Agenda and decisions

To receive any apologies for absence.

To approve the minutes from the previous meeting.

To receive and note any declarations of interests in respect of any matters included on the agenda for consideration at this meeting.

(The other registrable interests of Councillors of Somerset Council, arising from membership of City, Town or Parish Councils and other Local Authorities will automatically be recorded in the minutes: City, Town & Parish Twin Hatters - Somerset Councillors 2023 )

The Chair to advise the Committee of any items on which members of the public have requested to speak and advise those members of the public present of the details of the Council’s public participation scheme.

For those members of the public who have submitted any questions or statements, please note, a three minute time limit applies to each speaker and you will be asked to speak before Councillors debate the issue.

We are now live webcasting most of our committee meetings and you are welcome to view and listen to the discussion. The link to each webcast will be available on the meeting webpage, please see details under ‘click here to join online meeting’.

To consider the recommendations from the Chief Executive.

Councillor Theo Butt Philip proposed the recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor Liz Leyshon.

Having been duly proposed and seconded, the Council Resolved to:-

      i.         Approve the redundancy costs for 7 posts as set out in Appendix A, as Full Council approval was required for costs that exceed £100,000.

     ii.         Delegate authority to the Chief Executive to agree the final date of dismissal and the final redundancy packages, noting that such settlements would not exceed contractual redundancy pay or the payment required under statute to the Local Government Pension Scheme.

To consider the recommendations from the Appointments Committee.

Councillor Theo Butt Philip proposed the recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor Liz Leyshon.

Having been duly proposed and seconded, the Council Resolved to:-

      i.         Agree to designate the statutory role of Chief Finance Officer (Section 151 Officer) on an interim basis to Nicola Hix, the Service Director for Finance and Procurement and current Deputy S151 Officer, with effect from 26 April 2025, in advance of an alternative arrangement or permanent appointment being made.

     ii.         Agree to designate the statutory role of Monitoring Officer to Alyn Jones, Executive Director for Resources, Strategy and Transformation.

To consider the recommendations from the HR Committee.

Councillor Theo Butt Philip proposed the recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor Faye Purbrick.

Having been duly proposed and seconded, the Council Resolved to approve the Pay Policy Statement (PPS) for 2025/26.

To consider the recommendations from the Licensing and Regulatory Committee.

Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts proposed the recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor Nicola Clark.

Having been duly proposed and seconded, the Council Resolved to publish the Statement of Principles shown at Appendix 1, so that it may then take effect for the 3-year period ending on 31 January 2028. The Licensing and Regulatory Committee resolved to make the recommendation at its meeting on the 4 December 2024.

To receive and note the annual report.

To receive and note the annual report.

(PAPER A – Public Health, PAPER B – Climate Change and Environment)  

To receive and note the annual report.

To consider the report from the Interim Director for Public Health.

Councillor Graham Oakes proposed the recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor Dawn Denton.

Having been duly proposed and seconded, the Council Resolved to endorse the following:-

Policy and Leadership

1.    System leaders from across sectors to show commitment to tobacco work. The Somerset Board and constituent organisations should commit to a refreshed Local Declaration on Tobacco Control, including a commitment to not work with tobacco companies.

2.    Support to Trading Standards to enforce the new tobacco and vaping legislation.

3.    Development of a Somerset system-wide set of performance measures for progress against our target of 45,000 people quitting by 2030.

Organisations and institutions

4.    Support local workplaces to develop smoke-free policies that adhered to smoke-free legislation, public sector organisations in Somerset should be exemplar employers.

5.    Specific commitment across our health services to develop stop smoking services at hospital sites. 100% of patients should be asked if they smoke and offered support to stop.

6.    100% of pregnant women and partners should be screened using carbon monoxide monitors at booking and throughout pregnancy and provided with appropriate support.

7.    Support schools, hospitals and care infrastructure to develop and embed clear policies for smoking and vaping.

Communities and individuals

8.    Launch new, fresh communication and training campaigns that took a compassionate approach to smoking, supporting front line workers and members of our communities to have non-judgmental Very Brief Advice conversations about stopping smoking at every opportunity and signpost to support.

9.    Strong engagement with people in Somerset to develop a new Somerset-wide action plan which developed services to meet the needs of people to stop smoking and protected people from second-hand smoke and smoking-related behaviour.

10.Focus our support on groups with the highest rates of smoking, use behavioural science research to understand what would work best to help them to stop smoking as well as to create supportive Smokefree environments that prevent starting.

To receive and note the annual report.

Councillors are required to give notice of any such question in writing to the Monitoring Officer no later than 5pm providing three clear working days’ notice before the meeting, in order to be guaranteed a written response. For this meeting the deadline is 5pm on Thursday 20 March 2025.

Details of any questions received will be circulated to all councillors prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on the Council’s website.

Any question received after 5pm on 20 March and no later than 9am 26 March may only receive a verbal response at the meeting or the Chair may direct them to the appropriate committee or the next meeting of the Council.

Questions may be asked without notice and councillors are limited to one minute to put their question. Supplementary questions can only be asked with the consent of the Chair. The Chair will determine the number of questions asked without notice and the total time allocated for this item.

Councillors are reminded of the opportunities outside of the Council meeting to raise matters directly with the Leader of the Council, Executive Lead Members or Directors. In addition, Councillors can raise questions at meetings of the Executive.