Agenda and draft minutes
PDF 321 KBVenue: The John Meikle Room - The Deane House. View directions
Contact: Sam Murrell, Email: s.murrell@somersetwestandtaunton.gov.uk and Marcus Prouse, Email: m.prouse@somersetwestandtaunton.gov.uk
Webcast: View the webcast
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Apologies
To receive any apologies for absence.
Additional documents: Minutes: Cllrs Libby Lisgo (subs Andy Govier), Andy Milne, Mark Lithgow and Richard Lees (subs Hazel Prior Sankey).
In attendance via zoom,
Cllrs Lisgo, Wakefield and Whetlor. |
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Minutes of the previous meeting of the Community Scrutiny Committee
To approve the minutes of the previous meeting of the Community Scrutiny Committee held on Additional documents: Minutes: The Minutes of the previous meeting of Community Scrutiny held on the 31 August were confirmed as a true record.
Prop: Lloyd / Sec: Stock Williams (Unanimous)
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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:-
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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. 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, but you can also access them on the Somerset West and Taunton webcasting website. Additional documents: Minutes: There were no statements or questions brought before the committee. |
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Community Scrutiny Request/Recommendation Trackers
To update the Community Scrutiny Committee on the progress of resolutions and recommendations from previous meetings of the Committee. Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee noted and approved the Trackers. |
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Community Scrutiny Forward Plan
To receive items and review the Forward Plan.
Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee noted the Forward Plan. |
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Executive and Full Council Forward Plans
To review the Forward Plans of the Executive and Full Council.
Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee noted the forward plans for both the Executive and Full Council. There were no matters arising. |
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Low Carbon Retrofit Strategy and Action Plan
This matter is the responsibility of Executive Councillor Francesca Smith, Portfolio Holder for Housing.
Report Author: Chris Brown, Assistant Director for Housing Development and Regeneration. Additional documents: Minutes: Low Carbon Retrofit Strategy and Action Plan This matter was introduced to the Committee by Executive Councillor Francesca Smith, Portfolio Holder for Housing.
The report was presented by Chris Brown, Assistant Director for Housing Development and Regeneration.
A copy of the slide pack presentation can be found here in the web library.
Following the presentation there were a number of questions arising: -
· Cllr Mansell, as Chair of the Carbon Retrofit working group was pleased with the findings, and in agreement with the strategy of a fabric first approach. The policy will be built around insulating existing homes, to try and reduce heat output. It was also pleasing to note that SWT was performing better than first anticipated in its EPCC rate. · Single houses would be the first to be retrofitted as these were the easiest units to modify. Then the process would evolve as we moved into the unitary council. The HRA capital would incorporate some of the work (such as new doors and windows) into the cyclical maintenance programme. · It was recognised that tenants and leaseholders must be at the heart of the process to ensure active engagement and allow the retrofit programme to go ahead. If they were not on-board with the retrofit programme this could inhibit the improvements on their property, and in flat blocks and apartments in the wider neighbourhood. Cllr Lloyd reported that tenants are fully supportive of the options and have engaged via consultation. This has been reported back via the Tenants Strategic Group. · It was recognised that Leaseholders would also have to be involved, especially in flat blocks, where they were living alongside SWT tenants. Chris Brown said SWT are working towards setting up a leaseholder panel to improve communications between all parties. As part of this, it was also important that tenants and leaseholders were fully supported and had access to good communications. · Although there would be disruption to tenants whilst the retrofit was implemented, it should be minimal as it would be on the exterior of the property. It was anticipated that the works would take about a day and would not usually require a tenant to vacate/decant. In instances where the work required significant internal disruption, it was hoped to do this around void periods. (The main properties likely to be affected are bungalows with concrete floors – where ground floor insulation needs to be done). · Some of the upgraded properties would inevitably be lost to the Right To Buy scheme. In this situation, SWT was unlikely to get a return on the investment into the retrofit, but this was unavoidable. · The biggest threat to implementing the retrofit programme was Central Government imposing a 5% rent cap. The HRA is currently set at 11% to ensure there is enough money to fund the capital programme within the budget. If the cap is imposed, then capital works will be at risk of delivery, and savings will have to be made. · The current cost of living crisis was also an ... view the full minutes text for item 51. |
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Executive Portfolio Holder for Communities - Cllr Chris Booth
To include an update on the Cost of Living Motion. Additional documents: Minutes: Executive Councillor Chris Booth, portfolio holder for Communities, provided a verbal update to the Committee on matters relating to the CoL motion. Cllr Booth advised that since the CoL motion was adopted by Full Council in July, a number of measures had been implemented.
· SWT had created a Hardship Fund of £50K which had been passed to Citizens Advice in Taunton and West Somerset to administer. This money had been spent very quickly and was no longer available. Cllr Booth provided some statistics, to show who had accessed the fund and the geographical split.
A copy of the slide is available to here in the web library.
This money was not allowed to be spent on arrears or debt and only one claim could be made per household. A number of questions arose around the statistics and these have been picked up in the Written Answer Tracker. (Officers will be following up with the Citizens Advice Bureau).
· Somerset County Council had recently implemented the Household Support Fund which would be a way for residents to access additional help.
· £50k has also been sent to the Somerset Community Foundation as part of the Cost-of-Living Crisis Fund. This was SWT’s contribution, but all 5 councils in Somerset had paid into it.
· A request was made for the new unitary administration to honour the agreement made to support the VCSE sector through the first year of the new council. It was vitally important that the good work that is being done, does not come under threat due to funding being withdrawn.
· Cllr Tom Deakin said that the key themes that seemed to be coming out of SCC to support households this winter were around warm spaces and food resilience. All councils need to be working together, because there was just not enough money to go around to help everyone!
· Cllr Booth also highlighted the work of the Community Employment hubs and Job Fairs that were taking place. These had been well attended, and there were lots of agencies and organisations on hand to offer advice and information. These were advertised in the local press, social media and in the SWT newsletter. It would be good to share this information as widely as possible. The next one is due to take place at West Somerset House, Williton.
· Cllr Habgood praised the work of the community resilience team, and in particular the work in food resilience being undertaken by Helen Philips. The Local Pantries are a good way of building food resilience and a move away from heavy dependency and reliance on food banks. Ongoing sustainability is key.
· Cllr Tully stated that there is a local pantry in West Monkton that has already seen an increase in users, despite the fact that we are not in the hardest months of the year yet. People are also asking for help with the purchase of white goods and other items, because they are already struggling.
· In summation, it was recognised that all the councils need to pull ... view the full minutes text for item 52. |