The South Holland District Council met on Thursday, 26 February 2026, to approve the annual budget for 2026/27, including Council Tax levels, and to adopt the Community Safety Strategy. Key decisions also included the approval of the Pay Policy Statement for 2026/27 and the commencement of proposals for aligning terms and conditions of employment across the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership.

Council Tax and Budget Approved

The Council approved the annual budget for 2026/27, along with the Medium Term Financial Strategy, Capital Programme, Treasury Management Policy, Annual Delivery Plan, and the Living Wage Supplement. This includes setting the Council Tax for a Band D property at £214.92, an increase of £6.39 on the previous year. The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget was also approved, with a planned rent increase of 4.8%. The Council also adopted the South & East Lincolnshire Community Safety Strategy, which outlines a collaborative approach to reducing crime and anti-social behaviour across the sub-region, focusing on four key areas: tackling anti-social behaviour, understanding fear of crime, adopting a place-based approach, and encouraging reporting.

Pay Policy and Terms and Conditions Alignment

The Council approved the Pay Policy Statement for 2026/2027, which sets out policies on the remuneration of Chief Officers, the lowest paid employees, and the relationship between their pay. This statement includes updated details on shared officer pay structures and provisions for incentivised recruitment for hard-to-fill posts. Furthermore, the Council agreed to commence proposals for aligning terms and conditions of employment across the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership. This phased programme aims to create greater consistency in employment terms, with Phase 2 focusing on further alignment and an enhanced on-call provision for the Housing Landlord Services Team.

Health Scrutiny Update and Other Matters

An update was provided on the work of the Health Scrutiny for Lincolnshire Committee, focusing on the NHS Humber Health Partnership and its impact on Lincolnshire patients, as well as an independent evaluation of Lincolnshire's Community Connectors and Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs. The Council also noted the Key Decision Plan and received minutes from various committees, including the Governance and Audit Committee and the Planning Committee. No urgent items were raised, and the meeting concluded with the signing of the previous open and restricted minutes.