The Policy Development Panel convened to discuss a range of topics, including the artificial intelligence policy, social media guidelines, housing standards, environmental strategy, and a net zero action plan. Councillors were also scheduled to review the panel's work programme.

Climate Change and Environment

The panel was scheduled to review the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership (SELCP) Environment Policy, a year after its adoption. The Environment Policy provides a framework for the council's commitment to delivering climate change and environmental activities. The report pack expresses that delivery of the policy is everyone's responsibility, and is monitored through the performance management framework, the annual delivery plan, and the South and East Lincolnshire Climate Action Network (SELCAN). The report pack proposes that the next review of the Environment Policy be scheduled for 2028/29, in line with the Sub-regional Strategy.

The attendees were also scheduled to discuss the Tree and Hedgerow Strategy Action Plan. The Tree and Hedgerow Strategy Action Plan sets out a plan for managing, protecting and enhancing tree and hedgerow cover in South and East Lincolnshire. According to the report pack, the strategy has three core objectives: protect, plant and participate. The report pack also highlights that a baseline mapping exercise showed that approximately 6.5% of land in South and East Lincolnshire is classified as tree cover, and 1.5% as hedgerows. The report pack notes that the action plan includes activities such as reinvigorating Tree Warden networks, working with communities to identify planting opportunities, improving biosecurity measures, and ensuring a consistent approach to decision-making concerning trees and hedgerows.

The panel was expected to discuss the Net Zero Action Plan. The Action Plan for Carbon Reduction outlines a programme of work required to deliver the necessary carbon reductions, with a view to meeting the net zero target by 2040. The report pack states that the action plan is based on the best options currently identified and may be subject to change as further feasibility studies are conducted and other technological advancements become apparent. The report pack divides the plan into sections relating to fleet, operational buildings, social housing, waste, and commuting/business travel.

Policy Reviews

The report pack included the SHDC and S&ELCP Policy Registers for the attendees to note.

The panel was scheduled to review the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy, one year after its adoption at Cabinet.

The draft Social Media Policy was scheduled to be discussed, and feedback was to be provided before its presentation at Cabinet. According to the report pack, the policy sets out how each of the council's main platforms will operate, how the council will manage comments and replies, and how residents and staff are expected to use the channels. The report pack states that the policy includes 'house rules' for followers of the council's social media channels, including rules about keeping comments relevant, and not being abusive, obscene, or discriminatory. The report pack notes that the policy also sets out guidelines for staff, including refraining from using their day-to-day work as content for their own social media channels, and instead speaking to the Communications Team who will post on the corporate channels.

The attendees were scheduled to consider the review and update of Housing Standards Policies. The report pack notes that the policies under consideration were the Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO), Empty Homes and Housing Standards Enforcement Policies. According to the report pack, the Empty Homes Policy sets out the options and powers available to the council to encourage homeowners to bring homes back into use. The report pack states that the Houses in Multiple Occupation Licensing Policy sets out the requirements for HMOs, and that the council must maintain a register of licensed HMOs for the public to view. The report pack notes that the Housing Standards Enforcement Policy details the way the council will deliver private sector housing enforcement, and what landlords and tenants can expect from the service.

Other Matters

The report pack included the Key Decision Plan for the attendees to note.

The panel was scheduled to consider updates to actions that arose at the 23 September 2025 Policy Development Panel meeting and the tracking of outstanding actions. According to the PDP23 sept 2025ActionSheet, these included:

• A six-monthly progress update on the Business Frontage Task Group.
• A short-term Task Group to be established to review the Derelict and Untidy Sites Policy's original intent, assess current enforcement mechanisms, and consider whether a revised approach was needed.
• An update on the Vulnerable Person and Reasonable Adjustments Policy, one year from its adoption at Cabinet.
• An update on the Housing Landlord Services Disabled Adaptations Policy 2025-2028, one year from its adoption at Cabinet.
• An update on the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership Safeguarding Policy, one year from its adoption at Cabinet.

The minutes from the Policy Development Panel meeting on 23 September 2025 and the Special Joint Performance Monitoring Panel and Policy Development Panel on 21 October 2025 were also included in the report pack.