Agenda and minutes
PDF 148 KBVenue: The John Meikle Room - The Deane House. View directions
Contact: Marcus Prouse Email: m.prouse@somersetwestandtaunton.gov.uk and Clare Rendell Email: c.rendell@somersetwestandtaunton.gov.uk
| No. | Item | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Apologies
To receive any apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies were received from Councillors L Baker, P Bolton, H Farbahi, A Hadley, C Morgan, S Pugsley, R Tully and T Venner. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Minutes of the previous meeting of Full Council
To approve the minutes of the previous meeting of the Committee. Additional documents: Minutes: (Minutes of the meetings of Full Council held on 3 December 2019, 17 December 2019, 14 January 2020 and 27 January 2020 circulated with the agenda)
Resolved that the minutes of Full Councils held on 3 December 2019, 17 December 2019, 14 January 2020 and 27 January 2020 be confirmed as a correct record. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Declarations of Interest
To receive and note any declarations of disclosable pecuniary or prejudicial or personal interests in respect of any matters included on the agenda for consideration at this meeting.
(The personal interests of Councillors and Clerks of Somerset County Council, Town or Parish Councils and other Local Authorities will automatically be recorded in the minutes.) Minutes: Members present at the meeting declared the following personal interests in their capacity as a Councillor or Clerk of a County, Town or Parish Council or any other Local Authority:-
The following Councillors further declared a personal interest on agenda item 9, the Future of Local Government in Somerset, as receivers of a Somerset County Council pension: Councillors I Aldridge, M Blaker, R Lees, S Lees, J Lloyd, D Mansell, H Prior-Sankey, F Smith and A Trollope-Bellew. Councillor S Wakefield further declared a personal interest in agenda item 8, Motion on Local Independent Schools, as a Trustee of the Somerset Community Foundation. Councillors C Ellis, M Hill, M Kravis and D Perry further declared a personal interest in agenda item 8, Motion on Independent Schools as they had a child that attended an independent school within the district. Councillor R Habgood further declared a disclosable pecuniary interest ... view the full minutes text for item 131. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Public Participation
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. Minutes: Mr Sigurd Reimers made the following statement:- Nearly half of all investments worldwide are made by pension’s schemes (1). A large proportion of these investments are in fossil fuels, which are harmful to the climate and the wider environment, and particularly to the younger generation. County Council pension’s schemes up and down this country are also involved in making such investments. However, some Councils are already using their ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) powers to find attractive alternative investments. Brunel Pensions Partnership, a pension’s pool in which Somerset is a stakeholder, have just joined in signing a resolution requesting Barclays Bank to stop investing in fossil fuels. (2) I have attended nearly all the meetings of Somerset County Council’s Pensions Committee in the past three years. At most of these I have asked questions about their policy on fossil fuels investments. I have found little, if any, interest in reducing such investments, as exemplified in one of their few comments about climate change in their most recent annual report: “For example, the Fund will not require any form of dis-investment from fossil fuels, tobacco or such like.” (3) This position is being held despite national resolutions about divestment coming from large constituent bodies such as some of the Unions (4). Somerset West and Taunton Council staff contribute to and benefit financially from the Somerset County Council pensions scheme, and are therefore, probably unwittingly, contributing to the problem of continued fossil fuel use. The Pensions Committee carries out a professional and skilful task, and it must understandably not be beholden to the vagaries of local political changes. However, the question remains: Does this District Council believe that the climate emergency they declared on 21st February 2019 is serious enough to challenge the Pensions Committee on its apparent indifference to the effects of climate change on its future pensioners, their families and communities?
Helen Lawy (Friends of Longrun Meadow) made the following statement on agenda item 10, Taunton Strategic Flood Alleviation Improvement Scheme:- Questions for council re flood alleviation plans for Longrun Meadow 1. Why are the EA not working with nature and following their own guidelines? 2. Where is the evidence for their claims about biodiversity? 3. What confidence can we have in the EA when the scheme designed for flooding of 1 in a 100 years is, 10 years later, not fit for purpose? 4. Why were the Friends of Longrun Meadow not consulted?
