Decisions

RESOLVED:

That Council confirmed:-

a.

that personal allowances and premiums are uprated in line with those for Housing Benefit;

b.

that non-dependent deductions are uprated in line with the annual percentage increase in Council Tax;

c.

that the non-dependent income bands are increased by the same percentage as those applied to the national Council Tax Support scheme for pensioners;

d.

that the hardship scheme budget be set at £30,000 for the 2020/21 financial year;

e.

and agreed to note the recommendations of the Scrutiny Task and Finish Group attached at Appendix 1;

f.

and agreed to note the scheme had been amended to reflect changes to the Prescribed Requirements;

g.

that the 2020/21 Council Tax Support Scheme attached at Appendix 2 (to follow) is adopted;

h.

and agreed to note that the proposed Council Tax Support Scheme had been reflected within the overall Council Tax Base;

i.

that officers investigate a move to an income banded Council Tax Support scheme for the 2021/22 financial year.

Reason:

To confirm the Council Tax Support Scheme for the 2020/21 financial year.

RESOLVED:

That District Executive:-

a.

agreed that the Policy for Awarding Private Sector Housing Grants/Loans and other Financial Assistance in Appendix 1 concerning the provision of financial assistance for private sector housing and associated matters, including disabled facilities grants be adopted as the future policy of the Council.

Reason:

To adopt the Policy for Awarding Private Sector Housing Grants/Loans and other Financial Assistance as in Appendix 1 of the report.

RESOLVED:

That District Executive recommend to Council:-

a.

that personal allowances and premiums are uprated in line with those for Housing Benefit;

b.

that non-dependent deductions are uprated in line with the annual percentage increase in Council Tax;

c.

that the non-dependent income bands are increased by the same percentage as those applied to the national Council Tax Support scheme for pensioners;

d.

that the hardship scheme budget be set at £30,000 for the 2020/21 financial year;

e.

to note the recommendations of the Scrutiny Task and Finish Group attached at Appendix 1;

f.

to note the scheme has been amended to reflect changes to the Prescribed Requirements;

g.

that the 2020/21 Council Tax Support Scheme attached at Appendix 2 (to follow) is adopted;

h.

to note that the proposed Council Tax Support Scheme has been reflected within the overall Council Tax Base;

i.

that officers investigate a move to an income banded Council Tax Support scheme for the 2021/22 financial year.

Reason:

To propose the Council Tax Support scheme for the 2020/21 financial year to Full Council for approval.

RESOLVED:

That District Executive:-

a.

Agreed to a one year funding agreement for the period April 2020 to March 2021, for Citizens Advice South Somerset and SPARK.

b.

Agreed to a one-off increase of £30,000 to the Grants Budget to:-

i.  Provide an additional £23,305 to Citizens Advice South Somerset to further mitigate against the effects of the removal of the County Council core grant.

ii.  Provide an inflationary uplift of £1,260 to the annual grant to SPARK

iii.  Fund an initial allocation of £5,435 as SSDC’s contribution to the package of support work with the Citizens Advice as described in Section 5.1

c.

Agreed that the funding of CASS beyond 2021 would be subject to the outcome of the package of support work described in paragraph 4b(iii) above.

d.

Agreed that the future funding of SPARK beyond 2021 would be subject to the outcome of a wider piece of commissioning activity to be determined in line with emerging council priorities.

e.

Noted that Access for All’s future was currently uncertain, and that until further investigative work had been completed on future sustainability, no commitment to funding was being sought.

Reason:

To confirm the funding of two strategic voluntary sector partners, Citizens Advice South Somerset (CASS) and SPARK for the period 2020-2021, and to note the possible closure of Access for All.

RESOLVED:

That District Executive:-

a.

Noted progress made to date in acquiring new commercial investments

b.

Noted the return being achieved across the portfolio which is slightly above the Council’s target of 7%.

c.

Noted progress being made in securing income from our existing assets and the contribution to the revenue budget in excess of the original £2.25m target.

d.

Noted progress being made in disposals and transfers of existing assets, resulting in a reduction of future liabilities associated with these assets.

Reason:

To note the progress with implementing the Commercial Strategy agreed by Council including the commercial investments and management of the existing asset portfolio since the last half yearly update in June 2019.

RESOLVED:

That District Executive agreed:-

a.

the Somerset Waste Partnership’s Draft Business Plan 2020-25.

b.

the Somerset Waste Partnership’s draft budget for 2020/21.

c.

the amended Inter-Authority Agreement.

Reason:

To confirm approval of the Somerset Waste Partnership’s Draft Business Plan 2020-25, draft budget for 2020/21 and approval of the proposed revisions to the Waste Partnership’s Inter-Authority Agreement.

RESOLVED:

That District Executive agreed to:-

a.

Note the current estimates and next steps in respect of the draft Medium Term Financial Plan and Capital Programme.

b.

Approve in principle the changes to budget estimates in respect of pressures and savings included within the report (para 17).

Reason:

To update Members on the latest estimates for 2020/21 draft budget and Medium Term Financial Plan estimates for the period 2020/21 to 2024/25, together with an update on the Capital Programme.

RESOLVED:

That the District Executive:-

1.

approved the updated Executive Forward Plan for publication as attached at Appendix A, with the following amendment:

·      Time Extensions to Public Space Protection Orders for dog fouling, dogs on leads and dog exclusion area – February 2020

·      Future of Local Government in Somerset – February 2020

2.

noted the contents of the Consultation Database as shown at Appendix B.

Reason:

The Forward Plan is a statutory document.