Agenda item

The Chair to advise of any questions, statements or petitions received that are not covered by items on the agenda for the meeting on which members of the public have requested to speak.

Question

 If Parish and Town Councils moved to pay the extra money suggested for the services of grass cutting, public toilets and the Highway Steward service, by how much will this reduce the deficit for Somerset? Would this prevent the Chief Financial Officer being required to notify Government with a Section 114 notice?

Answer

Councillor Theo Butt-Philip confirmed that the Council did not want to cut the services but there was no money to pay for them. The budget is very complex and devolution of some services is only a part of the overall savings package. The Council is in constant discussion with National Government and is doing all it can to avoid issuing a section114 notice.

He informed everyone that the date to set the budget was 20^th February and if it was felt that the delivery of the savings was not feasible and that the negative implications were too great and if the Council could find a way of continuing to deliver the service then this would be explored. However, this was a colossal mountain to climb.

He further pointed out that if the Council had to issue a S114 Notice then Government Commissioners would come in and they would make all of these cuts and more.

Other issues raised from the smaller parishes were that they only had a precept of a few thousand pounds and di not have full time clerks.

Councillor Frankie Mitton explained that the LCNs offered an opportunity for parish/town councils to work together to share resources and reduce costs to individual Town and Parish Councils.

Request

Danielle Hardaway, Somerset, and Avon Police, asked for a list to be emailed to her of community touchdown points where she would be able to use WiFi. Her contact details are: Danielle.hardaway@avonandsomerset.police.uk.