Meeting documents

SSDC Area South Committee
Wednesday, 29th November, 2017 4.00 pm

Venue: Council Chamber Council Offices Brympton Way

Contact: Jo Boucher 01935 462011  Email: jo.boucher@southsomerset.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

41.

Minutes of previous meeting

Minutes:

The minutes of the Area South Committee held on 1st November 2017 copies of which had been circulated, were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

42.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Cathy Bakewell, Kaysar Hussain, Sarah Lindsay, Sam McAllister and Peter Seib.

43.

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. 

Planning Applications Referred to the District Council’s Regulation Committee

The following members of this Committee are also members of the Council's Regulation Committee:

Councillors Peter Gubbins, Graham Oakes, David Recardo and Gina Seaton.

Where planning applications are referred by this Committee to the Regulation Committee for determination, Members of the Regulation Committee can participate and vote on these items at the Area Committee and at Regulation Committee. In these cases the Council's decision-making process is not complete until the application is determined by the Regulation Committee.  Members of the Regulation Committee retain an open mind and will not finalise their position until the Regulation Committee.  They will also consider the matter at Regulation Committee as Members of that Committee and not as representatives of the Area Committee.

Minutes:

There were no Declarations of Interest.

44.

Public question time

Minutes:

There were no questions from members of the public.

45.

Chairman's announcements

Minutes:

The Chairman informed members that:

 

·         The Annual Christmas Dinner taking place on 12th December 2017 at the Langport Hotel, Langport.  Members should contact Councillor Derek Yeomans direct if they wish to attend. 

·         The Yeovil Refresh project is nearing completion and members will be advised more on this in the coming weeks.

46.

Reports from representatives on outside organisations

This is an opportunity for Members who represent the Council on outside organisations to report items of interest to the Committee.

Minutes:

There were no reports from representatives on outside bodies.

47.

Highways Update Report pdf icon PDF 110 KB

Minutes:

The Assistant Highway Service Manager presented the report as set out in the agenda. 

 

During the ensuing discussion, he responded to questions regarding issues within Area South and confirmed to members that:

 

·         The proposed resurfacing works at Sherborne Road will take place over 2-3 nights in order to minimise disruption.

·         Noted member’s comments regarding the state of the roads at Combe Street Lane/Stone Lane and asked the member to email him direct with his concerns.

 

The Chairman and members thanked the Assistant Highway Service Manager for his report.

 

NOTED

48.

Future Market Management Arrangements pdf icon PDF 112 KB

Minutes:

The Neighbourhood Development Officer presented the report as set out in the agenda.  She reiterated to members the purpose of the report and informed members that despite a great deal of effort it had become clear a more dedicated and experienced team was necessary to manage the Yeovil Street Markets. 

 

She gave details of the tendering process undertaken to appoint an external partner to take on the management of the markets and following a thorough process MSD Markets had been offered the opportunity to work along SSDC officers and draft a Service Level Agreement (SLA) for the future operation of Yeovil street markets.

 

The Neighbourhood Development Officer also explained it was pertinent to make changes to the associated annual budgets and therefore agreement from the Area South Committee was required to support the financial changes as outlined in the report to be taken to DX in the January.

 

During the ensuing discussion, the Neighbourhood Development Officer and Area Development Lead responded to questions explaining that:

 

·         A great deal of effort had been done to try and improve the current market. However all avenues have been exhausted and believed this agreement to be the best way forward for the future of the markets.

·         MSD markets gave a detailed presentation to the interview panel who were very impressed with their knowledge of running markets, experience of working closely with communities and key stakeholders and the research undertaken of the area and its rural environment.

·         Clarified the current financial arrangements of the market including the annual budget and the income target. Acknowledged that if no action taken the declining income would result in the market ceasing to trade.  The external operator be given a fee free period of approximately 12 months until they are successfully established due to associated setting up costs.  

·         Appreciated concern regarding the risk of the long term sustainability and performance measures of the markets, however believe this to be the way forward and assuming the operator to be successful a future income stream can be established and a new income target assigned.

·         Agreed that a six month interim report be brought back to Area South Committee to keep members informed of the current position of the Yeovil Markets.

 

Following a short debate, members expressed concern with offering any initial savings from the annual budget as highlighted in the recommendation at the second bullet point as set out in the agenda report and instead wished to recommend that the total annual budget be retained until the new operator is successfully established.

 

It was then proposed and subsequently seconded to amend the second bullet point as set out under the suggested budget changes to be outlined in a report to the DX committee in January 2018 to read as follows:

 

‘To retain the total annual budget of £23,190 until the new operator is successfully established’.

 

On being put to the vote was carried unanimously. 

 

It was then proposed and seconded to approve the recommendations as set out in the agenda report  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

49.

Area South Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 36 KB

Minutes:

The Area Development Lead confirmed to members that the One Public Estate Programme and the reports on the Work of the Conservation Service and Historic Buildings at Risk report would be brought to the March committee.

 

She also confirmed the agreement that a six monthly interim report on the Future Market Management Arrangements be brought back to Area South Committee around May next year.

 

RESOLVED:

(1)

that the Area South Forward Plan and the comments of Members be noted.

 

(2)

that the reports identified by Members be added to the Area South Forward Plan.

 

(Voting: Without dissent)

50.

Appeals pdf icon PDF 23 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members noted the Planning Appeals.