Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Anna Groskop, Sarah Lindsay, Sam McAllister, Graham Middleton, Jo Roundell Greene and Colin Winder. 

To approve and sign the minutes of the previous meeting held on Thursday, 16^th July 2015.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 16^th July 2015, copies of which had been previously circulated, were approved as a correct record of the meeting and signed by the Chairman.

In accordance with the Council's current Code of Conduct (adopted July 2012), 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.  A DPI is defined in The Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012 (SI 2012 No. 1464) and Appendix 3 of the Council’s Code of Conduct.  A personal interest is defined in paragraph 2.8 of the Code and a prejudicial interest is defined in paragraph 2.9.

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.  As a result of the change made to the Code of Conduct by this Council at its meeting on 15th May 2014, 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.  If you have a prejudicial interest you must comply with paragraphs 2.9(b) and 2.9(c) of the Code.

Councillor David Recardo declared a personal interest in Agenda item 7: Presentation from the Chairman and Chief Executive of Yeovil District Hospital NHS Trust as the SSDC appointed representative to the Hospital Trust. 

Mr J Lewes stated that major banks were closing their investments in fossil fuel burning organisations, and he asked if the District Council were similarly reviewing their investments in such organisations?

Councillor Henry Hobhouse agreed to provide a written answer to the question. 

Mr G Saunders, Chairman of the Westland Bowls Club, spoke in support of the District Council taking over the management and operation of the Westlands Sport and Leisure Complex.  He said the Bowls Club had been in existence for 75 years and had 73 members, many of whom lived outside Yeovil and they played against 27 other clubs across Somerset.  He mentioned the friendship and health benefits and the fundraising which the club had achieved.

The Chairman announced that there would be a special Council meeting on Tuesday 13th October, starting at 6.30pm at the Gateway Community Church, Addlewell Lane, Yeovil to discuss the future of the Westland Sport and Leisure Complex. 

The list of Chairman’s Engagements was noted. 

The Chairman welcomed Mr Peter Wyman, Chairman and Mr Paul Mears, Chief Executive of the Yeovil District Hospital NHS Trust.

Mr Wyman said the NHS was under huge pressure as its needs increased year after year and money was restricted.  He said that Yeovil was a leader in the development of new methods of care which, as part of the Vanguard status, it was hoped that these new methods of care would be replicated across rural NHS sites and some cities. 

Mr P Mears, Chief Executive of the Yeovil District Hospital NHS Trust provided Members with a short power point presentation on the Symphony Programme which was one of nine Primary and Acute Care System (PACS) Vanguards for which YDH had been awarded £4.8m funding to progress.  He noted that 4% of the population were using 50% of health and social care resources which were not joined up and so new ways of managing these people needed to be found and preventative measures put in place to keep people healthy. 

A Yeovil Hub had been set up to provide advice and support to patients and the positive impacts of this had already been seen so it was proposed to open similar Hubs in Wincanton and South Petherton eventually. Also additional specialist staff like therapists and nurses specialising in diabetes care had been placed into GP surgeries and the benefits of this had already been noticed by the Doctors. 

In response to questions from Members, the Chief Executive of the Yeovil District Hospital NHS Trust responded:

·         He would raise the issue of winter resilience funding with the Clinical Commissioning Group

·         Currently, the only route for nurse training was a 3 year University course, whereas previously there had been a practical course for non-qualified nurses.  Although Health Education England had increased the number of nursing places, it was hoped for a change in policy. 

·         Vacant nursing places were currently filled by agency nurses.

·         The impact of population growth on health services in the area depended upon the age of the people attracted as more resource was used on older people, however, a higher population may attract more nursing staff to the area.

·         There were over 100 apprentices at the hospital and the hospital had a good relationship with Yeovil College to develop young people into health roles and to stay within the area.

At the conclusion of the debate, the Chairman and Members thanked the Chairman and Chief Executive of the Yeovil District Hospital NHS Trust for providing an informative update on their work.

(Voting: 52 in favour, 0 against, 2 abstentions)

The Leader of Council introduced the report to Council and drew their attention to the highlights of the delivery of the flood action plan as the construction of the Thorney Ring Bank, the raising of the level of the road at Muchelney and the dredging of 8km of the rivers Parrett and Tone.  He said the remit of the proposed precepting Somerset Rivers Authority would include the whole of Somerset and it would raise money locally, which would be locally administered and spent on the right priorities. 

The Strategic Director (Operations and Customer Focus) advised that officers were preparing action plans in the event of flooding in 2016.  She said when the final decision on the funding of the Somerset Rivers Authority was taken the following week, a request for interim funding would be sought from the Government. 

During discussion, the majority of Members were supportive of the recommendation to create a new precepting body to fund the work of the Somerset Rivers Authority.  In response to a question, it was confirmed that £80,000 remained of the SSDC Flooding Reserve. 

At the conclusion of the debate, the majority of Members were content to confirm the recommendations of the report.

(Voting: 52 in favour, 0 against, 2 abstentions)

The Leader of Council reported that together with the Leader of the Conservative group and the spokesperson for the Independent group they had spoken to all the Somerset Authorities and they were looking at two methods of savings: a joint authority and Transformation.  He confirmed that Scrutiny Committee would be involved in a Transformation Board which would be established when the decision on which Council to proceed with was made.   

