Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 1^st September 2015.

The minutes of the meeting held on 1 September were approved as a correct record subject to amending Minute number 46 to reflect that the 2014/15 rather than 2013/14 Housing figures were showing improvement, and were signed by the Chairman.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Claire Aparicio Paul, Tony Lock and David Recardo. Councillor Alan Smith was in attendance as substitute for Councillor David Recardo.

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. In the interests of complete transparency, Members of the County Council, who are not also members of this committee, are encouraged to declare any interests they may have in any matters being discussed even though they may not be under any obligation to do so under any relevant code of conduct.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no members of public at the meeting.

This is an opportunity for Members to question the progress on issues arising from previous meetings.  However, this does not allow for the re-opening of a debate on any item not forming part of this agenda.

There were no issues raised.

The Chairman reminded Scrutiny Committee Members that a visit to West Dorset District Council has been arranged for members on Wednesday 14^th October and that all members interested in attending should contact either of the Scrutiny Managers to confirm their attendance.

Members were informed that following on from the recommendation made at the last Scrutiny Committee meeting, a place on the Westland’s Leisure Complex Project Board had been allocated to a Scrutiny Member. The Chair of Scrutiny had attended the first meeting of the Project Board and would continue to be the Scrutiny representative until after the Full Council decision on 13^th October. If members agree to proceed with the project, Scrutiny Committee members will be asked to nominate a representative on the Board.

The Chairman clarified that under Agenda item  8 – reports to be considered by District Executive – the Westland’s Leisure Complex report contained confidential appendices and if members wished to refer to the financial information contained in those appendices, the Committee would need to move into confidential session.

Members noted the update given by the Scrutiny Committee Chairman.

Members considered the reports outlined in the District Executive Agenda for 1 October 2015.

Westland Leisure Complex (Agenda item 6)

In order to discuss the matter fully, it was proposed and agreed that the Committee would move into confidential session for this item as some of the financial information contained in the appendices is classed as confidential by virtue of paragraph(s) 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Members were also reminded that the financial information supplied in the confidential report is subject to a Non-Disclosure Agreement with AgustaWestland.

The Assistant Director (Health and Wellbeing) and Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing attended the meeting and presented the report to members.

The Assistant Director updated members on the following points:

·           Since this matter was last considered by members in early September, property advisors had been commissioned to undertake a condition survey of the asset – members were referred to the full report contained in the confidential papers.

·           The condition survey had identified that the roof structure is essentially clear but with some additional works identified to address issues such as end-lap corrosion.

·           Additional work on hire analysis over the past two years shows that hire income was in fact greater than previously reported.

·           As requested, a risk register has been developed and will be updated as the project progresses.

·           An initial meeting of the Project Board had agreed that AW be requested to retain the asset in in its’ current condition until completion and transfer of the asset.

·           AW had been approached about the possibility of separating the Sporting facilities from the Leisure facilities. They had responded by saying that their preference would be for the site to be transferred as a whole, at this stage, they would be prepared to put the option of splitting the site to the Finnmecanica Board for consideration. The Assistant Director informed members that if the site were to be split, the other funding Partners (AW and Yeovil Town Council) had indicated that they would not be prepared to contribute any funding to a sports only site and that the ticket levy proposal could not be applied to a sports only facility.

The Assistant Director (Finance and Corporate Services) then updated members on the following financial aspects of the project.

·           The principles of capital spend

·           Estimated expenditure and income associated with the project;

·           Impact on capital receipts;

·           Benefits of internal borrowing including the revenue implications;

·           The current SSDC budget position and the need for members to reallocate resources in line with priorities if the decision is taken to proceed;

·           The affordability of the project and the impact on balances.

The following points were raised in discussion:

·           In response to a query about the membership of the various sporting clubs associated with the site, members were informed that members are drawn from all over the district, and not just from Yeovil.

·           If SSDC were to take over the running of the site, it would be open to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58.

The Assistant Director (Communities) attended to present this report which had been requested by Scrutiny Members.

The report outlined the purpose of the LEADER Programme, funding arrangements and how SSDC members can engage with the Programme.

Members commented that progress with the Programme had been frustrating, taking into account the disruption of national and local elections earlier in the year.

It was noted that there is now a revised launch date of 14^th October, and that it was likely any bids would be considered in the last quarter of the year.

Members asked if the various programme strategies could be circulated, although it was noted that these strategies were probably now out of date.

Members thanked the Assistant Director for preparing the report and responding to their questions.

The Chair of Scrutiny stated that the members of the Council Tax Reduction Strategy had recently had a very successful meeting and were currently working on their final report which would come before the Scrutiny Committee next month.

The Scrutiny Manager reported that the Licensing Task and Finish Group was progressing well and that there would be a final meeting of the group on 21^st October with recommendations coming forward to the November Scrutiny Committee meeting.

The Scrutiny Manager reminded members that there a visit for Scrutiny Members to West Dorset District Council had been arranged for the evening of Wednesday 14^th October. She stressed the importance of this visit in advance of upcoming decisions on joint working and asked all members to contact Jo Gale to confirm attendance.

It was agreed that a set of questions for West Dorset Officers and Members, prepared by Councillor John Clark would be circulated to all members of the committee – members were asked to send though any additional questions in advance of the visit.

Members noted the Scrutiny Work Programme.

Members noted the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee would be held on Tuesday 3 November 2015 in the Main Committee Room, Brympton Way.