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 1st June 2017. Minutes: The minutes of the District Executive meeting held on 1st June 2017, 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: There were no apologies for absence. |
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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. |
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Public Question Time Minutes: There were no questions from members of the public present. |
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Chairman's Announcements Minutes: The Chairman advised that he and the Chief Executive had attended the LGA Annual Conference earlier that week. He said that he would circulate an email on what he had learnt at the Conference to all Members. |
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Westlands Leisure Complex PDF 175 KB Decision:
Minutes: The Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture referred to the comprehensive report before members and advised that the refurbishment works were now 90% complete. She said the project board had monitored progress and had resolved issues as they arose. The project would exceed its original budget due to a number of unforeseen circumstances.
The former Assistant Director (Health and Well-Being) advised that the budget overspend was under negotiation with the contractors and it would be between 1 and 10% of the overall budget. The sporting and fitness centres were scheduled to break even at the 9 month point which was ahead of schedule and over 10,000 tickets had been sold for various events held at the complex.
In response to questions from the Scrutiny Committee and Members, the former Assistant Director (Health and Well-Being) advised that:- · The project overspend would not impact upon other projects across the district. · A number of the issues which contributed to the overspend could have been identified earlier, however, the need to and subsequent cost of replacing the power cable to the site could not have been foreseen. · Excluding the need to replace the power cable, the 5% contingency would have been appropriate. · The insurance claim for damage to the roof had been successful. · Some of the original furniture from the complex had been taken by local village halls and schools.
During discussion Members were very supportive of the completed project but it was noted that lessons could be learned from it for future commercial schemes. It was also noted that the Director for Commercial Services and Income Generation would be the future contact for the complex and the Arts and Entertainment Manager would be in charge of day to day operations.
At the conclusion of the debate, the Chairman, Portfolio Holder and Deputy Leader all thanked the former Assistant Director (Health and Well-Being) for managing the project to completion and recognised the wider SSDC staff who had provided professional assistance.
Members were content to note the contents of the report.
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SSDC Corporate Peer Challenge and Review PDF 272 KB Additional documents:
Decision:
Minutes: The Chairman advised that the review team of Councillors and officers from other authorities had been excellent and the points raised in their report were valid. They had presented their report to Members at a briefing on 27th June.
The Chief Executive drew Members attention to the Action Plan at page 31 and said the peer review team would return in 12 to 18 months time to assess the progress made against their recommendations. The Transformation Board would monitor the progress of the recommendations in the high level action plan.
During discussion, it was noted that one of the recommendations of the peer review was to review fees and charges, including car parking charges and it was agreed that a Scrutiny Task and Finish review group be established to look at this.
At the conclusion of the debate, Members were content to note the peer review report and confirm the the high level action plan set out in Appendix B, in response to the Peer Review findings.
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SSDC Transformation Programme - Progress Report PDF 160 KB Additional documents: Decision:
Minutes: The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Economic Development and Transformation introduced the report and advised that the Transformation Board were monitoring the progress of the programme. The Going for Gold events held at the Westlands Complex had been very positive and had been an opportunity for staff to ask questions.
In response to questions from the Scrutiny Committee and Members, the Chief Executive confirmed that:-
· Detail on the savings made through Transformation would be presented in quarterly reports as they were achieved. Expenditure could also be detailed. · The first savings were expected to be achieved in quarter 4. · Staff in the Transformation Team were on temporary contracts.
At the conclusion of the debate, Members were content to note the contents of the report on the Transformation Programme.
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Affordable Housing Development Programme PDF 969 KB Decision:
Minutes: The Corporate Strategic Housing Manager introduced his report and advised that some of the information had been updated as Knightstone Housing had been placed under contract on a development site in Somerton which would be providing 31 affordable houses.
In response to questions from Members, the Corporate Strategic Housing Manager advised that:-
· Shared ownership properties sometimes presented difficulties as the prospective tenant/owner had to have an income sufficient to meet the rent / mortgage payments and the properties could then be difficult to sell on. · The Rent Plus model allowed tenants to pay rent and would be offered to purchase the property at a discount in the future. · Only the people who had been tenants of SSDC when the housing stock transferred to Yarlington Homes in 1999 and remained tenants of Yarlington ever since had the preserved right to buy their homes. · He would seek a meeting with Knightstone Housing and Yeovil Town Council at the earliest opportunity to discuss the proposed housing site at Goldcroft.
In response to a question from the Scrutiny Committee, the Chairman advised that the funding for the purchase of cookers at the Stonewater development in Queensway, Yeovil was to encourage Housing Associations to be more proactive in assisting their tenants with the essential equipment needed in a new home.
At the conclusion of the debate, Members were content to confirm the recommendations of the report.
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2016/17 Capital Budget Outturn Report PDF 466 KB Additional documents:
Decision:
Minutes: The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Legal Services introduced the report and advised that the final columns of Appendix A were not correctly added up in the paper copies of the agenda, however, this had been corrected on the website.
The Section 151 Officer advised that the overall performance of the capital budget was close to that expected with some minor underspends and he was content with the outcome.
In response to a question from the Scrutiny Committee, the Section 151 officer confirmed that the funding allocated for bus shelters would be returned to balances.
Members were content to note and approve the recommendations of the report.
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2016/17 Revenue Budget Outturn Report PDF 249 KB Additional documents:
Decision:
Minutes: The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Legal Services introduced the report and advised that for recommendation (c) the underspend figure should be £144,310.
In response to questions from Scrutiny Committee and Members it was noted that:
· The Development Control overspend was due to the use of external lawyers engaged to defend planning appeals, and, the costs awarded to a developer for two appeals allowed. · SSDC used to have fraud investigation officers, however, they had been transferred to the DWP. There was now a need for some investigatory resource within the authority. · The Government had refused to share information from the DVLA with Local Authorities, so denying them the use of automatic number plate recognition system to control car parking.
The Chairman said he would write to the Government Minister regarding the information sharing with the DVLA.
At the conclusion of the debate, Members were content to note and approve the recommendations of the report.
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Prevention Charter for Somerset DOTX 38 KB Additional documents: Decision:
Minutes: The Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture introduced the report and advised that the Health and Wellbeing Board would be the lead organisation to champion the Charter.
During discussion, Members felt the Charter could help to provide connectivity through new developments and create safe pathways to encourage walking, running and cycling to improve fitness. It was also regretted that in Somerset, Doctors were no longer able to refer people to slimming classes and the Portfolio Holder agreed to report this to the Health and Wellbeing Board.
At the conclusion of the debate, Members agreed that the Chairman and Chief Executive sign the Somerset Prevention Charter on behalf of South Somerset District Council.
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District Executive Forward Plan PDF 121 KB Additional documents: Decision:
Minutes:
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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 3rd August 2017 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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Property Investment Acquisition for Income Generation (Confidential) Decision:
Minutes: The Director for Commercial Services and Income Generation advised that the Executive had previously allocated funding for property investment for income generation. The proposed purchase would gain both a property asset and an income stream from the lease. She responded to Members questions on points of detail.
During discussion, the confidentiality of the proposal was discussed and it was impressed upon Members that the financial details of the transaction should remain confidential.
At the conclusion of the debate, Members unanimously confirmed the recommendations of the report.
(Voting: unanimous in favour) |