Minutes:
The Leader of the Council made the following announcements:-
· She highlighted what an incredible first year it had been for the new authority.
· Amazing work had been achieved during the first year to support residents, businesses and visitors.
· The Leader was regularly asked what it was like to be the Leader of the Council. Her phrase in response had been ‘challenging but exciting’.
· Councillors wanted to make a difference for their communities and the past year had delivered many benefits for the local residents.
· The journey to bring the two areas together had been challenging but had created a stable council that was fit for purpose.
· Working together as a Council had achieved some great things and had left a lasting legacy that would change resident’s lives for the better.
· She had implemented the Corporate Strategy for the next four years, which had imbedded the Liberal Democrat manifesto.
· A variety of other strategies had also been implemented but it had also been a year of action.
· Coal Orchard regeneration, bringing Firepool into community use, Taunton Independent Quarter had been pedestrianised, Seaward Way in Minehead and Dulverton Leat had also been supported, along with the works on the East Quay Wall in Watchet and support to reopen Wellington Railway Station.
· Being a Councillor wasn’t just about business and infrastructure, it was about the impact on individual lives and the community. With that in mind, another positive had been the purchasing and building of new houses in the area to be able to offer affordable homes to local families.
· Climate change had been the main thread of all of their achievements.
· Life had changed recently due to the Covid Pandemic and the Council had been at the forefront of the work carried out to protect and support the community.
· The Leader had huge admiration for the staff of Somerset West and Taunton Council, who had brought humanity to the forefront, worked efficiently and shown pride in the area.
· How did we move forward to a new normal?
· The Leader wanted to work together with other authorities to get the high street back open and to continue to engage with the communities going forward.
· A paper had been written on the committee system and would be brought for discussion as we needed to look at how we adapted and committees took a lead role in that work.
· How did we support the most vulnerable in the community?
· One of the main successes during lockdown had been the way the Council had supported the homeless with the use of Canonsgrove.
· There would always be financial challenges and the need for central and voluntary support, but there would be a time where we would need to change and take the positives from this crisis to make the future even better for the generations to come.
· She looked forward to working together throughout the upcoming year to achieve even more than the first year.
During the discussion, the following points were raised:-
· Councillors requested that the Portfolio Holder reports were brought to the next meeting of Full Council.
The Leader advised that the reports would be brought to the next normally scheduled meeting of Full Council, which was 7 July 2020.
· Councillors queried when the portfolios would be aligned with the new directorates and requested when they could meet the new Directors.
The Leader advised that she was looking into aligning the portfolios with the new directorates and would bring back an update to Full Council. She also advised Councillors that the new Directors would be hosting the Member Briefing scheduled for 1 June 2020 and would introduce themselves during that session.
· Councillors queried the change in the committee system and what the timing on that would be and how would all Councillors be consulted.
The Leader advised that they had kick-started the process but that the Covid Pandemic had slowed any progress being made. The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources advised he was keen to look at the many different models that could be used and to have an open discussion with all Councillors. He also highlighted that the work would be carried out alongside the Community Governance Review.
· Councillors were pleased to hear that the Community Governance Review was moving forward.
· Councillors queried how the work on the committee system would link with the Constitutional Working Group.
The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources advised that they would need to work closely together as the work would need to align with the Constitution.
· The Chair of Scrutiny requested that the Scrutiny Committee be more involved in the work on the forward plan items.
· Concern was raised that the Council’s emphasis was still focused on Taunton and that it needed to be on the whole of the area.
The Leader took on board the comments made and that it had been a challenge bringing the two areas together, but that work was happening across the whole area.