Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Amanda Broom, Nick Colbert, Carol Goodall, Anna Groskop, Jenny Kenton, Sam McAllister, David Norris, Stephen Page, Alan Smith, Andrew Turpin, Martin Wale and William Wallace.

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.

There were no declarations of interest made.

Ms Vivien Cornelius complimented the Council on the recording of their Council meeting the previous week and broadcasting it on the community radio station Radio Ninesprings.

Mr Bud Budzynski asked if any thought had been given to the possibility that fixed wing aircraft may not fly onto the Westland airfield in the future and the airfield could be used as a new access road to the Westland Leisure Complex. 

Councillor Ric Pallister responded saying there was specific safeguarding criteria for civil, standard and military aircraft at the airfield, but, whilst there was research and test flying of helicopters the whole of the airfield would be required for safety purposes. 

Mr David Clements spoke in support of Agenda item 5: Loan to Hinton St George Rural Community Services Ltd.  He said that the shop currently had a variable rate mortgage which could become an issue for them in the future which was the reason for the request to the District Council.  He confirmed that the loan would be secured against the property which was a higher value than the loan.

The Chairman asked Members to stand for a moment of reflection for staff member, Janette McDougall, who had died in a car accident the previous week.  He said that Janette had worked for SSDC for 10 years and the Council’s thoughts were with her family at this time. 

The Chairman also advised that at the current time, there was no urgent business to progress in November, so the next Full Council meeting will be Thursday 17^th December 2015 at 7.30pm.

(Voting: unanimous in favour)

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Legal Services advised that the proposal was for a simple loan secured against the property which was in good order.  He said it was a good example of the Council’s Enable, Partner Deliver approach to helping local communities and he proposed the recommendation to Council

The proposal was seconded, and there being no debate, it was carried unanimously. 

(Voting: unanimous in favour)

(Voting: unanimous in favour)

Councillor Tim Inglefield, as leader of the Conservative Group, introduced the report and advised that the group leaders and Directors had spent some time with Councils which had already joined together and they concluded that there were significant benefits going forward.  He noted the simple recommendations to progress to business plans with a decision to join up or go alone scheduled for February 2016.

Councillor Jo Roundell Greene, reminded Council that two Councillor Workshop meetings had been held recently and 1 to 1 information sessions offered.  She drew Members attention to the answers to the questions raised at the workshop sessions which were listed in the Agenda report.

The Leader of Council reported that he had attended a District Councils Network meeting the previous week where some discussion had taken place on joint Chief Executive Officers and Council mergers.  But he cautioned that the Government’s Autumn Statement due on 25^th November could be financially bad news for local government.   

Councillor Dave Bulmer, spokesperson for the independent Councillors, advised that if Members agreed the recommendations, then the Directors would start to compile the headline business case to work with Sedgemoor DC.  He assured Members that they would be kept informed during the process. 

During discussion, some Members expressed their concern that the headline business cases could not be completed by February 2016 and questioned whether more time was required.  The Leader of Council confirmed that if the business cases were not ready in time, then the date of presentation would be moved.  Other comments included:-

·         As the Council’s budget for the forthcoming year is agreed at the February Council meeting, it would be an advantage to also agree the future management of the Council at that meeting so the budgets tie together.

·         The Terms of Reference for the business cases should not all be financially led.

·         As well as looking at Councils who have successfully joined together, we should also look at examples where such arrangements have not worked out. 

·         Are we confident that we have looked at all partnership possibilities?

·         There are risks if we keep as a single council but there are risks and opportunities in working in partnership.

 It was proposed and seconded that recommendation 2 be amended and the two headline business cases be presented to Council in March 2016, however, on being put to the vote, this proposal was lost (voting: 6 in favour, 39 against, 1 abstention). 

The original recommendations were then proposed and seconded and were unanimously agreed by Members.

The Leader of Council introduced the item and invited questions from Members.

There were no questions and the report of Executive Decisions was noted.

Councillor Derek Yeomans, Chairman of the Audit Committee, advised that he had attended a training event arranged by the South West Audit Partnership the previous day where it had been made clear that local government should expect spending cuts in the Government’s Autumn Statement and the importance that all Councillors understand their Council’s Statement of Accounts.   

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 invited questions from Members.  

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

Highway planning advice

This Motion was withdrawn.

Heritage Strategy as part of the Local Plan

Proposal - That Council request that the funding and the necessary resources are made available now to bring the Heritage Strategy document forward and issue a draft policy document for consultation by mid- November for return by the 4th January with the final document presented to District Executive on the 4th February 2016.

(Voting: 21 in favour of the Motion, 26 against, 1 abstention)

Highway planning advice

This motion was withdrawn by .Councillor Henry Hobhouse

Heritage Strategy as part of the Local Plan

Proposal - That Council request that the funding and the necessary resources are made available now to bring the Heritage Strategy document forward and issue a draft policy document for consultation by mid- November for return by the 4th January with the final document presented to District Executive on the 4th February 2016.

Councillor Colin Winder advised that the National Planning Policy Framework had been issued in March 2012 and had been effective immediately with a recommendation that a Heritage Strategy should be completed shortly thereafter.  He said this was now 3 ½ years ago and no Heritage Strategy was in place which was causing some conflict in the determination of planning applications for a lack of a definitive strategy.  He said that he knew a draft strategy had already been drawn up and he asked that it be circulated for consultation and presented to District Executive on the 4th February 2016.

Councillor Angie Singleton responded as Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning, saying that she had offered to discuss the position of the Heritage Strategy at the Local Plan Project Board meeting the following Monday, but she did not feel it was a good use of public money to prioritise it over, say, the Flood Risk Strategy at the current time. 

During a short discussion, varying views were expressed.  The motion was then put to the vote and was declared lost by 21 votes in favour, 26 against and 1 abstention. 

(Voting: 21 in favour of the Motion, 26 against, 1 abstention)

There were no questions submitted under Procedure Rule 10.

There were no questions submitted under Procedure Rule 10.

Members noted that the next meeting of Full Council would take place on Thursday 17^th December 2015 in the Council Chamber, Brympton Way, Yeovil commencing at 7.30 p.m.