Agenda, decisions and minutes
Venue: Council Chamber, Brympton Way, YEOVIL, Somerset BA20 2HT
Contact: Angela Cox 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 7th July 2016. Minutes: The minutes of the District Executive meeting held on 7th July 2016, copes 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 Peter Gubbins, Henry Hobhouse, Peter Seib and Donna Parham, Assistant Director (Finance and Corporate Services). |
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Declarations of Interest In accordance with the Council's current Code of Conduct (adopted July 2012), 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. A DPI is defined in The Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012 (SI 2012 No. 1464) and Appendix 3 of the Council’s Code of Conduct. A personal interest is defined in paragraph 2.8 of the Code and a prejudicial interest is defined in paragraph 2.9. 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. As a result of the change made to the Code of Conduct by this Council at its meeting on 15th May 2014, 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. If you have a prejudicial interest you must comply with paragraphs 2.9(b) and 2.9(c) of the Code. Minutes: There were no declarations of interest made. |
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Public Question Time Questions, statements or comments from members of the public are welcome at the beginning of each meeting of the Council. The total period allowed for public participation shall not exceed 15 minutes except with the consent of the Council and each individual speaker shall be restricted to a total of three minutes. Where there are a number of persons wishing to speak about the same matter, they should consider choosing one spokesperson to speak on their behalf where appropriate. If a member of the public wishes to speak they should advise the committee administrator and complete one of the public participation slips setting out their name and the matter they wish to speak about. The public will be invited to speak in the order determined by the Chairman. Answers to questions may be provided at the meeting itself or a written reply will be sent subsequently, as appropriate. Matters raised during the public question session will not be debated by the Council at that meeting. Minutes: There were no members of the public present. |
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Chairman's Announcements Minutes: There were no announcements from the Chairman. |
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Verbal Update on Recruitment of Chief Executive Officer Councillor Ric Pallister, as Chairman of the Appointments Committee, will update Members on the progress the Committee have made in the recruitment of a new Chief Executive Officer. Minutes: The Chairman confirmed that Mr Alex Parmley of Eastleigh Borough Council had been selected by the Appointments Committee as the new Chief Executive Officer and this recommendation would be presented for confirmation at the next Full Council meeting on 18th August 2016. It was anticipated that he would start at South Somerset on Monday 3rd October. |
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Additional documents: Decision:
Minutes: The Portfolio Holder for Environmental Health advised that the new Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy was a comprehensive document as required by the Environmental Protection Act 1990. However, the report drew attention to revised Government guidance which had changed from a proactive approach to looking for contaminated sites, to, a reactive only approach as there had been a significant reduction in funding available to remediate contaminated land sites.
The Environmental Health Manager confirmed that the new policy reflected the current position regarding funding for this work and pointed out the high cost of remediating contaminated land sites.
During discussion, some minor text amendments and additions were noted by Members and it was agreed to amend the policy accordingly.
The Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee said they had sought reassurance that the reputational risk to the Council was being managed and the Chairman confirmed that as the Government guidance had changed then the risk would be managed.
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Draft Asset Management Plan 2016-17 PDF 148 KB Additional documents:
Decision:
Minutes: The Chairman advised that previously, the Council’s Asset Management Plan was managed through a Strategic Asset Management Group, however, it now a Portfolio Holder responsibility. He noted that there was now an overarching strategy with an annual performance update.
During discussion, it was agreed that the Millers Garage site in Crewkerne should be added to the potential income generating assets.
In response to questions from Scrutiny Committee, the Assistant Director (Environment) confirmed that the workload of Engineering and Property Services was planned over the next two years to monitor the Asset Management Plan.
It was also confirmed the Asset Management Plan would be reported in the Medium Term Financial Plan reports and monitored by the three relevant Portfolio Holders.
At the conclusion of the debate, Members were content to confirm the recommendations of the report.
