Decisions

RESOLVED:

In accordance with Section 16 (1) Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and the duty therein to give effect to the wishes of the political group to which seats on any committee are allocated, the Council confirmed that:-

a.

Councillor Malcolm Cavill be appointed to the Regulation Committee;

b.

Councillor Jeny Snell be appointed to the Audit Committee;

c.

Councillor Mike Lewis be appointed to the Scrutiny Committee;

d.

Councillor Neil Bloomfield be appointed to the Regulation Committee;

e.

Councillor Martin Wale be appointed to represent SSDC on the Avon and Somerset Police Crime Panel;

f.

Councillor Andy Soughton be appointed as Vice-Chairman of Regulation Committee.

Reason:

To confirm amendments to the Scrutiny, Audit and Regulation Committee membership and representation on the Avon and Somerset Police Crime Panel.

RESOLVED:

That Council agreedto approve the updated Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Investment Strategy for 2019/20.

Reason:

To approve the mid-year Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Investment Strategy for 2019/20.

RESOLVED:

That Full Council agreed to:-

a.

note that the current Section 151 arrangement with Somerset West & Taunton Council will come to an end at the end of December 2019, and the current S151Officer, Paul Fitzgerald, will no longer be acting in this role on behalf of South Somerset District Council;

b.

endorse the decision of the Appointments Committee to appoint Joanne Nacey as the new permanent S151 Officer;

c.

endorse the appointment of Nicola Hix into the role as Interim S151 Officer effective immediately, to cover the period between the current S151 Officer leaving, and the new permanent employee starting their role;

d.

endorse the appointment of Richard Ward as Interim Monitoring Officer effective immediately, whilst another recruitment process is undertaken to appoint a permanent member of staff into this role.

Reason:

To confirm for the appointment of two of the Councils key statutory roles; the Council’s Section 151 Officer, and the Monitoring Officer.

RESOLVED:

That Area East Committee agreed to:-

a.

note the options for disposal and the potential benefits of the inclusion of the public car park within the disposal.

b.

approve the proposal that the public car park land should be included in the Churchfield, Wincanton property disposal.  Marketing to commence in the New Year, with the following provisos:-

1. that the adjacent stable block, including the necessary rights of access be offered for sale as a separate parcel;
2. that the strip of land to the south of the site be excluded from the sale and this area of grass-crete parking be extended to provide a safe drop-off point for the nearby primary school and additional residential parking.

Reason:

To confirm the disposal of the Churchfields offices including the incorporation of the public car park within the sale.

RESOLVED:

That Area East Committee agreed to:-

a.

note the work undertaken by the Heart of Wessex Rail Partnership in the last 12 months and the proposed changes to the partnership and that a similar report had been taken to Area South Committee;

b.

approve a funding contribution of £2,000 to the Heart of Wessex Rail Partnership from Area East revenue discretionary projects grants budget for 2019/20;

c.

in principle that the Council’s share of the Heart of Wessex Rail Partnership Reserve and share of any surplus from the 2019/20 revenue budget is transferred to the new Somerset and Dorset CRP to assist with start-up costs and appointment of a new community rail officer.

Reason:

To note the annual summary of the work undertaken by the Heart of Wessex Rail Partnership during the last 12 months and the proposed changes to the structure of the Partnership and to confirm the SSDC partnership contribution for 2019/20.

RESOLVED:

That the Area East Committee agreed to award the £10,000 ring fenced for Healthy Living Centres which was transferred to Area East from what was the Healthy Living Pooled fund, to the Balsam Centre, Wincanton for the delivery of their work programme.

Reason:

To support the work of the Balsam Centre to improve the voluntary community organisations in the town and villages across Area East.