Jean Pakes (Pegasus Court Residents Association) made the following statement:- I am speaking on behalf of the Residents’ Association of Pegasus Court which overlooks Somerset Square. We are very concerned about the deterioration of this important Town Centre area. Somerset Square is near a well-used riverside footpath, a busy pedestrian river bridge, the Brewhouse Theatre, the County Cricket Ground and the new Coal Orchard Development. The present arrangement for the maintenance of this public space seems to be wholly informal, unofficial and most irregular. Originally, Transition Town was responsible for only three raised ... view the full minutes text for item 132. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
To receive any communications or announcements from the Chair of the Council
Minutes: The Chair of the Council made the following announcements:- · The Chair praised the team that had taken part in the swimathon. They had swam 51 laps which equated to 102 lengths of the pool. · She reminded Councillors of the Songs for Springtime event being held on 29 February 2020. · The Chair advised that officers of Somerset West and Taunton Council were due to take part in a charity walk on 17 May 2020 and that Councillors were welcome to join them. · She reminded Councillors of the procedure to follow for questions on Portfolio Holder Reports. · Councillor L Whetlor gave thanks on behalf of Watchet Town Council and the residents of Watchet for the work carried out on the harbour wall and that they were all very grateful. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
To receive any communications or announcements from the Leader of the Council
Minutes: The Leader of the Council advised Councillors that following on from the Full Council meeting held on 19 February 2020, the local settlement had gone through and that it had not had any impact on the Council’s budget set at that meeting. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
To receive any questions from Councillors in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13
Minutes: Councillor M Blaker asked the following question:- Rev Martin Walker, Rector of Wiveliscombe Hills, has forwarded to Councillor Mansell and myself an interesting suggestion to lay ground source heat pumps, which would need quite a bit of land to lay but once laid were covered over and the land could be used as before, in public parks for the benefit of the Council and the local community. This seemed like a good, innovative thought and I wondered, on Rev Walker’s behalf, if this was something the Council might pursue?
Councillor P Pilkington responded:- We were always open to suggestions from residents on better or innovative ideas for use of our land and parks. We’d obviously need more information in order to be able to review suitability, but was happy to have anything sent over to him. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This motion is a means to facilitate a voluntary agreement in which local Independent Schools and Somerset West and Taunton Council innovate to jointly deliver and demonstrate the local public benefit of the schools. Additional documents: Minutes: During the discussion, the following points were made:- · Councillors highlighted that many residents had decided to spend their hard earned money on education rather than on holidays or other luxury items and that parents had the right to educate their children to the best of their ability. · Councillors believed that the current support system had helped many pupils be educated at a high level. · Concern was raised that the outreach programs might be affected. · Councillors highlighted that those parents who paid for their children to be privately educated actually paid for education twice as they also contributed to funds put towards state education. · Councillors mentioned that independent schools offered some students bursaries to assist with their tuition fees. · Councillors advised that many of the independent schools offered their facilities out to the public to use and that Councillors had positive experiences of that in the local area through sporting events and through conversations they had with the students. · Councillors understood the sentiment of the motion due to the inequality in society but thought the motion was not detailed enough and that dialogue with the schools and further consultation should have been had prior to the motion being raised. · Concern was raised on the charitable status many of the independent schools had and that they were a business that benefited from tax advantages. · Councillors highlighted that some of the schools were on a financial ‘knife edge’. · The Proposer was disappointed by the lack of support from fellow Councillors and gave information on the figures that could be achieved if the motion was passed compared to the cost of fees and that it would have a low impact it would have on the independent schools. · The seconder recognised that local independent school offered access to many high quality facilities but that those often involved charges which many low income families could not afford, and the motion gave independent schools an opportunity to support local state schools.
Resolved that the Motion was not carried. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Future of Local Government in Somerset
This matter is the responsibility of the Leader of the Council, Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts.
Members will be aware that the Leader of Somerset County Council has stated that he wishes to pursue the option of a single Unitary Council for Somerset. This Report sets out the work conducted to date, looking at the options for the future of local government in Somerset, and suggests an option of further collaboration and integration as being the preferred option moving forward. Minutes: During the discussion, the following points were made:- · Some Councillors were against a unitary authority as the area would be too big and supported the option to work together with the other districts. · Councillors gave further information on the current schemes where joint working with the other districts had been successful. · Concern was raised on protecting local services. Councillors had been made aware that Somerset County Council spent 70% of their budget on adult social care and that when any money needed to be saved, it came from the other 30% which would impact on other services. · Some Councillors did not support another Ignite Transformation programme and agreed that a unitary authority would be too big and would not work for the local residents. · Concern was raised on the pressure placed on Parish Councils if the unitary option was pursued, because they were voluntary organisations. · Some Councillors believed that collaborative working was the best option for the local residents. · Some Councillors were convinced that the unitary model should be pursued and did not believe that there was enough evidence to vote on the other options. · Some Councillors thought that change was needed and supported the option for a unitary authority and believed that it would make Councillors roles easier. · Some Councillors were conflicted on the issue. They further highlighted that the confusion that the public had on the issue was palpable. · Councillors agreed that further debate on the subject was required and that a full business case should be compiled.
