerns about overspending in mental health community support, questioning measures to ensure financial sustainability.

Occupational Health Contract Re-procurement Approved

The Executive approved the re-procurement of the occupational health contract, which expires on 31 March 2026. The Executive met on Tuesday to discuss the report.

The contract ensures compliance with legal obligations, including the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Equality Act 2010.

Upcoming Meetings

• Planning and Regulation Committee - Monday 14 July 2025
• Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education - Tuesday 15 July 2025
• Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire - Wednesday 16 July 2025
• Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority - Greater Lincolnshire Transport Board - Wednesday 16 July 2025
• Corporate Parenting Panel - Thursday 17 July 2025
• Audit Committee - Monday 21 July 2025
• Community Safety Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday 22 July 2025
• Adult Care and Public Health Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday 23 July 2025
• Lincolnshire Waste Partnership - Thursday 24 July 2025
• Children's and Culture Scrutiny Committee - Friday 25 July 2025

This week in Lincolnshire:

Schools Forum Grapples with Funding Challenges and Constitution Updates

The Lincolnshire Schools' Forum met to address critical issues surrounding school funding, governance, and sector updates. The meeting took place on July 2nd, with discussions focusing on the financial pressures facing schools and the need for constitutional reform.

Funding Shortfalls and Government Grants

The forum received an update on school funding arrangements for 2025/26, revealing a complex landscape of increased core funding coupled with rising costs. While core funding to mainstream schools increased by 4.3%, anticipated school costs are expected to rise by 3.6%.

To address these challenges, the Department for Education (DfE) is providing the School Budget Support Grant (SBSG)[^7], allocating over £470 million for mainstream schools, £83 million for special and AP schools, and additional funding for centrally employed staff, post-16 education, and early years provision.

The government's decision to increase the rate and reduce the threshold for employer national insurance contributions was also discussed. To offset this, the DfE will provide over £1 billion in 2025/26 to support schools with these changes.

Additional funding streams were highlighted, including the Early Years National Teachers Pay Grant (NTPG) and the early years expansion grant, aimed at supporting maintained schools and nursery schools with increased costs and the expansion of early years provisions.

From the 2026/27 academic year, all pupils in households on Universal Credit will be entitled to free school meals.

Pupil Premium[^8] will continue in the 2025/26 financial year, with funding rates increasing by 2.39% compared to the 2024/26 financial year.

The meal rate for both universal infant free school meals (UIFSM)[^9] and further education meals has increased from £2.58 to £2.61 for the 2025/26 academic year.

The rates for PE & Sport Premium for Primary Schools will remain unchanged for the 2025/26 academic year.

The government's plans in the Spending Review[^10] held on 11 June 2025, including transformational funding of £760m to support the reform of public services, with a focus on prevention, and a £4.7bn cash increase per year by 2028/29 (compared with 2025/26), which is an average real terms growth of 1.1% a year per pupil or £2bn over the spending review.

The government has outlined its pledge to rebuild over 500 schools through the School Rebuilding Programme[^11], allocating approximately £2.4bn annually over the next four years.

The government will allocate £2.6bn between 2026/27 and 2029/30 under the Basic Need programme[^12] to address future demographic demands for mainstream school places, and that the government is rolling out breakfast clubs for all primary-aged children in England, starting with 750 Early Adopter schools this term.

The Spending Review will also invest almost £370m across the next four years to support the Government's commitment to deliver school-based nurseries across England.

The report pack confirmed an extension of the statutory override on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG)[^6] until the end of the 2027/28 financial year.

Locally, Lincolnshire is facing a difficult financial situation on its DSG caused by its high spending in the High Needs block, which ended the year with a £16.918m overspend.

Constitution and Membership Review

The forum reviewed and updated its constitution and membership, operating under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998[^1], the Education Act 2002[^2], the Schools Forums (England) Regulations 2012[^3], and the School and Early Years Finance (England) Regulations, 2025[^4].

Key updates to the constitution include adjustments to reflect the Procurement Act 2023[^5], changes in funding formulae, clarification of the forum's role in approving deductions from the schools budget, and adjustments to reflect the merger of the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) into the Department for Education (DfE) on 31 March 2025.

The membership composition has been reviewed and updated to reflect the current position (1 June 2025) and a forward plan of proposed membership from October 2025 of maintained and academy schools based on the October 2024 census data. The school membership composition remains unchanged for 2025/26.

Academies and Trust Update

As of 1 June 2025, Osbournby Primary School joined Community Inclusive Trust, bringing the number of Lincolnshire primary academies to 127 (45.2%) educating 30,666 (55.9%) primary aged pupils.

Five schools are currently intending to convert to academy status within the next six months. Coleby Church of England (Controlled) Primary School, Lincoln St Peter-in-Eastgate Church of England (Controlled) Infants School, Willoughby St Helena's Church of England Primary School and Scampton Pollyplatt Primary School all intend to join Infinity Academies Trust and Cowbit St Mary's (Endowed) CofE Primary intend to join Keystone Academy Trust.

The Academy Trusts with the most Lincolnshire academies are Lincoln Anglican Academy Trust (18), Community Inclusive Trust (13), and The Priory Federation of Academies (13).

There are 34 active multi-academy trusts operating within Lincolnshire and a total of 161 Lincolnshire academies that are members of multi-academy trusts, representing 82.1% of all Lincolnshire Academies.

Early Years Annual Report

The forum was scheduled to receive the annual report from Geraldine O'Neill, Sustainability & Development Manager – Children's Services, on the Early Years' Service. The Annual Report - Early Years was not included in the reports pack.

Lincolnshire Schools' Forum Work Programme

The forum was scheduled to discuss potential items for future meetings and include them in the Work Programme.

Other Matters

• The Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority - Skills and Employment Board meeting scheduled for July 2nd was cancelled. The meeting was scheduled to take place on July 2nd.
• The Lincolnshire Joint Local Access Forum meeting scheduled for July 3rd was cancelled. The meeting was scheduled to take place on July 3rd.

Upcoming Meetings

• Planning and Regulation Committee - Monday 14 July 2025
• Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education - Tuesday 15 July 2025
• Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire - Wednesday 16 July 2025
• Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority - Greater Lincolnshire Transport Board - Wednesday 16 July 2025
• Corporate Parenting Panel - Thursday 17 July 2025