Minutes:
The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources introduced the report which concerned the request for funding from the Charter Trustees of Taunton, and drew special attention to the amended recommendations which had been circulated via an addendum earlier that day. The Charter Trustees for Taunton had been created by Statutory Instrument in Parliament and came into force on 1st April 2019 (Local Government (Structure and Boundary Changes) (Supplementary Provision and Miscellaneous Amendments Order 2019) and were set up to maintain the continuity of a town charter after a district with the status of a borough had been abolished, and until such time as a parish or town council is established.
The Charter Trustees were the councillors elected to represent wards in the unparished area of Taunton. This is the central area that has no town or parish council of its own. Following the creation of Somerset West and Taunton Council there were 16 councillors representing the area following local elections on May 2nd 2019. At the first meeting of the Charter Trustees on 4th June 2019 that body formally requested from this Council the transfer of all funding derived from the Unparished Area to the Charter Trustees, funds that were previously administered by the Unparished Area Committee.
The Charter Trustees and the mayoralty were intended to be funded through a local tax, or precept, levied on householders in the unparished areas through the Council Tax system, however, in their first year of existence they cannot raise their own precept and must have this set for them by the District body. This had been set through the Budget-setting process in February 2019 (£46,399). To continue the system that existed under the former Taunton Deane Borough Council the decision to transfer the funds needs to be ratified by this Council.
During the discussion of this item, Members made comments and asked questions which included:-
· Queries were raised as to whether the Charter Trustees were intended as a permanent arrangement or would Taunton look to be parished in the future?
· Charter Trustees were originally designed to be a temporary measure however this would be a matter for the Charter Trustees to decide.
· Would the precept be increased and would that be taken only from the unparished area?
· The precept to fund the Charter Trustees could be increased from next year but would only come from the wards in the Unparished Area represented by sixteen ward members.
· Queries were raised over the staffing costs to support the Charter Trustees taking an inordinate amount of the budget set aside for this year?
· The staffing costs for the Charter Trustees would be absorbed by SWT Council in their setup year with working time recorded to allow the Charter Trustees an idea of how much they would need to precept.
· It was stated that it was hoped that this was an interim measure whilst a Governance Review was to be undertaken.at the earliest possible opportunity and it was queried as to when that would be.
· A further report on Community Governance Reviews would be taken to the next meeting of the Charter Trustees
· Queries were raised as to why the Unparished Area Special Expenses Precept had been restricted in how it could be raised?
· The s151 Officer clarified that the restriction in the past had been because any rise had to stay within referendum limits. There was no limitation on town and parishes or Charter Trustees but they could only raise to fulfil their responsibilities or obligations.
RESOLVED to;
i. Transfer the 2019/20 Unparished Area budget of £46,399, to be allocated in line with the approved scope and governance of the Charter Trustees including the cost of the mayoralty, support costs and local grants scheme.
ii. Transfer the balance of unallocated legacy funds from previous years’ TDBC Unparished Area Special Expenses Precept, to be administered by the Charter Trustees of the Town of Taunton.
iii. The transfer of legacy balance and future CIL Infrastructure Payments derived from the Unparished Area to the Charter Trustees of the Town of Taunton, once appropriate governance arrangements have been devised by the Charter Trustees to the satisfaction of the SWTC Head of Performance and Governance and the S151 Officer.
iv. Recommend the relevant Head of Function consults the Mayor, as representative of the Trustees, regarding the allocation of the legacy General Fund Unparished Area Play Equipment Capital Budget for use within the unparished area.
v. The Charter Trustees be required to satisfy the SWTC S151 Officer that there are appropriate arrangements in place for the proper administration of and accounting for the funds to be transferred.
vi. Note that in future years, the Charter Trustees will be in a position to raise its own precept to fund its responsibilities.