Meeting documents

To receive members’ apologies

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Minutes of the Scrutiny for Policies, Environment committee at 10am on Wednesday 28 September 2022, held in The Luttrell Room at County Hall, Taunton, TA1 4DY.

Members present:  Cllr Martin Dimery (Chair), Cllr Adam Boyden (Vice Chair), Cllr Henry Hobhouse, Cllr Kathy Pearce, Cllr Tom Power, Cllr Jo-Roundell Greene, Cllr Steve Ashton, Cllr Harry Munt, Cllr Barrie Clark (virtual) Cllr Marcus Kravis (virtual), Cllr Matt Martin (virtual), Cllr Alan Bradford (virtual), Cllr Alex Wiltshire (virtual)

Non-committee members present:  Cllr Dave Mansell (virtual), Cllr Andy Dingwall (virtual), Cllr Sarah Dyke (virtual), Cllr Dawn Johnson (virtual)

Officers present: Colin Arnold - Service Manager Development and Planning, Ellie Maxwell -  Planning Policy Officer, Paul Hickson - Strategic Manager Economy and Planning,Mickey Green - Managing Director Somerset Waste Partnership, Julie Wooler - Senior Economic Development Officer, Katriona Lovelock – Service Manager Economy,  Jamie Jackson Governance Manager, Scrutiny, Stephanie Gold – Senior Democratic Services Officer, Lee Willment – Democratic Services officer.

[Meeting commenced 10am]

The Chair welcomed all to the first meeting of this new Scrutiny committee for Somerset County Council and asked members and officers to observe the following:

·         The agenda pack with papers is available via Mod Gov or directly from the Council website from the link which was sent out to members.

·         Clearly state who you are for the benefit of anybody who is listening to the meeting so they can identify who is speaking.

·         The meeting is audio recorded by the Council.

·         Members and officers please refer to page numbers from the published agenda pack to assist all present in finding the appropriate information.

Agenda item 1: Apologies for absence

Cllr Barrie Clarke, Cllr Marcus Kravis, Cllr Matt Martin, Cllr Alan Bradford and Cllr Alex Wiltshire

Agenda item 2: Declarations of interest

Cllr Henry Hobhouse informed the committee that he often undertakes paid work on mending railways.

Agenda item 3: Public Question time

There were no members of the public registered to speak at the meeting

Agenda item 4: Scrutiny Environment Work programme.

The Governance Manager, Scrutiny presented the Scrutiny for Policies, Environment work programme, alongside the Scrutiny for Policies, Place work programme and The Executive Forward Plan. He explained that, although the work programme is quite full, there is scope for members to feed in any items of business that they wish the Scrutiny for Policies, Environment committee to consider. The following items were suggested by members.

·         The recent lifting of the Fracking ban by Government and the impacts of this.

·         Renewable energy costs and the real differences between nuclear and renewable energy in Somerset.

·         This committee should prompt The Executive on issues that they should be thinking about.

·         More information regarding the Climate Implementation Board.

·         For the work programme to include Task and Finish groups to focus on areas of interest.

The Governance Manager, Scrutiny advised that the Connecting Devon and Somerset progress updates will be taken under the Scrutiny for Policies, Place committee going forward.

Under this item the Governance Manager, Scrutiny  ...  view the full agenda text for item 3.

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.

To receive an update from the Governance Manager, Scrutiny and discuss any items for the work programme.

To assist the discussion, attached are:

·       The Committee’s Forward Work Programme

·       The Scrutiny for Policies and Place Forward Work Programme

·       The Executive’s Forward Work Programme

To consider and comment on the report.

To consider and comment on the report.

To consider and comment on the report

To consider the report and to confirm three representatives from the Scrutiny for Policies, Environment committee to be part of a Scrutiny at Somerset Council Task and Finish Group.

The Chair to raise any urgent items of business