The Executive of Lincolnshire Council met on Tuesday, 7 January 2025, to discuss the proposed budget for 2025/26 and the final report from the Young Carers Scrutiny Review. The council approved the initial budget proposals for the upcoming financial year, which include a proposed 2.99% council tax increase, and also accepted all recommendations from the Young Carers Scrutiny Review, with an action plan to be developed for their implementation.

Council Budget 2025/26

The Executive discussed the proposed budget for the 2025/26 financial year, acknowledging it as the most challenging settlement received in a decade. The report highlighted a significant increase in the council's cost base due to demand pressures, unit price increases, and new legislation, including changes to national insurance and the national living wage. The provisional settlement indicated a 4.7% increase in core spending power, heavily reliant on a 5% council tax increase. However, the net increase in grant funding of £9.3m represents a real reduction compared to previous years.

Key concerns raised included the abolition of the Rural Services Delivery Grant, a loss of approximately £9.4 million for Lincolnshire, and the fact that the council would not receive any funding from the new £600 million Recovery Grant, which is targeted at areas with greater need and lower ability to generate local resources. Councillors expressed disappointment that the government's funding formula appeared to penalise councils that had managed their finances effectively, with significant funding being redirected to larger urban authorities.

The budget proposal currently assumes a 2.99% council tax increase, with different options for precept setting also being considered. The Executive reserved its position on the final precept setting pending further consultation, scrutiny, and final funding announcements. The report also detailed the draft capital investment programme, which includes an additional £20 million for the Economic Investment Fund.

Final Report from the Young Carers Scrutiny Review

The Executive received the final report from the Young Carers Scrutiny Review, which highlighted the significant contribution of young carers in Lincolnshire, with an estimated 7,000 young people providing care for family members. The review acknowledged that Lincolnshire Children's Services already offers a strong support base for young carers, and the report focused on how this could be enhanced.

The report made 12 recommendations, aiming to improve service consistency and collaboration with partner agencies. Key areas for improvement included:

• Identification and Awareness: Enhancing the identification of young carers, particularly when adult health needs emerge, and tackling the stigma and misconceptions surrounding the role of a young carer. This includes developing promotional materials with young carers and parents, and improving the council's website and social media presence.
• Support Provision: Addressing gaps in current provision, expanding the 'champion model' within social care teams, and establishing a Young Carers Council to help shape services and develop PSHE education resources.
• Partnership Working: Developing a broader Community of Practice with safeguarding partnerships, the Integrated Care Board, and the Health and Wellbeing Board to share best practices and challenges.
• Information Accessibility: Improving search engine returns for young carers on the council's website, reviewing information on partner agencies' websites, and ensuring a consistent 'welcome to support' message is provided to all young carers.
• Corporate Profile: Giving young carers a higher corporate profile and focus across the county council, including engaging councillors to promote the young carers offer.

The Executive approved the report and made arrangements to respond within two months, confirming acceptance of all recommendations and committing to developing an action plan for their implementation. Councillor Mrs P A Bradwell OBE, Executive Councillor for Children's Services, Community Safety, Procurement and Migration, will be responsible for overseeing the response.

The meeting also included announcements from the Leader of the Council regarding recent flooding incidents in Lincolnshire, with updates provided by Executive Councillors on the scale of the impact and the ongoing response efforts. The Executive also noted the current position on the revenue budget for 2024/25 and the capital budget monitoring report for the same period. Performance against the Corporate Plan for Quarter 2 was also reviewed, showing a positive report with 94% of activities rated as Green or Progressing as planned.