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:

·       Agree the Target Operating Model for Somerset Council.

·       Delegate authority to the Executive Director - Strategy Workforce and Localities to make any future minor amendments or improvements to the Target Operating Model in consultation with the Lead Member for HR and Transformation.

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive resolved to review the performance information provided within Appendix A, and in particular the narrative relating to performance this quarter.

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

a)    Note the capital outturn position for the financial year 2023/24 of £117.8m

b)    Approve the slippage of £196.890m from 2023/24 into 2024/25 and beyond whilst a further review of the capital programme takes places during 2024/25

c)    Approve the removal of the underspend

d)    Approve the changes to the capital programme approvals, as detailed in Section 26 of this report

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

a)    Note the contents of the report and appendices.

b)    Approve the slippage of £73.963m from 2024/25 into 2025/26 and beyond whilst a further review of the capital programme takes places during 2024/25.

c)    Approve £11.400m of changes to the capital programme approvals, as detailed in Section 25 of this report.

d)    Approve a £0.528m virement to the capital programme, as detailed in Section 26 of this report.

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

1.             Note the HRA’s forecast financial performance and projected reserves position for 2024/25 financial year as at 30 June 2024, including key risks and future issues and opportunities detailed in the report which will be closely monitored and updated throughout the year.

2.             Note the forecast outturn position of the Capital Programme. 

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

a)    Note the underspend of £1.8m (0.3%) for the 2023/24 financial year which will be added to the General Fund balance.

b)    Approve the draws and contributions to earmarked reserves set out in appendix 11.

c)    Approve to release £0.7m of available earmarked reserves funding to the General Fund balance.

d)    Agree to continue to receive monthly budget monitoring reports in 2024/25 which sets out the forecast outturn for the year with details of any mitigations and actions being taken to address any forecast variances.

e)    Note that the Collection Fund outturn position is still being finalised. Any over/underspend will be funded from/contributed to reserves. Any material changes to the reserve position will be noted in a future report.

f)      Approve the amendment to the Flexible Capital Receipts Strategy to include the Adult Social Care transformation programme, My Life, My Future (section 34/appendix 12).

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

a)    Note the forecast underspend of £0.2m for the year.

b)    Agree to draw £0.025m from the Hurlestone Bothy Earmarked Reserve for the Coastal Revival Fund. (£0.017m to Property Services under Strategic Asset Management, and £0.008m to Communities Services under Regulatory & Operational Services.)

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

1.    Note the contents of this report.

2.    Note the outcome of the recent Inspection by the Investigatory Powers Commission.

3.    Note the use of the Authorities’ powers under RIPA for the period of 3 years prior to the formation of the unitary Council, for the period 2023/24 and thereafter that the use of the powers be reported to the Executive on an annual basis.

4.    Recommend to Full Council that the former County Council’s Covert Surveillance (RIPA) Policy attached to this Report be re-adopted as amended, as the RIPA Policy for Somerset Council.

5.    Agree and note that the Council’s Policy at recommendation 4 above will be reviewed annually by the Scrutiny Committee – Corporate and Resources and Executive Committee.