Meeting documents

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the District Executive meeting held on 6th April 2017 and the Special District Executive meeting held on 18^th April 2017.

The minutes of the District Executive meeting held on 6^th April 2017 and the minutes of the special meeting of the District Executive held on 18^th April 2017, copies of which had been circulated, were taken as read and, having been approved as a correct record, were signed by the Chairman.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ric Pallister and Jo Roundell Greene.

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. 

There were no declarations of interest made.

There were no questions from the public.

The Chairman welcomed Councillors Val Keitch and Derek Yeomans as new members of the District Executive Committee.

The Performance Officer introduced the report and advised that following discussion of the report by Scrutiny Committee she could confirm that:-

·         Several promotional food and drink events had been held at the Cartgate rest area.

·         PI008 relating to requests for action from the Streetscene service were high during 2016/17 compared to the previous year but the target figure in the report was a ceiling (maximum) target.

·         Further information on the percentage of household waste which was recycled would be provided in the final report to Council.

During discussion Members commented on the missed refuse collections being reported on a county-wide basis in the future rather than district-wide by the Waste Partnership and regretted this change as there was a need to address local peoples concerns on this issue. 

The Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee also noted there should be some continuity in data reporting to compare pre and post transformation statistics and performance information.

At the conclusion of the debate, Members were content to note the annual performance report and agree that it be presented to Full Council.

The Scrutiny Manager outlined the Scrutiny Committees concerns at the disposal of properties by Yarlington Housing Association the Task and Finish group set up to look at the current disposal process and to test its effectiveness.

The Corporate Strategic Housing Manager reported the lack of influence which the Council had over proposed property disposals by Yarlington although he was able to cite one example where a different Housing Association had withdrawn a proposed disposal.  He said the Housing Act 2016 allowed the disposal of any property by a Housing Association when it became vacant.   

During discussion, several Members expressed their disappointment at the disposal of rural properties although they welcomed the notification of Ward Members who then had the opportunity to comment on any proposed disposal. 

At the conclusion of the debate, Members were content to confirm the recommendations of the report.

Members noted the following amendments and additions to the Executive Forward Plan:-

• Affordable Housing Programme – July 2017

·         Yeovil Town Centre Markets – August 2017

·         Adoption of the new Commercial Land and Property Strategy – moved to August 2017

·         Transformation Progress Reports – July 2017, October 2017, January 2018, April 2018

Members noted that the next scheduled meeting of the District Executive would take place on Thursday, 6^th July 2017 in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, Brympton Way, Yeovil commencing at 9.30 a.m.

The Environmental Health Manager outlined the plans to refurbish the Yeovil Crematorium and following questions by Members, it was agreed to propose the recommendations to Full Council for approval.