The South Holland Council cabinet met to discuss a range of issues, including aligning case management systems, working with the voluntary sector, a financial update and council tax support. They approved adding £322,940 to the council’s capital programme to align case management systems and agreed to consult on options for the local Council Tax Support scheme for 2025/26. The cabinet also noted the forecast revenue position of a £67,000 overspend for 2024/25.

Alignment of Case Management System

The cabinet approved a plan to implement a common Case Management System across the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership. This aims to achieve efficiency savings through the alignment of teams and technology. Councillor Jim Astill, Portfolio Holder for Corporate, Governance, Communications and Environmental Services, was responsible for the report.

The council will add £322,940 to its capital programme to deliver the project, financed through internal borrowing. From year three, South Holland District Council expects to see a budget reduction of over £150,000 per year.

Currently, South Holland District Council uses four case management systems that would be replaced by the Uniform system:

• Ocella for development control, building control and land charges
• Tascomi (Idox Cloud) for environmental health and housing standards
• Assure for disabled facility grants
• Tascomi (Idox Cloud) for licensing

The council needs to replace Ocella by January 2027 because the system will cease to operate.

The Uniform system is already being used by East Lindsey District Council, under a contract that runs until 2030. East Lindsey District Council will be the accountable body for the migration and ongoing relationship with Idox, the owner of Uniform.

Working in Partnership with the Voluntary and Community Sector

The cabinet discussed a report providing an overview of work with the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) and agreed to a proposed South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership ‘Volunteer Charter’. They also approved a transition from grant giving to VCS organisations to a commissioned services model. Councillor Gary Taylor, Portfolio Holder for Community Development, presented the report.

The report highlighted the importance of the VCS in supporting communities and residents in South and East Lincolnshire. It also summarised the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership ‘Trusted Volunteer Scheme’, funded through UK Shared Prosperity Funding¹. The report gave examples of where the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership has worked alongside VCS organisations:

• Lincolnshire Community Foundation - commissioned to deliver part of the Household Support Fund² and to distribute funding following Storm Babet in October 2023.
• Citizens Advice - provides free, independent, and impartial advice. The three Lincolnshire based Citizen Advice charities receive core funding from all three South and East Lincolnshire Councils and Lincolnshire County Council Public Health.
• Lincolnshire Community Voluntary Services (LCVS) - promotes volunteering and provides a brokerage service to connect potential volunteers with organisations seeking volunteers. LCVS receives an annual core grant of £93,000 (£31,000 per council).

The Volunteer Charter sets out nine key principles to underpin good relations within a volunteering environment.

2024/25 Quarter One Finance Update

The cabinet considered the council’s current financial position at the end of the first quarter of 2024/25. Councillor Paul A Redgate, Deputy Leader, Portfolio Holder for Finance, presented the report.

The forecast revenue position is a £67,000 overspend for 2024/25. The major variances relate to staffing pressures, offset by increased investment income. The cabinet approved a transfer to the Planning reserve of £300,000.

An efficiency target of £831,000 is included in the 2024/25 General Fund budget. At 30 June 2024, 55% of the efficiencies have been identified.

The financial pressure from Internal Drainage Boards has been supported by the government with £335,000 of funding for 2024/25.

The total General Fund Capital Programme for 2024/25 was £10.605 million. With the amendments proposed in the report, the revised capital programme for 2024/25 will be £10.709 million. Actual capital expenditure for Q1 2024/25 is £557,000.

The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) revenue budget was under pressure in 2023/24, and these pressures have persisted into 2024/25. The report proposes a ‘reset’ HRA revenue budget for 2024/25. The HRA revenue budget was a net surplus of £538,000, but with the amendments proposed, the revised budget will be a net surplus of £192,000.

The total HRA Capital Programme for 2024/25 is £13.851 million with actual capital expenditure of £2.107 million at 30 June 2024.

The council’s 2024/25 budget for investment income is £1.544 million. The forecast outturn position for investment income at Q1 is £1.656 million.

Local Council Tax Support Scheme (Consultation) 2025/26

The cabinet agreed to consult on options for the local Council Tax Support scheme for 2025/26. Councillor Paul A Redgate, Deputy Leader, Portfolio Holder for Finance, presented the report.

Council Tax Support provides financial assistance through a reduction in council tax bills for households on a low income or receiving certain benefits. The council is required to review its local scheme each year and consult on its proposals for the forthcoming year. Pension age residents are regulated by national rules and are not affected by any changes in this review.

South Holland’s scheme currently provides for a maximum 75% support for working age claimants.

The cabinet considered the following modification options:

• Increase the maximum CTS for households with children from 75% to 85%.
• Remove the earnings disregard for Universal Credit claims.
• Introduce a standard £10 rate for non-dependant deductions.
• Increase Lower Capital and Upper Capital Limits.
• Increase the threshold for earnings changes for Universal Credit cases, from £15 per week (£65 per month) to £30 per week (£130 per month), with discretion.
• Introduce a Discretionary Exceptional Hardship Payment fund
• Update the 2025/26 scheme in line with DWP uprating.

The results from consultation will be reported back to cabinet later in the year for its final scheme recommendation to full council, with the final decision for 2025/26 decided by 11 March 2025.