Agenda and minutes
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Apologies
To receive any apologies for absence. Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies were received from Councillors Hunt, Lisgo and Wheatley.
Councillor Tully attended as a substitute for Councillor Wheatley. Councillor Buller attended as a substitute for Councillor Hunt.
Councillor Coles was appointed as Vice-Chair of the committee for the meeting in absence of Councillor Lisgo. |
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To approve the minutes of the previous meeting of the Committee. Additional documents: Minutes: (Minutes of the meeting of the Scrutiny Committee held on 30th September and 7th October 2020 circulated with the agenda)
Resolved that the minutes of the Scrutiny Committee held on 30th September and 7th October 2020 be confirmed as a correct record. |
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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.) Additional documents: 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:-
Councillor Wren, Perry and Farbahi declared personal interests as they had both undertaken site visits to Blue Anchor.
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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.
Temporary measures during the Coronavirus Pandemic Due to the Government guidance on measures to reduce the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19), we will holding meetings in a virtual manner which will be live webcast on our website. Members of the public will still be able to register to speak and ask questions, which will then be read out by the Governance and Democracy Case Manager during Public Question Time and will either be answered by the Chair of the Committee, or the relevant Portfolio Holder, or be followed up with a written response. Additional documents: Minutes: No members of the public had requested to speak on any item on the agenda. |
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This report is the responsibility for Executive Cllr Peter Pilkington, Portfolio Holder for Climate Change.
The Somerset Climate Emergency Strategy (the Somerset-wide Strategy) has been produced in partnership between SWT, Sedgemoor, Mendip and South Somerset District Councils and Somerset County Council together with expert inputs from a number of external bodies. The Carbon Neutrality and Climate Resilience Action Plan (the CNCR Action Plan) has been produced as this Council’s own response to declaring a Climate Emergency in February 2019 and inclusion of addressing climate change as the Council’s number one priority in the Corporate Strategy. Additional documents: Minutes: The item was introduced by Councillor Pilkington and further statement read out by Councillor Whetlor setting out the work undertake by the Climate Change working group and what the strategy sought to address working in partnership with County and District colleagues.
The Strategy Specialist presented the report.
The Somerset Climate Emergency Strategy (the Somerset-wide Strategy) had been produced in partnership between SWT, Sedgemoor, Mendip and South Somerset District Councils and Somerset County Council together with expert inputs from a number of external bodies. The purpose of the Strategy was to provide a strategic overview of the key issues facing Somerset and the Councils in relation to the climate emergency and the shared ambition to work towards carbon neutrality for the county of Somerset by 2030 and to provide a strategic basis for partnership working going forwards on addressing the issues together, where a shared approach would be appropriate and improve the chances of delivery. The Strategy included three strategic goals, a number of proposed outcomes relating to nine workstreams/sectors and a high level action plan to guide the direction of travel. The Strategy mentioned that each district would produce its own detailed action plan to supplement/complement the strategic one. For SWT, this was the Carbon Neutrality and Climate Resilience (CNCR) Action Plan.
The Carbon Neutrality and Climate Resilience Action Plan (the CNCR Action Plan) had been produced as the Council’s own response to declaring a Climate Emergency in February 2019 and inclusion of addressing climate change as the Council’s number one priority in the Corporate Strategy. The CNCR Action Plan identified a total of 345 potential actions to progress over the next ten years based on current understandings, but focused on a Y1 action plan with Y2+ routemaps, with an intention for the plan to remain iterative and to be reviewed on an annual basis, which will evolve as the understanding of what was necessary and possible improved. The CNCR Action Plan sat alongside the Somerset-wide Strategy as the detail for how the Council proposed to address the specific issues, meet the goals and deliver on the outcomes that the Somerset-wide Strategy identified.
The Council has already committed to working towards carbon neutrality by 2030, and as such, the Somerset-wide Strategy and CNCR Action Plan adds detail as to what is necessary, the actions and projects to be developed and help to identify the places where we can look to focus partnership working going forwards. The CNCR Action Plan is already informing internal resourcing and project development. The formal adoption of both the Somerset-wide Strategy and CNCR Action Plan is now being sought to improve corporate and public visibility and inform the 2021 budget setting
During the debate the following points and comments were raised.