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Update on the Equality Objectives Action Plan PDF 172 KB Additional documents: Decision:
Minutes: The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Economic Development noted that equality objectives were a specific duty under the Equality Act 2010 and the objectives had been subject to a Scrutiny Task and Finish Review. She was pleased to report that equality issues were considered in all areas at SSDC.
In response to a question, the Equalities Officer confirmed that hearing loss may include those who were deaf, deafened or hard of hearing.
During discussion, it was also noted that the Armed Forces Community Covenant arranged regular meetings with the wider community at Wyndham Park to bring them and armed forces personnel together, and, the armed forces were now represented on the Equalities Steering group. It was also noted that the Royal British Legion were campaigning to add questions in the next Census forms to identify ex-forces civilians in communities.
At the conclusion of the debate, Members were content to approve the Equality Objectives 2016 – 2018 and the amended action plan.
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2016/17 Revenue Budget Monitoring Report for the period ending 30th June 2016 PDF 252 KB Additional documents:
Decision:
Minutes: The Finance Manager advised that this was the first quarterly revenue budget monitoring report and there were no issues to report at this time.
In response to questions from the Scrutiny Committee, it was confirmed that:-
· contract issues were delaying the introduction of the Automatic Number Plate Recognition scheme in SSDC car parks, and, although the major contract issue had been resolved, some small issues remained. · The Transformation Programme savings would be clearly listed in future budget monitoring reports. · There had been some major planning appeals within the last 12 months where it had been appropriate for SSDC to employ a QC to defend the Council’s position. Some appeals had been won and some lost on certain elements but more were now being won than lost.
At the conclusion of the debate, Members were content to note the recommendations of the report.
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2016/17 Capital Budget Monitoring Report for the period ending 30th June 2016 PDF 261 KB Additional documents:
Decision:
Minutes: The Finance Manager advised that this was the first quarterly capital budget monitoring report and there were no issues to report at this time.
In response to a question from the Scrutiny Committee, the Chairman confirmed that moving away from home improvement grants to loans had discouraged some potential applicants and therefore SSDC were looking at adopting the Exeter model which should make it easier and quicker for applicants to apply for assistance.
The Chairman then took each recommendation individually and Members were content to approve all the recommendations of the report.
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Draft Proposals of the Community Governance Review of Yeovilton Parish Council PDF 241 KB Decision:
Minutes: The Assistant Director (Legal and Corporate Services) confirmed that the 28% response to the survey was a positive response in favour and that the Parish Council intended to implement the increase in the number of Parish Councillors as soon as it was confirmed by resigning on bloc and so creating an early election.
In response to a question, the Assistant Director (Legal and Corporate Services) confirmed that the cost of any election would be borne by the Parish Council. He also confirmed that previous to the local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act, SSDC had been able to effect a request to increase the number of Parish Councillors by a simple resolution of Full Council.
The Chairman noted that he had previously written to the DCLG regarding the overly bureaucratic process now involved and he proposed to write again as a new Minister and Prime Minister were now in place.
At the conclusion of the debate, Members agreed to propose the recommendations to Full Council for approval.
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Monthly News Snapshot PDF 229 KB Minutes: Members were content to note the monthly news snapshot information.
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District Executive Forward Plan PDF 78 KB Additional documents:
Decision:
Minutes: The following additions and amendments to the Executive Forward Plan were noted: · Affordable Housing Programme – September 16
· Recycle More Project – November 16
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Date of Next Meeting PDF 17 KB Minutes: Members noted that the next scheduled meeting of the District Executive would take place on Thursday 1st September 2016 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 72 KB Decision:
Minutes:
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Westland Leisure Complex - Urgent Executive Decision (Confidential) Decision:
Minutes: The Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture outlined the urgency to take the decision to enable the Council to appoint the Contractors and proceed with works at the Westlands Leisure Complex.
At the conclusion of the debate, Members were content to note the urgent Executive decision taken by the Acting Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council and confirm the remaining recommendations of the report.
(Voting: 4 in favour, 2 against) |