Resolved that Full Council approved:- 1) A full business case be prepared, which fully explored Option 2 (Collaboration and Integration), being the preferred way forward at this time. The business case should come back to Executive in July 2020, along with clear recommendations and a delivery plan; 2) A joint Project Board be created, with the Leader of the Council being the representative from Somerset West and Taunton Council, to oversee the work during the next stage; 3) Option 2 – Collaboration and Integration, as Somerset West and Taunton Council’s current preferred option for the future of local government in Somerset to take forward through community consultation and engagement; 4) It noted that in the best interests of the communities and residents of the District, the Council would continue to work with colleagues across all tiers of local government and public service in Somerset; and 5) Investigation into Option 4 be started as soon as officer time was available to do so. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Taunton Strategic Flood Alleviation Improvements Scheme (TSFAIS)
This matter is the responsibility of Executive Councillor for Climate Change, Councillor Peter Pilkington.
The Taunton Strategic Flood Alleviation Improvements Scheme (TSFAIS) Project Delivery Plan sets the framework of measures to be implemented in phases over the next 30+ years which will reduce the current flood risk, and appropriately mitigate against the future impacts of climate change over the next 100 year period. Additional documents: Minutes: During the discussion, the following points were raised:- · Concern was raised on other areas located further upstream and the impact of flooding in those areas. · Councillors requested managing the flow of water through natural means rather than through the flood plan. · Councillors advised that some areas were desperate for flood defences and action needed to be taken. · Councillors wanted community engagement in the early stages of the works. · Councillors thanked the Environment Agency for the work they had carried out in the wider district. · Councillors agreed that water management was difficult and that flooding hugely affected the area and more funding was needed.
Resolved that Full Council:- 1) Accepted the findings of the project development plan report and endorsed the recommended strategic and long term approach to the management of flood risk in Taunton, listed in section 6 of the non-technical summary; 2) In partnership with EA, progressed the identified short term priorities of: Longrun Meadow, the town centre defence improvements on the left bank of the River Tone (Frieze Hill to Town Bridge) and Firepool Lock to an appropriate design standard to secure the necessary consents and implementation; 3) Approved the allocation of £6m capital funding from already earmarked Community Infrastructure Levy, New Homes Bonus and s106 contributions, to be apportioned in consultation with the S151 Officer, to progress the identified short term priorities of Longrun Meadow and improvements to the left bank of the River Tone (Frieze Hill to Town Bridge); 4) Use the project development plan as a basis for future investment planning. Developed a funding strategy to support implementation of the entire preferred approach, noted that a number of schemes had wider benefits such as increased bio-diversity and public amenity that may attract sources of funding other than flood defence related. Worked with partners and stakeholders including the Environment Agency to secure appropriate national ‘Flood Defence Grant in Aid’ ((FDGiA) and Local Levy; Somerset River Authority grant; as well as partnership opportunities with Somerset County Council, Wessex Water; Natural England; Canal and Rivers Trust and others towards these schemes; 5) Noted that consultation and engagement would take place with residents, stakeholders and partners on the individual schemes in the preferred approach as they progressed to detailed design and necessary consents for implementation; and 6) Supported the appointment of dedicated project management capacity, to be funded from the capital allocation referred to above for an initial period of two years, to secure the necessary expertise and approvals to progress the shorter term priorities identified in recommendation 3, and to identify funding and wider opportunities as they arose. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Hinkley Tourism Strategy Phase 4 Action Plan 2020 - 2023
This matter is the responsibility of the Executive Councillor for Asset Management and Economic Development, Councillor Marcus Kravis.
To report to Council on what has been achieved in the first five years of delivering the Hinkley Tourism Strategy 2015-20 under Phase 1, 2 and 3 Action Plans. Additional documents: Minutes: During the discussion, the following points were made:- · Councillors welcomed the document and requested that it included information on disabilities. · Councillors highlighted we needed jobs in the area that were based on the natural environment, such as tourism. · Councillors agreed that tourism needed to be protected and commended the report. · Councillors were delighted to support the recommendations.
Resolved that Full Council approved:- 1) The Phase 4 Action Plan for delivery from March 2020 onward; and 2) The request for drawing down £635,594 of Hinkley Point C Section 106 allocations available for tourism to deliver the Phase 4 plan. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Prosperity and Economic Development Strategy
This matter is the responsibility of the Executive Councillor for Asset Management and Economic Development, Councillor Marcus Kravis.