Councillor Tim Inglefield, Leader of the Conservative group, confirmed that a report would be presented to Council on 22^nd October on the options available for Members to decide.

Councillor Dave Bulmer, spokesperson for the Independent group, said that it appeared that Mendip District Council or Sedgemoor District Council were the two options available as Taunton Deane were already joining with West Somerset Council and also going through Transformation so they had capacity issues. 

In response to questions from Members, the Leader of the Council said it was critical that the Chief Executive who was appointed could work with two authorities and that a good relationship with the Leader of the partner Council was established.  He also confirmed that the combined Devon and Somerset Authority would have no impact upon the decision. 

At the conclusion of the debate, Members were content to note the verbal update provided.

Councillor Nigel Gage requested that, as a Ward Member, he be included in any working group to progress the future of the Westland Leisure Complex. 

The Strategic Director (Operations and Customer Focus) confirmed that other than the £3,500 agreed at District Executive for the further evaluation work, there had been no cost in producing the Westland Leisure Complex report other than officer time which had not impacted upon their other work. 

The report of Executive Decisions was noted.

Councillor Derek Yeomans, Chairman of the Audit Committee, introduced the report and invited questions from Members

There were no questions and the report of the Audit Committee was noted.

Councillor Sue Steele, Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee, introduced the report and drew Members attention to a special meeting of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme Task and Finish group to look at relief for charitable organisations. 

In response to a question, the Interim Chief Executive confirmed that consultation had taken place with customers on how they interacted with the Council as part of the Transformation work and a report on this would be brought to District Executive shortly.

The report of the Scrutiny Committee was noted.

Provision of bike lockers

Proposal – That this council investigates the feasibility and cost of the provision of bike lockers in the towns of South Somerset.

(Voting: 43 in favour, 8 against, 3 abstentions)

SSDC Five Year Housing Land Supply

Proposal – The Planning and Development group have now produced a paper to the District Executive that indicates in their judgement SSDC no longer can support a 5 year housing supply position, and that despite warnings to that group, Full Council and the relevant Planning Inspector by the Conservative Group; the Local Plan proposed by the current leadership and approved in March 2015 has quickly become deficient in that respect

In view of the serious impact this will have on Planning and Development Control this council agrees to take whatever action is necessary to urgently review the current housing supply targets and begin the process of adjusting that content in the Local Plan, keeping Council informed as to progress, and as part of this process to work with other local authorities to address the deficiencies in the process and procedures which have contributed to this problem.

(Voting: 27 in favour, 22 against, 2 abstentions)

The following motion was submitted by Councillor Graham Oakes:

Provision of bike lockers

Proposal – That this council investigates the feasibility and cost of the provision of bike lockers in the towns of South Somerset.

Councillor Oakes asked for Members support to look at the feasibility of installing bike lockers and report back to Council.  He said they were similar to small metal sheds and were often installed in Council car parks. 

A vote was taken and the majority of Members were in favour of supporting the Motion.

(Voting: 42 in favour, 8 against, 3 abstentions)

The following motion was submitted by Councillor Tim Inglefield:

SSDC Five Year Housing Land Supply

Proposal – The Planning and Development group have now produced a paper to the District Executive that indicates in their judgement SSDC no longer can support a 5 year housing supply position, and that despite warnings to that group, Full Council and the relevant Planning Inspector by the Conservative Group; the Local Plan proposed by the current leadership and approved in March 2015 has quickly become deficient in that respect

In view of the serious impact this will have on Planning and Development Control this council agrees to take whatever action is necessary to urgently review the current housing supply targets and begin the process of adjusting that content in the Local Plan, keeping Council informed as to progress, and as part of this process to work with other local authorities to address the deficiencies in the process and procedures which have contributed to this problem.

Councillor Tim Inglefield expressed his concern at the recent District Executive report which stated that the Council could no longer demonstrate a 5 year land supply.  He expressed concern that the Council was again in this position and he said that officers should be given every resource to review the Local Plan housing figure and shorten the time which the Council could not demonstrate this 5 year housing land supply.

Councillor Angie Singleton, Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning (Place Making), advised that the housing supply figure in the Local Plan had been evidence based and had been approved by Council and so could not be easily altered.  The early review of the Local Plan would include the reformation of the Project Management Board with cross part membership.

The Leader of Council confirmed that 31% of Councils in England could not demonstrate a 5 year housing land supply which he felt was an issue with Government policy.  He confirmed that he would be taking this up with the District Councils Network.

During a lengthy discussion, varying views were expressed.  Some Members felt that the Council should have an achievable housing figure in the Local Plan whilst others said the formula to set the housing target was set by the Government and had not changed. 

Councillor Angie Singleton proposed an amendment to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

There were no questions submitted under Procedure Rule 10.

There were no questions submitted under Procedure Rule 10.

Members noted that a special meeting of the Full Council would take place on Tuesday, 13^th October 2015 at the Gateway Community Centre, Addlewell Lane, Yeovil commencing at 6.30pm. 

There would also be a further Full Council meeting on Thursday 22^nd October 2015 in the Council Chamber, Brympton Way, Yeovil commencing at 7.30 p.m.