Agenda and decisions
- Attendance details
- Agenda frontsheet
PDF 100 KB
- Agenda reports pack
- Supplement 1 - Minutes from the Previous Meeting
PDF 255 KB
- Supplement 2 - Customer Feedback Annual Report and SC Complaints Policy
PDF 5 MB
- Supplement 3 - Public Question Time Submissions
PDF 188 KB
- Supplement 4 - C&R Scrutiny comments to the Executive
PDF 168 KB
- Supplement 5 - UPDATED Appendix C Changes in Fees and Charges for Approval 2025-26
PDF 3 MB
- Printed decisions
PDF 106 KB
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
No. | Item |
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Apologies for Absence To receive any apologies for absence. |
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Minutes from the Previous Meeting To approve the minutes from the previous meeting. |
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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 ) |
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Public Question Time 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’. |
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Executive Forward Plan To note the latest Executive Forward Plan of planned key decisions that have been published on the Council’s website.
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Council Organisation Restructure 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. |
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Budget Savings, Pressures, Fees and Charges 2025/26 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:
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Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Rent Setting and Fees & Charges for 2025/26 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.
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Regional Devolution Proposals 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.
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Somerset Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy 2025 - 2030 Additional documents:
Decision: Following consideration of the officer report, appendices, and discussion, the Executive resolved to:
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Customer Feedback Annual Report and SC Complaints Policy 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.
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Determination of 2026/27 Somerset Council Admission Arrangements Additional documents: Decision: Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive resolved to:
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