Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chief Executive welcomed all Councillors to the Annual Meeting of South Somerset District Council and asked for nominations for the position of Chairman of Council.

Councillor Val Keitch, seconded by Councillor Peter Seib nominated Councillor Paul Maxwell for Chairman of the Council.

There being no other nominations it was therefore:

The Chairman thanked his fellow Councillors for supporting him and he read out his formal declaration of acceptance of office.

The Chairman thanked the retiring Vice-Chairman, Councillor Jenny Kenton, for her support during the past 2 years and he proposed that Councillor Wes Read be accepted as the new Vice-Chairman of Council.  This was seconded by Councillor Val Keitch and, there being no other nominations, it was:

The Vice-Chairman thanked his fellow Councillors for supporting him and he read out his formal declaration of acceptance of office.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Neil Bloomfield, Hayward Burt, Malcolm Cavill, Nicola Clark, Henry Hobhouse, Michael Lewis, Mike Lock, Pauline Lock, Tiffany Osborne, Clare Paul, Oliver Patrick, Dean Ruddle, Gina Seaton and Colin Winder. 

To approve and sign the minutes of the previous meeting held on Thursday, 15 April 2021.

The minutes of the Council meeting held on 15^th April 2021, copies of which had been previously circulated, were approved as a correct record of the meeting and would be 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. 

There were no declarations of interest made by Members.

There were no questions from members of the public.

The Chairman noted that the Chief Executive would be shortly leaving SSDC to take up the position of Chief Executive of Waitaki District Council, New Zealand.  He paid tribute to the work of the Chief Executive during his 5 years at SSDC in leading the transformation project and introducing its commercial, economic and environmental strategies, regeneration projects and leading the Council through the Covid-19 pandemic.  He thanked him for his contribution to South Somerset and wished him and his family well in his new life.

The Leader of Council thanked the Chief Executive for his support during her time as Leader.  She said the Council and people of South Somerset owed him much and she would miss him both personally and professionally.  She wished him well in his new role and for the future.

The Deputy Leader of Council said the Chief Executive had been very caring and protective of his staff and had served South Somerset well.

The Leader of the independent Group thanked him for his work during the past 5 years.  He said that his leadership had been very calm during the Covid-19 pandemic and he thanked him for furthering the regeneration project in Chard.  He thanked him for his service and wished him well in his new job.

The Leader of the Conservative Group said the Chief Executive had made his mark at SSDC as he had risen to the financial challenges and modernised and transformed the Council and its services. She said he had achieved much in South Somerset and with his family to consider, he was moving to new pastures.

Councillor Tony Capozzoli also thanked the Chief Executive for his assistance and said that he was sorry that he was leaving.

The Chief Executive thanked Councillors for their kind words and said that he was grateful for the excellent team of staff across the organisation who had worked together and also for the support from all Councillors during his time.

The Chairman noted that Somerset Day would be on 11^th May and he would be attending a service at Wells Cathedral on 8^th May to represent South Somerset. 

The list of Chairman’s engagements were noted.

(1)      To note that it appointed the Leader of the Council in May 2019 for a period of four years, starting on the day of her election and ending on the day of the post 4-year Council election annual meeting.

(2)      To note that the Leader appointed a Deputy Leader in May 2019 to hold office until the end of the term of office of the Leader.

(3)      The Leader appoint between 1 and 8 further District Executive Members.

(4)      The re-establishment of the following member-level bodies for 2021/2022:

District Executive and Portfolios

The Leader of Council introduced the report to appoint the Member level bodies for 2021/22.  The recommendations were proposed and agreed without dissent with the exception of the following:

Chairman of Scrutiny Committee

Councillor John Clark, seconded by Councillor Tony Lock, proposed Councillor Gerard Tucker as Chairman of Scrutiny Committee

Councillor Linda Vijeh, seconded by Councillor Robin Bastable, proposed Councillor Sue Osborne as Chairman of Scrutiny Committee.

A vote was taken and it was confirmed that Councillor Gerard Tucker be Chairman of Scrutiny Committee for 2021/22.

Chairman of Licensing Committee

Councillor Val Keitch, seconded by Councillor Rob Stickland, proposed Councillor David Recardo as Chairman of Licensing Committee

Councillor Linda Vijeh, seconded by Councillor Robin Bastable, proposed Councillor Martin Wale as Chairman of Licensing Committee.

A vote was taken and it was confirmed that Councillor David Recardo be Chairman of Licensing Committee for 2021/22.

Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Panel

Councillor Val Keitch, seconded by Councillor Mike Hewitson, proposed Councillor Nicola Clark as the SSDC representative on the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Panel.

Councillor Linda Vijeh, seconded by Councillor Sue Osborne, proposed Councillor Martin Wale as the SSDC representative on the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Panel.

A vote was taken and it was confirmed that Councillor Nicola Clark be the SSDC representative on the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Panel for 2021/22.

During discussion it was noted that a South Somerset Recovery Board had been established as part of the Recovery Strategy and its membership would be appointed at a future meeting of Council.

(1)      To note that it appointed the Leader of the Council in May 2019 for a period of four years, starting on the day of her election and ending on the day of the post 4-year Council election annual meeting.

(2)      To note that the Leader appointed a Deputy Leader in May 2019 to hold office until the end of the term of office of the Leader.

(3)      The Leader appoint between 1 and 8 further District Executive Members.

(4)      The re-establishment of the following member-level bodies for 2021/2022:

District Executive and Portfolios

(Voting: 45 in favour, 0 against, 1 abstention)

The Leader of Council proposed that Members appoint Clare Pestell, Director for Commercial Services and Income Generation as interim Chief Executive.  She said there were potential changes for local government in Somerset and if either of the two proposed unitary council options were accepted then South Somerset District Council would cease to exist in the future.  It was therefore proposed that the appointment be on an interim basis.  If the Secretary of State decided there would be no change in local government in Somerset then Council would review the position of Chief Executive.  She noted that given the interim nature of the position, it would have been unlikely to attract external applicants and it was advantageous that the Director was already known to staff and Members.  She said the selection process had been rigorous and although there was only one candidate, they had been under no obligation to appoint. She proposed the recommendation and added that the appointment included that of Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor Jason Baker. 

The Chairman asked if anyone wished to vote against the recommendation, or abstain.  Councillor Linda Vijeh noted that she had been a member of the Appointment Panel and she had some reservations regarding the appointment process and therefore would abstain from voting.  

The Leader of Council confirmed that the current Chief Executive had given the required 3 months notice to resign up to 11^th July, however, with annual leave owing, his final working day would be 7^th June 2021. 

The Chairman congratulated the Director for Commercial Services and Income Generation on her appointment as interim Chief Executive of South Somerset District Council.

(Voting: 45 in favour, 0 against, 1 abstention)

The report of executive decisions were noted.

The Chairman of the Audit Committee advised that they had received a thorough briefing on Cyber Security delivered by Officers in the Digital Team.

The report of the Audit Committee was noted.

The Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee introduced the report and invited questions.

The report of the Scrutiny Committee was noted.

There were no Motions submitted by Members.

There were no Motions submitted by Members.

There were no questions submitted under Procedure Rule 10.

There were no questions submitted under Procedure Rule 10.

Members noted that the next scheduled meetings of the Full Council were reserve dates of 20^th May and 17^th June and would only be called if there was business to progress.

Therefore, the next meeting of the Full Council would take place on Thursday, 15^th July 2021 as a virtual meeting using Zoom meeting software commencing at 6.30 p.m.