Agenda item

Update on Somerset Council's Financial Position

·         General Update

 

·         Service and Asset Devolution

 

o   To include Williton Recycling Centre Closure

Minutes:

Emma Plummer, Interim LCN Link Officer explained the current timeline and shared a presentation. This can be viewed here.

 

Asset and Service Devolution

A question was raised about who would be responsible for paying the legal fees for asset transfers? A £600k budget has been proposed to finance the Somerset Council asset devolution process, and this would be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.  Cllr Loretta Whetlor also advised that SALC were looking at ways to assist Parishes and Towns in the transfer process. SALC was considering setting up a legal company to consolidate/assist with the legal fees.

 

It was asked what was happening to Somerset Council’s Commercial Investment Portfolio? Surely this would release capital money that could then be used to finance Somerset Council services? It was explained that capital money would be ring-fenced and could not be used to fund revenue budgets unless dispensation was received from central government. It was basically selling off “the family silver” and could only be used once.

 

Closure of the Williton Recycling Centre.

The meeting was attended by Cllr Dixie Darch and Executive Director Mickey Green. They had also been present at the Extraordinary Meeting, which was held by Williton PC on 30 January, to discuss the potential closure of the Williton Recycling Centre. (Minutes of this meeting can be viewed here).

 

Cllr Dixie Darch advised that following the Executive meeting that day, part of the budget proposals to close 5 household recycling centres (including Williton) was being re-assessed. Somerset Council were in consultation with the contractor to look at how savings could be made on the existing contract and reduce costs. There were £960K savings required, and the service was being thoroughly examined right across the board. If a decision was made to proceed with the closures, then a county wide consultation would take place.

 

There was a lot of debate in the room about this issue, some of which was a repeat of the public meeting.

 

General points made included:-

  • The decision-making process must be clear and transparent to enable the populace to understand it. Attendees felt that the “wrong recycling site” had been selected for closure.
  • Concern was expressed that Somerset Council was going to devolve the responsibility of dealing with Fly-Tippers down to the parishes, and they didn’t have the staff or resources to manage this! Cllr Dixie Darch stated that there were no plans to devolve the fly-tipping service at this time.
  • Is there evidence to support that Somerset Council successfully prosecutes fly-tippers? This could generate some income streams and would be a deterrent to others. Fly Tippers when found were actively prosecuted. The evidence suggested that most fly-tippers were actually rogue traders, masquerading as licenced waste carriers.
  • Not to throw the Minehead Recycling Centre “under the bus” to try and save Williton. A resolution should be sought to keep as many recycling centres open as possible, and find ways to make cost savings in other areas.

 

Cllr Dixie Darch spoke passionately about the decisions that are being made and expressed her dismay at the current financial situation. It was important that services were preserved, but the current deficit in the statutory areas of protecting the vulnerable (Adult Social Care and Children’s Services) meant that Somerset Council was faced with a stark choice. Cost savings had to be realised to ensure that the Council was not issued with a Bankruptcy notice. If that happened, the Commissioners would automatically cut the discretionary services, and a likely scenario could be that ALL recycling centres were closed.

 

Other discussion points:-

An attendee suggested that the LCN meetings were a waste of money and resource. A query was raised about how much it was costing to finance the LCNs and what had the Minehead and Watchet LCN achieved? The Chair, Cllr Andy Sully reminded the LCN that two flooding events had taken place following the recent flooding in Minehead and Carhampton. This was to map the current provision and look into future preparedness. A Q&A had also been facilitated with the Homefinder Team to talk about how housing allocations were made, and an update on the Somerset Council Rainbow Way development had taken place. Cllr Dixie Darch advised that the cost implications of LCN meetings had been assessed as part of the budget process,. Now that they had been launched, the ongoing costs were minimal. Their value was in listening to and engaging with local communities, and if they were to be stood down, it would be due to lack of interest on the part of the membership rather than to make cost savings.