Issue - meetings

(Voting:  unanimous in favour)

The Portfolio Holder for Protecting Core Services advised that the proposals in the report were in accord with the Planning Reimagined workshops. 

The Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee welcomed the report and noted that approximately 50% of the conservation areas and 40% of all listed buildings in the whole of Somerset were within the South Somerset area.  He hoped to make a recommendation to the new Unitary Authority to continue to work with historic buildings and recognise their importance to the county and to reinstate the support to owners of historic buildings through a small grants programme and sources of further support and funding.

During discussion, the following points were made:

·         It would be useful to see the outcomes of the funding allocated to buildings at risk at the end of the financial year.

·         The new Unitary Authority had agreed £30,000 to support the introduction of a Cultural strategy and historic buildings at risk should be incorporated into that Strategy.

·         Pleased to see a newly appointed Heritage Consultant.

·         Look forward to more in-depth building at risk reports in the future.

The Lead Specialist for Built Environment confirmed that that the Heritage Consultant was not a direct SSDC employee and their objective had been to carry out a review of the priorities on specific buildings at risk.  Within the new Unitary Authority there was the opportunity to bring together the conservation resources across the 5 councils which may allow for more project work to be undertaken.

The recommendations, having being proposed and seconded, were unanimously agreed by Members.

(Voting:  unanimous in favour)