Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Virtual Meeting using Zoom meeting software. View directions

Contact: Jo Boucher, Case Officer - 01935 462011  Email: jo.boucher@southsomerset.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

186.

Minutes of previous meeting pdf icon PDF 153 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Area South Committee meeting held on 1st July 2020.

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the Area South Committee held on Wednesday 1st July 2020, copies of which had been circulated, were agreed as a correct record and would be signed by the Chairman.

 

 

187.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Nicola Clark, David Gubbins, Wes Read and Rob Stickland.

 

Apologies for absence were also received from the Chairman Councillor Peter Gubbins and therefore Councillor David Recardo would chair the meeting.

188.

Declarations of Interest

In accordance with the Council's current Code of Conduct (as amended 26 February 2015), 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. 

Members are reminded that they need to declare the fact that they are also a member of a County, Town or Parish Council as a Personal Interest.  Where you are also a member of Somerset County Council and/or a Town or Parish Council within South Somerset you must declare a prejudicial interest in any business on the agenda where there is a financial benefit or gain or advantage to Somerset County Council and/or a Town or Parish Council which would be at the cost or to the financial disadvantage of South Somerset District Council. 

Planning Applications Referred to the District Council’s Regulation Committee

The following members of this Committee are also members of the Council's Regulation Committee:

Councillors Peter Gubbins, Tony Lock, David Recardo and Andy Soughton.

Where planning applications are referred by this Committee to the Regulation Committee for determination, Members of the Regulation Committee can participate and vote on these items at the Area Committee and at Regulation Committee. In these cases the Council's decision-making process is not complete until the application is determined by the Regulation Committee.  Members of the Regulation Committee retain an open mind and will not finalise their position until the Regulation Committee.  They will also consider the matter at Regulation Committee as Members of that Committee and not as representatives of the Area Committee.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

189.

Public question time

Minutes:

A member of the public addressed the committee and raised concern regarding the Royal Marine Inn in Yeovil.  As a resident of nearby Charlton Close, he reported that tables and chairs had been placed in the car park area and were creating a noise and smoke pollution issue to local residents.  He acknowledged the pub had a beer garden and did not believe it was necessary to use the car park as an extra seating area.  He confirmed that local Ward member Cllr Tony Lock and the Environmental Health team had been informed and that he would also address the Licensing Committee due to be held on 8th Sept regarding the same issue.

 

In response, the Chairman noted the concerns raised and fortunately being Chairman of the Licensing Committee would investigate the matter further and would update him on the situation at the Licensing Committee.

190.

Chairman's announcements

Minutes:

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

191.

Reports from representatives on outside organisations

This is an opportunity for Members who represent the Council on outside organisations to report items of interest to the Committee.

Minutes:

There were no reports from representatives on outside organisations.

192.

Presentation on Yeovil District Hospital pdf icon PDF 38 KB

Minutes:

Jonathan Higman Chief Executive of Yeovil District Hospital addressed the committee and gave a comprehensive presentation including:

·         An overview of the hospital in numbers.

·         The Hospital’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and plans for developing a ‘new normal’ in service provision.

·         Plans for the future – developing the hospital site, workforce and the way they engage with local business.

 

A copy of the presentation will be sent to members separately.

 

In response to questions, he advised members of the following:

 

·         Although elective surgery was beginning to re start, he acknowledged there was a backlog of patients requiring surgery.  This will need to be addressed over the coming months.

·         Diagnostic testing and surgical operating was currently running at around 80% of pre-COVD-19 capacity due to the necessary cleaning and infection control requirements, although it was hopeful this would increase over time.  A mobile CT scanner would also be coming to the hospital within the next month to provide additional capacity.

·         Some of the PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is of multiple use, however this equipment is procured nationally.  It is expected that more of this equipment would become reusable in time, although there are stringent requirements for the quality and safety of NHS PPE

·         The Hospital has a good working relationship with Yeovil College including supporting apprenticeships and health care qualifications and recognised the need to work more collaboratively with local education providers.

·         Acknowledged the challenges regarding energy improvements throughout the hospital building and explained the focus around future work to be undertaken including the replacement of windows.

·         Satisfied that there was sufficient testing facilities in place for NHS staff and patients at the time being and acknowledged that there are currently challenges in the community based testing capacity, largely related to national laboratory capacity.  Plans are being made to enhance NHS capacity should there be a spike with coronavirus cases.  Confirmed all patients are being tested before returning to care homes or coming to hospital for planned surgery.

 

Members thanked the Chief Executive for his very informative presentation. They appreciated the difficulties faced at this current time but voiced their full support to the hospital and congratulated him for the excellent service provided by the hospital and its staff.

 

NOTED

 

193.

Area South - Area Chapter 20/20 Update & Finance Report (Executive Decision) pdf icon PDF 91 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED:

That Area South Committee:

·         Noted the report

 

·         Agreed an allocation of spend of £2,000 from the Area Discretionary / Project revenue budget to support the development of a food and drink directory.

