Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 5 January 2021. The draft minutes can be viewed at: http://modgov.southsomerset.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CId=141&Year=0

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 5 January 2021 were approved as a correct record and would be signed by the Chairman.

Apologies for Absence were received from Councillors Charlie Hull and Paul Maxwell.

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.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no members of the public present at the meeting.

This is an opportunity for Members to question the progress on issues arising from previous meetings.  However, this does not allow for the re-opening of a debate on any item not forming part of this agenda.

There were no issues raised from previous meetings.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

There were no updates for reports to be considered by District Executive at the January meeting.

Members considered the reports within the District Executive agenda for 4^th February 2021 and raised comments as detailed below. Responses to most questions and comments were provided at Scrutiny Committee by the relevant officers or Portfolio Holder – except those marked by an asterisk:

SSDC Annual Action Plan 2021-2022 (Agenda Item 6)

·         Members questioned why The Digital Strategy is not mentioned as a priority project.

·         Re: KPI’s. Members highlighted the lack of data for refuse and recycling rates by district. This data has been difficult to obtain for some time now. All Members agreed this needs to sought in order to measure district efforts for reductions to residual waste and recycling.*

2021/22 Draft Budget and Medium Term Financial Plan Update (Agenda item 7)

·         Members thanked the finance team for producing the following four reports which are very detailed and well written.

·         Page 51: One Member questioned the Octagon budget figure of 315,520. Has the Octagon made a loss due to Covid-19, or another reason? This question is linked to the redevelopment and investment plans shared with Members in late 2020.

·         Page 52: Building control seems to be making a profit in this budget. Last year it was making a loss. How had this been achieved? Is Building Control making money, or losing it?

·         Para 41: Revenue Support Grants showing as a minus. Para 37 showing as a plus. Clarification required on these figures.

·         Business Support Grants and Business Rates - what assumptions have we based our figures on?

·         A Member questioned where planning appears in the budgets. Confirmed it is now called Development Management.

·         Annex D page 62 refers to a Costa Coffee spend. Members questioned whether this is a new investment?

·         Some Members questioned the use of pluses and minuses to show income and expenditure. This could be misleading.

·         With regards to the impact of planning and phosphate issues on council budgets, has the council factored in the risk of refunding fees for planning applications that have been held up due to the issues?

·         Re: Requests for capital. Members asked at what point the council reviews capital requests in comparison to actual spend to identify under/over spend?

Capital, Investment and Treasury Strategies 2021/22 to 2023/24 (Agenda Item 8)

·         Page 186 Table 1, a Member questioned Capital investments and general services figures for 22/23.

·         Page 207 – 3 renewable energy projects? Are we counting Taunton as two phases, and the other is at Fareham?

2020/21 Revenue Budget Monitoring Report for the Period Ending 31st December 2020 (Agenda Item 9)

·         No questions

2020/21 Capital Budget Monitoring Report for the Period Ending 31st December 2020 (Agenda Item 10)

·         One member questioned: What is E5?

Planning and Phosphates - Adoption of a Phosphate Load Calculator (Agenda Item 11)

·         Members agreed that the previous evenings’ briefing for Members raised more questions than answers on the subject of phosphates and planning.

·         Members were concerned about how this will impact the viability and affordability of building new homes in South Somerset. Will the cost  ...  view the full minutes text for item 230.

The Specialist, Scrutiny confirmed The Environment Strategy Task and Finish meeting is arranged for 16^th February 2021.

There were no updates on matters of interest.

The Chairman confirmed that he would attend the Area committees to give a Scrutiny presentation once they re-commence.

Members noted that the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee was scheduled for 10:30am on Tuesday 2^nd March 2021 and will be held as a virtual meeting using Zoom.