Agenda and decisions

To receive any apologies for absence.

To approve the minutes from the previous meeting.

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 )

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’.

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

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

a)    Note Council is now forecasting a balanced revenue position (on-budget) for 2024/25.

b)    Note the total Council revenue forecast underspend of £31.074m for the year. There is a forecast underspend of £25.014m within Service Directorates for 2024/25 and the Corporate Contingency of £6.000m, whilst remains unallocated it has been released into the forecast outturn within budget lines Table 1.

c)    Note that the planned use of reserves of £36.800m for Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) Support towards the budget is forecast to reduce by £31.074m to £5.726m, due to the forecast underspend within budget lines (paragraph 18).

d)    Agree that mitigating actions are to be identified in order to reduce any overspends, to take action and to contribute to the long-term financial sustainability of the authority.

e)    Agree that the Council continues with the aim of avoiding a Section 114 notice by continuing to take the actions it has been taking all year.

f)      Agree to delegate to the Chief Finance Officer (Section 151 Officer), in consultation with the Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Resources, Procurement and Performance, to agree the final 2024/25 Outturn for all including the GF Revenue, Capital, DSG, HRA, Reserves and Capitalisation Direction to enable the Statement of Accounts 2024/25 to be completed, compiled and signed off by the Chief Finance Officer (Section 151 Officer).

g)    Note the final outcome of the 2024/25 MTFP Savings, with £35.856m Achieved (89%) and £4.376m Unachieved (11%) as set out in Table 2 and Appendix J1.

h)    Note the in-year forecast overspend on the Dedicated Schools Grant of £28.745m, a decrease of £1.993m from Month 10 (paragraph 12).

i)      Note the total forecast Dedicated Schools Grant year-end deficit of £62.656m as set out in Appendix C.

j)      Note the collection rates for Council Tax and Business Rates as set out in paragraph 19.

k)    Approve an addition to the Capital budget of £0.405m being grant funded costs on the iAero Centre, and £0.099m being S106 funded Community projects.

l)      Note the Capital Programme forecast outturn at Month 11 is £148.606m.

m)  Approve the additional Month 11 capital slippage of £0.045m into future years.

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

1. Note the MTFP & MTFS 2026/27 – 2030/31 timelines for reporting to the Executive
2. Approve the update to the MTFS 2025/26 – 2029/30 Strategy Document set out in Appendix A (Text highlighted in ‘Grey’ indicates Updates to the MTFS)
3. Note the 12 step Process and the high level Improvement and Transformation Gateways that will govern the development and implementation of projects at Appendix A
4. Note the existing commitments for The Improvement and Transformation Programme eligible through Flexible Use of Capital Receipts £0.325m and Capitalisation Direction £0.291m.

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

·       Note the progress made in quarter four.

·       Note the current assessment of programme risks as detailed in Appendix A

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

1.    That an external partner be procured through a tender process to work with the Council on developing and implementing a Pay and Grading framework, including the development of a final business case, for a new job evaluation scheme and new pay and grading structure for implementation in 2026/27.

2.    To delegate authority to the Executive Director of Resources, Strategy and Transformation in consultation with the Chief Executive and Lead Member for Transformation, HR and Localities to award the contract to an external partner following the procurement process.

3.    To delegate authority to the Chief Executive and the Service Director for HR and OD in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Transformation, HR, and Localities to undertake initial discussions in relation to collective bargaining with recognised trade unions.

4.    To approve the allocation of £3m of Transformation funding from the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts and/or Capitalisation Direction within the Capital Programme to enable the procurement of external specialist Pay and Reward consultancy support for delivering the pay and grading review, on the basis that a cost effective and affordable pay and grading structure is developed and modelled, supported by a detailed implementation plan, for future consideration by Executive and Scrutiny.

5.    To support the approach that it is intended to implement a modernised pay and grading structure that negates the need for an excessive number of recruitment and retention allowances and enables Somerset Council to retain and attract talent in a competitive job market.

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

-       Consider and endorse the proposed approach to risk management

-       Consider and endorse the refreshed strategic risks

-       Agree the case for applying the exempt information provision as set out in the Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12A, and therefore treat the attached confidential Appendix D in confidence, as the case for the public interest in maintaining an exemption outweight the public interest in disclosing the information.

-       Agree to exclude the press and public from the meeting where there is any discussion regarding the confidential appendix.

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

a)    Approve the 2025/26 Post 16 Local Transport Policy Statement (as set out in Appendix A) which details a new stepped model of assistance for eligible Post 16 and Post 19 learners with Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

b)    Agree the increased annual cost, now totally £1,032, for Post 16 pay seats on contracted school buses and the FE SEND travel contribution.

c)    Agree to the publication of the approved Policy on the Somerset Council website to meet the statutory requirements as stipulated by the Department for Education

d)    Agree that as part of the next annual review for the 2026/27 Policy Statement, the relevant Scrutiny Committee will have an opportunity to review and consider the proposed policy.

Following consideration of the officer report and discussion, the Executive agreed:

To remove the Mary Street car park, Taunton, from the list of operational assets previously approved for disposal and continue its use as a car park.

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

The Executive approves the Local Authority to commission Alternative Provision via a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS), through the use of call-off contracts over a four-year period, from 01.05.2025 – 23.02.2029. Maximum spend through the DPS during its term will be an estimated £20 million.

The Executive approves the use of the Dynamic Purchasing System by Somerset LA maintained and Academy Schools (including Free Schools) in Somerset, when this facility becomes available.

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

1.    Agree and endorse the Council signing up to the Somerset Equity Charter.

2.    Agree and endorse the Councils approach to Avon and Somerset Police Tacking Disproportionality Programme:

a.    Formally agree to participate and contribute to the Programme and Data and Insight subgroup

b.    Delegate to the Head of Service Community Safety to sign the Memorandum of Understanding for Data and Insight on behalf of the Council

c.     Delay contributions of £4,000 to the Programme from the Community Safety budget until the purpose of this contribution is clarified with a clear rationale and benefit to the Council. This decision to be taken by Head of Service Community Safety in consultation with relevant Executive Member.

3.    Support and endorse:

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

1.    Endorse the delivery proposals for the Connect to Work Programme for Somerset as set out in ‘The Background’ paragraphs 1-3.

2.    Delegate authority to Paul Hickson (Service Director for Economy, Skills and Climate), in consultation with Mike Rigby (Lead Member for Economic Development, Planning, and Assets), to approve the final version of the Delivery Plan for submission to Government

3.    Delegates authority to the Chief Finance Officer S151 to accept the grant funding offer from Government to deliver the programme once the Delivery Plan has been approved.

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

The adoption and implementation of the PSPO as detailed in Appendix 1 for failure to remove dog faeces, exclusion of dogs from enclosed play areas for under five and enclosed play areas and dogs to be kept on leads by direction. The Service Director for Regulatory and Operational Services is authorised to make this Order.