Lincolnshire County Council is scheduled to meet on Friday, 19 December 2025 to discuss the council's financial regulations and budget, and to review the Section 17 Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy. Councillors will also hear statements from the Leader and members of the Executive.

Section 17 Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy

The council is scheduled to consider a new Section 17 Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy 2025–2028. Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 requires local authorities to consider the impact of their decisions and actions on crime and disorder. The strategy outlines the council's responsibilities under the act, setting out a whole-organisation approach to crime prevention, community safety and harm reduction.

The strategy's objectives are:

• To ensure all council services consider the impact of their work on crime and disorder
• To promote proactive measures to prevent crime, anti-social behaviour, and exploitation
• To strengthen multi-agency collaboration to address complex risks and vulnerabilities
• To equip staff with the knowledge and tools to fulfil their section 17 responsibilities
• To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of crime prevention across the council

The report pack states that each directorate has been involved in the development of this strategy, having nominated a Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to support this work.

The strategy is scheduled to be organised around four key priorities: prevention, early intervention, responding to risk and harm, and long-term recovery and support. It also recognises the importance of working in partnership with other organisations, such as the Safer Lincolnshire Partnership, the Lincolnshire Domestic Abuse Partnership, and the Youth Justice Strategic Management Board.

The report pack states that to support this work, an internal working group may be established, comprising of nominated officers from each directorate.

Review of Financial Regulations and Budget Definition

The council is scheduled to review its financial regulations and budget definition within the constitution. The Council Report - 19 December 2025 Financial Regulations FINAL WSB 002 outlines proposed amendments to the financial regulations, which have been identified following a review by the Chief Finance Officer (S151) and cater for changes to financial codes of practice and guidance.

The proposed amendments are detailed in the report pack, with tracked changes shown in Appendix A - Financial Regulations WSB. These amendments cover areas such as roles in financial management, financial planning and management, risk management and internal control, control of resources and other assets.

To ensure consistency, consequential amendments are also proposed to the budget definition within the constitution, as detailed in Appendix B - Budget definition WSB.

According to the report pack, changes made to Financial Regulations A, C and E relate to changes in accounting legislation, so are required to be applied by law. Changes made to Financial Regulations B and E reflect a change in reporting format and responsible officer to mirror current operations within the Council.

The report pack states that Financial Regulation B proposes a simplification of language to assist the application of the authorisations required for budget virements¹.

A virement is the reallocation of a budget to change the purpose for which it was originally intended. Council Report - 19 December 2025 Financial Regulations FINAL WSB 002

Statements/Announcements by the Leader and Members of the Executive

The agenda includes statements and announcements by Councillor Sean Matthews, Leader of the Council, and other members of the Executive. These statements cover a range of topics, including:

• IT: Councillor Sean Matthews is expected to mention the launch of the new IT service in partnership with Version 1, and a formal procurement exercise for a new wide area network (WAN). He is also expected to mention the Customer Services Centre (CSC) transferring back into direct council control from Serco.
• Local Government Reorganisation (LGR): Councillor Rob Gibson, Deputy Leader and Executive Councillor for Community Engagement, is expected to discuss the council's business case proposal, Your Lincolnshire, which will see the creation of a new Lincolnshire council.
• Waste: Councillor Danny Brookes, Executive Councillor for Environment, is expected to discuss a feedback survey for Household Waste Recycling Centres, the installation of a Community RePaint facility, and modifications to waste disposal infrastructure to accommodate the government's 'Simpler Recycling' legislation².
• Planning: Councillor Danny Brookes is also expected to discuss solar examinations, the Grimsby to Walpole overhead lines and pylons, and progress on the Local Plan.
• Highways: Councillor Michael Cheyne, Executive Councillor for Highways and Transport, is expected to discuss the highways programme, drought damage, major drainage schemes, and a new Highways Infrastructure Asset Management Strategy (2026–2029).
• Public Health: Councillor Steve Clegg, Executive Councillor for Adult Care and Health, is expected to discuss suicide prevention, a visit to Framework, and the Lincolnshire Health and Wellbeing Board Review.
• Procurement & Commissioning: Councillor Liam Kelly, Executive Councillor for Growth, is expected to discuss contracts, the transition back into the Council of the Customer Service Centre (CSC), and the Adult Skills Framework.
• Corporate Property: Councillor Liam Kelly is also expected to discuss project delivery at Lincoln Castle, new facilities at St Francis Special School and Gosberton House Academy, and the Property Rationalisation Programme.
• Economic Infrastructure: Councillor Liam Kelly is further expected to discuss the new Hornbeam Business Park, Parkinson Harness Technology, and business centres in Market Deeping, Gainsborough, Skegness, and Lincoln.
• Community Safety: Councillor Alex McGonigle, Executive Councillor for Community Safety, is expected to discuss place-based projects in Skegness, the 'Beyond' Project, and Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue's HMICFRS inspection.
• Children's Services: Councillor Natalie Oliver, Executive Councillor for Children's Services and Culture, is expected to discuss Children in Care Transformation, Lincolnshire Music Service, school attendance, and the Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF).