Meeting documents

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mike Beech, Neil Bloomfield, Sarah Lindsay, Mike Lock, Paul Maxwell, Ric Pallister, David Recardo, Dean Ruddle, William Wallace and Colin Winder.

To approve and sign the minutes of the previous meeting held on Thursday, 18^th May 2017.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 18^th May 2017, copies of which had been previously circulated, were approved as a correct record of the meeting and signed by the Chairman.

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.

Mr Roger Gurner of Ilminster Fairtrade invited SSDC to become a Fairtrade Authority.  He explained their principle to buy local products, but, if that was not possible then buy Fairtrade products.  He offered to give a more comprehensive presentation to an appropriate committee or group.

Councillor Peter Seib, as Portfolio Holder for procurement, said the Council already had a local purchasing policy and he suggested that a Scrutiny Task and Finish Group could look at the wider implications of becoming a Fairtrade Authority. 

The Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee said the proposal could be put to the Committee and it would be scoped in line with their usual procedure.

The Chairman reminded Members to complete the on-line Members Survey which had been sent to them earlier that week as the information was required for the SSDC Boundary Commission submission.

The Chairman also reminded Members of various workshops to be held in June and July.

The list of Chairman’s Engagements was noted.

(Voting: unanimous in favour)

The Deputy Leader introduced the report, noting that 15 of the Performance Indicators were above target, 10 were at target and only 1 was below target.  She also reminded Members that the future performance reporting format would change as the Council’s corporate performance management was in transition.

During discussion it was noted that the Somerset Waste Board would no longer be reporting the number of missed bin collections on a district by district basis, however, Members were assured the information would be available. 

The Chief Executive also clarified that the roll-out of Superfast Broadband was now a high Council priority, as agreed by Council in April 2017.

At the conclusion of the debate, Members were content to note the information in the Annual Performance Report 2016/17.

(Voting: unanimous in favour)

The Deputy Leader advised that in order to attract the best qualified person, the Council must pay a market supplement.  She clarified that this was an interim post and not a permanent position.

Members were content to note the report.

(Voting: unanimous in favour)

It was noted that following the appointment of Members to the various Council committees in May 2017, there remained one Conservative vacancy on the Scrutiny Committee and one Liberal Democrat vacancy on the Standards Committee.

Members were content to confirm the appointments as proposed.

(Voting: unanimous in favour)

The report of Executive Decisions was noted.

Councillor Derek Yeomans, Chairman of the Audit Committee, presented the report of the Committee. 

The report of the Audit Committee was noted.

Councillor Sue Steele, Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee, presented the report of the Committee. 

The report of the Scrutiny Committee was noted.

There were no Motions submitted by Members.

There were no Motions submitted by Members.

There were no questions submitted under Procedure Rule 10.

There were no questions submitted under Procedure Rule 10.

Members noted that the next meeting of the Full Council would take place on Thursday, 20^th July 2017 in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, Brympton Way, Yeovil commencing at 7.30 p.m.

(Voting: unanimous in favour)

The Portfolio Holder for the Crematorium thanked the officers involved for their time spent in researching the proposed refurbishment and development of Yeovil Crematorium.

The Section 151 Officer outlined the financial aspects of the proposal and responded to Members questions on points of clarification.  

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

(Voting: unanimous in favour)