The document Somerset West and Taunton’s “Prosperity and Economic Development Strategy”, produced with the support of Deyton Bell consultants, is the first economic development strategy and framework for the new Council against which future interventions and business support and skills projects can be assessed, in terms of whether they address issues and market failure, build on existing activity, support and complement local and sub-regional stakeholder programmes or address evidenced gaps in the business support and skills landscape. Additional documents: Minutes: During the discussion, the following points were raised:- · Councillors advised that some small businesses in the area had shown concern on lack of consultation. Details were given on the smaller groups available to independent traders to join to enable further engagement. · Councillors were happy to see Local Development Orders, West Somerset Railway and Wellington Rail Station included in the document. · Councillors requested more economic activity in the area. · Councillors praised voluntary workers. · Councillors thanked officers for their work.
Resolved that Full Council:- 1) Adopted the Strategy, after which a detailed operational workplan would be agreed in consultation with the Portfolio Holder during March 2020 to progress during the financial year 2020-2021; and 2) Agreed to the development of targeted messaging and communication materials for the different audiences. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Somerset Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy 2019 - 2023
This matter is the responsibility of the Executive Councillor for Housing, Councillor Fran Smith.
District Councils have a statutory duty to adopt a Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy. This strategy sets out the strategic goals for the four Somerset Housing Authorities including a detailed action plan to show how the strategy will be delivered. Additional documents: Minutes: During the discussion, the following points were raised:- · Councillors thanked officers for their work on the Strategy. · Councillors highlighted the good work carried out by the Salvation Army. · The Portfolio Holder for Community gave further information on the rough sleeper count and invited Councillors to join him on the next count.
Resolved that Full Council:- 1) Adopted the proposed Somerset Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy (2019-2023); and 2) Provided any comment in relation to the supporting action plan for consideration by Homelessness Managers Group (the action plan to be reviewed and updated on a regular basis). |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Time Extension
Minutes: The Chair proposed a 30 minute time extension which was carried. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Capital Loan to YMCA Dulverton Group
This matter is the responsibility of the Executive Councillor for Planning and Transportation, Councillor Mike Rigby.
Officers have been working with the YMCA Dulverton Group to determine final requirements for the requested loan finance and to progress due diligence. The timing of meetings and requirement to provide the further loan advance before the end of March requires this report to come forward straight to Full Council, without prior review by the Executive or Scrutiny. The YMCA has approached SWTC with this request given the Council’s security invested in the asset and as a key funder of the capital project, and have not sought finance from any other source. Minutes: During the discussion, the following points were raised:- · Councillors agreed with the scheme and thought it was an excellent way to support the community. · Concern was raised on the valuation of the deficit and if it was lower than the value of the loan. · Councillors supported the loan and the assistance it would give to a local organisation that added value to the area and who helped the community.
Resolved that Full Council:- 1) Agreed the principle of a secured capital loan expected to be for 3 years but not exceeding 5 years, repayment terms to YMCA Dulverton Group of £325,000 at beneficial terms to the Council – with detailed terms as identified in section 6 of the report, to be determined through delegated authority by the S151 Officer and Portfolio holder; 2) Approved a £325,000 Supplementary Budget as an Investment Loan for Service Purposes in the Council’s 2019/20 Capital Programme. As a capital loan, the principal payments would be treated as capital receipts and would offset the up-front expenditure; and 3) Delegated the Portfolio Holder and S151 Officer authority to agree the final detailed terms and conditions of the loan. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Access to Information - Exclusion of Press and Public
During discussion of the following item(s) it may be necessary to pass the following resolution to exclude the press and public having reflected on Article 13 13.02(e) (a presumption in favour of openness) of the Constitution. This decision may be required because consideration of this matter in public may disclose information falling within one of the descriptions of exempt information in Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. The Council will need to decide whether, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption, outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
Recommend that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the next item(s) of business on the ground that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 respectively of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, namely information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information). Minutes: Resolved that the press and the public be excluded from the meeting for the items numbered 16 and 17 on the Agenda as the items contained exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, and the public interest in withholding the information outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information to the public. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Procurement Report
This matter is the responsibility of the Executive Councillor for Planning and Transportation, Councillor Mike Rigby. Minutes: Resolved that Full Council approved the confidential recommendations as written in the report. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Time Extension
Minutes: The Chair proposed a 30 minute time extension which was carried. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Land Acquisition Report
This matter is the responsibility of the Executive Councillor for Asset Management and Economic Development, Councillor Marcus Kravis. Minutes: Resolved that Full Council approved the confidential recommendations as written in the report. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Coastal Improvement Works - report to follow
This matter is the responsibility of Executive Councillor for Environment, Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts. Minutes: Resolved that this item was withdrawn from the agenda. |