Meeting documents

Details of all Members’ interests in District, Town and Parish Councils can be viewed on the Council Website at County Councillors membership of Town, City, Parish or District Councils and this will be displayed in the meeting room (Where relevant).

The Statutory Register of Member’s Interests can be inspected via request to the Democratic Service Team

The Chair will allow members of the public to present a petition on any matter within the Executive’s remit. Questions or statements about any matter on the agenda for this meeting may be taken at the time when each matter is considered.

To consider this report

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive agreed; and recommend Full Council:

·       Note the report from the stakeholder engagement that is

           included as appendix A in the report

·       Agree to adopt the Council Plan as set out in appendix B of the report

·       Agree that any minor changes to the text and the final graphic design of the document are delegated to the Leader of the Council, in consultation with the Executive Lead Member(s)

To consider this report

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive:

a)    Noted the forecast overspend of £24.3m and the key risks, future issues and opportunities detailed in the report which will be closely monitored and updated throughout the year

b)   Noted the forecast position of the capital programme and potential underspend at the end of the current programme

c)    Noted the additional external funding that has been added to the capital programme in this quarter

d)   Agreed to transfer £0.5m from the Resilience for Business-as-Usual budget to Legal Services (£0.3m) and Commercial and Procurement (£0.2m)

To consider this report

Reports to follow:

Appendix 14 – Comments from Policy and Place Scrutiny Committee

Appendix 15 – Council Tax Resolution Report

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive agreed; and recommend full Council approve:

a.     The General Fund net revenue budget for 2023/24 of £493,357,150 and the individual service budgets for 2023/24 as outlined in Appendix 1

b.    The transformation, savings and income generation plans outlined in Appendix 2, considering the required detailed Equalities Impact

Assessment in Appendix 3 and further consultation where necessary

c.     The detailed Fees and Charges as set out in Appendix 4

d.    The additional funding requirements set out in Appendix 5

e.    An increase in Council Tax of 2.99% in 2023/24 to £1,434.93 (an increase of £46.88 per Band D property)

f.     An increase of 2.00% to Council Tax for the Adult Social Care Precept to £196.46 is approved in recognition of the current demands and financial pressures on this service. This is equivalent to an increase of £31.36 on a Band D property

g.     Agreed to continue the Council Tax precept of £14.65 within the base budget for the shadow Somerset Rivers Authority (representing no  increase). This results in a Council Tax Requirement of £3,013,125

         h.   Agreed the precept requirement of £338,767,850 (including

               Special Expenses Rate) £338,547,779 (excluding Special Expenses

               Rates) and set the Council precept for Band D council tax charge

               at  £1,646.04 for  2023/24

i.       A Special Expenses rate of £220,071 as detailed in Appendix 6

j.      The formal council tax resolution which incorporates the precepts of all the precepting bodies in Appendix 15 (this will be circulated separately)

        k.   The overall estimated position of Earmarked Reserves of £65.125m

              outlined in Table 18 and the proposed use of reserves detailed in

              Table 17 of this report

         l.  The conclusions of the Council’s Section 151 Officer (Chief

Finance Officer) in Section 23 confirming the robustness of the budget estimates and the adequacy of the level of reserves

        m.  Approved the risk-based assessment of the level of General

              Reserves  being maintained within range of £30m - £50m and note

              the forecast  level of General Reserves at £47.460m

        n.   The Capital Strategy attached at Appendix 8

        o.   The Flexible Capital Receipts Strategy attached at Appendix 9

        p.   The Capital Programme for 2023/24 to 2025/26 of £332.243m as

              outlined in Appendix 11 including new capital bids of £75.967

              outlined in Appendix 10, and the planned sources of funding

        q.   Noted that the Capital Programme will require resetting once the

              outturn  positions of all five Councils are finalised

         r.  The Non-Treasury Investment Strategy attached at Appendix 12

         s.  The MRP Policy attached at Appendix 13

         t.  Considered the comments from Scrutiny Policies and Place in

             Appendix  14

         u. Delegated any amendments within the final Government Financial

             Settlement and the final Business Rates amendments to the

             Director of Finance and Governance in consultation with the

             Leader of the  Council

       v.   The removal of £22k saving on filling grit bins and provision of

             dumping bags

To consider this report

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive agreed; and recommend full Council:

1.    Adopt the Treasury Borrowing Strategy 

2.    Agree the Treasury Investment Strategy and proposed Lending Counterparty Criteria (attached at Appendix B to the report)

3.    Adopt the Prudential Treasury Indicators in section 14 of the report

4.    Note Appendix A, that is adopted as part of the Councils Financia regulations

To consider this report

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive agreed; and recommend Full Council approve the Housing Benefits War Pensions Policy.

To consider this report

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executiveapproved the proposed Exceptional Hardship Scheme

To consider this report

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive agreed; and recommend full Council approve: 

1.     The updated assumptions and figures in the HRA 30-Year Business Plan as summarised in Section 12 and detailed in Appendix A1 (Operating Account) and B1(Capital Programme) 

2.     The single HRA Revenue budget for 2023/24 as detailed in Table 3 section 13, Appendix C 

3.     An increase of 7% to Dwelling Rents for 2023/24 in line with the Governments rent cap. To continue to increase rent for relets by Sept CPI  plus 1% (11.1%) 

4.     An increase of 7% for Sheltered/Extra Care housing Rents in line with the dwelling rents increase 

5.     An increase of 7% for Shared Ownership properties 

6.     An increase of 7% on affordable rental tenures, with the rent being reviewed at relet based on 80% of market value capped at LHA rate 

7.     An increase based on Sept CPI 10.1% on temporary accommodation charges  
 

8.     The continuation of rent flex at relet for properties in SWT as included in the Rent charging policy, with the rent flex policy being considered in the future for properties within Sedgemoor 

9.     An increase in service charges for tenants in the Sedgemoor area Based on actual costs in line with the service charging policy. The service charges are contained in Appendix D 

10.  An increase in service charges for tenants in SWT properties of 7% (with the exception of Piper Lifeline at 3%, communal areas at 3 the introduction of a new management fee at 10%, a new charge for utility for internal areas charge and a new charge for door entry system) 7% is based on the governments rent cap with a commitment to review the  option of ‘depooling’ service charges for 2024/25 to align service charge policies. The detailed service charges are contained in Appendix E  alongside a supporting report 

11.  An increase of 7% for garage rents in the Sedgemoor Area and an increase of 7% for garages rented by council tenants in SWT and 10.1%  for private/owner occupier rented garages in this area 

12.  An increase of 7% to other Fees & Charges for 2023/24 in the Sedgemoor area (Appendix D) and CPI in SWT area (Appendix E) 

13.  The HRA Major Works Capital Programme for 2023/24 totalling £20,910,180 and notes the previously approved Housing Development programme budget totalling £26,423,920 (Appendix F) 

14.  The growth bids requested in section 20 totalling £607,170 for two one-year bids and £688,170 per year for two years (totalling £1,376,340  over the two years) 

15.  That members note the challenges and next steps for the HRA and landlord services 

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED: As set out in the officer report  

REASON FOR DECISION: As set out in the officer report

To consider this report

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive agreed a specific consent for Somerset West and Taunton district council to enter contract for the Supply of Materials for Somerset West and Taunton Social Housing Stock

To consider this report

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive: 

·      Considered and commented on the proposed strategy and plan 

·      Endorsed the plan and approved the recommendation of the Somerset Council Asset Plan and Strategy to Full Council on 22 February 2023