Meeting documents

Details of all Members’ interests in District, Town and Parish Councils will be displayed in the meeting room. The Statutory Register of Member’s Interests can be inspected via the Democratic Service team.

The Chair of the Committee invited those Members present to declare any interests not already registered as personal interests, such as being members of District, City, Town and Parish Councils and, available for inspection on the Council’s website. There were no declarations.

To consider this report on Virtual meetings procdeure and guidance.

The Chair of the Committee invited the Scrutiny Manager to introduce the report and he began by noting that the same report was being considered by each Scrutiny Committee and that it set out the Council’s initial guidance and proposals for conducting virtual meetings.

These reflected the Local Authorities and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

The Chair will allow members of the public to ask a question or make a statement about any matter on the agenda for this meeting. These questions may be taken during the meeting, when the relevant agenda item is considered, at the Chair’s discretion.

The Chair of the Committee asked the Clerk to confirm that no questions had been received from members of the public before the deadline. The Clerk confirmed no on time questions had been received however some questions had been received after the deadline and the Chair requested that a written  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To discuss any items for the forthcoming work programme. To assist the discussion, the following documents are attached:

a) – The Cabinet’s latest published forward plan;

b) – Current Work Programme for the Committee.

The Chair of the Committee invited Members to consider the Cabinet’s Forward Plan of proposed key decisions in forthcoming months and suggest any items for the Committee to consider. The plan was noted.

The Chair directed attention to the Committee’s own work programme and invited suggestions for possible future agenda  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The Chair of the Committee invited the Director of Children’s Services (DCS) to introduce this report that provided details of the response of Children Services to the Covid-19 pandemic and key issues the service was attempting to address with partners, families and children in Somerset.

The DCS began by highlighting  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To consider the final report from the School Exclusions Task and Finish Group.

The Chair of the Committee introduced the report on behalf of the Task and Finish Group which he had Chaired. He began by thanking the Officers and professionals that had helped and been involved in producing the report and he hoped that Members had read the report and the data  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The Chair may raise any items of urgent business.

The Chair of the Committee, after ascertaining there were no other items of business, thanked all those present for attending the Committee’s first virtual meeting and he closed the meeting at 14.40.