Agenda item

Reports to be considered by District Executive on 8 January 2015

Meeting of Scrutiny Committee, Tuesday 6th January 2015 10.00 am (Item 100.)

Minutes:

Members considered the reports outlined in the District Executive agenda for
8 January 2015. It was agreed that the following comments would be taken forward to District Executive for consideration:

Notification of an Urgent Executive Decision – The Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) interim funding – item 6

· Scrutiny made no comments.

Notification of an Urgent Executive Decision – Acquisition of the Former Millers Garage Site, Crewkerne – item 7

· Scrutiny noted the report but queried if there was:

o a financial risk to SSDC if planning permission was not granted?

o how many spaces could potentially be provided on the site?

Setting the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2015/16 – item 8

· Scrutiny members noted that the Task and Finish Group would reconvene on
22 January to consider the scheme for 2016/17 onwards.

· Reassurance is sought that the changes do not imply any further risk to SSDC

Council Tax – Discretionary Reduction in Liability Policy – item 9

· Members noted there was still some equalities work to complete regarding the policy via the completion of an Equality Impact Assessment.

· Regarding appeals – some members queried the likelihood of a case progressing to the tribunal stages and if there were costs associated with the process.

Medium Term Financial Plan and Capital Programme Update – item 10

· It was queried if the Revenue Support Grant Fund had been confirmed?

· Page 22 – Business Rate Retention figures – are the figures indicated actual or estimated?

Report of Scrutiny Task and Finish Group – Somerset Local Authorities Civil Contingency Partnership – item 11

· It was noted that the County Council had now said the review will not commence before April 2015.

· Scrutiny are content to revise their recommendation – so that funding continues for 2015/16 only and to endorse the recommendations of the Task and Finish Group to District Executive.

Increasing Management Capacity at Yeovil Crematorium – item 12

· Scrutiny were supportive of the principle that improvements need to be made and had no questions regarding outcomes, however a number of points were raised about the process including:

o The timeframes outlined in the report are very tight, but content if the dates can be delayed as necessary.

o Concern about whether the process as outlined in the report was being conducted in the most appropriate order. Several members were of the opinion that consultation should have been undertaken first and then recommendations put forward.

o A member appointed to the Yeovil Crematorium and Cemetery Joint Committee was disappointed to note that the first he had heard of these proposed changes was through this report. It was noted that a meeting of the Joint Committee was due to take place next week and it would be useful if more information could be provided.

o Members queried what the way forward might be if other members of the Joint Committee were opposed to the proposals?

Upgrade to the ICT helpdesk System – item 13

· Scrutiny sought clarification that the system would be fully compatible and integrated with other existing systems. If there will be any compromises what would they be?

Commercial Property Disposals – Winsham Allotments and Band Hut – item 14

· No comments as no written report.

Final Recommendation of the Community Governance Review of Lopen Parish Council – item 15