Items
| No. |
Item |
89. |
Minutes of Previous Meeting
To approve as a correct
record the minutes of the District Executive meeting held on
Thursday 6th December 2018.
Minutes:
The minutes of the
District Executive meetings held on 6th December 2018,
copies of which had been circulated, were taken as read and, having
been approved as a correct record, were signed by the Chairman.
|
90. |
Apologies for Absence
Minutes:
Apologies for
absence were received from Councillors
Peter Gubbins, Val Keitch, Graham Middleton, Sylvia Seal, Peter
Seib and Nick Weeks.
|
91. |
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.
Minutes:
There were no declarations of interest made by
Members.
|
92. |
Chairman's Announcements
Minutes:
There were no announcements from the
Chairman.
|
93. |
Public Question Time
Minutes:
A local resident
spoke regarding Agenda item 14: Notification of an Urgent Executive
Decision - Short term funding facility required to SSDC Opium Power
Ltd to accommodate VAT cashflow during
VAT reclaim period. He said that whilst
he supported the project, he questioned the Council’s reasons
for choosing a shell company with no assets and no experience of
operating a battery park to partner the
project. He questioned what due
diligence the Council had taken with regard to the payment of VAT
and if a written opinion from HMRC had been
sought.
The Portfolio
Holder for Property, Climate Change and Income Generation and the
Chief Executive advised that specialist advice had been sought from
the importer and HMRC which had proved incorrect in terms of the
treatment of VAT to release the containers from the
port. Banks had
been prepared to lend the money to the company but they had asked
for a charge on the property and SSDC held the first charge and so
this was unacceptable in commercial terms. In terms of the overall project, the sum was not
significant and there would be some interest earned plus the capital sum would be reclaimed in March
2019.
|
94. |
Corporate Peer Challenge: Follow Up Visit DOTX 37 KB
Additional documents:
Decision:
|
RESOLVED:
|
That the
District Executive noted the
findings of the Peer Challenge Follow up Team, as
set out in their report at Appendix 1.
|
|
Reason:
|
To
note the report of the LGA Peer Challenge
team, who assessed the Council’s progress since their last
visit in March 2017.
|
Minutes:
The Chief Executive
advised that the report, which followed the visit in October had focused on a number of areas within the
Council. He said the Council was in a
strong position but there was still a lot of work to do and the
recommendations would be useful in shaping the Council Plan and
where work resources were directed in
the coming months. He said although
there was no specific action plan the recommendations were being
taken forward in a number of ways.
The Chairman of the
Scrutiny Committee thanked the Chief Executive for answering their
questions at their meeting and, in response to a further question,
he advised that although staff were
stretched and some agency staff were employed temporarily to
fill gaps in workloads and this was regularly monitored.
During a brief
discussion, Members congratulated officers and managers for the
positive report and high staff morale. At the conclusion of the
debate, Members were content to note the findings of the Peer
Challenge Follow up Team as detailed in the report.
|
RESOLVED:
|
That the
District Executive noted the
findings of the Peer Challenge Follow up Team, as
set out in their report at Appendix 1.
|
|
Reason:
|
To
note the report of the LGA Peer Challenge
team, who assessed the Council’s progress since their last
visit in March 2017.
|
|
95. |
A303 Sparkford to Ilchester Dualling Scheme - Local Impact Report  PDF 130 KB
Decision:
|
RESOLVED:
|
That District Executive agreed:-
|
|
|
a.
|
to
note the report and its contents;
|
|
|
b.
|
to approve delegation of the Local Impact
Report (LiR) to the Lead Specialist,
Strategic Planning, Strategic Planning Portfolio Holder and
Property, Climate Change and Income Generation Portfolio Holder;
and
|
|
|
c.
|
that the Council submit a Written
Representation to the Examining Authority and give delegation of
the contents of that Written Representation to the Leader of the
Council, Strategic Planning Portfolio Holder and Property, Climate
Change and Income Generation Portfolio Holder and the Ward Members
for Camelot and Ivelchester.
|
|
Reason:
|
To update
District Executive on the A303 Sparkford to Ilchester Dualling
Scheme and set out the Examination timetable for the Development
Consent Order (DCO). Also to note the
emerging issues to be covered in the Local Impact Report and to
agree that the Council submit a Written Representation to the
Examining Authority.
|
Minutes:
The Portfolio
Holder for Strategic Planning (Place Making) said the proposed work
to dual the A303 between Sparkford and Ilchester had the potential to cause a great deal
of disruption to the surrounding local communities and she thanked
the Specialist – Strategic Planning for the
work she done to help these communities.
