Issue - meetings
The Future of Local Government in Somerset: Delivering together for the people of Somerset
Meeting: 19/02/2020 - South Somerset District Council (Item 112)
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RESOLVED: |
That Full Council:- |
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1. |
agreed that a full business case should now be prepared, which fully explores Option 2 (Collaboration and Integration), being the preferred way forward at this time. This business case should come back to District Executive/Council in July 2020, along with clear recommendations and delivery plan.
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2. |
agreed option 2 – Collaboration and Integration as this council’s current preferred option for the future of local government to take forward through community consultation and engagement.
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3. |
agreed that a joint Project Board should be created, with the Leader of the Council being the representative from each Council, to oversee the work during the next stage.
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Reason: |
To determine the way forward for local government in Somerset. |
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(Voting: 31 in favour, 5 against, 7 abstentions)
Minutes:
The Leader of Council advised that all of the Somerset authorities had worked very closely on the proposals for the future of local government in Somerset and it was disappointing that the County Council had chosen to follow a Unitary Authority approach rather than the collaboration and integration option preferred by all the District Councils. She said that she would invite the Leader of Somerset County Council to a future Council meeting to discuss his proposals for Somerset. She said the Chief Executive would be working closely with the Chief Executive of Mendip DC while she would be working with the Leader of Sedgemoor DC and they would be seeking a meeting with the Secretary of State to discuss their proposals shortly. She also advised that she had written to all of the Town and Parish Councils in the district to offer to meet with them to discuss the proposals as part of the community engagement.
During discussion, the following points were made:-
· Pleased to hear that consultation with Parish Councils was taking place
· Although there was a need for a business case on the preferred option, all of the other options considered by the 5 Somerset Councils should still be looked at too.
· Other Unitary Authorities had not yet paid back the costs of joining together and were not yet achieving their projected savings.
· Children’s Services should be the same throughout the county and should not change at the county boundary. It was possible that this level of service should be part of a combined authority.
· There was a desire to pass down the responsibility for more services to Town and Parish Councils to give them more autonomy but there was concern that this should be financed.
· Joining services like procurement would help towards getting the best service for the people of Somerset.
Councillor Neil Bloomfield declared a personal interest as a member of Somerset County Council although the Monitoring Officer confirmed that it was still appropriate for him to vote on the item of business.
At the conclusion of the debate, the majority of Members were content to confirm the recommendations of the report.
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RESOLVED: |
That Full Council:- |
|
|
|
1. |
agreed that a full business case should now be prepared, which fully explores Option 2 (Collaboration and Integration), being the preferred way forward at this time. This business case should come back to District Executive/Council in July 2020, along with clear recommendations and delivery plan.
|
|
|
2. |
agreed option 2 – Collaboration and Integration as this council’s current preferred option for the future of local government to take forward through community consultation and engagement.
|
|
|
3. |
agreed that a joint Project Board should be created, with the Leader of the Council being the representative from each Council, to oversee the work during the next stage.
|
|
Reason: |
To determine the way forward for local government in Somerset. |
|
(Voting: 31 in favour, 5 against, 7 abstentions)
