This meeting was the second formal financial report of the 2024/25 financial year. It was scheduled to include updates on the council's financial position, a new parking permit scheme, and plans to support vulnerable families and pensioners over the winter.

Financial Position Update

The council's spending for the year to date was scheduled to be discussed. It was forecast to be slightly above budget, with an overspend of £0.37m, though this was offset by an underspend of £0.063m in the Dedicated Schools Grant¹. There were several areas of note, including that employee costs were forecast to be below budgeted levels, but there were also several areas of significant variance in spending, including higher than expected spending in adult social care, temporary accomodation and schools transport. The report pack included the most up-to-date capital programme, which reflected a reduction in spending this year to £145.4m, down from the £171.1m approved in February.

Selective Licensing Consultation

Councillor Hannigan was scheduled to discuss proposals for selective licensing of privately rented accomodation in the Crosby, Park, Town, and Frodingham Wards. This followed a consultation with the public between February and April that year. The report pack contained the results of the consultation, which indicated that there was an increased number of people who supported the scheme in Area 1 - which comprises the Crosby, Park and Town Wards. The report scheduled to be discussed recommended that selective licensing be introduced in Area 1, and that Area 2 - the Frodingham Ward - be monitored over the next six months and that selective licensing be implemented if no significant improvements were made.

Green Badge Scheme

A new parking permit scheme, called the “Green Badge”, was scheduled to be discussed. The report pack explains that it was designed to provide temporary support to people who had experienced a short term mobility issue, such as a broken leg, that would not qualify them for a blue badge. The report proposed that the scheme be implemented from January 2025.

Support for Families and Pensioners Delivery Plan

The report pack included details of how North Lincolnshire Council was planning to support vulnerable families and pensioners through the winter. This included:

• Cash payments of £200 to the circa. 3,000 pensioners on low incomes who had previously received the Winter Fuel Payment.
• The extension of air-fryer cookery courses, which would allow another 1,000 families to attend community-led air-fryer cooking lessons and receive a free air-fryer.
• The provision of free low-energy cooking appliances for pensioners.

These schemes are funded by the Household Support Fund, from which £750k has been allocated to support pensioners and £573,892 to support families.

Air Quality Annual Status Report 2024

This report pack included the Draft Air Quality Annual Status Report (ASR) 2024, which provides a detailed analysis of the council's air quality monitoring in 2023. The report pack showed that air quality in North Lincolnshire was generally good, with all air quality objectives being met, except for PAH (Benzo(a)pyrene (B[a]P)).² However, the report pack shows that concentrations of PM10³ remain elevated around the Scunthorpe Integrated Steelworks site. The report pack stated that the council planned to continue to work with industry and the Environment Agency to achieve further improvements.

Project Anchor Social Value

The report pack included a report about the social value generated by the Project Anchor scheme⁴. The report pack shows that the project was scheduled to deliver a number of benefits to the community, including:

• Employment opportunities: 22 people have been employed on the project, 10 of which live within a 30 mile radius.
• Environmental sustainability: 100% of waste from the project has been diverted from landfill.
• Community engagement: The project team volunteered 120 hours to engage with local residents and businesses.

Southern Junction Social Value

The report pack also included a report about the social value generated by the Southern Junction Scheme⁵. This report pack stated that the project has already delivered a number of benefits to the community, including:

• Employment opportunities for armed forces veterans and other residents of North Lincolnshire: Three local armed forces veterans have been employed on the project and there is a target to support two people who are not in employment, education or training into employment.
• Community engagement: The project team is scheduled to deliver 24 hours of volunteering in the local community.
• Economic benefits: £1.74m has already been spent in the local supply chain.

Bus Service Improvement Plan Achievements

The meeting was scheduled to include a report about the achievements of the Enhanced Bus Partnership and the council's Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), which had been updated and approved by the Department for Transport (DfT) in June 2024. The report pack showed that the BSIP had led to the implementation of a number of new and improved bus services, including:

• Additional services on a number of routes, including Services 4, 10, 90, c4, 260, 96, 97, 350, 103, 357, 359, 6, 7, and 8.
• Section 22 Community Transport on Routes 96 and 97.
• Reduced fares for young people in school holidays and a £1 fare for all bus users on Saturdays in December.

The report pack also contained an update on the Government's spending review, which was scheduled to cover the 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years. The first phase of the review was scheduled to include an increase in the bus fare cap from £2 to £3.

Independent Reviewing Service Annual Report 2023/24

Councillor Sherwood was scheduled to present the Independent Reviewing Service Annual Report 2023/24, which describes the work of the Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs). These officers have a statutory responsibility to review the care plans of children in care in North Lincolnshire and to ensure that those care plans meet the needs of the children.

Care Leavers Financial Policy

A report on the Care Leavers Financial Policy was scheduled to be discussed, which would have provided details about how the council provides financial support to care leavers. The report pack included a number of proposed changes to the policy, including increasing the higher education bursary, driving lessons and offering leisure passes for all care leavers.

Outcome of the Humber Services Acute Review

A report on the outcome of the Humber Services Acute Review was scheduled for discussion. This review, which involved Scunthorpe General Hospital, had resulted in a number of controversial proposals, including the relocation of Scunthorpe's trauma unit to Grimsby and the consolidation of a number of specialties to either Hull or Grimsby. It had proved to be extremely unpopular with residents and had been the subject of protests. The report pack notes that the council, the Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (HNYICB) and Healthwatch North Lincolnshire had been in discussions to try and find a local solution to the issues raised by the review. The outcome of those discussions was scheduled to be presented at the meeting. The report pack makes clear that no meaningful changes to the original plans had been agreed.