The Specialist – Strategic Planning advised that the proposal
was still at the examination stage which
would conclude on 12 June. The Local
Impact Report dealt with issues such as air quality, vehicle
emissions, vibrations, biodiversity and ecology; enabling species
to cross the dual carriageway and the socio-economic effects to
local businesses. She said that she was
due to meet with local Parish Councils the following day to discuss
the mitigation measures offered by Highways England. She read a letter from the Clerk to West Camel
Parish Council expressing their concern at the significant adverse
effect of an additional 600 vehicles through the village and that
the details of the mitigation scheme from SCC had yet to
be shared with the parish.
It
was noted that there may also be traffic
disruption to residents on the B3153.
There was no debate and Members were content to confirm the
recommendations of the report.
|
RESOLVED:
|
That District Executive agreed:-
|
|
|
a.
|
to
note the report and its contents;
|
|
|
b.
|
to approve delegation of the Local Impact
Report (LiR) to the Lead Specialist,
Strategic Planning, Strategic Planning Portfolio Holder and
Property, Climate Change and Income Generation Portfolio Holder;
and
|
|
|
c.
|
that the Council submit a Written
Representation to the Examining Authority and give delegation of
the contents of that Written Representation to the Leader of the
Council, Strategic Planning Portfolio Holder and Property, Climate
Change and Income Generation Portfolio Holder and the Ward Members
for Camelot and Ivelchester.
|
|
Reason:
|
To update
District Executive on the A303 Sparkford to Ilchester Dualling
Scheme and set out the Examination timetable for the Development
Consent Order (DCO). Also to note the
emerging issues to be covered in the Local Impact Report and to
agree that the Council submit a Written Representation to the
Examining Authority.
|
|
96. |
Assessing Needs and Opportunities for Indoor and Outdoor Sports Facilities in South Somerset PDF 156 KB
Decision:
|
RESOLVED:
|
That District Executive agreed:-
|
|
|
a.
|
to note and
comment on the emerging issues from the draft Needs
Assessment.
|
|
|
b.
|
to encourage Members to attend the upcoming workshop on 24th
January 2019 at 5.00pm to share their reactions and to participate
in a prioritisation
exercise.
|
|
Reason:
|
To update
Members on the Needs Assessment for Indoor/Outdoor Sports
Facilities in South Somerset before the development and adoption of
a new strategy for sports facilities.
|
Minutes:
The Lead
Specialist, Strategic Planning advised that Knight
Kavanagh & Page Ltd had been commissioned to undertake a needs
assessment of the built leisure facilities in South Somerset to
form the basis of a new policy. They
were asked to include swimming pools, sports halls, community
halls, health and fitness facilities, indoor courts and outdoor
sports facilities. She said there was
no suggestion that SSDC could meet the required provisions or fill
all the gaps in need. A Members
Workshop was due to be held on
24th January to help prioritise the gaps in
provision.
During discussion, it was noted that
the 1610 sites at Castle Cary, Stanchester and Wadham
schools had all notified local clubs that they would no longer be
open to the public from March 2019.
Members felt that some clarification ought to be sought regarding
any lottery fund which may have been
part of the facilities which required they were open for community
use.
The
Lead Specialist, Strategic Planning said that where possible, usage
agreements would be
negotiated.
The
Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee said it would be helpful to
re-issue the invitation to the workshop to remind Members of its
importance and encourage them to attend.
