The Policy Development Panel met to review a range of council policies and strategies, including those related to HR, derelict sites, and street art. The panel also considered the approach to strategy and policy development in the lead-up to Local Government Reorganisation and reviewed the panel's own work programme.

Strategy / Policy Review and Development

The panel was scheduled to consider an approach to future strategy and policy review and development in the lead-up to Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). The report proposed a refined approach to managing the council's strategies and policies during the transition period, which is anticipated to conclude by 2028. This approach would delegate minor or non-material amendments, and consequential amendments due to legislative changes, to Service Directors in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder and Monitoring Officer. This aims to maintain strong governance while freeing up capacity to focus on LGR.

Final Report of the Derelict and Untidy Sites Task Group

The panel was scheduled to consider the final report of the Derelict and Untidy Sites Task Group. The report recommended retiring the existing Derelict and Untidy Sites Policy, which was introduced in 2022. The task group found the policy to be largely duplicative of existing statutory powers and not to have demonstrably improved outcomes. Instead, it was proposed to develop a concise 2–3-page Member and Parish Council Guidance Signpost Document. This document would cover how to identify relevant issues, what information to gather, which service to contact, realistic expectations of timescales, and links to public reporting methods.

Review of HR Policies

The panel was asked to provide views on proposed HR policies prior to their report to the Council. These policies were developed by Public Sector Partnership Services (PSPS) and reviewed by a Readers' Panel of officers and trade union representatives. The report presented three new policies: Fixed-term Contracts and Secondments Policy, Housing Competence and Conduct Policy, and Housing Code of Conduct. Four existing policies were also amended: Learning & Development Policy, Managing and Supporting Change Policy, Probation Policy, and Recruitment Policy. The Housing Competence and Conduct Policy and Housing Code of Conduct are designed to complement corporate HR policies by setting out role-specific expectations for employees delivering landlord services, aligning with the Regulator of Social Housing's Competence and Conduct Standard.

Policy Development Panel Work Programme

The panel was scheduled to review its Work Programme for 2026/27. This included noting future meeting dates and proposed items for consideration, as well as reviewing the task groups that had been established. The report highlighted that items for the work programme were either suggested by councillors or referred from officers or the Cabinet. The task groups listed included the Derelict and Untidy Sites Policy Task Group, the Business Frontage Task Group, and the South Holland Centre Park Group. A pending task group for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) was also noted.

SHDC Policy Register & SELCP Policy Register

The panel was scheduled to note the SHDC Policy Register and the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership (SELCP) Policy Register. These registers provide an overview of approved policies, their review cycles, and their current status.

Key Decision Plan

The panel was scheduled to note the current Key Decision Plan. This plan outlines key decisions the Council is likely to make over the next twelve months, including the purpose of the decision, consultees, supporting documents, likely date of decision, and officer contact information.

Actions

The panel was scheduled to consider updates to actions that arose at the previous Policy Development Panel meeting on 21 April 2026 and to track outstanding actions. Updates were provided on actions related to the Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Policy for the Housing Landlord Service, the Housing (HRA) Damp Condensation and Mould Policy, the Street Art and Graffiti Management Policy, the Debt Write Off Policy, and the Policy Development Panel Work Programme.

Tracking of Recommendations

The panel was scheduled to consider responses from the Cabinet to reports previously submitted by the Panel.

Items Referred from the Performance Monitoring Panel

The panel was scheduled to consider any items that had been referred from the Performance Monitoring Panel.

Health and Safety Policy – General Statement of Intent and Arrangements

The panel was scheduled to consider proposed amendments to the Council's Health and Safety Policy. The report indicated that the changes were minor and part of a scheduled three-yearly review, primarily to enable the policy to be adopted separately by each sovereign council, providing greater flexibility.

Debt Write Off Policy

The panel was scheduled to review the Debt Write Off Policy. This item was proposed to be considered together with item 16 in an exempt session. The panel's comments on the Debt Write Off Policy were to be submitted to Cabinet for consideration.

Any Other Items Which the Chairman Decides Are Urgent

The agenda noted that any other items which the Chairman decided were urgent could be considered.

Exclusion of Press and Public

The agenda indicated that the public would be excluded from the meeting for specific items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information.

Restricted Minute

The panel was scheduled to consider the exempt minute of the previous Policy Development Panel meeting held on 21 April 2026.