Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Robin Bastable, Mike Best, Neil Bloomfield, Malcolm Cavill, Brian Hamilton, Sue Osborne and Gerard Tucker.

To approve and sign the minutes of the previous meetings held on Thursday, 20^th August 2020 and Thursday 10^th September 2020.

The minutes of the Council meetings held on 20^th August and 10^th September 2020, copies of which had been previously circulated, were approved as correct records of the meetings and signed by the Chairman.

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. 

Councillor Rob Stickland declared a personal interest in Agenda item 12 (1) Motion to support DEFRA’s ambition to phase out the badger cull in England, as his wife was employed by the National Farmers Union (NFU).  He said that he would abstain from voting on this item.

Councillor William Wallace declared a personal interest in Agenda item 12 (2) regarding the Council’s response to the Governments white paper ‘Planning for the Future’ as he had a live planning application to be determined by the SSDC planning department.

Councillors Mike and Pauline Lock declared a personal interest in Agenda item12 (1) Motion to support DEFRA’s ambition to phase out the badger cull in England and 12 (2) Opposing the Government’s proposals for Planning, as members of the NFU and local land owners with land available for development.

The Council were addressed by a member of the Extinction Rebellion group who asked the following questions.  He said that although the Council had declared a climate emergency and drawn up a policy there was still far too little being done.  The responses were provided by Councillor Sarah Dyke.

Question 1

1. You adopted a new climate change strategy a year ago this month; what progress have you made since then?  

Response

An Environment Strategy update is to be given by lead officers at this meeting to cover this question in full. Vicki Dawson and Katy Menday will update all present on this matter.  Our Environment team would be happy to provide more detail if you have further questions following their presentation.

In summary, some key actions to date:

1. We have now calculated our own carbon footprint and are now monitoring this year on year – we have achieved reductions already.
2. We are now involved in a project to put Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points across the district to start later this year.
3. Over 4,000 trees planted last year on our own land with more given to communities to plant. Continuing work to increase this year on year.
4. Increased community engagement for environment improvements across wider district, which has been challenging during the pandemic; but we have a network of Environment Champions and a monthly Get SuSSed newsletter to keep all updated on our actions and plans.

Question 2

Housing is one of the most significant ways we as a community put carbon into the atmosphere. We note that none of your headline policies on housing makes any mention of changing that, and we urge you to take action.   What other actions are you taking that match the actions we know we need to do, to tackle this climate emergency?

Response

The Environment Strategy details our ambitions for the Local Plan Review policies in addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation – this includes new housing stock and the desire for zero carbon homes.

The Delivery Plan for the environment strategy provides further detail on our proposed policy approach for the next iteration of the Local Plan Review, which is to deliver zero carbon homes by 2030, consistent with the approach set out in current national policy and practice guidance. This is intended to include a balance of energy efficiency measures, renewable/low carbon energy, and carbon offsetting. Any proposed policy requirements will be then be assessed through a whole plan viability assessment. However, it is likely that our proposed policy approach will need to be adapted as the Government’s response on the Future Homes Standard consultation is expected in the Autumn.

Specifically what we are already doing:

a) The SSDC Environment Strategy delivery plan has actions around reducing carbon footprint in the community as well as our own SSDC carbon footprint. 

b)  In terms of new development the Environment Strategy details our ambitions for the Local Plan Review policies in addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation –  ...  view the full minutes text for item 175.

The Chairman invited the Leader of Council to provide a brief update to Council on the unitary authority bid for Somerset.

The Leader of Council advised that the invitation letter from the Secretary of State to submit a unitary authority bid had been received by all the Somerset authorities the previous week.  Their submission deadline was 9^th December and a team of staff were working on refining the final business plan for this date.  It may require Council approval again and when further information was available she would advise Members accordingly.  In response to a question, she confirmed that Bath and North East Somerset Council and, North Somerset Council had also received the same invitation letter from the Government.

The Chairman reminded Members that there was a workshop on 19^th October at 5.00pm to discuss the Government White Paper: Planning for the Future and he asked that they make every effort to attend.

The list of Chairman’s engagements was noted.

The Leisure and Recreation Manager and Lead Specialist – Environment provided Members with a power point presentation on the progress of the SSDC Environment Strategy.  They confirmed that;-

·         During the pandemic the Environment Community of Practice meetings had continued on-line to deliver the strategy.

·         The SSDC Carbon Footprint had been calculated and the Council was progressing towards being carbon-neutral by 2030.

·         An energy audit of the council’s building had been calculated to identify how energy use could be reduced (gas and electricity).

·         25 Electric Vehicle Charging points were to be installed across the district in SSDC car parks.

·         A 12 month e-scooter trial was due to commence in Yeovil to encourage low carbon transport.

·         Community engagement had progressed through social media, over 50 Environment Champions in parishes and a monthly Get SuSSed newsletter.

·         An on-line South Somerset Green Directory would be created to promote renewable energy, insulation grants and funding to help the public make informed renewable choices.

