Meeting documents

SCC County Council
Wednesday, 20th July, 2022 10.00 am

Venue: Westlands, Westbourne Close, Yeovil, BA20 2DD

Contact: Mike Bryant - Service Manager, Democratic Services - 01823 357628  Email: mbryant@somerset.gov.uk or Email: democraticservicesteam@somerset.gov.uk

Note: If you wish to listen to this meeting or speak at this meeting, please refer to the guidance notes for the meeting that explain how you can do this. The deadline for receipt of Public Questions is 5 pm 3 clear work days before the day of the meeting (Thursday 14 July 2022) - email democraticservicesteam@somerset.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence

To receive apologies for absence.

2.

Declarations of Interest

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.

 

3.

Minutes from the meeting held on 25 May 2022 and 15 June 2022 pdf icon PDF 106 KB

Council is asked to confirm the minutes from the AGM held on 25 May 2022 and from the extraordinary meeting held on 15 June 2022 are accurate.

Additional documents:

4.

Chair's Announcements pdf icon PDF 57 KB

To receive the Chair’s Announcements.

5.

Public Question Time pdf icon PDF 74 KB

(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.

6.

Report of the Leader and Executive - items for decision pdf icon PDF 77 KB

  • View the decision for item 6.

To consider a report with recommendations from the Leader of the Council, arising from the Executive meetings held on 15 June 2022 and 11 July 2022.

 

The recommendations relate to:

-       Medium Term Financial Strategy & Plan 2023/24 – 2027/28

-       Treasury Management Outturn Report 2021-22

-       Children and Young Peoples Plan 2022-24

Additional documents:

Decision:

Paper A - Medium Term Financial Strategy & Plan 2023/24 and 2027/28

 

The Council approved that the Director of Finance and Governance is delegated authority to set the council tax base and business rates base for Somerset Council.

 

Paper B - Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2021/22

 

The Council endorsed the Treasury Management outturn report for 2021-22.  

 

Paper C - The Children and Young People’s Plan 2022-2024

 

The Council endorsed Somerset’s Children & Young People’s Plan 2022 – 2024.

 

7.

Reports of the Appointments Committee - Items 7a and 7b

7a

Appointment of a Chief Executive - Report of the Appointments Committee (to follow) pdf icon PDF 84 KB

To consider a report from the Appointments Committee.

Decision:

The Council resolved to:

 

·       Accept the recommendation of the Appointments Committee and appoint Mr Duncan Sharkey as the permanent Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service of Somerset County Council and the Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service of Somerset Council with effect from 1 April 2023.

 

·       Appoint on the basis of the terms and conditions agreed at the Extraordinary Council meeting on 15 June 2022 and on a spot salary for the post of £195,000 including Returning Officer Fees.

 

 

7b

Interim arrangements for the post of Chief Executive and designation of the Head of Paid Service (to follow) pdf icon PDF 65 KB

To consider a report from the Appointments Committee.

Decision:

The Council Resolved:

 

·       To delegate the powers of the Chief Executive to Paula Hewitt (Director of Economic & Community Infrastructure and Deputy Chief Executive) as the acting Chief Executive of Somerset County Council during the Interim Period.

·       To designate Paula Hewitt as the Council’s Head of Paid Service for the Interim Period.

To delegate to the current Chief Executive, the decision on the appointment and delegation of existing powers for an acting Deputy Chief Executive for the Interim period.

8.

Report of the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel - Special Responsibility Allowances for 2022/23 pdf icon PDF 103 KB

To receive a report from the Monitoring Officer.

Additional documents:

Decision:

 

The Council resolved to:

 

  1. Welcome and thank the Panel for its report and recommendations set out in Appendix 1

 

  1. Support and agree the Panel’s recommendations in respect of:

 

i)               the Chair and Vice Chair of Scrutiny Polices and Environment Committee and the Joint Scrutiny Committee for Local Government Reorganisation be set at Bands 5 and 6 respectively

ii)              the Chair of Standards Committee be set at Band 6

iii)            that the Council supports the need for a fundamental review of the Members’ Scheme of Allowances for 2023/24 and for this to be reported to the Council by February 2023.  The Council supports the approach to the fundamental review being undertaken in three parts:

1. The Basic Allowance

2. The SRAs

3. Other allowances, such as travel, subsistence and carers

 

With the BA being considered soonest. The role of co-opted members, including Independent Remuneration Panel members themselves, should also be considered and this could fit within either part 2 or part 3

 

  1. Reject the Panel’s recommendations in respect of:

 

i) the role of opposition spokesperson should no longer receive an SRA and instead retain the current SRA band for the role of opposition spokesperson.

 

Reason - it is felt that the level of time and commitment given by Opposition Spokespersons warrants an allowance in line with the Council’s arrangements for several years and in view of the members involvement as part of the transition to the new Somerset Council.

 

ii)              the SRAs for Associate Lead Members be set at Band 7 and instead retain these at Band 6.

 

Reason - it is felt the reduction to Band 7 does not adequately reflect the support and time that Associate Lead Members provide when compared to comparable roles and therefore to retain the SRA for these roles at Band 6 as previously agreed by the Council in February 2022.

