Meeting documents

Cllr N Bloomfield, Cllr J Clarke, Cllr J Parham, Cllr N Taylor, Cllr  G Verdon and Cllr L Vijeh

Details of all Members’ interests in District, Town and Parish Councils can be viewed on the Council Website at

County Councillors membership of Town, City, Parish or District Councils and this will be displayed in the meeting room (Where relevant).

The Statutory Register of Member’s Interests can be inspected via request to the Democratic Service Team.

The Acting Chair reminded the meeting that details of all Members’ interests in District, Town and Parish Councils could be viewed on the Council’s Website and there was no need for members to individually declare these personal interests in those other councils at the meeting.

Council is asked to confirm the minutes are accurate.

The Minutes of the meeting on 21 July 2021 were accepted as a true and accurate record and were signed by the Acting Chair.

The Minutes of the meeting on 21 July 2021 were accepted as a true and accurate record and were signed by the Acting Chair.

In Memorium

The Acting Chair paid warm tributes to County Councillor and Mendip District Councillor Ralph Clark who passed away on Friday 3^rd September and to Tim Carroll Somerset County Councillor and Councillor at South Somerset who also died on 3 September.

Ralph was elected to Somerset County Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

(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 Chair’s Schedule which will be made available to the members and to the public at the meeting.

Notice was received of Public Questions/Statements/Petitions (under 5000 signatures) and Elected Member Questions regarding:

Public Questions

What Affects Local Government Affects us all.

From: Eva Bryczkowski 

Response was from Cllr Mandy Chilcot Cabinet Member for Resources

Bus Services

From David Redgewell who was not present, so a summary of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To consider a report with recommendations from the Leader of the Council, arising from the Cabinet meetings.  

The recommendations relate to 2021/22 mid-year treasury management report.

Proposed by Councillor Mandy Chilcott and Seconded by Councillor Liz Leyshon moved and the Council RESOVLED to:

To endorse the Treasury Management Mid-Year Report for 2021-22.

The Council considered a report that set out the Leader’s and Cabinet’s recommendations to Council arising from their consideration of reports at the Cabinet meeting on 15 November 2021.  The Local Government Act 2003 requires the Council to operate the overall treasury function with regard to the CIPFA Code of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To agree the recommendations and decisions.

Proposed by Councillor Anna Groskop and Seconded by Councillor Hazel Prior-Sankey, moved and the Council RESOLVED :. 

·       That the Council approves the establishment of a LGR Joint Scrutiny Committee together with the four District Councils in Somerset constituted in accordance with and having the roles and responsibilities set out in the Terms of Reference attached at Appendix 1 ("Terms of Reference").  

·       That the Council agree to nominate the following eight Members from its overview and scrutiny committees onto the Joint Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Ann Bown

Councillor Bob Filmer

Councillor Anna Groskop

Councillor Jane Lock

Councillor Tessa Munt

Councillor Leigh Redman

Councillor Rod Williams

Councillor William Wallace

·       That the Council nominated Councillor Bob Filmer to the Joint Scrutiny Committee as the proposed Vice Chair.

The Council considered a report from the Monitoring Officer that set out proposals for the Council to consider regarding the potential formation of a Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Joint Scrutiny Committee comprising elected representatives from Mendip District Council, Sedgemoor District Council, Somerset County Council, Somerset West and Taunton Council and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To consider the report.

The Council noted the report.

The Council received a report by the Leader and Cabinet summarising the key decisions taken by the Leader, Cabinet Members and officers between 13 July 2021 and 12 November 2021, together with the items of business discussed at the Cabinet meetings on 15 September 2021, 20 October 2021 and 15  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

To consider the report.

The Council noted the report.

Councillor John Woodman introduced the report which highlighted the key activities and achievements of the past year. In addition, his report also highlighted the work services had undertaken to support the Council’s ongoing response to Covid-19 pandemic. The Council considered the report, and Councillor Mike Rigby asked for reassurance that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To consider the report.

The Council noted the report.

Councillor David Hall introduced his report setting out the progress and achievements from the last year including in Economic Development, Planning and Community Infrastructure, as well as looking forward to the next year.  The report focused on the key highlights from those service areas from the past year and he  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

To consider the report.

The Council noted the report.

The Council received and noted a report by Scrutiny for Adults and Health Committee, which was presented by Cllr Hazel Prior-Sankey, Chair of the Committee. The report covered the work of the Committee since July and Cllr Prior-Sankey thanked her Vice Chair, Cllr Healey, and other members of the Committee  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

To consider the report.

The Council noted the report.

The Council received and noted a report by Scrutiny for Policies, Children and Families Committee, which was presented by Cllr Leigh Redman, Chair of the Committee. The report covered the work of the Committee since May, and he thanked his fellow Committee members and Officers for their support. He noted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

To consider the report.

The Council noted the report.

The Council received and noted a report by the Scrutiny for Policies and Place Committee, which was presented by Cllr Anna Groskop, Chair of the Committee. The report covered the work of the Committee since September 2021 she encouraged greater interest and input from elected members into the Scrutiny function  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

To consider the report.

The Council noted the report  and commended the Partnership on the positive contribution and difference they have made to Somerset and the Armed Forces.

Councillor Rod Williams introduced the Annual report of the Armed Forces Covenant Partnership. The Report updated the Council on the Somerset Armed Forces Covenant (SAFC) Partnership since the last Annual Report to Full Council in November 2020. The purpose of the SAFC Partnership was to deliver the Armed Forces Covenant  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.