Agenda, decisions and minutes
Venue: Council Chamber, Council Offices, Brympton Way, Yeovil. View directions
Contact: Angela Cox, Democratic Services Specialist - 01935 462148 Email: angela.cox@southsomerset.gov.uk
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Minutes of Previous Meeting To approve as a correct record the minutes of the District Executive meeting held on 5th September 2019. Minutes: The minutes of the District Executive meeting held on 5th September 2019, copies of which had been circulated, were taken as read and, having been approved as a correct record, were signed by the Chairman.
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Apologies for Absence Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Jason Baker, Adam Dance and Tony Lock. |
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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. |
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Public Question Time Minutes: There were no questions by members of the public present. |
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Chairman's Announcements Minutes: The Chairman noted that she would not be attending the District Executive meeting of 5th December and the Vice Chairman would lead the meeting on her behalf. |
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Adoption of the South Somerset Environment Strategy PDF 96 KB Additional documents:
Decision:
Minutes: The Portfolio Holder for Environment introduced the report and advised that since declaring the climate emergency at the Council meeting in May, the team had produced a strong strategy during the summer months and she thanked them for their efforts. She said the strategy showed the Council’s commitment that this was a priority across South Somerset and was paving the way to a carbon zero future. She noted that the Council would continue to consult across the community with schools, colleges, community groups, residents and Parish Councils to ensure they were part of the strategy going forward.
The Lead Specialist (Strategic Planning) advised that the Scrutiny Committee had requested two minor amendments to the Strategy document and they would be taken forward in the report to Full Council.
In response to questions from Members, the Lead Specialist (Strategic Planning) and the Chief Executive advised:-
· The Strategy would be reviewed within 2 years, that review likely to commence in 18 months time. · The first priority following adoption of the Strategy would be to develop a plan to deliver the promised priorities through business cases. · The Committee reports templates were being refreshed to ensure the environmental impacts of every report were correctly assessed. · Currently the Council could encourage developers that carbon reducing and environmental measures were included in housing developments but they could not be required. · The Council could lobby the Government with other Somerset Councils through the Local Government Association to allow them to set their own development standards. · There had been a provisional allocation of funds to start some of the projects and an expert consultant had been engaged to assist in delivering the business cases. Any further allocation of funds would require Portfolio Holder approval.
At the conclusion of the debate, Members unanimously confirmed the Strategy for adoption by Full Council.
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Heart of the South West Joint Committee Governance Review Report PDF 211 KB Decision:
Minutes: The Chairman noted that the report was not presented in the usual format but it had been agreed at the Heart of the South West meeting that the same report would be presented to all the partner Councils for approval. She advised that she was the Council’s representative on the Joint Committee and the Chief Executive also attended the meetings and the Local Enterprise Partnership meetings.
The Monitoring Officer clarified that the two PDF documents embedded in the report were the original inter-authority agreement which had been public when the Council entered the Joint Committee and the second was reproduced as Appendix A.
During discussion it was noted that the SSDC contribution to the Joint Committee was not a great burden and it would lead to more joint working between Councils. It was also noted that the proposed Inter-Authority Agreement point (g) regarding deliver at scale was an enabling clause and not a competitive clause.
At the conclusion of the debate Members were content to confirm the recommendations of the report.
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Decision:
Minutes: The Chairman advised that the request for funding had been considered by the Area North Committee the previous week and had been approved by them.
During discussion Members fully supported the initiative for a community building in Isle Brewers. It was noted that similar projects had successfully occurred using church buildings for community space in Ansford and South Barrow.
The recommendation to confirm the grant was proposed and seconded and unanimously confirmed by Members.
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Adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of Anti-Semitism PDF 225 KB Decision:
Minutes: The Chairman advised that there was currently national and international interest in this issue and many Local Councils had already adopted the definition.
The Third Sector and Equalities Co-ordinator advised that the international definition had been adopted in 2000. It had subsequently been adopted by the Government who had encouraged all Local Authorities to consider adopting it. Although the declaration had no legal status, it was a statement of intent to the Council’s customers on anti-semitism. The principal legislation remained the Equality Act and the Public Sector Equality duty.
During discussion some members expressed concern that the definition was a one-sided statement however others felt that the sentiment was more than a religious discriminatory definition. It was also mentioned that some of the supporting examples were poorly defined and could result in other groups asking for similar recognition when this was already enshrined in the Equalities Act.
The recommendation was proposed and seconded and when put to the vote, was supported by the majority of Members.
(Voting: 6 in favour, 0 against, 1 abstention) |
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District Executive Forward Plan PDF 73 KB Additional documents:
Decision:
Minutes: The following reports were added to the Executive Forward Plan:- · Chard Regeneration Scheme – November 2019 · Transformation Update and Service Delivery Recovery Plan – November 2019 · Budget Update – November 2019
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Date of Next Meeting PDF 41 KB Minutes: Members noted that the next scheduled meeting of the District Executive would take place on Thursday 7th November 2019 in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, Brympton Way, Yeovil commencing at 9.30 a.m.
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Exclusion of Press and Public PDF 29 KB Decision:
Minutes: The Chairman asked for Members agreement to hear the following two reports in confidential session because they contained information relating to the financial or business affairs of the authority. This was agreed by Members and it was:-
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Wincanton Town Centre Strategy Governance and Finance (Confidential) Decision:
Minutes: The Portfolio Holder for Area East introduced the report and said it was important for Area East that the Wincanton Town Centre Strategy was progressed.
The Lead Specialist (Economy) advised that the Area East Committee had approved the final amendments to the governance structure which would follow the same course as the Yeovil Refresh and Chard Regeneration Scheme
At the conclusion of a short debate, Members unanimously confirmed the recommendations of the report be proposed to Full Council.
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The Future Management of the Council's Leisure Facilities (Confidential) Decision:
Minutes: The Portfolio Holder for Health and Well-Being introduced the report.
The Director for Strategy and Support Services provided a clarification to a question.
Following a short debate, Members unanimously agreed the recommendations of the report.
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