 

iii)            the Chair and Vice Chair of Constitution & Governance Committee be set at Bands 6 and 7 respectively and instead propose that these are set at Bands 5 and 6 respectively.

 

Reason - it is felt that the level of time and commitment given by these roles during the transition to the new Somerset Council should warrant SRAs of Band 5 and 6 respectively in line with the Chair and Vice Chair of Audit Committee.

 

iv)            the Leader of a political group receives a SRA where the membership of the political group is 5 or more and instead agree that the Leader of a political group receives a SRA where the membership of the political group is 3 or more.

 

Reason - it is felt that the minimum level should be set at 3 to reflect the Council’s arrangements for several years and in view of all political group leaders with the transition to the new Somerset Council.

 

  1. (a) Support the Panel’s recommendation in respect of the formation of an Independent Remuneration Panel for Somerset Council but with an amendment to reflect the Council’s intention to accelerate the formation of the Panel by Autumn  ...  view the full decision text for item 8.

9.

Annual Report of the Audit Committee pdf icon PDF 75 KB

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

Decision:

The Council noted the report.

10.

Requisitioned Items pdf icon PDF 96 KB

To consider the following requisitioned items:

A – To Declare an Ecological Emergency

B – Cost of Living

C – Cost of Living Crisis

D – Local Community Networks

Decision:

 

 

The Council resolved:

 

Declaration of an Ecological Emergency

 

1.       That in addition to the work already underway, it will take on the responsibility as Lead Partner in the delivery of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) (this has already been agreed with Natural England), with partners in the established Local Nature Partnership and deliver a Strategy with a set of clear actions to bring about a reversal of the negative impacts on the natural environment and biodiversity and to develop strategies to mitigate against the possibility of further decline or damage on the habitats, flora and fauna of Somerset.

 

2.       To incorporate the details of the Ecological Emergency, the desired outcomes and any identified actions, including those within the LNRS into the next iteration of the Climate Emergency Strategy.

3.       To ensure "tackling the climate and nature emergencies" policies are at the heart of everything this council does and is embedded it into all Council decision making processes.

 

4.       To add ecological impact implications assessment alongside those for climate and sustainability in committee and council reports.

 

5.       In collaboration with the 4 District Councils, the Council will use existing and emerging planning policy and development management to ensure biodiversity is improved, environments enriched and the destruction of habitats is resisted when development occurs.

6.       Work similarly with the 4 Districts Councils to develop the Councils response to the phosphates issue affecting the Somerset Levels and Moors Ramsar site catchment area.

 

7.       That Somerset County Council is already ranked by Climate emergency UK as the UK’s top County Council in tackling climate change and recognised the work done by County Council in recent years to achieve this.

8.       To encourage residents, businesses and landowners to reduce pesticide use, and seek to become a pesticide-free council.

 

9.       To encourage residents, businesses and landowners to eliminate peat use, and seek to become a peat-free council.

 

10.      To work with emerging government guidance and across the Planning System with the Planning Authorities to develop the Council’s approach and policies around the Ecological Emergency and will implement, measure and monitor the Biodiversity net gain approach in order to maximise the benefits from development.

 

Cost of living emergency

 

 

The Council resolved to declare a ‘Cost of Living Emergency’ and call on the Government to:

 

-         Immediately reduce the standard rate of VAT from 20 per cent to 17.5 per cent for one year, saving the average household in Somerset a further £600 this year.

 

-         Immediately re-introduce the pensions triple lock to support Somerset’s pensioners.

 

-         Immediately restore the Universal Credit supplement of £20, which was cancelled by the Government in September 2021.

 

-         Council instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to express the Council’s demands for VAT to be cut to 17.5%, for the re-introduction of the pensions triple-lock and for the £20 Universal Credit supplement to be restored.

 

-         Finally, Council joins other local councils in calling for a local Cost-of-Living Emergency Summit, with stakeholders,  ...  view the full decision text for item 10.

11.

Report of the Leader and Executive - items for information pdf icon PDF 116 KB

To receive reports by the Leader of Council summarising key decisions taken by him and the Executive, including at the Executive meetings held on 15 June 2022 and 11 July 2022.

 

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

 

Decision:

The Council noted the report.

12.

Annual Report of Pensions Committee pdf icon PDF 61 KB

To receive and update on the performance of the Somerset County Council Pension Fund.

Additional documents:

Decision:

The Council noted the report.

13.

Annual Report of the Health and Wellbeing Board pdf icon PDF 90 KB

To receive a report by the Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

Decision:

The Council noted the report.

14.

Annual Report of the Scrutiny for Policies, Adults and Health Committee pdf icon PDF 89 KB

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

Decision:

The Council noted the report.

15.

Annual Report of the Scrutiny for Polices, Children and Families Committee pdf icon PDF 89 KB

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

Decision:

The Council noted the report.

 

16.

Annual Report of the Scrutiny for Policies and Place Committee pdf icon PDF 110 KB

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

Decision:

The Council noted the report.

17.

Any other urgent items of business

-       Extraordinary meeting to consider the Taunton Community Governance Review.

Decision:

The Council endorsed the Chair of Council’s proposal to convene an Extraordinary Meeting in early October 2022 to consider the Taunton Community Governance Review.