Meeting documents

Details of Cabinet Member interests in District, Town and Parish Councils will be displayed in the meeting room. The Statutory Register of Member’s Interests can be inspected via the Community Governance team.

Declarations of Interest were made as set out in Appendix A to these minutes and Members’ written notifications of interests were affixed to the Notice board at the back of the Council Chamber for the duration of the meeting.

Council is asked to confirm the minutes are accurate .

The Minutes, including attached Appendices, of the meeting of Council held on 15 February 2017 were signed as a correct record.

(1) The Chairman paid respects to Mr David Carter who died recently. He was the Head Teacher at St Bartholomew’s First School in Crewkerne. The Chairman noted that she would be writing to Mr Carter’s family.

(2) The Chairman paid respects to Mr Brian Cresswell, Taunton’s ‘man of music’, who  ...  view the full minutes text for item 272.

(see explanatory notes attached to agenda)

This item includes the presentation of petitions. Details of any public questions / petitions submitted will be included in the Chairman’s Schedule which will be made available to the members and to the public at the meeting.

1) Public Questions / Statements / Petitions (under 5000 signatures): Notice was received of questions / statements / petitions regarding: 

Public Questions / Statements:

1. The Future of the recently Transferred Learning Disability Provider Service (LDPS) to Dimensions UK Ltd (Discovery)

From Nigel Behan

Response from Cllr William Wallace –  ...  view the full minutes text for item 273.

To consider a report with recommendations by the Monitoring Officer.

The recommendations relate to:

• The proposed amalgamation of the Standards and Constitution Committees

• Members Code of Conduct training

• The appointment of Deputy Section 151 Officers

• The review of the Scheme of Members’ Allowances

The Council RESOLVED to:

(1) Note the recommendations from the Standards and Constitution Committees for the proposed amalgamation of the two Committees to form a single Constitution and Standards Committee and to refer them to the new Council for consideration in May 2017 – paragraphs 3.1.4(2) and 3.1.5 refer.

(2) Agree that all members are requested to undertake the Code of Conduct training being provided as part of the induction of the new Council and that all Group Leaders are asked to encourage their members to do so – section 3.2 refers.

(3) Appoint Martin Gerrish and Martin Young, Strategic Managers in Finance as Deputy Section 151 Officers in accordance with section 3.3 of this report.

(4) Note the progress with the review of the Scheme of Members’ Allowances which will lead to the recommendation of the adoption of a revised Scheme to Council in July 2017 – section 3.4 of the report and Appendix A refers.

(1) The Council considered a report (Paper 5) from the Monitoring Officer, including recommendations from the Standards Committee and the Constitution Committee seeking Council approval for: the proposed amalgamation of the Standards and Constitution Committees; the request that all Members undertake Code of Conduct training; the appointment of Strategic Finance  ...  view the full minutes text for item 274.

To consider a report with recommendations from the Chairman of the HR Policy Committee.

The recommendations relate to the revised Pay Policy Statement for 2017/18.

The Council RESOLVED to approve the revised Pay Policy Statement for 2017/18 as recommended by the HR Policy Committee – see Appendix A.

(1) The Council considered a report (Paper 6) from the Chairman of the HR Policy Committee seeking Council approval for the revised Pay Policy Statement for 2017/18.

(2) The recommendations within the report were proposed by Cllr Anna Groskop and seconded by Cllr Harvey Siggs.

(3) Cllr Groskop thanked all  ...  view the full minutes text for item 275.

To receive reports by the Leader of Council summarising key decisions taken by him and the Cabinet, including at the Cabinet meetings held on 20th February 2017, 15th March 2017 and 12th April 2017.

(Note: Member Questions to the Leader and Cabinet Members will be taken under this item)

(1) The Council considered a report (Paper 7) introduced by the Leader of Council that summarised the key decisions taken by the Leader and Cabinet Members between 4 February 2017 and 13 April 2017, together with the items of business discussed at the Cabinet Meetings on 20 February 2017, 15  ...  view the full minutes text for item 276.

To receive a report by the Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee for Policies, Adults and Health.

(1) The Council received the report (Paper 8) from the Chairman of the Scrutiny for Polices, Adults and Health Committee, Cllr Hazel Prior-Sankey.

(2) Cllr Prior-Sankey thanked Cllr John Parham for his work as the Committee Vice-Chairman, and thanked Committee Members and Officers for their work. Cllr Prior-Sankey further noted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 277.

To receive a report by the Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee for Policies, Children and Families.

(1) The Council received the report (Paper 9) from the Chairman of the Scrutiny for Policies, Children and Families Committee, Cllr Leigh Redman.

(2) Cllr Redman thanked officers, Members of the Committee and Cllr David Huxtable for his work as the Committee Vice-Chairman.

To receive a report by the Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee for Policies and Place.

(1) The Council received the report (Paper 10) from the Chairman of the Scrutiny for Policies and Place Committee, Cllr Tony Lock.

(2) Cllr Lock thanked officers, Members of the Committee and Cllr Mike Lewis for his work as the Committee Vice-Chairman.

(3) Cllr Mike Lewis thanked Cllr Lock for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 279.

To receive a report by the Chairman of the Audit Committee.

(1) The Council received the report (Paper 11) from the Chairman of the Audit Committee, Cllr Dawn Hill.

(2) Cllr Hill noted that it had been a privilege to be the Audit Committee Chairman, and thanked Committee Members, the internal auditors South West Audit Partnership and the external auditors Grant  ...  view the full minutes text for item 280.

To receive the Annual Report of the Leader of the Council.

The Council considered the report under agenda item 7, Report of the Leader and Cabinet – Items for Information – minute AK278 refers.

To receive the Annual Report of the Cabinet Member for Customers and                 Communities.

The Council considered the report under agenda item 7, Report of the Leader and Cabinet – Items for Information – minute AK278 refers.

Concluding remarks by the Leader of the Council

Cllr John Osman thanked all retiring Members for their work, and offered his best wishes to all Members standing for re-election. Cllr Osman further thanked Cllr Graham Noel for his work as Vice Chairman of the Council, and Cllr Christine Lawrence for her work as Chairman of the Council.

Concluding remarks by the Chairman of the Council at the end of the quadrennium.

Cllr Christine Lawrence thanked the Monitoring Officer, the County Solicitor, the Chief Executive, and the Vice-Chairman of the Council. Cllr Lawrence noted that: she had attended 157 formal events and had met some wonderful people; the Chairman’s Charities had now raised over £50k; and there was now a Somerset bell  ...  view the full minutes text for item 284.