·         61 parishes had planted 3,050 trees across South Somerset the previous winter under the Great Parish Tree Giveaway and this would be launched again for 2020/21 shortly.

·         Three submission were made to the Urban Tree Challenge and the Martock application had been successful while the outcome for Chard and Yeovil were awaited.

·         An Open Spaces Strategy was being drafted so that by 2030 South Somerset would be recognised for the high quality and accessibility of its open spaces, championing biodiversity and community resilience, promoting economic prosperity and healthy lifestyles.

·         Joint working with partners was helping towards a more resilient district to act against climate change and were working towards a cohesive and connected plan.

In response to questions from Members, the Leisure and Recreation Manager and Lead Specialist – Environment advised:-

·         The impact of SSDC staff working at home would impact on the 2020/21 carbon footprint calculation.

·         E-scooters would be booked through a phone app and the cost would be around £2 per use.  More details on the scheme would be circulated shortly.  Hirers would need to have a provisional or full driving license.

·         The top-speed of the e-scooter was 15mph but they would be restricted to 12.5mph in the trial and there would be some slow zones where they would be limited to 5mph.

·         On-street electric vehicle charging provision would be investigated as the next phase of the project.

·         Open Spaces Strategy would have a significant delivery plan and a number of actions including assessments of the Council’s current land holdings, and the Council’s acquisitions and disposals policy would be linked in with this.

·         The Economic Development team were helping local businesses to look at conducting at their own energy audits and their carbon footprints and help to identify funding options for energy reduction.

The Portfolio Holder for Environment thanked the Leisure and Recreation Manager and Lead Specialist – Environment and their teams for the work in helping to make SSDC carbon neutral by 2030. 

At the conclusion of the debate, the Chairman thanked the Leisure and Recreation Manager and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 178.

(voting: agreed without dissent)

The Leader of Council advised that due to two resignations and some changes in political parties, it was necessary to appoint three new members of the Scrutiny Committee.  She proposed that Councillors Louise Clark, Oliver Patrick and Linda Vijeh be appointed to the Scrutiny Committee.  This was seconded by Councillor Peter Seib and agreed by Members without dissent.

(voting: agreed without dissent)

The report of Executive Decisions was noted. 

The Chairman of the Audit Committee noted that they had received an informal briefing from the Director for Support Services and the Section 151 Officer on the Council’s finances followed by questions which had been very informative.  The next meeting of the Audit Committee would be held on Thursday 22^nd October.

The report of the Audit Committee was NOTED.

The Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee advised that the Council Tax support scheme task and finish group had commenced their annual review of the scheme and other task and finish group meetings would be starting very shortly.

The report of the Scrutiny Committee was NOTED.

Motion 1

(voting: 37 in favour, 8 against, 4 abstentions)

Motion 2

(voting: 37 in favour, 5 against, 2 abstentions)

Motion 1

Councillor Oliver Patrick said that badger culling had been happening for many decades and was felt necessary to control bovine TB (bTB) which caused hardship to farmers who were constantly guarding their cattle against it.  He mentioned previous control methods which he said were all short-term measures as Somerset was still considered a high risk area.  He said that farmers deserved a better solution and that was mentioned in the Godfray Review commissioned by DEFRA, which said it would implement an exit strategy from culling by the mid 2020’s.  He concluded that his motion was proposed to ensure that DEFRA honoured their promise

The Motion was seconded by Councillor Sarah Dyke.

During discussion the following points were made:-

·         The policy of culling should be conducted to its conclusion by DEFRA to monitor its effectiveness in the reduction of bovine TB.

·         Until the vaccination programme is properly implemented there is no other option but culling.  Hopefully the vaccine would be available by the mid 2020’s.

·         The loss of a herd of cattle to TB can have a profound effect on farmers and their families.

·         The farming community deserves a long term solution to TB which the badger cull programmes does not provide.

·         DEFRA also had areas where they were testing the vaccination of badgers.as a comparison to the culling.  Writing to DEFRA would only interfere with their programme which was put together by experts.

·         Culling is a repugnant and haphazard way of dealing with the disease.

·         Pleased to hear that DEFRA are to phase out culling.

·         Every mammal including deer, stoats and weasels all carried TB. 

In response to a question, the Portfolio Holder for Environment confirmed that SSDC did not allow any badger culling on its land.  She confirmed that a relative’s cattle had recently tested positive for bTB and that would have a great impact upon them.  The badger cull was not working and it was clear that a different strategy was required.

At the conclusion of the debate, a vote was taken and the motion was carried by 37 votes in favour, 8 against and 4 abstentions.

There were no questions submitted under Procedure Rule 10.

There were no questions submitted under Procedure Rule 10.

Members are asked to note that the next scheduled meeting of the Full Council will take place on Thursday, 19^th November 2020 as a virtual meeting using Zoom meeting software commencing at 6.30 p.m.

Members noted that the next meeting of the Full Council would be held on Thursday, 19^th November 2020 as a virtual meeting using Zoom meeting software commencing at 6.30 p.m.