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 Counmcil 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 receive and note the Chair’s Announcements including events detailed on the Chair’s Information Sheet.

To consider the report from the Chief Executive.

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

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

2.1Note the new structure for the Council’s senior leadership team as set out in Appendix A.

2.2Approve the dismissal by reason of redundancy of the Service Director Legal, Governance and Democratic Services (Monitoring Officer) as per the recommendation of the Special Members Panel and delegate authority to the Chief Executive to agree the final date of dismissal and the final redundancy payment (in line with contractual entitlements).

2.3With effect from the date of dismissal by reason of redundancy of the Service Director Legal, Governance and Democratic Services (Monitoring Officer), Council appointed and designated Alyn Jones, Executive Director – Resources, Strategy and Transformation as the Council’s Monitoring Officer on an interim basis until the appointment of a permanent Monitoring Officer.

2.4Approve the redundancy costs for the posts as set out in Appendix B, as Full Council approval was required for costs that exceeded £100,000 and delegated authority to the Chief Executive to agree the final date of dismissal and the final redundancy packages, noting that such settlements would not exceed contractual redundancy pay or the payment required under statute to the Local Government Pension Scheme.

To consider recommendations from the Constitution and Governance Committee.

Councillor Bill Revans proposed the recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor David Fothergill.

Having been duly proposed and seconded, the Council RESOLVED to agree the proposed Council Size submission to the LGBCE, as endorsed and recommended by the Constitution and Governance Committee.

To consider the recommendations from the Constitution and Governance Committee.

Councillor Ross Henley proposed the recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor Tim Kerley.

Having been duly proposed and seconded, the Council RESOLVED to approve that the Contract Procedure Rules and Standing Orders were adopted into the Council’s Constitution as replacement for the current Section I6 with effect from the date that the Procurement Act 2023 was live – currently 24th February 2025.

To consider the recommendations from the Constitution and Governance Committee.

Councillor Ross Henley proposed the recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor Tim Kerley.

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

1)    Approve the proposed changes to Part I1-Senior Management Structure (see Appendix A).

2)    Approve the proposed changes to Part I2 – Officer Scheme of Delegation set out in Appendix B2.

3)    Approve the proposed changes to Part I3-Statutory and Proper Officers; and

4)    Authorise the Monitoring Officer to make the necessary changes to the Constitution.

To consider the recommendations from the Monitoring Officer.

Councillor Bill Revans proposed the recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor David Fothergill.

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

      i.         Approve the following appointments as co-opted members on the Harbour Management Advisory Committee:

·       Neil Adams

·       Nick Dunsby

·       Stuart Scorgie

·       Richard Parsons

     ii.         Approve the appointment of Councillor Claire Sully as the Vice-Chair of Scrutiny Committee – Adults and Health.

    iii.         Approve the appointment of Alison Wyatt as an employer’s representative on the Pension Fund Board.

To consider a motion – Changes to the Winter Fuel Allowance and protecting Somerset pensions from fuel poverty.

Councillor David Fothergill proposed the recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor John Hunt.

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

·       Send a letter from Councillor Bill Revans, Council Leader, to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, calling on the Government to postpone cutting the Winter Fuel Allowance and for an impact assessment to be undertaken.

·       Commit the Council to signing the ‘Save the Winter Fuel Payment for Struggling Pensioners’ petition being run by Age UK and write to all members offering them the opportunity to sign the petition themselves.

·       Encourage local efforts to promote Pension Credit uptake through council services and partnerships with local charities and community organisations to ensure that all eligible pensioners in Somerset were supported in claiming their entitlement.

·       Work with our Voluntary Charity Faith and Social Enterprise (VCSFE) partners to ensure that a substantial proportion of the Household Support Fund available from 1st October 2024 until 31st March 2025 was spent, awarded and utilised to help people in Somerset who were struggling with fuel poverty.

To receive and note the annual report.

Councillor Heather Shearer proposed the recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor Andy Hadley.

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

1.    Continue focus on an expanded corporate parenting responsibility following the recommendations of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) in May 2024 – see Background Papers.

2.    Support and promote a whole council approach to create practical and specific offers following the decision to view Care Experience as a Protected Characteristic

3.    Extend its thanks to the Somerset Care Council’s young people for all the hard work that they had undertaken.

To receive and note the annual report.

To receive and note the report.

To receive and note the annual report.

To consider and note the report of the Leader and Executive.

Councillors are required to give notice of any such question in writing to the Monitoring Officer no later than 5pm providing three clear working days’ notice before the meeting, in order to be guaranteed a written response. For this meeting the deadline is 5pm on 20 September 2024.

Details of any questions received will be circulated to all councillors prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on the Council’s website.

Any question received after 5pm on 20 September 2024 and no later than 9am 26 September 2024 may only receive a verbal response at the meeting or the Chair may direct them to the appropriate committee or the next meeting of the Council.

Questions may be asked without notice and councillors are limited to one minute to put their question. Supplementary questions can only be asked with the consent of the Chair. The Chair will determine the number of questions asked without notice and the total time allocated for this item.

Councillors are reminded of the opportunities outside of the Council meeting to raise matters directly with the Leader of the Council, Executive Lead Members or Directors. In addition, Councillors can raise questions at meetings of the Executive.