Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Hollinsworth Hall, Canalside Conference Centre, Marsh Lane, Huntworth, Bridgwater TA6 6LQ. View directions

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

Media

Items
No. Item

16.

Apologies for Absence

To receive any apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillors Adam Boyden, Dawn Denton, Andy Dingwall, Michael Dunk, Sarah Dyke, Andy Hadley, Pauline Ham, Bente Height, Mike Hewitson, Andy Kendall, Marcus Kravis, Christine Lawrence, Kathy Pearce, Emily Pearlstone, Evie Potts-Jones, Brian Smedley, Federica Smith-Roberts, Sarah Wakefield, Alex Wiltshire and Gwil Wren.

 

The Leader congratulated Councillor Sarah Dyke on her appointment as the local MP for Somerton and Frome.  He further thanked all the staff who worked and contributed to the smooth running of the by-election.

17.

Minutes from the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 189 KB

To approve the minutes from the previous meeting.

Minutes:

The Council RESOLVED that the minutes of Annual Council Meeting held on 24 May 2023 be confirmed as a correct record.

18.

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 )

Minutes:

Councillorspresent atthe meetingdeclared thefollowing personalinterests in their capacity as a Councillor of a Town or Parish Council or any other Local Authority:-

UNITARY COUNCILLOR

TOWN AND/OR PARISH COUNCIL

Steve Ashton

Crewkerne Town Council / Hinton St George Parish Council

Suria Aujla

Bridgwater Town Council

Jason Baker

Chard Town Council

Lee Baker

Cheddon Fitzpaine Parish Council

Marcus Barr

Wellington Town Council

Mike Best

Crewkerne Town Council

Alan Bradford

North Petherton Town Council

Theo Butt Philip

Wells City Council

Simon Carswell

Street Parish Council

Norman Cavill

West Monkton Parish Council

Peter Clayton

Burnham Highbridge Town Council

Nick Cottle

Glastonbury Town Council / St Edmunds Parish Council

Adam Dance

South Petherton Parish Council

Tom Deakin

Taunton Town Council

Caroline Ellis

Taunton Town Council

Ben Ferguson

Axbridge Town Council

Bob Filmer

Brent Knoll Parish Council

Philip Ham

Coleford Parish Council

Ross Henley

Wellington Town Council

Edric Hobbs

Shepton Mallet Town Council

John Hunt

Bishop’s Hull Parish Council

Val Keitch

Ilminster Town Council

Jenny Kenton

Chard Town Council

Tim Kerley

Somerton Town Council

Tony Lock

Yeovil Town Council

Martin Lovell

Shepton Mallet Town Council

Mike Murphy

Burnham Highbridge Town Council

Graham Oakes

Yeovil Town Council / Yeovil Without Parish Council

Sue Osborne

Ilminster Town Council

Wes Read

Yeovil Town Council

Leigh Redman

Bridgwater Town Council

Mike Rigby

Bishop’s Lydeard and Cothelstone Parish Council

Tony Robbins

Wells City Council

Dean Ruddle

Somerton Town Council

Peter Seib

Brympton Parish Council / Chilthorne Domer Parish Council

Heather Shearer

Street Parish Council

Gill Slocombe

Bridgwater Town Council

Jeny Snell

Yeovil Town Council / Brympton Parish Council

Richard Wilkins

Curry Rivel Parish Council

Dave Woan

Yeovil Town Council

Ros Wyke

Westbury-sub-Mendip Parish Council

 

 

19.

Public Question Time pdf icon PDF 124 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’.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Public Questions were received from:-

·       David Redgewell – Bus/Rail Network and Ticket Office Closures

·       Chris Barker – Chinnock Hollow Risk Assessments

·       Eva Bryczkowski – Helping St Andrews Patients

·       Nigel Behan – Addressing Carbon Emissions and Climate Change

 

The questions and responses provided are attached to the minutes in Appendix A.

20.

Chair's Announcements pdf icon PDF 152 KB

To receive the Chair’s Announcements.

Minutes:

The Chair of the Council, Councillor Mike Best, referred to the events detailed on the Chair’s Information Sheet, circulated and published with the agenda.

 

The Chair also highlighted that the February meeting of Full Council would be moved to a start time of 10am to allow for proper debate of the budget.

21.

Report of the Executive - Street Naming and Numbering Policy - Decision pdf icon PDF 484 KB

Adoption of new Street Naming and Numbering Policy for Somerset Council.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Councillor Bill Revans proposed the recommendations which were seconded by Councillor John Hunt.

 

Having been duly proposed and seconded the Council RESOLVED to adopt the legislation Sections 17-19 (inclusive) Public Health Act 1925 (Option A in the Executive report of 10 May 2023) and the proposed Street Naming and Numbering Policy (Paper A, Appendix A) to enable and support the operation of the Street Naming and Numbering Service.

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Bill Revans, introduced the report which set out the recommendations to Council which arose from the consideration of the report at the Executive meeting held on 10 May 2023.

 

The purpose of the report was the adoption of the new Street Naming and Numbering Policy for Somerset Council.

 

The Council discussed the report and the following points were raised:-

·       Councillors were pleased that the Policy stated that agreement was required from both the Council and Royal Mail.

