This week in South Holland:

Council Postpones Key Planning Meeting

The Planning Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday was cancelled. The meeting would have addressed important planning applications and related issues. No reason was given for the cancellation.

Tenant Engagement and Social Housing Regulation in Focus

The Cabinet met on Tuesday to discuss a range of critical issues, including tenant engagement, housing service performance, social housing regulation, and home energy advice. The meeting covered updates, approvals, and strategies related to these key areas of council operations. No video was provided.

Tenant Engagement Strategy

The Cabinet were scheduled to consider the adoption of the Tenant Engagement and Influence Strategy 2025-2027. This strategy aims to give tenants a greater voice in shaping and scrutinising housing services.

• The strategy was developed with tenants and aligns with regulatory duties under the Transparency, Accountability, and Influence Standard¹.
• A Tenant Influence Working Group was established to support the strategy's implementation.
• Tenant feedback led to key changes, including simplified language and a shorter summary version.

Housing Landlord Service Performance

The Cabinet were scheduled to review the Housing Landlord Service's year-end performance for 2024/25. The report pack included performance data on:

• Statutory compliance
• Damp, condensation, and mould (DCM) management
• Responsive repairs and planned maintenance
• Complaints handling

The report pack stated that 100% of safety checks had been completed for asbestos, gas safety, legionella², fire safety risk assessments, and passenger lift safety in communal areas. Electrical safety checks for dwellings were at 99.54%, with 18 outstanding properties due to access issues.

DCM was recognised as a key challenge, with over 700 reports responded to during the year. As of 31 March 2025, 44 repairs were overdue due to major works or access issues.

Social Housing Regulation Update

The Cabinet were scheduled to receive an update on progress made towards meeting the outcomes of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023, including revised consumer standards.

South Holland District Council was notified of a programmed inspection by the Regulator of Social Housing, with on-site inspections conducted on 29-30 April 2025. The Regulator's findings are anticipated to be published in July 2025.

Home Energy Advice and Retrofit Team

The Cabinet were scheduled to consider a report seeking approval for the operational arrangements for the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership delivery of the Warm Homes – Local Grant programme and the Home Energy Advice Service.

Funding of £5,639,746 has been secured from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero for the Warm Homes – Local Grant programme, and funding of £362,720.15 has been secured to roll out the Home Energy Advice Service across the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership area.

East Lindsey District Council was proposed to act as the lead authority and accountable body for both programmes.

Performance and Risk Management

The Cabinet were scheduled to receive the Q4 Performance Report 24-25, providing an update on the council's performance between 1 January 2025 and 31 March 2025. Areas of under-performance included:

• The percentage of household waste collected for recycling and composting
• The percentage of corporate complaints responded to within corporately set timescales
• The average answer rate for Revenues & Benefits

The Cabinet were also scheduled to receive the Q3 Risk Report 24-25, providing an update on the council's strategic risks.

Upcoming Meetings

Here's a look at the upcoming meetings scheduled for the next week:

• The Spalding Town Forum will meet on Wednesday, June 18th, to review the Spalding Special Expenses, receive updates on town centre activities, and discuss future agenda items.
• The Policy Development Panel will meet on Tuesday, June 24th.
• The Cabinet will meet on Thursday, June 26th.

This week in South Holland:

Deli Mini Market Licence Under Review Amidst Police Concerns

The Panel of the Committee of the Licensing Authority convened on Thursday to discuss a premises licence variation application for Deli Mini Market. The meeting addressed proposed changes to the store's existing licence, which has raised concerns from Lincolnshire Police.

• Deli Mini Market Ltd sought to amend a condition of their licence, specifically regarding the involvement of two individuals, Haiman Fatah Mohamad and Hasan Pispar, in the business.
• The applicant requested that Mr. Mohamad be allowed to work at the premises under supervision, citing his unemployment and the owners' willingness to employ him.
• Lincolnshire Police submitted a representation on May 2nd, citing concerns related to all four licensing objectives: crime and disorder, public safety, public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm.
• The Panel also considered excluding the public from the meeting during discussion of the exempt appendices to agenda item 3, based on Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, due to the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2 of part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

The Panel were advised that they could modify the conditions of the licence or reject the whole or part of the application under the Licensing Act 2003. The outcome of the application is not yet known.

Upcoming Meetings

Here's a look at the upcoming meetings scheduled for the next week:

• The Cabinet will meet on Tuesday, June 10th, to discuss performance reports, risk management, housing-related strategies, and a proposal regarding home energy advice.
• The Spalding Town Forum will meet on Wednesday, June 18th.

This week in South Holland:

Licensing Panel Discusses Sensitive Licence Application

The Licensing Panel met this week to discuss a Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Driver Licence. The Licensing Panel meeting was held on Thursday, May 29th.

• The agenda included a resolution to exclude the public from the meeting during the discussion of the licence application, citing the disclosure of criminal convictions.
• The panel considered a report from the Licensing Officer regarding a Dual Hackney Carriage Driver Licence and Private Hire Vehicle Driver Licence.

The full details of the discussion were not made public.

Upcoming Meetings

Here's a look at the upcoming meetings scheduled for the next week:

• The Panel of the Committee of the Licensing Authority will convene on Thursday, June 5th, to address a premises licence variation application for Deli Mini Market, including a discussion of representations received from Lincolnshire Police¹. The panel may also exclude the public from part of the meeting.
• The Cabinet will meet on Tuesday, June 10th.

