Issue - meetings

The Leader of Council introduced the report and drew Members attention to several highlights within the report including being shortlisted for two Municipal Journal National Awards.  She also commended the volunteers who had provided 2,894 volunteer days the previous year.

In response to questions from Members, the Leader advised that:-

·         The Local Plan was shortly going out for consultation and the minimum number of new dwellings built per year and affordable homes built would be looked at as part of this process.

·         Councillors should be promoting the Council’s grants schemes in their monthly reports to their Town and Parish Councils.

·         The Council’s Transformation Programme was not complete and although there were issues in some service areas measures were being put in place to improve them.

·         The £2.5m savings would be realised through the Transformation Programme.

·         The registration of homeless people was an issue which she would be looking into as Portfolio Holder for Housing.

The Director for Commercial Services and Income Services confirmed that officers were in communication with the County Council and the Town and Parish Councils to identify land to plant significant numbers of trees.  She said that SSDC had already planted trees on its own land where it could, for example, at Ham Hill Country Park.

Councillor Seib noted that the graphics of the report could be better represented in digital format which most people now used.

At the conclusion of the debate, Members were content to confirm the 2018/19 End of Year Achievements report for publication.