Agenda, decisions and minutes
- Attendance details
- Agenda frontsheet PDF 165 KB
- Agenda reports pack
- Additional agenda item (13a) - Statutory Pay Policy Statement for Chief Officers 2019 20 PDF 184 KB
- Supplement (Item 8) - Economic Development Strategy PDF 49 MB
- Item 10 - UPDATED Report & Appx - Council Tax Setting 2019-20 PDF 384 KB
- Printed decisions PDF 78 KB
- Printed minutes PDF 101 KB
Venue: Council Chamber, Council Offices, Brympton Way, Yeovil. View directions
Contact: Angela Cox, Democratic Services Specialist - 01935 462148 Email: angela.cox@southsomerset.gov.uk
No. | Item | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apologies for Absence Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Marcus Barrett, Mike Beech, Anna Groskop, Sarah Lindsay, Sam McAllister, Tiffany Osborne, Crispin Raikes, Garry Shortland, Alan Smith, Gerard Tucker, Linda Vijeh and Colin Winder. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minutes To approve and sign the minutes of the previous meeting held on Thursday, 17th January 2019. Minutes: The minutes of the Council meeting held on 17th January 2019, copies of which had been previously circulated, were approved as correct records of the meeting and signed by the Chairman.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 by Members. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Public Question Time Minutes: There were no questions raised by members of the public present. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chairman's Announcements Minutes: There were no announcements from the Chairman. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chairman's Engagements PDF 41 KB Minutes: The list of Chairman’s engagements were noted. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
SSDC Council Plan Update 2019-20 PDF 102 KB Additional documents: Decision:
(Voting: unanimous in favour) Minutes: The Leader of Council introduced the report and thanked officers for their work in producing a user friendly Council Plan which clearly set out the priorities for the following year.
During discussion, the following points were made:-
· The change in the amount of employment land in the Local Plan had been debated at workshops and was the result of extensive consultation and surveys. · The Area Chapters could be renamed Area Volumes. · Parish Councils were having some difficulty accessing planning applications on the new website and were also having difficulty contacting planning officers. · Although regeneration was mentioned in the corporate priorities, they were not mentioned in the Area Chapters. · There could be greater emphasis on agriculture and the food industry>.
At the conclusion of the debate, Members unanimously confirmed the updated Council Plan and key performance indicators for 2019-20.
(Voting: unanimous in favour) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
SSDC Economic Development Strategy (2019 - 2028) PDF 93 KB Additional documents:
Decision:
(Voting: 33 in favour, 10 against, 3 abstentions) Minutes: The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Economic Development introduced the report and advised that the strategy was the result of very detailed and informative work and it was a most comprehensive and well evidenced Economic Development Strategy. Funding had been set aside in the budget for the regeneration plans and partnership working was key to their success.
In response to a question, the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Economic Development advised that the agri-food sector was mentioned in the strategy and a section on climate change mitigation would also be added.
At the conclusion of the debate, the majority of Members were content to approve the Economic Development Strategy 2019 – 2028 and delegate any necessary final amendmentsto the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Economic Development and Transformation with the appropriate Director/s and the Lead Specialist Economy.
(Voting: 33 in favour, 10 against, 3 abstentions) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019/20 Revenue and Capital Budgets and Medium Term Financial Plan PDF 227 KB Additional documents:
Decision:
(Voting: unanimous in favour) Minutes: The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Legal Services introduced the report and provided a comprehensive overview of the financial position of the Council. He drew Members attention to the Section 151 officer’s comments at page 56 and the movement of money into reserves to cover risk and the future payback of Rate Support Grant in the future.
During discussion, it was noted that recommendation C should refer to paragraph 54 and a small correction in the table at page 49 which should be a minus figure.
In response to questions from Members, the Section 151 Officers confirmed that funding previously set aside for flooding issues was within the Revenue Grants reserve of £691,000 on page 51 and this could be listed by individual reserve.
At the conclusion of the debate, a named vote was taken and Members unanimously confirmed the Council’s revenue budget and council tax increase for 2019/20.
(Voting: unanimous in favour) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Council Tax Setting 2019-20 PDF 99 KB Additional documents:
Decision:
(Voting: unanimous in favour)
Minutes: The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Legal Services introduced the report noting that this was the formal resolution to agree the Council tax for 2019/20.