At
the conclusion of the debate, Members were content to confirm the
recommendations of the report.
|
RESOLVED:
|
That District Executive agreed:-
|
|
|
a.
|
to note and
comment on the emerging issues from the draft Needs
Assessment.
|
|
|
b.
|
to encourage Members to attend the upcoming workshop on 24th
January 2019 at 5.00pm to share their reactions and to participate
in a prioritisation
exercise.
|
|
Reason:
|
To update
Members on the Needs Assessment for Indoor/Outdoor Sports
Facilities in South Somerset before the development and adoption of
a new strategy for sports facilities.
|
|
97. |
2019/20 Draft Budget and Medium Term Financial Plan Update PDF 176 KB
Additional documents:
Decision:
|
RESOLVED:
|
That District Executive agreed:-
|
|
|
a.
|
to note the
current estimates and next steps in respect of the draft Medium
Term Financial Plan and Capital Programme.
|
|
|
b.
|
to approve in
principle the changes to budget estimates in respect of pressures
and savings included within the report (para 14).
|
|
Reason:
|
To update
Members on the latest estimates for 2019/20 draft budget and Medium
Term Financial Plan estimates for the period 2019/20 to 2023/24,
together with an update on the Capital Programme.
|
Minutes:
The Section 151
Officer introduced the report and drew Members attention to various
points in the report. He said that
although this was a holding report before the annual budget report
in February, overall, it was a positive position. SSDC, along with other Councils had successfully
bid to be a pilot for 75% retention of business rates
funding. Although this was not entirely
risk free, it was an opportunity to keep funding locally.
In response to
questions from Members, the Chief Executive and the Section 151
Officer confirmed that:-
·
District Executive had agreed in March 2018 to apply an increase in
car parking charges from July 2019 based on the CPI inflation rate
for the previous 4 years.
·
A review of all parking, starting in Yeovil and widening out was
under way, taking account of the well-being and economy of the
district.
·
The reference to funding for the economic development strategy was
to note that funding would need to be
allocated in future years to aid its implementation.
At the conclusion
of the debate, Members were content to approve the recommendations
of the report.
|
RESOLVED:
|
That District Executive agreed:-
|
|
|
a.
|
to note the
current estimates and next steps in respect of the draft Medium
Term Financial Plan and Capital Programme.
|
|
|
b.
|
to approve in
principle the changes to budget estimates in respect of pressures
and savings included within the report (para 14).
|
|
Reason:
|
To update
Members on the latest estimates for 2019/20 draft budget and Medium
Term Financial Plan estimates for the period 2019/20 to 2023/24,
together with an update on the Capital Programme.
|
|
98. |
Council Tax Support Scheme 2019/20 PDF 115 KB
Additional documents:
Decision:
|
RESOLVED:
|
That District Executive recommended that Full Council
agree:-
|
|
|
a.
|
the
introduction of a minimum award value of £0.50 a week in line
with Housing Benefit;
|
|
|
b.
|
the introduction of a £5 a week
tolerance on income increases and decreases before it affects a
Council Tax Support award;
|
|
|
c.
|
that personal allowances and premiums are
uprated in line with those for Housing Benefit;
|
|
|
d.
|
that non-dependent deductions are uprated
in line with the annual percentage increase in Council
Tax;
|
|
|
e.
|
that the non-dependent income bands are
increased by the same percentage as those applied to the national
Council Tax Support scheme for pensioners;
|
|
|
f.
|
that the hardship scheme budget be set at
£30,000 for the 2019/20 financial year;
|
|
|
g.
|
to note the recommendations of the
Scrutiny Task and Finish Group attached at Appendix 1;
|
|
|
h.
|
to note the scheme has been amended to
reflect changes to the Prescribed Requirements;
|
|
|
i.
|
that the 2019/20 Council Tax Support
Scheme at Appendix 2 (to follow) is adopted;
|
|
|
j.
|
to note that the proposed Council Tax Support Scheme has been
reflected within the overall Council Tax Base.
|
|
Reason:
|
To
request that the District Executive recommend the proposed
amendments to the Council Tax Support scheme for the 2019/20
financial year to Full Council for approval.
|
Minutes:
The Lead Specialist
(Vulnerable Customers) introduced the report and advised that there
were two proposed changes to the 2019/20 scheme: to introduce a
minimum weekly award of £0.50, and to introduce a £5.00
per week income change tolerance. He
said the number of customers on Universal Credit was increasing and
they tended to have regular changes in income and so potentially
had a new Council Tax bill every month.
