South Kesteven District Council's cabinet is scheduled to meet on 7 October 2025 to discuss a range of issues, including the Customer Experience Strategy, vehicle procurement, and updates to the ICT and Cyber Security strategies. The cabinet will also review a report from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, and the Corporate Asset Management Strategy.

Here's a closer look at the topics on the agenda:

Customer Experience Strategy

The cabinet is scheduled to consider the Customer Experience Strategy 2025-2029, which aims to improve customer service across all council services. The strategy sets out the council's plans to improve both the customer experience and the efficiency of its services.

According to the report pack, the strategy has five core priorities:

• A commitment to a customer-first ethos
• Access to multiple service channels
• Accessibility and inclusion
• Regular staff training
• Technology

The strategy also includes a customer charter, which defines the council's responsibilities to its customers, as well as what it expects from them. The report pack states that service standards featured within the feedback to the consultation, with customers asking the council to introduce these for the corporate contact centre and each of its service areas. The strategy includes both operation standards and performance indicators.

The report pack states that a Customer Experience Steering Group was established in Spring 2024, consisting of a staff representative from each of the service areas.

The report pack states that public consultation on the Customer Experience Strategy took place from 10 March 2025 and closed on 7 April 2025, with a variety of stakeholders. A total of 561 responses were received.

Vehicle Procurement

The cabinet is scheduled to discuss a report seeking approval to award contracts for the procurement of various vehicles, including caged vehicles and sweepers. The procurement covers 54 vehicles at a combined cost of £2.6 million.

According to the report pack, the vehicles were procured via further competition under The Procurement Partnerships Fleet Framework. The award criteria was based on 60% for the quality assessment, and the remaining 40% was for the price assessment.

The report pack states that the vehicles within this procurement are funded from both the General Fund and the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).

ICT and Cyber Security Strategies

The cabinet is scheduled to consider approving an updated ICT Strategy and a new Cyber Security Strategy. According to the report pack, the vision for the new ICT Strategy is made up of 2 key principles:

ICT platform – end to end interactions are simple and streamlined as possible. A Digital workforce – enabling our staff to have access to the right tools to do their job and be confident in maximising the use and benefits of technology in daily work

The report pack states that the updated ICT strategy ensures that digital infrastructure aligns with the council's evolving business priorities. The draft ICT Strategy 2025 -2028 emphasises the role of ICT in enabling agile working, modern service delivery, and digital transformation across services.

The report pack also notes the growing threat posed by cyber activists and other malicious activists, highlighting the need for a robust ICT Cyber Strategy.

Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Findings Report

The cabinet is scheduled to discuss a report providing details of a complaint raised about the council which was upheld by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGO), with fault and injustice found.

According to the report pack, the LGO recommends that the council apologise to Mr B for the lack of accommodation and the distress this caused him in early 2024, pay Mr B £875 to recognise the lack of that accommodation, and pay Mr B a further £300 to recognise the added distress caused by him being avoidable street homeless during that time.

The LGO also recommends that the council remind its homelessness staff of the correct test and threshold for the interim accommodation duty, review its standard homelessness letters, and remind its homelessness staff of the requirements for homelessness decisions.

The report pack states that the council has actioned some of the recommendations, but not all, as it believes the correct test was applied.

Corporate Asset Management Strategy Review

The cabinet is scheduled to review and update the Corporate Asset Management Strategy 2022- 2027, ensuring the strategy aligns with the council's current priorities and objectives.

According to the report pack, the Corporate Asset Management Strategy (AMS) is a medium-term plan for optimising the value, performance, and utility of the council's corporate property assets. The AMS sets the framework for managing the council's property portfolio effectively over the next 5 years (2025 to 2030) and will guide future strategic property decisions.

The report pack states that the strategy is designed to align with the council's Corporate Plan and strategies, policies, and services to support the residents of South Kesteven.

Other Matters

The cabinet is also scheduled to discuss the Cabinet Forward Plan, which highlights matters on the Cabinet's Forward Plan. Councillor Ian Selby is scheduled to ask for an update on potential accessibility issues at the SK Stadium that he had raised at Cabinet in July. Councillor Elvis Stooke is scheduled to ask whether footfall from the proposed designer outlet in Grantham (due in 2026) will be directed into Grantham town centre. Councillor Tim Harrison is scheduled to ask for an update on the apartments on St. Peter's Hill. Councillor Ian Selby is scheduled to ask whether it was possible to create a 'South Kesteven Day'.