Councillor Martin Wale, as the Council’s representative on the Police Crime Panel, advised that thy had reluctantly agreed the Police Crime Commissioners proposed budget increase of £12.00.
It was also noted that the Yeovil Town Council precept on page 156 was £1,033,517.
At the conclusion of the debate, a named vote was taken and Members unanimously confirmed the Council tax increase for 2019/20.
(Voting: unanimous in favour)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
SSDC Capital Strategy 2019-20 PDF 143 KB Additional documents: Decision:
(Voting: unanimous in favour)
Minutes: The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Legal Services introduced the report and advised that Council were required to approve the annual capital strategy before the start of the financial year in line with the revised CIPFA Prudential Code.
There was no debate and Members unanimously approved 2019/20 capital strategy and the borrowing and investment limits.
(Voting: unanimous in favour)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
SSDC Investment Strategy 2019-20 PDF 155 KB Additional documents: Decision:
(Voting: 29 in favour, 16 against, 1 abstention) Minutes: The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Legal Services introduced the report and advised that the income from the Council’s investments was contributing more than £1m income to the budget. He noted that paragraphs 59 to 62 of the report covered the financial guarantees.
In response to questions from Members, the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Legal Services and the Section 151 Officer confirmed:-
· The cost of the Council’s property team and the cost of repaying capital and interest were netted off the return on the Council’s investments. · The South West Audit Partnership would review the Council’s investments and although their final report was not yet complete, they had given a good level of assurance.
The Portfolio Holder for Property and Climate Change and Income Generation advised that Treasury Management investments and Commercial investments were not the same. He also advised that he had rejected some proposed commercial investments as they were not promising the rate of return expected.
At the conclusion of the debate, the majority of Members were content to confirmthe Investment Strategy for 2019/20
(Voting: 29 in favour, 16 against, 1 abstention) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Additional documents:
Decision:
(Voting: 45 in favour, 1 against, 0 abstentions)
Minutes: The Chairman of the Audit Committee confirmed that the Treasury Management Strategy Statement for 2019/20 had been discussed and agreed by them.
The Section 151 Officer paid tribute to the Lead Specialist – Finance and her team of Specialist Finance officers for their work in compiling the numerous financial reports on the Agenda.
There was no debate and the majority of Members were content to confirm the proposed Treasury Management Strategy Statement for 2019/20 and approve the Capital prudential indicators and the annual MRP statement.
(Voting: 45 in favour, 1 against, 0 abstentions)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Statutory Pay Policy Statement for Chief Officers 2019 20 PDF 102 KB Decision:
(Voting: unanimous in favour)
Minutes: The Leader of Council thanked the Section 151 Officer for his work in co-ordinating the many finance reports on the Agenda. She advised that Section 38(1) of the Localism Act 2011 required English local authorities to produce an annual statutory pay policy statement. The policy helped towards securing and retaining high quality staff.
The Leader of the Conservative group seconded the recommendations and also thanked the Section 151 Officer and his team for their work on the budget reports.
There was no debate and Members unanimously approved the proposed Statutory Pay Policy Statement for publication.
(Voting: unanimous in favour)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Report of Executive Decisions PDF 77 KB Minutes: The report of executive decisions was noted. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minutes: Councillor Derek Yeomans, Chairman of the Audit Committee, presented the report of the Committee.
The report of the Audit Committee was noted.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minutes: Councillor Sue Steele, Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee, presented the report of the Committee. She noted that the Private Members Bill sponsored by David Warburton MP regarding the Somerset Rivers Authority had passed its second reading in the House of Commons.
The report of the Scrutiny Committee was noted.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Motions There were no Motions submitted by Members. Minutes: There were no Motions submitted by Members. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Questions Under Procedure Rule 10 There were no questions sumbitted by Members under Procedure Rule 10. Minutes: There were no questions submitted under Procedure Rule 10. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of Next Meeting PDF 41 KB Minutes: Members noted that the next scheduled meeting of the Full Council would take place on Thursday, 21st March 2019 in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, Brympton Way, Yeovil commencing at 7.30 p.m.
|