In response to a
question, the Lead Specialist (Vulnerable Customers) advised that
electronic billing would shortly be introduced, but, there would still be the same number of benefit
changes for some customers.
The Chairman of the
Scrutiny Committee said the report suggested that all of South
Somerset was fully in Universal Credit but this had been clarified at their meeting.
At the conclusion
of the debate, Members were content to recommend the proposed
amendments 2019/20
Council Tax Support Scheme to Council for adoption.
|
RESOLVED:
|
That District Executive recommended that Full Council
agree:-
|
|
|
a.
|
the
introduction of a minimum award value of £0.50 a week in line
with Housing Benefit;
|
|
|
b.
|
the introduction of a £5 a week
tolerance on income increases and decreases before it affects a
Council Tax Support award;
|
|
|
c.
|
that personal allowances and premiums are
uprated in line with those for Housing Benefit;
|
|
|
d.
|
that non-dependent deductions are uprated
in line with the annual percentage increase in Council
Tax;
|
|
|
e.
|
that the non-dependent income bands are
increased by the same percentage as those applied to the national
Council Tax Support scheme for pensioners;
|
|
|
f.
|
that the hardship scheme budget be set at
£30,000 for the 2019/20 financial year;
|
|
|
g.
|
to note the recommendations of the
Scrutiny Task and Finish Group attached at Appendix 1;
|
|
|
h.
|
to note the scheme has been amended to
reflect changes to the Prescribed Requirements;
|
|
|
i.
|
that the 2019/20 Council Tax Support
Scheme at Appendix 2 (to follow) is adopted;
|
|
|
j.
|
to note that the proposed Council Tax Support Scheme has been
reflected within the overall Council Tax Base.
|
|
Reason:
|
To
request that the District Executive recommend the proposed
amendments to the Council Tax Support scheme for the 2019/20
financial year to Full Council for approval.
|
|
99. |
Council Tax Discount Review PDF 98 KB
Decision:
|
RESOLVED:
|
That the District Executive:-
|
|
|
a.
|
approved the
use of the Councils local discretionary powers to implement a Care
Leavers Discount from April 2019.
|
|
|
b.
|
approved that the additional amount to fund the Care
Leavers discount is added to the budget which currently funds
Council Tax Discretionary reductions.
|
|
|
c.
|
agreed to defer the decision to increase
in the Empty Home Premium on empty properties to the maximum
percentage, as detailed in the Rating (Property in Common
Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Act 2018, to a future
meeting of the District Executive
|
|
Reason:
|
To
request the use of the Council’s local discretionary powers
to implement a Care Leavers discount from 1 April 2019, in
accordance with the provisions contained in section 13A Local
Government Finance Act 1992. Also to
reconsider an increase to the Empty Home Premium charged on
properties that have been empty for 2 years or more, in accordance
with the Rating (property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax
(Empty Dwellings) Act 2018.
|
Minutes:
The Revenues Team
Leader introduced the report and advised that consultation had
taken place with Somerset County Council and the Children’s
Society on the proposed Care Leavers Discount. She noted the Empty Homes Premium was proposed in accordance with the
Government’s Rating (property in Common Occupation) and
Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Act 2018.
In response to
questions from Members, the Revenues Team Leader and the Lead
Specialist (Vulnerable Customers) advised that:-
·
once a property had been empty for two
years the Empty Home Premium would apply. There were no exemptions proposed for new owners
although they could apply to the District Valuer to have it removed from the list if the
property was uninhabitable.
·
The Empty Homes Premium did not apply to commercial
properties.
During discussion,
Members expressed concern that the Empty Home Premium could
discourage developers from purchasing long-term empty
properties. It was
also mentioned that the Care Leavers Discount could be
extended to ex–prisoners who also needed help with their
Council Tax payments. Officers stated
that there was already a range of support in place for prisoners
and ex-prisoners and agreed to provide details to members.
