Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chairman asked that, in the absence of the Vice-Chairman, Councillor Ric Pallister act as Vice-Chairman for the meeting.  Members were in agreement with this.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Cathy Bakewell, Mike Beech, Mike Best, Amanda Broom, Gye Dibben, John Field, Kaysar Hussein, Mike Lock, Graham Oakes, Wes Read, Gerard Tucker, Martin Wale and William Wallace.

To approve and sign the minutes of the previous meeting held on Thursday, 13 December 2018.

The minutes of the Council meeting held on 13^th December 2018, copies of which had been previously circulated, were approved as correct records of the meeting and signed by the Chairman.

In accordance with the Council's current Code of Conduct (as amended 26 February 2015), which includes all the provisions relating to Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPI), personal and prejudicial interests, Members are asked to declare any DPI and also any personal interests (and whether or not such personal interests are also "prejudicial") in relation to any matter on the Agenda for this meeting.

Members are reminded that they need to declare the fact that they are also a member of a County, Town or Parish Council as a Personal Interest.  Where you are also a member of Somerset County Council and/or a Town or Parish Council within South Somerset you must declare a prejudicial interest in any business on the agenda where there is a financial benefit or gain or advantage to Somerset County Council and/or a Town or Parish Council which would be at the cost or to the financial disadvantage of South Somerset District Council. 

There were no declarations of interest made by Members. 

A resident of Yeovil asked if the Council had any civil contingency plans in case of civil unrest following Brexit?

The Leader of Council confirmed that the Council was currently refreshing its contingency plans and would work in partnership with the police and other emergency services if the situation arose. 

The Chairman advised that the presentation by the Acting Housing and Welfare Manager on the SSDC Rough Sleeper Service would be recorded for future training purposes.

He also reminded Members that the next Council meeting would be held on Tuesday 26^th February 2019 starting at 7.30pm.

The list of Chairman’s engagements were noted.

The Acting Housing and Welfare Manager provided a short presentation on the homeless service in South Somerset and the support available to vulnerable homeless people.  She explained about the Pathways Hostel and the Tenant Accreditation Scheme which they operated to help homeless people to understand maintaining their tenancy, budgeting, shopping and other issues to help them access their own accommodation.  She also explained the outreach worker who was part of the National Streetlink scheme and the referrals they received from staff at Lufton depot who were working early morning in town.  She concluded that it was not always easy to accommodate her client group because of pets, violence or drug habits and not all wished to go into the Pathways hostel or other housing but everyone deserved a home.   

The Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture, Housing and Welfare thanked the Acting Housing and Welfare Manager for her dedication to the vulnerable people she assisted. 

The Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee advised that regular updates on the homeless service were provided at the Portfolio Holder briefing sessions.

At the conclusion of the presentation, the Chairman thanked the Acting Housing and Welfare Manager for attending and for her informative presentation.

Noted.

(Voting: unanimous in favour)

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Legal Services introduced the report and advised that this was an annual review conducted through a Scrutiny Task and Finish Group.  He advised that there were two proposed changes to the 2019/20 scheme: to introduce a minimum weekly award of £0.50, and to introduce a £5.00 per week income change tolerance.  He said they were not proposing to change the minimum payment of 15% as research from the National Policy Institute showed that increasing it impacted on collection rates.  He proposed the recommendations be accepted.

Councillor Michael Lewis welcomed the year on year reduction in the number of Council Tax Support recipients and seconded the recommendations.

There was no debate and Members unanimously confirmed the proposed amendments to the 2019/20 Council Tax Support Scheme. 

(Voting: unanimous in favour)

The Leader of Council proposed that Councillor Andrew Kendall be appointed to represent SSDC on the Armed Forces Community Covenant for the remainder of the Council year.

There was no other proposal and therefore Councillor Andrew Kendall was appointed to represent SSDC on the Armed Forces Community Covenant for the remainder of the Council year.

(Voting: unanimous in favour)

The Leader of Council introduced the report and advised that following the outcome of the Local Government Boundary Review (LGBR) a new three member ward had been created for Northstone / Ivelchester / St Michael’s which had presented a problem as it crossed the SSDC administrative boundaries of Areas North and East. There was a need for the entire ward to be within one Area Committee for the purposes of Area Committee working and it was therefore proposed that the new ward be within Area East.

The Specialist – Democratic Services asked that the decision be amended to allow the Monitoring Officer to make the necessary changes to all other Ward names in the Council’s Constitution as set out in the Electoral Changes Order.

Several Members expressed their disappointment that the geographically large ward had been created without prior notification or consultation and at the conclusion of the debate, Members agreed to confirm the recommendations of the report. 

(Voting: unanimous in favour)

The report of executive decisions was noted.

Councillor Derek Yeomans, Chairman of the Audit Committee, presented the report of the Committee. 

In response to a question, the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning (Place Making) confirmed that the Local Plan Review 2016-2036 Preferred Options for Consultation had been presented to the Area Committees and would be presented to District Executive on 7^th February where there would be the opportunity to make further changes. 

The report of the Audit Committee was noted.

Councillor Sue Steele, Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee, presented the report of the Committee.  In response to a question regarding the reporting of the Rural Allocations Policy, she advised that she would seek advice from the Strategy and Commissioning team. 

The report of the Scrutiny Committee was noted.

No Motions have been submitted by Members.

There were no Motions submitted by Members.

No questions have been submitted under Procedure Rule 10.

There were no questions submitted under Procedure Rule 10.

Members noted that the next scheduled meeting of the Full Council would take place on Tuesday, 26^th February 2019 in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, Brympton Way, Yeovil commencing at 7.30 p.m.