Meeting documents

To receive a report by the Chair of Council.

The Vice Chair, Cllr Clayton presented the Chair of Somerset County Council Information Sheet No. 15 which had been circulated and published with the agenda and provided details of the activities and events attended since the report to the Council on 23 February 2022. He advised that he had attended the Yeovil Civic Day on 26 April and had also visited Yeovil Town football club in the afternoon.

The Vice Chair then paid tribute to the following Councillors who were not standing for re election at the elections on 5 May 2022 –

Cllr Ann Bown – Bridgwater West

First elected – 2005

Years served as a County Councillor – 17

Highlights – Long standing Member on Scrutiny, Officer Appeals and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue. Most recently served as Vice Chair of the Scrutiny for Policies and Place Committee.

Cllr Anna Groskop – Wincanton and Bruton

First elected – 2009

Years served as a County Councillor – 13

Highlights – Served 3 years as Cabinet Member for HR, Health and Transformation. Most recently served as Chair of the Scrutiny for Policies and Place Committee.

Cllr Nigel Hewitt-Cooper – Mendip South

First elected – 2017

Years served as a County Councillor – 5

Highlights – Served as a Member of the Children and Families Scrutiny Committee, most recently served as Vice Chair of the Regulation Committee.

Cllr Mark Keating – Coker

First elected – 2017

Years served as a County Councillor - 5

Highlights – Served on Scrutiny and Regulation Committees. Served just under 3 years as Vice Chair of Council.

Cllr Jane Lock – Yeovil West

First Term – 1987 to 2001 representing Curry Rivel and then a Second term of 2013 to 2022

Years served as a County Councillor – 23

Highlights – Served as a Member of the Executive Board in the late 1990’s. Spent several years as the Leader of the Opposition and most recently Opposition Spokesperson for Adult Social Care and Strategy, Customers and Communities.

Cllr Graham Noel – Mendip West

First elected – 2013

Years served as a County Councillor – 9

Highlights – Served as Chair of the Pensions Committee for several years.

Cllr Linda Oliver – Frome North

First elected – 2016

Years served as a County Councillor – 6

Highlights – Served on HR Policy and Scrutiny Committees.

Cllr Mike Pullin – Mendip Hills

First elected – 2017

Years served as a County Councillor – 5

Highlights – Most recently served as Junior Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport.

Cllr Nigel Taylor – Cheddar

First elected – 2017

Years served as a County Councillor – 5

Highlights – Served 4 years as Chair of Council. Also longstanding member of the Regulation Committee.

Cllr Josh Williams – Brympton

First elected – 2017

Years served as a County Councillor – 5

Highlights – Served on Children and Families Scrutiny Committee and the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Panel.

The Leader of the Council, Cllr Fothergill paid tribute to the retiring Councillors and for their contribution to improving lives of people who live in Somerset. The Leader of the Opposition, Cllr Revans echoed the comments and said that he hoped will be able to recognise the contribution of some of those as Alderman in the coming year and some sort of event to show appreciation for their services as well.

The Council received and noted the report.