Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 16^th August 2017, copies of which had been circulated, were taken as read, and having been approved were signed as a correct record of the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mike Best, Jenny Kenton and Garry Shortland.

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 Regulation Committee

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

Councillors Mike Best, Angie Singleton and Martin Wale.

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.

There were no declarations of interest.

Councillors are requested to note that the next Area West Committee meeting is scheduled to be held on Wednesday 18^th October 2017 at the Guildhall, Chard.

Members noted that the next meeting of the Area West Committee would be held on Wednesday 18th October 2017 at the Guildhall, Chard.

This is a chance to ask questions, make comments and raise matters of concern.

Parish/Town Councils may also wish to use this opportunity to ask for the District Council’s support on any matter of particular concern to their Parish/Town.

Anyone wishing to raise matters in relation to items on the agenda may do so at the time the item is considered.

There were no questions from members of the public.

The Chairman made no announcements.

The Community Office Support Manager introduced the report updating members on the footfall/enquiry figures across the district.  She explained that the core service footfall at the Ilminster Community Office had continuously been declining and it was proposed to investigate delivery of the service to the customers who used this office in an alternative way.  Options could include appointment based visits and using alternative suitable venues to meet customers within Ilminster.   

In response to member questions and comments, the Community Office Support Manager and the Communities Lead advised members of the following:

·         Officers would work with customers of the Ilminster Community Office over the next 3 months to find out their needs and preferences.  Customers would also be encouraged and supported to access services online;

·         Ilminster Community Office  does not fully meet access requirements and there had been previous problems with finding alternative suitable premises in Ilminster;

·         It was hoped to utilise the library and other public access points;

·         Officers would work to provide an alternative model within the existing budget and with existing staff.

During discussion, members felt that the alternative model would need to be suitable to address the growing ageing population.  Members were of the view not to withdraw from the Ilminster Community Office until further work had been undertaken with existing customers.

At the conclusion of the debate, Members requested further details of the proposal to be brought back to a future Area West Committee meeting no later than December 2017.

The Communities Lead advised that the One Public Estate Programme was linked to the Chard Regeneration Scheme and that both these reports would be brought to the Area West Committee sometime in the Autumn. 

A member requested a report on the outcome of the Town Centre Events Grants Programme.  An item would be added to the Forward Plan for 6 months’ time. 

Cllr. Martin Wale agreed to give an update on the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Panel at the January Area West Committee meeting alongside a report on Policing issues by the Neighbourhood Policing Sergeant.

Members noted the appeal received as outlined in the agenda.