·       Councillors requested that Parish Councils were consulted at the start of the process rather than at the end, as stated in the Policy.

 

Councillor Bill Revans proposed the recommendations which were seconded by Councillor John Hunt.

 

Having been duly proposed and seconded the Council RESOLVED to adopt the legislation Sections 17-19 (inclusive) Public Health Act 1925 (Option A in the Executive report of 10 May 2023) and the proposed Street Naming and Numbering Policy (Paper A, Appendix A) to enable and support the operation of the Street Naming and Numbering Service.

22.

Report of the Leader of the Council - Somerset Board Arrangements - Decision pdf icon PDF 421 KB

Approval of Representatives of the Somerset Board.

Decision:

Councillor Bill Revans proposed the recommendations which were seconded by Councillor Adam Dance.

 

Having been duly proposed and seconded the Council RESOLVED to:-

1)     Include a Further Education representative and the Director of Strategy for the Integrated Care Board as a member of the Somerset Board 

2)    Delegate authority to the Leader of the Somerset Council to make decisions on Board membership without the need to wait for a meeting of the Full Council.

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Bill Revans, introduced the report which detailed the proposal for two additional Board Members and the delegated authority to the Leader of the Council to make decisions on Board Membership.

 

The Council discussed the report and the following points were raised:-

·       The Leader of the Conservative Group, Councillor David Fothergill, supported the report, however, he raised concern on the delegated authority to the Leader of the Council for appointments to the Board.  He further advised that the Conservative Group would be abstaining from the vote.

·       In response, the Leader of the Council advised that he would follow the proper protocol for delegation and that he would always consult with the Opposition Groups.

 

Councillor Bill Revans proposed the recommendations which were seconded by Councillor Adam Dance.

 

Having been duly proposed and seconded the Council RESOLVED to:-

1)     Include a Further Education representative and the Director of Strategy for the Integrated Care Board as a member of the Somerset Board 

2)    Delegate authority to the Leader of the Somerset Council to make decisions on Board membership without the need to wait for a meeting of the Full Council.

23.

Report of the Standards Committee - Decision pdf icon PDF 509 KB

Adoption of the new Code of Conduct Hearing Procedure and Media Protocol for Somerset Council.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Councillor John Bailey proposed the recommendations which were seconded by Councillor Frances Nicholson.

 

Having been duly proposed and seconded the Council RESOLVED to adopt the following:-

a)    Investigations and Hearing Procedure

b)    Somerset Council Guidance on making a Code of Conduct Complaint (including process flow chart)

c)     Somerset Council Code of Conduct Complaints Media Protocol

Minutes:

The Chair of the Standards Committee, Councillor John Bailey, introduced the report which set out the recommendations to Council which arose from the consideration of the report at the Standards Committee meeting held on 28 June 2023.

 

The purpose of the report was the adoption of the Code of Conduct Complaint Procedure (which included the investigation and hearing procedures) and the Media Protocol for Somerset Council.

 

The Council discussed the report and the following points were raised:-

·       Councillors supported the recommendations.

·       Councillors from the Standards Committee advised Council on the work that had been undertaken on the Code of Conduct and associated protocols and guidance.

 

Councillor John Bailey proposed the recommendations which were seconded by Councillor Frances Nicholson.

 

Having been duly proposed and seconded the Council RESOLVED to adopt the following:-

a)    Investigations and Hearing Procedure

b)    Somerset Council Guidance on making a Code of Conduct Complaint (including process flow chart)

c)    Somerset Council Code of Conduct Complaints Media Protocol

24.

Report of the Monitoring Officer - Minutes from two of the legacy District Councils - Decision pdf icon PDF 89 KB

Approval of committee minutes of two of the legacy Councils.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Councillor Gill Slocombe proposed the recommendations which were seconded by Councillor Alan Bradford.

 

Having been duly proposed and seconded the Council RESOLVED to approve the accuracy of the minutes of the former committee meetings of two legacy councils as set out in Appendix 1 – 9 (Sedgemoor District Council Development Committee – 13 December 2022, 10 January 2023, 7 February 2023, 7 March 2023, 28 March 2023; Executive meeting on 30 November 2022 and Full Council on 29 March 2023 and Somerset West and Taunton Council Planning Committee on 8 December 2022).

Minutes:

The Monitoring Officer, David Clark, introduced the report which sought the approval to the accuracy of several minutes of the former legacy district councils.

 

The Council discussed the report and the following points were raised:-

·       Councillor Bob Filmer proposed an amendment to the wording for the Development Committee that took place on 7 February 2023, under item ‘Other Planning Applications’ and application 07/22/00025 registered 07/11/2022: ‘It was also requested to be noted that the scale of development was a factor in the decision of the committee and any expansion of the site would not be acceptable due to the impact on the amenity of the surrounding area.’ The proposed amended wording was agreed by the proposer and seconder.

·       The members of the Conservative Group who were not present at the meetings would not be taking part in the vote.

 

Councillor Gill Slocombe proposed the recommendations which were seconded by Councillor Alan Bradford.