This week in South Holland:

• The Performance Monitoring Panel met to discuss housing performance, including damp and mould issues, and the South Holland Centre's budget.
• The Committee of the Licensing Authority reviewed the draft statement on licensing policy, including updates on child protection and public safety.
• The Licensing Committee met, but no transcript or summary of the meeting is available.

Performance Monitoring Panel - Tuesday 20 May 2025

The Performance Monitoring Panel met on 20 May 2025 to discuss the council's performance, with a focus on housing and the South Holland Centre. The panel reviewed performance data, compliance with regulations, and tenant satisfaction. They also discussed the work programme for the coming year.

Housing Performance

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the Housing Landlord Service.

Damp, Condensation and Mould (DCM)

The panel reviewed the Housing Landlord Service’s performance in managing cases of damp, condensation and mould (DCM). The report included discussion of proactive and reactive reporting of DCM, performance in managing proactive cases identified via stock condition surveys, and performance of managing reactive cases.

The panel considered revising the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) reported to the Performance Monitoring Panel on damp, condensation and mould for 2025/26. The proposed revisions included the number of DCM cases reported in the last quarter, the number of live cases as a percentage of stock, the average number of days to fix issues, and the percentage of inspections carried out within 14 working days.

Responsive Repairs and Planned Maintenance

The Housing Landlord Service’s performance in delivering responsive repairs and programmed maintenance was also discussed. The report included information on the volume of repairs completed by the in-house team and external contractors, performance against target timeframes, performance against the targets for void days¹, and planned repairs and maintenance. The performance of the capital programme had been identified as an area of priority.

Compliance Assurance

The panel discussed how the Housing Landlord Service was performing against key statutory compliance measures. The report included details relating to key compliance measures, annual reporting on compliance performance, and the compliance position as of 31 January 2025 in areas such as asbestos management, gas safety, legionella safety, electrical safety and fire safety.

Tenant Satisfaction Measures

The panel received an update on the 2024/2025 Tenant Satisfaction Measure outcomes. The report included discussion of the methodology used to conduct the Tenant Perception Surveys, the results of the surveys, including tenant satisfaction with the overall service, repairs, safety, and complaint handling, and the results of the Tenant Satisfaction Measure Management Information, including performance on gas safety checks, fire risk assessments, and anti-social behaviour cases.

Annual Complaints Performance and Service Improvement Report

The panel considered the performance of housing complaints for 2024/2025 and provided feedback for consideration by the Cabinet. The report included an overview of the complaints received during 2024-2025, the Council’s performance against the Housing Ombudsman Complaint Handling Code, and an analysis of the types of complaints received and the service improvements made as a result.

Quarterly Performance Report

The panel received an update on how the council was performing for the period 1 January 2025 to 31 March 2025. The Q4 Performance Report 24-25 detailed areas of under-performance, including the percentage of household waste collected for recycling and composting, the percentage of corporate complaints responded to within corporately set timescales, the percentage of subject requests responded to within statutory timescales, and the average answer rate for Revenues & Benefits (PSPS).

South Holland Centre Financial Information

The panel discussed the South Holland Centre budget. The report provided Members with the 2024/25 South Holland Centre Budget following the Performance Monitoring Panel meeting of 11 December 2024 where Members asked for greater detail on the Centre’s budget to support a focussed scrutiny discussion. As previously reported, the Policy Development Panel also discussed the South Holland Centre in June 2024.

Performance Monitoring Panel Work Programme

The panel set out the Work Programme of the Performance Monitoring Panel, including the dates of future Panel meetings along with proposed items for consideration, and the task groups that have been identified by the Panel.

Committee of the Licensing Authority - Thursday 22 May 2025

The Committee of the Licensing Authority met to review and approve a draft statement on licensing policy before a period of consultation. The statement sets out how the council will exercise its functions under the Licensing Act 2003 with a view to promoting the licensing objectives.

Licensing Act 2003 Licensing Policy Statement

The Committee reviewed and amended the draft Licensing Act 2003 Licensing Policy Statement, and approved the content for consultation.

The Licensing Act 2003 requires the licensing authority to publish a statement of licensing policy every five years, setting out how it will ensure the four licensing objectives are promoted when carrying out its functions. These objectives are the prevention of crime and disorder, the prevention of public nuisance, public safety, and the protection of children from harm.

The draft statement of licensing policy includes several proposed material changes, including a section added to the Protection of Children from Harm section relating to awareness of the sexual exploitation of children, a Safeguarding section added in relation to children and vulnerable persons, a Modern-Day Slavery section added, a Counter Terrorism section added, the Public Safety section updated to include various new initiatives and current guidance, including information on drink spiking, and a new section and associated appendix added to advise licence holders and applicant’s of the Public Space Protection Order which is in force within the Borough.

The Licensing Authority must consult with several parties, including the Chief Officer of Police for the Licensing Authority’s area, the Fire Authority for the area, the Director of Public Health for the area, persons considered to be representative of holders of premises licences, club premises certificates and personal licences, and persons considered to be representative of businesses and residents in the area.

Following the consultation, a schedule of responses will be brought back to the Committee of the Licensing Authority for consideration. Amendments to address the responses will be integrated into the final draft Statement of Licensing Policy, along with any further amendments required by the committee. The final draft will then be referred to Full Council for adoption, following which it will be published.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

The Committee signed as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 10 September 2024. At that meeting, the committee considered the draft Gambling Policy (Statement of Principles) prior to it being issued for consultation. The only change presented within the draft policy was the statistical information regarding the population and the number of licences in operation within the district. The policy was legally required to be in place before the end of January 2025.

Licensing Committee - Thursday 22 May 2025

The Licensing Committee met, but no transcript or summary of the meeting is available.