It was proposed and
seconded to defer the decision on the Empty Home Premium to a
future meeting of the Executive to allow officers to investigate
the possibility of amending the scheme for the purchasers of
long-term empty properties. This
amended proposal was put to the vote and
unanimously agreed by Members.
|
RESOLVED:
|
That the District Executive:-
|
|
|
a.
|
approved the
use of the Councils local discretionary powers to implement a Care
Leavers Discount from April 2019.
|
|
|
b.
|
approved that the additional amount to fund the Care
Leavers discount is added to the budget which currently funds
Council Tax Discretionary reductions.
|
|
|
c.
|
agreed to defer the decision to increase
in the Empty Home Premium on empty properties to the maximum
percentage, as detailed in the Rating (Property in Common
Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Act 2018, to a future
meeting of the District Executive
|
|
Reason:
|
To
request the use of the Council’s local discretionary powers
to implement a Care Leavers discount from 1 April 2019, in
accordance with the provisions contained in section 13A Local
Government Finance Act 1992. Also to
reconsider an increase to the Empty Home Premium charged on
properties that have been empty for 2 years or more, in accordance
with the Rating (property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax
(Empty Dwellings) Act 2018.
|
|
100. |
Business Rates Relief PDF 100 KB
Decision:
|
RESOLVED:
|
That the District Executive agreed to:-
|
|
|
a.
|
approve
the use of the Councils local discretionary powers to implement
Retail Rate Relief from April 2019 for two years;
|
|
|
b.
|
approve the use of the Councils local
discretionary powers to extend the Business Rate Relief Scheme for
Local Newspapers for the 2019/20 financial year;
|
|
|
c.
|
approve the use of the Councils local discretionary powers to
extend the doubling of the Rural Rate Relief for the 2019/20
financial year and future financial years until the primary
legislation has been changed.
|
|
Reason:
|
To approve
the use of the Council’s local discount powers to implement
three Rate Relief schemes in relation to local businesses from 1
April 2019.
|
Minutes:
The Revenues Team
Leader advised that the proposals were announced by the Chancellor
in the Autumn 2018 Budget. They included Retail Rate Relief for High Street
businesses, extending the existing Business Rate Relief Scheme for
Local Newspapers and continuation of doubling the Rural Rate Relief
for 2019/20 and future financial years until the primary
legislation had been changed.
There was no debate
and Members unanimously agreed the recommendations as proposed.
|
RESOLVED:
|
That the District Executive agreed to:-
|
|
|
a.
|
approve
the use of the Councils local discretionary powers to implement
Retail Rate Relief from April 2019 for two years;
|
|
|
b.
|
approve the use of the Councils local
discretionary powers to extend the Business Rate Relief Scheme for
Local Newspapers for the 2019/20 financial year;
|
|
|
c.
|
approve the use of the Councils local discretionary powers to
extend the doubling of the Rural Rate Relief for the 2019/20
financial year and future financial years until the primary
legislation has been changed.
|
|
Reason:
|
To approve
the use of the Council’s local discount powers to implement
three Rate Relief schemes in relation to local businesses from 1
April 2019.
|
|
101. |
SSDC Transformation Programme - Progress Report PDF 122 KB
Additional documents:
Decision:
|
RESOLVED:
|
That the
District Executive noted the Transformation
Programme progress report
|
|
Reason:
|
To note
the progress report has been prepared in
accordance with the Transformation Programme Governance
arrangements agreed by Full Council in April 2017 where it
was agreed that the District Executive
would receive quarterly updates on the progress of the
council’s Transformation Programme.
|
Minutes:
The Portfolio
Holder for Environment, Economic Development &
Transformation noted that many staff had left the Council in
December as part of the Transformation Programme. She advised that the Programme was on track and on-budget and there had been some
movement between the capital and revenue budgets. The risk matrix related to the Transformation
Programme and not the report.
The
Strategic Lead for Transformation confirmed that the financial
benefits of the programme had been realised. She noted that performance throughout the
organisation had been affected, as
predicted, but work had continued to happen in the areas as
highlighted in the maps in the report.
