The Lincolnshire Council Executive met to discuss a new IT contract, appointments to outside bodies and the proposed geological disposal facility (GDF) for nuclear waste at Theddlethorpe. The council voted to withdraw from the Theddlethorpe GDF Community Partnership, and approved recommendations to progress to contractual approval with a new Strategic Technology Partner (STP) to manage the council's IT services. The Executive also approved appointments to outside bodies.

Theddlethorpe Geological Disposal Facility Community Partnership

The Executive voted to withdraw from the Theddlethorpe Geological Disposal Facility Community Partnership, following a recommendation from the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board (OSMB). Councillor T C Catton, Executive for Resources, moved to withdraw from the community partnership, citing option two of the alternatives considered on page 17 of the report. Councillor N R Oliver, Executive for Children's Services, seconded the motion.

The decision follows years of discussion and controversy surrounding the proposal to build a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) for nuclear waste in Theddlethorpe. The OSMB's recommendation to withdraw was shaped by several key concerns, including:

• Public Engagement: The OSMB expressed serious reservations about the adequacy of community engagement undertaken by NWS [Nuclear Waste Services]. They found that communication had been inconsistent, fragmented, and insufficient, failing to enable residents to form informed views.
• Prolonged Uncertainty: The extended timeline of the GDF programme, potentially spanning well into the late 2030s, was considered untenable.
• Erosion of Public Trust: The shift from the original brownfield location at Theddlethorpe Gas Terminal to a greenfield site inland was regarded as a pivotal moment that further eroded public confidence.
• Ethical and Safety Implications: The ethical dimension of storing high-level radioactive waste in Lincolnshire for timeframes extending up to a quarter of a million years was a subject of serious discussion.
• Democratic Accountability: In light of widespread and sustained public opposition, members concluded that any further involvement by the council would be inconsistent with its democratic responsibility.

Councillor D Brookes, Executive for Environment, stated that the project was being pursued despite overwhelming public opposition, with 93% of residents who engaged in local consultations expressing their disapproval. She also warned of the potential economic impact on the coastal tourism economy, worth almost £250 million annually and supporting over 3,000 jobs.

Councillor S Matthews, Leader of the Council, apologised to the people of Theddlethorpe and Gaetan Le Marche, stating that the previous Conservative-led council had treated them appallingly. He criticised the fact that NWS paid the council money to enter into a partnership, calling it nothing short of scandalous. He also gave credit to Travis Hesketh and Mike Crooks from the GoTech team, who campaigned against the GDF.

Strategic Technology Partner Contract Award

The Executive approved recommendations to progress to contractual approval with a new Strategic Technology Partner (STP) to manage the council's IT services. The decision aims to provide a fully managed core IT service, critical cyber security provision, and modern digital skills to support efficient services.

Tom Baker, Chief Information Officer, said that the contract is critical to the council, as every facet of its services relies on some form of technology. He said that the new contract would provide access to modern digital skills and capability that can be harnessed to facilitate a more effective way of service delivery, driving efficiencies, and making sure that they are delivering value for money.

The paper recommends that the Executive delegates to the Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director of Resources, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, authority to take all decisions necessary to progress the new Strategic Technology Partner contract, to endorse the approach set out in the body of the report, to endorse the new target operating model within the Council's IT function, to facilitate driving maximum returns from this new contract.

Councillor Philip James Roberts, gave feedback from the OSMB, stating that members unanimously endorsed the recommendations in the report and welcomed the ambition to modernise the Council's digital infrastructure. The OSMB explored several areas requiring further clarification, including:

• Capital costs and funding: There was particular interest in how the proposed £10.6 million capital investment would be financed. Officers suggested that while the final funding decision would be made following the year-end financial process, the current intention was to avoid external borrowing, with a preference for internal financing mechanisms such as capital receipts or revenue reserves.
• Cyber security: Given the increasing scale and complexity of cyber threats, members welcomed the Council's continued investment in robust digital safeguards.
• Local employment and skills development: The importance of ensuring local benefits from the contract was strongly emphasised.
• Contract resilience and value for money: Members examined the Council's ability to ensure long-term value for money and safeguard service continuity in the event of a contract failure.

Ben Crow, from the commercial function, said that the contract provides robust exit management and termination provisions for cause and also for convenience as well. He said that there are plenty of provisions in the contract should they need to use them.

Appointment to Outside Bodies

The Executive approved appointments to a number of outside bodies for the forthcoming quadrennial. Nigel West, Head of Democratic Services, highlighted a number of amendments to the nominations since publication of the papers, including:

• Mick King, head of economic infrastructure, as alternative LCC director on investors in Lincoln.
• Councillor MJ Hill OBE and Councillor Mrs. S. Woolley for the Willoughby Memorial Trust.
• Councillor Adrian Findlay for Skegness Day Centre.
• Councillor Richard Cleaver as Partner Governor for North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust.
• Councillor Brenda Collier and Councillor Ingrid Sheard for Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Council of Governors.

Councillor S Matthews was appointed as the Lead Member to the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority and is authorised to give statutory consent to the exercise of those functions requiring such statutory consent in accordance with the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority Regulations 2025. Councillor R A Gibson and Councillor M S Cheyne were nominated as substitute members for Councillor Matthews, and Councillor T C Catton and Councillor L M Kelly were nominated as substitute members for Councillor Sheard.