The North Lincolnshire Council met on 2 October 2025, and approved the Youth Justice Plan 2025-26, received annual reports from the Audit Committee and Standards Committee, and endorsed progressing with a consultation on an Article 4 Direction regarding houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). The council also approved a waiver to the councillor attendance rule for Councillor Sue Armitage.

Here's a breakdown of the key discussion points:

Article 4 Direction on Houses in Multiple Occupation

The council endorsed the decision made by the Cabinet Member for Environment and Strategy to progress with a consultation and potential implementation of an Article 4 Direction in Scunthorpe. This follows a joint motion passed at a previous full council meeting.

An Article 4 Direction allows a local planning authority to remove permitted development rights in a specific area.¹ In this case, it would require planning permission for changing a dwelling house (Use Class C3) to a small HMO² (Use Class C4), which it can currently do without planning permission.

The council's objective is to manage the number and location of HMOs, protect residential amenity, and maintain a mix of housing types.

The Director of Communities presented an action plan for a public consultation, including publishing an evidence report justifying the direction and the areas it will affect. The consultation will last for a minimum of 21 days.

The report notes that the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that Article 4 Directions should be limited to situations where they are necessary to protect local amenity or well-being, based on robust evidence, and apply to the smallest geographical area possible.

The evidence considered included:

• HMO Distribution: Scunthorpe has a high concentration of HMOs, particularly in the Town and Crosby and Park wards.
• Household Composition: Data reveals a shortage of both 1-bedroom and 4+ bedroom homes in certain areas.
• Property Sale Prices: Lower property values correlate with higher HMO densities.
• Fly-tipping: High HMO concentrations correlate with elevated fly-tipping rates.
• Crime Levels: The Town ward has the highest crime rate in North Lincolnshire.
• Deprivation: The most deprived areas are concentrated in Scunthorpe, including Crosby and Park.

Youth Justice Plan 2025-26

The council approved the Youth Justice Plan 2025-26, which outlines the shared ambitions and priorities of the North Lincolnshire Youth Justice Partnership. The plan was developed with input from key partners, children, and families.

Key priorities for 2025/26 include:

• Prevention and diversion from the criminal justice system
• Improving support for victims
• Meeting individual needs of young people involved in the system
• Delivering quality interventions to reduce re-offending

The plan is supported by a £426,219 youth justice grant from the Youth Justice Board.

The report notes that a review by the Youth Justice Board Performance Oversight Board in November 2024 resulted in the North Lincolnshire Youth Justice Partnership being allocated as a Quadrant One service, recognising its strong performance.

Treasury Management Annual Report 2024/25

The council received the Treasury Management Annual Report 2024/25, which provided an overview of the council's treasury activities and performance during the financial year.

Key points from the report:

• Treasury management activity remained within prudential indicator limits.
• Investment returns gradually decreased throughout the year, with the Bank of England rate reducing from 5.25% to 4.5% at year-end.
• The council took £40 million of short-term borrowing during the year while maintaining an under-borrowed position.
• Investment income was higher than budgeted due to steady returns throughout the year.

The report fulfilled the council's legal obligation under the Local Government Act 2003 and the CIPFA Code of Practice on Treasury Management.

Annual Report of the Audit Committee 2024/2025

The council received the Annual Report of the Audit Committee 2024/2025, which summarised the committee's work in overseeing governance, risk management, and internal control.

Councillor Ian Bint, Chair of the Audit Committee, noted the committee's role in providing independent challenge and scrutiny, and its oversight of the implications for North Lincolnshire of the national backlog of local audits.

The report provided assurance on the effectiveness of the council's governance framework and internal control environment.

Standards Committee Annual Report 2024/2025

The council received the Annual Report of the Standards Committee 2024/2025, which detailed the committee's work in promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct among councillors.

The report noted that the committee responded to a government consultation on strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities, and agreed to extend a dispensation for elected members involved in the steel industry.

The report also highlighted that the Monitoring Officer provided training to councillors and clerks on standards issues.

Urgent Key Decisions Annual Summary

The council received the Urgent Key Decisions Annual Summary, which summarised one executive key decision taken as urgent over the past year: the award of a contract for the demolition of South Leys School.

Waiver of Councillor Attendance Rule

The council approved a waiver of the six-month councillor attendance rule for Councillor Sue Armitage, who has been unable to attend council meetings due to illness. The waiver extends the permitted non-attendance period until the end of the 2025/26 council year.