Agenda item

Reports to be considered by District Executive on 7 January 2021

Meeting of Scrutiny Committee, Tuesday 5th January 2021 10.30 am (Item 218.)

Minutes:

Members considered the reports within the District Executive agenda for 7 January 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:

Somerset Waste Partnership Annual Report & Business Plan Update (Agenda Item 6)

· Members sought clarity regarding the procedure for waste collection within communal areas such as apartment blocks and the process for getting communication and awareness out to the planning service when consulting on new developments.

· Some members sought clarification regarding engagement with the large supermarkets over their commitments regarding their waste and recycling responsibilities.

· Page 13 – members queried whether there would be any implications for staff regarding the change of ownership following the restructure of Viridor.

· Page 20, 5.4 – Drive down carbon intensity of day to day fleet operations – a member asked for reassurance regarding the route planning to ensure they are efficient in terms of fuel economy.

· Page 21, 6.2 – Public sector Estates – a member queried whether the district council would be able to access statistical information at district level.

· Page 24, 8.4 – CRM system procurement – a member asked whether there were any current issues and would these be addressed prior to a new contract provider.

· Members wished it noted that it is critical to ensure engagement and relationships are developed with schools regarding the future of recycling and waste.

· *A member sought reassurance that the local community can still comment regarding the management and delivery of the Dimmer recycling centre in Castle Cary as there used to be a liaison group prior to the takeover of Viridor.

Council Tax Support scheme 2021/22 (Agenda Item 7)

· No comments

2021/22 Draft Budget and Medium Term Financial Plan Update (Agenda Item 8)

· No comments.

Somerset Recovery and Growth Plan (Agenda Item 9)

· *Members noted that agriculture was not included as a specific point of growth or bedrock sector. They felt that agriculture was a significant area of priority across Somerset and that this should be recognised in the report and included as a bedrock sector.

· *A member felt this report was focused on the economy of the sectors and that agriculture should be referenced to the environment to the economy.

Transformation Programme Assessment & Final Report (Agenda Item 10)

· *A member felt that the report should include a table of comparison regarding the number of FTE’s before transformation and FTE’s after transformation and the impact this has had.

· *Members asked about the number of staff that were furloughed in the first lockdown in March and subsequent current lockdown?

· *A member queried the impact the current planning phosphates issues was having on the planning service.

· Some members considered the report to be a ‘light touch’ on the number of contractual staff and identifying services that have struggled since transformation.

· Members felt that there were still many IT issues regarding the sharing of information digitally with departments across the council.

Octagon Theatre Development (Agenda Item 11)

· Members sought clarity regarding the procedural rules around the approval of this project and the amount of spend, and whether it should ultimately be a decision taken by Full Council.

· Members raised concern regarding the implications this could have on the other local venues within South Somerset and whether this would have an impact of future funding of such venues.

· Some members also questioned the timing of this project due to the current Covid 19 pandemic.

· Some members sought clarification as to whether the High Street Funding could be used to fund and support any of this project.

· Members sought clarification on the dependency of funding from the external arts council and whether the project would still be viable should no funding be received.

· A members raised concern regarding the capacity for additional car parking.

· Members sought reassurance that robust risk assessments have been undertaken on the business case in light of the Covid 19 pandemic.

· Members queried the timescale for when the Octagon Theatre would become self-sufficient financially.

Members agreed in principle to endorse the report and overall felt it was a positive move forward.