Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Sarah Dyke, Anna Groskop, Henry Hobhouse, Sarah Lindsay, Sam McAllister, Jo Roundell Greene, Garry Shortland, Angie Singleton, Alan Smith and Rina Singh, Deputy Chief Executive.

To approve and sign the minutes of the previous meeting held on Thursday, 17^th November 2016.

The minutes of the meeting held on 17^th November 2016, copies of which had been previously circulated, were approved as a correct record of the meeting and signed by the Chairman.

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.

There were no declarations of interest made.  

Ms V Cornelius referred to the 2008 signed Section 106 Highways Agreement linked to the 2006 planning permission for the Lyde Road Key Site which included works to the Mudford Road / Lyde Road Junction and Mudford Road / Combe Street Lane Junction in addition to the current works to the Sherborne Road / Lyde Road Junction.  She asked if the Mudford Road Junctions upgrades were still scheduled to happen and if so, when?

The Leader of Council thanked Ms Cornelius for submitting her question in advance of the meeting but regretted that he had not received a response to the questions from the Highways section of Somerset County Council.  He said as soon as a response was received, he would forward it to her. 

(Subsequent to the meeting, the following response was received from SCC: The developer remains obligated through the Section106 agreement to deliver the Mudford Road/Lyde Road and Mudford Road/ Combe Street Lane junction works and as such we are awaiting a firm commitment to a delivery programme. The developer contacted the highway authority in Autumn last year indicating that they were working towards a start at Mudford Road/Lyde Road following the completion of their ongoing works at Lyde Road/Sherborne Road.)

Mr M Hewitson, a Community Pharmacist and member of the National Pharmacy Association spoke in support of the Motion at Agenda item 13.  He said there were 30 Community Pharmacies in Somerset providing a range of services which allowed people to remain in their own homes.  He referred to the number of GPs close to retirement in Somerset, particularly in the Chard and Ilminster areas and he asked if Councillors would consider holding their surgeries in Community Pharmacies.

Mr B Budzynski referred to major drainage work to be carried out on Sherborne Road, near to Pittards, which were delayed because of the effect upon Christmas shopping in the town.  He asked if there was any plan to reschedule the work as the current works on Sherborne Road were impacting on Mudford Road. 

The Leader of Council said he understood the work would be carried out on half the road at any one time and he offered to raise the issue at a meeting he was scheduled to attend with strategic officers from Somerset County Council in early February. 

(Subsequent to the meeting, the following response was received from SCC: We are currently planning highway drainage improvement works to Sherborne Road which have provisionally been programmed to commence during the summer and are currently scheduled to last for 3 weeks.)

The Chairman welcomed Councillor Gerard Tucker to his first Full Council meeting and congratulated him on his election. 

He also advised that Chief Constable Andy Marsh would be attending the next Full Council meeting on 23^rd February.

The Leader of Council advised that the Council had been allocated £263,220 by the Government to offset the impact of second homes in the south west.  The money was to be spent on community led schemes and this would be discussed at his upcoming Portfolio Holder briefing on 10^th February. 

The list of Chairman’s Engagements was noted.

The Countryside Manager and the Community Ranger provided Members with a presentation on the three year V3: InVolve, Visit, Volunteer project at Yeovil Country Park.  They outlined the numerous and varied activities which they had held at the park for different groups of people and some of the forthcoming projects.

In response to questions, they confirmed there was an ongoing survey of wildlife in the park and the heritage interpretation also included biodiversity information. 

At the conclusion of the presentation, the Chairman and Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture both thanked the Countryside Manager and the Community Ranger for attending and providing an interesting presentation of the project. 

(Voting: unanimous in favour)

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Legal Services introduced the report and thanked the members and officers of the Scrutiny Task and Finish Group who had reviewed the scheme.  He also drew attention to the public sector equalities duties which were considered in drawing up the scheme and the 4 new proposals considered, of which one was supported.  He proposed that the recommendations be agreed on block. 

There was no debate and the proposal was seconded by Cllr Rob Stickland.  When put to the vote, the recommendations were unanimously agreed by Members.

(Voting:  unanimous in favour)

(Voting: unanimous in favour)

Councillor Derek Yeomans, as Chairman of the Audit Committee, introduced the report and drew Members attention to the alterations to the Strategy document as highlighted in yellow in the agenda papers.   

There was no debate and Members unanimously approved the revised Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Investment Strategy for 2016/17.

(Voting: unanimous in favour)

The report of Executive Decisions was noted.

Councillor Derek Yeomans, Chairman of the Audit Committee, introduced the report and noted that at their last meeting, both the Internal and External Auditors said the post of Section 151 Officer should be within the Management Team. 

In response to a question, the Assistant Director (Finance and Corporate Services) confirmed that Council’s treasury management advisers, Arlingclose, would be providing their training on borrowing for income generating schemes free of charge.

The report of the Audit Committee was noted.

Councillor Sue Steele, Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee, thanked Members for their work on the Task and Finish Groups currently in operation.  She noted that the Scrutiny Manager post was now reduced to two days per week which would limit the amount of Task and Finish Group work in the future.

There were no questions and the report of the Scrutiny Committee was noted.

(Voting: 30 in favour, 0 against, 20 abstentions)

(Voting: 42 in favour, 2 against, 6 abstentions)

Councillor Amanda Broom introduced her Motion which was seconded by Councillor Peter Seib.  She said the Motion affected the partners and spouses of many Somerset residents and the method of the introduction of the Government’s decision to raise the State Pension Age had not allowed many people sufficient time to re-plan for their retirement.  She felt it would be fairer if transitional payments were made to those most affected. 

During a brief discussion, some Members felt they should declare an interest as the raising of the State Pension Age had directly affected them.  The Director (Support Services) clarified that as the Motion also affected the wider population, there was no need for Members to declare any interest. 

The Motion was put to the vote and carried (voting: 30 in favour, 0 against, 20 abstentions).

(Voting: 30 in favour, 0 against, 20 abstentions)

Councillor Graham Oakes introduced his Motion which was seconded by Councillor Sylvia Seal.  He said he became aware of the issue following a planning application at Area South Committee.  He felt it was a Government decision to save money which had an unintended consequence when people were being encouraged to use their pharmacies rather than hospitals.  The closure of pharmacies would affect the most vulnerable in the community.  He asked that Members support his Motion.

During discussion, several Members voiced their support for the Motion and on being put to the vote, it was carried (voting: 42 in favour, 2 against, 6 abstentions).

(Voting: 42 in favour, 2 against, 6 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, 23^rd February 2017 in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, Brympton Way, Yeovil commencing at 7.30 p.m.

Members noted that the next scheduled meeting of Full Council would take place on Thursday 23^rd February 2017 in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, Brympton Way, Yeovil commencing at 7.30 p.m.