Issue - meetings

To consider this report.

NON-KEY DECISION

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive recommended to the Council at its the meeting on 20 December 2023 that it agrees to serve notice of it’s withdrawal and that the Heart of the South West Joint Committee be dissolved on 31 December 2023.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED: As set out in the officer report

REASON FOR DECISION: As set out in the officer report

The Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Governance and Communications, Cllr Bill Revans, introduced the report, highlighting: that the report follows a steer from the Leaders of several partner councils, including Devon County Council, Exeter City Council, Torbay Council and Plymouth City Council, for proposals to be brought forward to seek approval to dissolve the Heart of the South West Joint Committee; that the proposals specifically relate to the Joint Committee’s governance arrangements only and do not cover the HotSW Local Enterprise Partnership or the associated HotSW Joint Scrutiny Committee; that the report sets out a case for change which is supported by several of our partners; that changes in Government policy over the last five years, the development of the Devon, Plymouth and Torbay devolution deal and the forthcoming integration of the HotSW LEP into local authorities mean that the purpose of the Joint Committee has largely been superseded, and the proposals are being brought forward during November and December 2023 by a majority of the partner councils to agree to serve notice and recommend the dissolution of the Joint Committee on 31 December 2023; and that with the Executive’s support it is intended that Full Council agrees that Somerset Council should withdraw and the Joint Committee be dissolved on 31 December 2023, subject to the majority of partner councils approving similar resolutions.

The Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Governance and Communications, Cllr Bill Revans, invited comments from other Members present, questions and points raised included: the support for the decision from the current Chair of HotSW,

Cllr Val Keitch.

The Executive proceeded to vote on the recommendations, which were agreed unanimously.?? 

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive recommended to the Council at its the meeting on 20 December 2023 that it agrees to serve notice of it’s withdrawal and that the Heart of the South West Joint Committee be dissolved on 31 December 2023.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED: As set out in the officer report

REASON FOR DECISION: As set out in the officer report