 

Having been duly proposed and seconded the Council RESOLVED the following:-

a)    Approval to the accuracy of the minutes of the former committee meetings of two legacy councils as set out in Appendix 1 – 9 (Sedgemoor District Council Development Committee – 13 December 2022, 10 January 2023, 7 February 2023, 7 March 2023, 28 March 2023; Executive meeting on 30 November 2022 and Full Council on 29 March 2023 and Somerset West and Taunton Council Planning Committee on 8 December 2022).

b)    Agreed the case for exempt information for the minutes of the former Sedgemoor District Council Executive meeting on 30 November 2022 (Appendix 1) and the Sedgemoor District Council meeting on 29 March 2023 (Appendix 2) to be treated in confidence, as the case for the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing that information.

c)    Agreed to exclude the press and public from the meeting where there was any discussion at the meeting regarding the minutes of the former Sedgemoor District Council Executive meeting on 30 November 2022 and the former Sedgemoor District Council Full Council meeting on 29 March 2023 (to be treated as exempt information). 

25.

Executive - Report for information and Executive Lead Member Reports - Annual Report of the Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Resources and Performance and Annual Report of the Lead Member for Children and Families pdf icon PDF 329 KB

Annual Report of the Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Resources and Performance – Cllr Liz Leyshon.

Annual Report of the Lead Member for Children and Families – Cllr Tessa Munt.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Bill Revans, introduced the report which included a summary of the key decisions taken by the Leader and the Executive.

 

The Council discussed the report and the following points were addressed to Lead Members:-

·       A request for an update regarding the judicial review with Cheddon Fitzpaine Parish Council

·       Accessibility of documents on the Council’s website

·       Variances in support given to City, Town and Parish Councils

·       Tree planting

·       Changes to bus services

·       Closure of the Bridgwater Bus Depot (clarification that it was the depot and not the station)

·       Continuation of the ‘Park and Ride’ service

·       Ticket office closures and an update on the consultation process and responses

·       Expansion of funding for bus services outside of the Taunton area

·       Local Community Network decision making powers on car parking

·       Update on Taunton Bus Station

·       Update on the EDF bus service

·       Grass cutting frequency

·       Use of the Council logo at events held across the county

 

Councillor Bill Revans proposed the recommendations which were seconded by Councillor Liz Leyshon.

 

Having been duly proposed and seconded the Council RESOLVED to note the reports.

 

The Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Liz Leyshon, introduced her annual report.

 

The Council discussed the report and the following points were raised:-

·       Councillors thanked officers for all their hard work in the creation of the New Council.

·       Concern was raised that the report did not cover any information on the new year or any in-year recording.

·       Background information was given on the installation of the new finance system and the impact that had had on the service.

·       Councillors requested the Section 151 Officer view on the current financial situation.

·       Councillors highlighted the funding deficit caused by Central Government.

 

The Lead Member for Children, Families and Education, Councillor Tessa Munt, introduced her annual report.

 

The Council discussed the report and the following points were raised:-

·       Councillors were pleased to see the report included in the agenda.

·       Councillors agreed that there was much to celebrate.

·       Councillors agreed it was an important subject, as they all had responsibility as a corporate parent.

·       Councillors highlighted the recent achievement award ceremony that had been held and praised the staff for all their hard work, including those from the Shaw Trust.

·       Councillors were urged to read the engagement report.

·       Councillors requested that more detail on the budget and priorities be included within the next report.

·       Councillors received an update on schools and building projects.

·       Concern was raised on the key stage level two results and that they were lower than the national average.

26.

Annual Report of the Audit Committee - Information pdf icon PDF 950 KB

Annual Report of the Committee.

Minutes:

The Vice Chair of the Audit Committee, Councillor Andy Sully, introduced the annual report of the Committee.

 

The Council noted the report.

27.

Annual Report of the Health and Wellbeing Board - Information pdf icon PDF 1012 KB

Annual Report of the Board.

Minutes:

The Lead Member for Public Health, Equality and Diversity, Councillor Adam Dance, introduced the annual report of the Board.

 

The Council discussed the report and the following points were raised:-

·       Councillors agreed that it was a good report which detailed what had been a challenging year with lots achieved within the service.

·       Councillors advised that they had learnt a lot on the service since being appointed.

·       Councillors were aware that Somerset had an aging population and that action was needed to support the work within the service.

 

The Council noted the report.

28.

Annual Report of the Scrutiny Committee - Adults and Health - Information pdf icon PDF 125 KB

Annual Report of the Committee.

Minutes:

The Chair of the Scrutiny Committee for Adults and Health, Councillor Gill Slocombe, introduced the annual report of the Committee.

 

The Council discussed the report and the following point was raised:-

·       Councillors thanked the Committee and officers for all their hard work over the past year.

 

The Council noted the report.

29.

Annual Report of the Scrutiny Committee - Children and Families - Information pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Annual Report of the Committee.

Minutes:

The Chair of the Scrutiny Committee for Children and Families, Councillor Leigh Redman, introduced the annual report of the Committee.

 

The Council discussed the report and the following point was raised:-

·       Councillors thanked the Chair and the Committee for all their hard work over the past year.

 

The Council noted the report.