· The District action plan was considered positive and received strong praise for the work undertaken to produce this from the strategy officer. · The taskforce and group still needed to be set out to inform members of the governance channels of the climate change agenda in ... view the full minutes text for item 67. |
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Coastal Protection Works Associated with the B3191
This matter is the responsibility of Executive Councillor for Environmental Services, Cllr Sarah Wakefield.
This report follows on from the previously approved request that Somerset West and Taunton Council use its status as the Coastal Protection Authority to deliver a scheme on behalf of Somerset County Council relating to undertaking works to protect the B3191 at Blue Anchor.
Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Wakefield introduced the item and The Assistant Director for Climate Change and Assets presented the report.
Somerset West and Taunton Council, the Coastal Protection Authority, had received a proposal from Somerset County Council, the Highway Authority, with a view to undertaking works to protect the B3191 at Blue Anchor. If the scheme of work was accepted this council would deliver any agreed coastal protection scheme for the benefit of that community.
This proposal followed on from the previously approved request that Somerset West and Taunton Council used its status as the Coastal Protection Authority to deliver a scheme on behalf of Somerset County Council. This proposal offered the funding necessary to deliver the scheme and a commuted sum so that Somerset West and Taunton Council could take all future ownership, inspection, and maintenance responsibilities for any newly created asset.
There was no immediate financial liability for Somerset West and Taunton Council.
This report was not a detailed review of the scheme design, this would be finalised with the designers and principle contractor as the project evolved over time. Consultation on any proposed scheme would take place with the appropriate bodies, parish councils, and impacted residents.
During the discussion the following points and comments were raised.
· It was clarified that the Council had the power but not the duty for the Coastal defence scheme. · The road was considered an important part of the network in the area and the continued protection of this alongside solutions were supported. · Consideration was given for diversion options and compulsory purchase of land. This had been dismissed previously on the basis of cost. · Phase 1 of the emergency repairs had been completed. The project was awaiting further materials to be delivered via the sea. A permanent solution was expected by the end of next year. · The continuing liability for Somerset West and Taunton was questioned following the works. · The temporary works were estimated at £385k which were temporary concrete reinforcement funded from the environment agency, the £4million funding was estimated for a more permanent solution to protect the road. If the proposals were accepted SWT were responsible for the asset, SWT would not accept liability for the road going forward. · Regulatory requirements that required planning consent and licence from the maritime management organisation. It was considered if this was likely delay costs. There remained an acceptable timescale for the project. · Future issues further down the line when the viability of the road comes into question were considered there remained no liability. Longer term there remained the risk of coastal erosion in the area. · Protection of the road was the responsibility of Somerset County Council. · The committee broadly supported the protection of land and residents in the area but concerns were expressed in relation to taking on additional liabilities. · The funding set out in the report was questioned. The commuted sum and paying for maintenance and not taking on extra liabilities were the preferred solution. · The committee encouraged officers to undertake an inspection and not undertake ... view the full minutes text for item 68. |
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Scrutiny Committee Forward Plan
To receive items and review the Forward Plan. Additional documents: Minutes: (Copy of the Scrutiny Committee Forward Plan, circulated with the agenda).
Councillors were reminded that if they had an item they wanted to add to the agenda, that they should send their requests to the Governance Team.
Resolved that the Scrutiny Committee Forward Plan be considered in detail by the committee at the next agenda setting. |
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Executive Forward Plan
Additional documents: Minutes: (Copy of the Executive Forward Plan, circulated with the agenda).
Councillors were reminded that if they had an item they wanted to add to the agenda, that they should send their requests to the Governance Team.
Resolved that the Executive Forward Plan be considered in detail by the committee at the next agenda setting.
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Full Council Forward Plan
Additional documents: Minutes: (Copy of the Full Council Forward Plan, circulated with the agenda).
Councillors were reminded that if they had an item they wanted to add to the agenda, that they should send their requests to the Governance Team.
Resolved that the Full Council Forward Plan be considered in detail by the committee at the next agenda setting.
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