The Growth Scrutiny Committee of Lincolnshire Council was scheduled to discuss the council's budget proposals for 2026/2027, review car park management at the Queen Elizabeth II Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park, and consider its work programme for the upcoming year. The committee was also set to review property matters and proposed changes to charging and contracts within the economic infrastructure property portfolio.

Budget Proposals 2026/2027

The committee was scheduled to consider the budget proposals for the financial year 2026/2027, focusing on the implications for the council's Growth, Property, and Commercial Services. The report from Pam Clipson, Head of Financial Services, indicated that the council projected a balanced budget across the medium-term financial plan. The proposals included adjustments to the cost base and spending power following the provisional local government finance settlement. For Growth Services, the net revenue budget was projected to be around £3.5 million, with income derived from government grants and rental income from the economic portfolio. Reductions in service delivery lines were noted as necessary to meet budget requirements, potentially limiting the response to new opportunities. The report also highlighted potential inflationary pressures on the economic infrastructure portfolio and the fragile nature of grants for business support services.

Queen Elizabeth II Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park - Car Park Review

A review of the car parking charges and management at six coastal access sites within the Queen Elizabeth II Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park (QEII LCCP) was scheduled for discussion. This included an examination of the potential to extend charging into the winter season and to increase existing fees. The report from Chris Miller, Head of Environment, detailed the introduction of an off-street parking order in 2022 to regulate parking and address issues such as wild camping and inappropriate use of spaces. The current charges are in place daily between Good Friday and the end of October, with options for hourly and longer stays. The report noted that while initial payment methods faced some challenges, improvements had been made with the installation of cashless payment machines and a unified site code for all six car parks. A seasonal pass was also introduced for frequent users. The report indicated that income generated, after covering enforcement and management costs, was allocated to improvements within the QEII LCCP area. Future opportunities for review included a modest increase in fees for the upcoming season and consideration of winter charging, which would require consultation with local parish councils. The potential use of the emerging National Parking Platform was also to be discussed, aiming to enhance the user experience for payments.

Growth Scrutiny Committee Work Programme

The committee was set to review and comment on its work programme for the coming year, as outlined in a report by Kiara Chatziioannou, Scrutiny Officer. The aim was to ensure that scrutiny activity was focused on areas where it could provide the greatest benefit to the council and its partners. The report indicated that not all suggestions could be immediately included, but changes from earlier discussions would be reflected in future iterations. Suggested topics for the work programme included a quarterly Capital Repairs and Maintenance monitoring report, an update on the Windmills Strategy, a pre-decision paper on Lincoln Castle maintenance, and a condition report for key cultural assets. A request was also made for proposed changes to tenant lease arrangements, rents, or energy re-charging in council-managed workspaces to be brought to the committee for scrutiny.

Scrutiny of Property Matters

The committee was scheduled to receive a report from Councillor T J G Dyer regarding the scrutiny of property matters by the Growth Scrutiny Committee. This item was submitted in accordance with Rule 7a of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules.

Proposed Charging and Contract Changes in the Economic Infrastructure Property Portfolio

This item was listed as exempt from public circulation due to containing exempt information. The committee was to receive an exempt report from Mick King, Head of Economic Infrastructure, and Simon Wright, Regeneration and Portfolio Manager, to review and comment on proposed charging and contract changes within the economic portfolio.