There was no debate and the Portfolio
Holder and Chairman of Scrutiny Committee thanked the Strategic
Lead for Transformation for her work on the programme and wished
her well in her new job.
Members were
content to note the progress report of the SSDC Transformation
Programme.
|
RESOLVED:
|
That the
District Executive noted the Transformation
Programme progress report.
|
|
Reason:
|
To note
the progress report has been prepared in
accordance with the Transformation Programme Governance
arrangements agreed by Full Council in April 2017 where it
was agreed that the District Executive
would receive quarterly updates on the progress of the
council’s Transformation Programme.
|
|
102. |
Notification of an Urgent Executive Decision - Short term funding facility required to SSDC Opium Power Ltd to accommodate VAT cashflow during VAT reclaim period PDF 76 KB
Decision:
|
RESOLVED:
|
That the
District Executive noted urgent executive decision made by the Chief
Executive in consultation with the Council Leader and Portfolio
Holder for Property, Climate Change and Income Generation to
use short term funding facility required to SSDC
Opium Power Ltd to accommodate VAT cashflow during VAT reclaim period. This decision was taken
under Part 3, Section 6 (4) of the Council’s
constitution.
|
|
Reason:
|
To note
the urgent executive decision made by the Chief Executive in
consultation with the Council Leader and Portfolio Holder for
Property, Climate Change and Income Generationunder Part 3, Section 6 (4) of the Council’s
constitution.
|
Minutes:
With the agreement
of the Committee, this item was
discussed at the beginning of the meeting to allow a member
of the public to speak (see comments made under Public Question
Time).
There was no debate
on the report by Members and the urgent decision taken was noted.
|
RESOLVED:
|
That the
District Executive noted urgent executive decision made by the Chief
Executive in consultation with the Council Leader and Portfolio
Holder for Property, Climate Change and Income Generation to
use short term funding facility required to SSDC
Opium Power Ltd to accommodate VAT cashflow during VAT reclaim period. This decision was taken
under Part 3, Section 6 (4) of the Council’s
constitution.
|
|
Reason:
|
To note
the urgent executive decision made by the Chief Executive in
consultation with the Council Leader and Portfolio Holder for
Property, Climate Change and Income Generationunder Part 3, Section 6 (4) of the Council’s
constitution.
|
|
103. |
District Executive Forward Plan PDF 72 KB
Additional documents:
Decision:
|
RESOLVED:
|
That the District Executive:-
|
|
|
1.
|
approved
the updated Executive Forward Plan for publication as attached at
Appendix A, with the following additions:
·
Policy for Awarding Private Sector Housing
Grants/Loans and other Financial Assistance – February
2019
·
Somerset Housing Strategy – February
2019
·
Empty Home Premium on
empty properties – February 2019
|
|
|
2.
|
noted the
contents of the Consultation Database as shown at Appendix
B.
|
|
Reason:
|
The Forward Plan is a statutory document.
|
Minutes:
The following amendments to the Forward Plan
were noted:
- Policy for Awarding Private Sector
Housing Grants/Loans and other Financial Assistance –
February 2019
- Somerset Housing Strategy –
February 2019
·
Empty Home Premium on
empty properties – February 2019
|
RESOLVED:
|
That the District Executive:-
|
|
|
1.
|
approved
the updated Executive Forward Plan for publication as attached at
Appendix A, with the following additions:
·
Policy for Awarding Private Sector Housing
Grants/Loans and other Financial Assistance – February
2019
·
Somerset Housing Strategy – February
2019
·
Empty Home Premium on
empty properties – February 2019
|
|
|
2.
|
noted the
contents of the Consultation Database as shown at Appendix
B.
|
|
Reason:
|
The Forward Plan is a statutory document.
|
|
104. |
Date of Next Meeting PDF 40 KB
Minutes:
Members noted that the next scheduled meeting of the District
Executive would take place on Thursday 7th February 2019
in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, Brympton Way, Yeovil commencing at 9.30
a.m.
|
