Decisions

RESOLVED:

That District Executive:-

a.

agreed to the Examiner’s report and recommendations for Proposed Modifications to the Wincanton Neighbourhood Plan.

b.

agreed to the Council organising a referendum for local people on the Electoral Register as to whether they want South Somerset District Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Wincanton to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area.

c.

delegated responsibility to the Director for Service Delivery in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning to make any final minor text amendments to the Neighbourhood Plan, in agreement with Wincanton Town Council and the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group.

Reason:

To note the progress made on the preparation of the Wincanton Neighbourhood Plan; to agree the independent Examiner’s report and recommendations for Proposed Modifications; and to confirm the process for ‘making’ the plan following a favourable local referendum to be organised by the District Council.

RESOLVED:

That the District Executive approved the purchase of the plot of land (adjoining Boden Street Car Park, Chard) at a cost of £51,000 as indicated in the report, to be funded from the useable capital receipts reserve.

Reason:

To purchase an area of land that adjoins the Boden Street Car Park in Chard. The plot of land is of strategic value in the regeneration of Chard town centre and the local economy.

RESOLVED:

That District Executive:-

a.

Approved the Somerset Waste Partnership’s Draft Business Plan 2018-23, in particular the proposed approach to the procurement of a new collection contract as set out in the report.

b.

Noted that, in line with their delegated authority and in order to implement Recycle More as requested by partners, Somerset Waste Board have agreed with Kier to bring forward the expiry date of the current collection contract from September 2021 to 27 March 2020.

c.

Approved the projected budget for 2018/19 subject to the comments in section 7 of the SWP Business plan relating to the finalisation of the budget.

Reason:

To confirm the Somerset Waste Partnership’s Draft Business Plan 2018-2023 and note the implementation of the Recycle More contract.

RESOLVED:

That District Executive agreed to:-

a.

note the findings and recommendations in the David Lock Associates report – SSDC Review of Operational Office Accommodation November 2017 attached in Appendix 1.

b.

the principle that there is surplus office accommodation for council operational requirements at present and this will increase further post Transformation, and that the Council should therefore seek to rationalise operational property or seek alternative commercial or strategic use for it.

c.

task the Members Leadership & Development Project Group (Locality Working) to consider the report recommendations made in regard to Area Offices with input from Area Development Officers lead by the Locality Manager and report back to District Executive in February 2018 with findings and recommendations in respect of office / building requirements to meet the new model of delivery.

d.

task the Commercial Property, Land and Development Manager in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Property Services and Leader of Council with undertaking a full feasibility study to be funded through One Public Estate budget for the future council Head Quarters office to be located at Petters Way, and brought back to District Executive with findings and recommendations by February 2018.

Reason:

To agree the principles and next steps in considering the future of area offices and head quarters offices for the council.

RESOLVED:

That the District Executive:-

a.

noted the progress so far of the Yeovil Refresh Project.

b.

approved the draft Refresh document for consultation in early 2018.

c.

agreed the allocation of £185,000 from the Infrastructure Reserve to fund the appointment of a Programme Manager to manage the delivery phases of regeneration projects identified. This post would be time-limited and sit outside the Transformation Process.

d.

noted that Area South Committee would be asked to consider re-allocation of a proportion of the various reserves identified in section 10 to support a programme of activities associated with the Yeovil Refresh.

e.

noted that commercially generated returns derived from capital receipts from development projects in Yeovil  would be returned to the council’s capital reserve.  The reserve can be accessed to support further projects through a business case made to the District Executive Committee.  

Reason:

To update Members on the progress of the Yeovil Refresh project.

RESOLVED:

That the District Executive approved the updated Business Plan for Westlands, (confidential appendix – circulated under separate cover) and agreed to include the additional subsidy in years 2 and 3 of the financial forecasts, as summarised in paragraph 40, within the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan, noting that the underlying subsidy was projected to reduce in subsequent years.

Reason:

To update members on the revision of the Business Plan for Westlands Conference, Entertainment and Sports facility.

RESOLVED:

That the District Executive noted the Corporate Performance and Complaints Monitoring Report 2017/18: 2nd Quarter report. 

Reason:

To note the Corporate Performance and Complaints Monitoring Report 2017/18: 2nd Quarter - July to September 2017.

RESOLVED:

That District Executive noted the contents of the report and endorsed the Community Infrastructure Levy governance structure suggested and agreed to the:-

a.

production of an annual CIL report to District Executive Committee that along with an updated Regulation 123 list identifying the key projects.

b.

production of an infrastructure Business Plan that will provide further detail on the individual infrastructure projects.

c.

delegation to the Local Development Scheme Board consideration of applications from services or external bodies for infrastructure funding against the Infrastructure Business Plan.

Reason:

To note the detailed information provided on the Community Infrastructure Levy and to endorse the proposed governance structure.

RESOLVED:

That the District Executive:-

1.

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

·         Council Tax and Housing Benefit fraud report – moved to March 2018

• South Somerset Local Plan Review, approval of Preferred Options for consultation – moved to October 2018

2.

noted the contents of the Consultation Database as shown at Appendix Bwith the following additional consultation:

• Proposed changes to the prudential framework of capital finance - DCLG Consultation

Reason:

The Forward Plan is a statutory document.