Agenda and decisions

Venue: John Meikle Room, The Deane House, Belvedere Road, Taunton TA1 1HE. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services Email: democraticservicesteam@somerset.gov.uk 

Note: Please note: For the budget meetings taking place in January and February 2025, there is amended guidance on Public Question Time. Please see the guidance notes contained within each agenda for the amended details. 

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence

To receive any apologies for absence.

2.

Minutes from the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 141 KB

To approve the minutes from the previous meeting.

3.

Declarations of Interest

To receive and note any declarations of interests in respect of any matters included on the agenda for consideration at this meeting.

(The other registrable interests of Councillors of Somerset Council, arising from membership of City, Town or Parish Councils and other Local Authorities will automatically be recorded in the minutes: City, Town & Parish Twin Hatters - Somerset Councillors 2023 )

4.

Public Question Time pdf icon PDF 98 KB

The Chair to advise the Committee of any items on which members of the public have requested to speak and advise those members of the public present of the details of the Council’s public participation scheme.

For those members of the public who have submitted any questions or statements, please note, a three minute time limit applies to each speaker and you will be asked to speak before Councillors debate the issue.

We are now live webcasting most of our committee meetings and you are welcome to view and listen to the discussion. The link to each webcast will be available on the meeting webpage, please see details under ‘click here to join online meeting’.

5.

Executive Forward Plan

To note the latest Executive Forward Plan of planned key decisions that have been published on the Council’s website.

 

Click here to access - Executive Forward Plan

6.

Council Organisation Restructure pdf icon PDF 396 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive resolved to:

 

1.    Review the organisational structure proposals and potential impacts on staff, services and the budget, including proposed mitigating activities.  

2.    Endorse and recommend the organisational structure proposals as part of the Head of Paid Service’s report to Full Council.  

3.    Agree, where any proposed changes to service delivery as a result of the organisation structure proposals will impact on existing approved service standards, to delegate authority to the relevant Service Director to revise the service standards and also complete a review of any impacted plans and policies (in consultation with their Executive Lead Member) before the end of May 2025. These are set out in Appendix B. 

7.

Budget Savings, Pressures, Fees and Charges 2025/26 pdf icon PDF 208 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices, and discussion, the Executive resolved to endorse the proposals below for approval by Full Council:

 

  1. Additional Budget Savings proposals for 2025/26 of £2.918m as set out in Tables 1, 3 and Appendix A  
  1. Budget Growth proposals for 2025/26 of £57.642m reducing to £55.719m by 2027/28 as set out in Table 2 and Appendix B  
  1. The proposed changes to Fees and Charges for 2025/26 as set out in Appendix C 

 

8.

Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Rent Setting and Fees & Charges for 2025/26 pdf icon PDF 199 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices, and discussion, the Executive resolved to endorse the recommendations and refer to Full Council for approval:

 

1.    Rent Setting for 2025/26 

a.    An increase of 2.7% on Dwelling Rents for 2025/26 in line with the Governments Rent Standard. 

b.    An increase of 2.7% for Sheltered and Extra Care housing rents in line with the dwelling rents increase.  

c.     An increase of 2.7% for Shared Ownership properties. 

d.    An increase of 2.7% on affordable rental tenures, with the rent being reviewed at relet based on 80% of open market rent capped at the LHA rate. 

2.    Fees & Charges for 2025/26 

a.    The service Charges for 2025/26 as shown in Appendix A for Homes in Sedgemoor and Appendix B for the In-House Service. 

b.    An increase of 2.7% for garage rents in the North. 

c.     A freeze on garage rents in the West. 

d.    An increase of 1.7% on temporary accommodation daily rates. 

e.    An increase of 1.7% for Meeting Hall hourly rental rates. 

f.      An increase of 1.7% for Guest Room charges. 

g.    To discontinue the lifeline subsidy from 1 April 2025 for all new tenants (whereas existing tenants will still benefit from this protection). 

3.    To note that the Revenue Budget for 2025/26, Capital Budget for 2025/26 to 2029/30, MTFP and 30-Year Business Plan Update will be presented to a later Executive / Full Council in February 2025. 

 

9.

Regional Devolution Proposals pdf icon PDF 874 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices, and discussion, the Executive resolved to:

 

1.    Note the publication of the Government’s devolution White Paper and welcomes the Government’s devolution policy objectives (as set out in section 2 of this report), including the ambitions to extend the geography of devolution across the country and increase the powers, functions and budgets devolved to local areas.  

2.    Authorise the Leader and Chief Executive to continue to work with partner authorities and Government departments (including Dorset. Wiltshire and BCP Councils in the Wessex grouping) to promote and develop a joint strategic approach to devolution.  

3.    Recommend that Full Council:  

a.    endorses the principle of Somerset Council working with partner local authorities (including Dorset, Wiltshire and BCP Councils) to secure a devolution settlement for the Wessex area and the ambition of the partners to be part of Government’s Devolution Priority Programme.  

b.    accepts that Wessex has agreed to be available to Swindon Borough Council and North Somerset Council should they wish to join Wessex at a later stage.  

c.     recognises that the geographies of authorities within the Devolution Priority Programme are identified as areas for the creation of a new MSA from 2026/27 with mayoral elections in May 2026. 

d.    notes the potential opportunities to promote economic growth, skills and prosperity alongside the financial benefits and strategic and operational implications for Somerset Council arising from a devolution settlement and the creation of a MSA. 

 

 

10.

Somerset Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy 2025 - 2030 pdf icon PDF 232 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices, and discussion, the Executive resolved to:

 

  • Consider and acknowledge the SHRSS consultation response. 
  • Consider the comments from the Scrutiny Committee – Adults and Health set out in paragraphs 11, 12 and 13 
  • Agree and adopt the Somerset Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy 2025-2030 
  • Delegate authority to Executive Director – Adult Services & Housing to bid for grant funding as opportunities arise and to approve any changes which may be required due to any legislative or central Government policy changes. 

 

11.

Customer Feedback Annual Report and SC Complaints Policy pdf icon PDF 112 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices, and discussion, the Executive resolved to:

·       agree the adoption of the revised Complaints Policy from 1st April 2025.  

·       sign-off the 2023/24 Annual Feedback Report and approve publication of it to the council’s website. 

 

12.

Determination of 2026/27 Somerset Council Admission Arrangements pdf icon PDF 239 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive resolved to:

 

  1. Determine the Admission Arrangements for all Local Authority Voluntary Controlled and Community Primary Schools for the 2026/27 academic year as set out in this report. 
  1. Determine the Admission Arrangements for all Local Authority Voluntary Controlled and Community Secondary Schools for the 2026/27 academic year as set out in this report.