 

·         Supported the idea of funding from the Area Discretionary / Project revenue budget to support Love Yeovil, but with a decision on the allocation to be made when a detailed report is presented to Area South Committee.

(Note: request was withdrawn for £10,000 from the Area South Capital Programme to support Yeovil Recreation Pavilion improvements as shown in the agenda report)

Reason:

To consider allocating funding towards supporting the development of a food and drink directory and Love Yeovil. 

 

(Voting: unanimous)

 

Minutes:

The Locality Manager presented the report and updated members that the request for £10,000 of capital funding from the Area South capital programmes budget to support Yeovil Recreation Pavilion Improvements as set out in the agenda report had been withdrawn.

 

He referred to an email received from the Leisure and Recreation Manager read out as follows:

‘The Yeovil Recreation Centre pavilion improvement project continues to advance but has been impacted by the pandemic. Timescale’s have slipped due to the sites closure and the staff teams re-deployed during lock down. This coupled with an increasingly tough grant financing landscape has shown a need to re-evaluate the projects timescales and financing. The budget gap for delivery now exceeds £10,000 and so an alternative way of completing the project budget, that still allows for some future grant applications towards the end of this year, is being progressed. Consequently the contribution from Area South is no longer required’.

 

In response to a member’s question, the Locality Manager noted the comments regarding the adoption of public open space and village square at the Lufton key site and was happy to liaise with the appropriate officer regarding progression of this. 

 

During discussion, members questioned the recommendation to support Love Yeovil and agreed that although they supported the idea of funding, a decision on the allocation be made when a detailed report is presented to Area South Committee. 

 

There being no further debate it was then proposed and seconded that they agree the recommendation for the allocation of spend of £2,000 to support the development of a food and drink directory and supported the idea of funding to support Love Yeovil, but with a decision to be made, when a detailed report is presented to Area South Committee. On being put to the vote this was carried unanimously.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Area South Committee:

1.    Noted the report

 

2.    Agreed an allocation of spend of £2,000 from the Area Discretionary / Project revenue budget to support the development of a food and drink directory.

 

3.    Supported the idea of funding from the Area Discretionary / Project revenue budget to support Love Yeovil, but with a decision on the allocation to be made when a detailed report is presented to Area South Committee.

(Note: request was withdrawn for £10,000 from the Area South Capital Programme to support Yeovil Recreation Pavilion improvements as shown in the agenda report)

 

Reason:

To consider allocating funding towards supporting the development of a food and drink directory and Love Yeovil. 

 

(Voting: unanimous)

 

194.

Dorcas Charitable Trust - Annual Report & Statements for the Year to 31st March 2020. pdf icon PDF 72 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED:

That Area South Committee agreed to:

 

1)   Approve the Annual Accounts for the Dorcas House Trust.

 

2)   Note the update in the annual report.

 

Reason:

To consider approval of the 2019/20 Statement of Accounts for the Dorcas House Trust.

 

(Voting: Unanimous)

Minutes:

The Locality Manager presented the report to members. He explained that in order to comply with charity regulations the Area South Committee, as trustees, are asked to sign off these accounts and note the update of the annual report.  He added that the Housing Specialist continues to look at options with any future report to be brought to committee.

 

During a short discussion, members were conscious that the authority were not delivering the aims of the charity and questioned whether the Area  South Committee was the most appropriate way to progress this.  It was suggested that an approach to the charity commission be made, to look to transfer across to another charity of similar aims and outside of this committee.

 

The Locality Manager noted these comments and appreciated this was an unusual situation.  He agreed to take this forward with the Legal team regarding the governance arrangements and the housing team regarding the aims of the charity and would report back to committee as soon as possible.

 

On being put to the vote, members unanimously agreed to approve the annual accounts and to note the update in the annual report.

 

 

RESOLVED:  that members approved the annual accounts for the Dorcas House Trust and noted the update in the annual report.

 

(voting: unanimous)

195.

Area South Committee Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 75 KB

Minutes:

Councillor David Recardo requested a report be brought to committee regarding the monitoring of Section 106 monies and raised concern regarding the expiration of these monies.

 

In response, the Locality Manager advised members that the Locality Team were responsible for the delivery of Section 106 projects and stressed that they were actively monitoring these projects. It was noted however that a request be made to the planning team for a further detailed report regarding the monitoring of these Section 106 monies.  However, due to the current staffing capacity believed this may be sometime before this could be brought forward.

 

There being no further requests, members noted the Area South forward plan.

196.

Planning Appeals (For Information) pdf icon PDF 73 KB

Minutes:

During a short discussion, members believed that the parking guidance given by Somerset County Council (SCC), to cover HMO’s is unclear. They sought clarification on the current parking strategy and requested that updated guidance be brought to committee, as they understood SCC were due to update their guidance on this matter.