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 Chair’s Announcements including events detailed on the Chair’s Information Sheet.

To consider the report that was discussed by the Executive on 8 April 2024 on the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2025-26 to 2029-30.

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

Having been duly proposed and seconded, the Council RESOLVED to approve the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2025/26 to 2029/30 and the savings targets for 2025/26. 

At the Executive Meeting held on 8 April 2024, the Executive further agreed:

·       That the Council continued with the aim of avoiding a section 114 notice by taking all of the necessary actions and continuing to operate as if one had been issued. 

·       To receive an updated Medium-Term Financial Plan in September 2024 which sets out the latest forecasts of future service costs, income and funding from 2025/26 to 2029/30. 

·       To continue actively campaigning for the reform of funding of councils and greater local freedoms. 

·       That the Financial Control Boards continued to operate in 2024/25 as set out in Appendix 3.  

To consider the report to appoint an interim Service Director.

Councillor Sarah Wakefield proposed the recommendations which were seconded by Councillor Sue Osborne.

Having been duly proposed and seconded, the Council RESOLVED to confirm to extend the arrangement for Niki Shaw, Strategic Manager, Quality, Performance, Policy and Assurance, to provide continued emergency cover to the post of Service Director Strategy, Transformation and Performance, with effect from 1 April 2024 for a temporary period until 30 November 2024 or until a formal restructure decision is made on this post, whichever is sooner.

To consider the report on Member Dispensation.

To consider the two motions received from Members.

Supplemental Note in relation to Motion B:

On 23 April 2024, Somerset Council voted on a motion in respect of a commercial investment property it owns at 600 Aztec West.  That motion included a statement that “the tenant Elbit UK [is] a major UK based provider of weapons to the Israeli Defence Forces, used in the current Gaza catastrophe“.

Elbit Systems UK Limited have contacted us to say this is factually incorrect and they do not supply weapons or military equipment to the Israeli Defence Forces or the Israeli Ministry of Defence.

The Council would like to apologise and withdraw the statement that Elbit Systems UK Limited supplies military equipment to the Israeli Defence Forces or the Israeli Ministry of Defence.

Motion A - Plight of the Ukrainian People

Councillor Mark Healey proposed the recommendations which were seconded by Councillor Henry Hobhouse.

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

·       Note that as a result of the ongoing conflict over 1 million Ukrainians had been forced to leave the country fleeing the conflict, and that many of those people who had remained in the country were facing a humanitarian crisis.

·       Stand in solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people against Putin’s illegal invasion along with their friends and relatives here in Somerset.

·       Note Somersets proud record of supporting refugees fleeing from Afghanistan, Syria and many other conflicts, helping them to settle in Somerset.

Full Council therefore would:

·       Continue to provide support locally to Ukrainian refugees, working in collaboration with the local voluntary and community sector.

·       Call on Government to continue to provide essential aid to Ukraine by sending a letter to the Prime Minister from the Chair of Council.

Supplemental Note in relation to Motion B:

On 23 April 2024, Somerset Council voted on a motion in respect of a commercial investment property it owns at 600 Aztec West.  That motion included a statement that “the tenant Elbit UK [is] a major UK based provider of weapons to the Israeli Defence Forces, used in the current Gaza catastrophe“.

Elbit Systems UK Limited have contacted us to say this is factually incorrect and they do not supply weapons or military equipment to the Israeli Defence Forces or the Israeli Ministry of Defence.

The Council would like to apologise and withdraw the statement that Elbit Systems UK Limited supplies military equipment to the Israeli Defence Forces or the Israeli Ministry of Defence.

Motion B - Council Property Investment

Councillor Brian Smedley proposed the recommendations which were seconded by Councillor Shane Collins.

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

·       Note, that in the light of calls for an end of UK Arms sales to Israel, Somerset Council had been reviewing its interest in the Aztec West property in its commercial portfolio with a view to immediately disposing of the property or securing a means to legally evict the tenant Elbit UK, a major UK based provider of weapons to the Israeli Defence Forces, used in the current Gaza catastrophe.

·       Explore all ways of legally evicting Elbit UK or otherwise, to dispose of the property;

·       Ensure that moral and ethical considerations are fully appraised in addition to financial advantage in any future commercial property investments for yield.

To note the report of the Leader and Executive and to also receive any questions with notice for the Lead Members.

To note the annual report of the Lead Member for Economic Development, Planning and Assets.

To note the report of the five Scrutiny Committees.

To note the annual report of the Standards Committee.