South Somerset District Council - Executive Bulletin No. 607

South Somerset District Council - Executive Bulletin No. 607

Issue Date: 10/01/14 Deadline for Call In: 17/01/14

Weekly bulletin of Executive Decisions taken by District Executive, Area Committees or Portfolio Holders.

District Executive

112. Report from Yeovil District Hospital NHS Trust (Agenda Item 6)

RESOLVED: That the District Executive noted that a report from the Yeovil District Hospital Foundation Trust would be circulated to officers and Members.

Reason: To receive an update report from the Yeovil District Hospital Foundation Trust.

(Sylvia Seal, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture) (sylvia.seal@southsomerset.gov.uk)

113. South Somerset Family Focus Programme Update (Agenda Item 7)

RESOLVED: That the District Executive noted the progress made in delivering the multi-agency Family Focus programme in the District.

Reason: To update Councillors on the progress of the South Somerset Family Focus Programme for supporting families with multiple and complex issues in the District.

(Saveria Moss, Programme Manager, South Somerset Family Focus Programme) (saveria.moss@southsomerset.gov.uk)

114. Medium Term Financial Plan and Capital Programme update (Agenda Item

8)

RESOLVED: That the District

Executive:-1. noted the current position and timetable for the Medium Term Financial Plan and Capital Programme;

2. approved that consultation can commence where required on the savings and additional income outlined in Appendix A;

3. approved the principle that the grant to Town and Parishes be amended from 2015/16 in line with provisional reductions/ increases to South Somerset’s grant from central Government; 4. agreed to made representations through the two Somerset MP’s,

the Local Government Association and the District Councils Network to urge the Government to make an early announcement on capping for all authorities.

Reason: To inform Members of the current position on the Medium Term Financial Plan (Revenue Budgets for 2014/15 to 2018/19) and the Capital Programme.

(Donna Parham, Assistant Director (Finance and Corporate Services)) (donna.parham@southsomerset.gov.uk)

115. Review of the Council Tax Reforms – Empty Homes Premium (Agenda Item

9)

RESOLVED: That District Executive recommend to Council:-

1. that the policy of charging the Empty Homes Premium remains unchanged for 2014/15;

2. to note that where appropriate the Council Tax sum (including costs) would be converted to a charging order on the property, to be discharged upon the sale of that property.

Reason: To approve the proposal to leave the current policy on the charging of the Empty Homes Premium (EHP) unchanged and note the procedure for dealing with cases where the payment of the EHP before sale would cause hardship.

(Ian Potter, Revenues and Benefits Manager) (ian.potter@southsomerset.gov.uk)

116. New Build Empty Property Relief from Business Rates (Agenda Item 10)

of the New Build Empty Property Relief in relation to Business Rates.

Reason: To request that the District Executive recommend to Council the implementation of the New Build Empty Property Relief in relation to Business Rates.

(Voting: 7 in favour, 1 against, 0 abstentions) (Ian Potter, Revenues and Benefits Manager)

(ian.potter@southsomerset.gov.uk)

117. Replacing the Corporate Telephone System with Microsoft Lync (Phase 3 of

the Microsoft Lync Project) (Agenda Item 11)

RESOLVED: That the District Executive:

1. approved the replacement of the current telephony system with Microsoft Lync;

Reason: To agree to the replacement of the corporate telephone system with Microsoft Lync.

(Roger Brown, ICT Manager)

(roger.brown@southsomerset.gov.uk)

118. SSDC Development Valuer

– creating a full-time permanent post (Agenda

Item 12)

RESOLVED: That the District Executive:

1. noted the contents of the report;

2. endorsed the post of SSDC Development Valuer as a full time permanent position and agreed that £45,600 in total be added to the Medium Term Financial Plan to be split between 2014/15 and 2015/16.

Reason: To secure the position of Development Valuer as a full-time permanent post.

(David Julian, Economic Development Manager) (david.julian@southsomerset.gov.uk)

119. District Executive Forward Plan (Agenda Item 13)

1. approved the updated Executive Forward Plan for publication as attached at Appendix A, with the following amendments;

 Update of the SSDC Intern Scheme – February 2014

 Continuation of Joint Chief Executive with EDDC – February 2014

 County Wide Housing Strategy Framework – moved to March 2014

 Corporate Grants – moved to March 2014

2. noted the contents of the Consultation Database as shown at Appendix B.

Reason: The Forward Plan is a statutory document.

(Ian Clarke, Assistant Director (Legal & Corporate Services) – 01935 462184) (ian.clarke@southsomerset.gov.uk)

120. Date of Next Meeting (Agenda Item 14)

Members noted that the next scheduled meeting of the District Executive would take place on Thursday 6th February 2014 in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, Brympton Way, Yeovil commencing at 9.30 a.m.

(Ian Clarke, Assistant Director (Legal & Corporate Services) – 01935 462184) (ian.clarke@southsomerset.gov.uk)

121. Exclusion of Press and Public

RESOLVED: That the following items be considered in Closed Session by virtue of the

Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12A under Paragraph 3: Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

122. Yeovil Country Park Education Centre and Ranger Base Project

(Confidential) (Agenda Item 15)

RESOLVED: That the District Executive agreed:-

1. to allocate capital funding from usable capital reserves to underwrite the delivery of the project, and secure a Veolia Environmental Trust grant.

2. to note that any unused allocation would be returned to usable capital reserves.

Reason: To agree capital funding to underwrite the construction of the Yeovil

Country Park Education Centre and Ranger Base Project in 2014, enabling SSDC to secure a grant from the Veolia Environment Trust. (Katy Menday, Countryside Manager)

(katy.menday@southsomerset.gov.uk)

123. Review of Councillor representation on Outside Bodies (Confidential)

(Agenda Item 16)

RESOLVED: That the District Executive:-

1. noted the Area Committee comments on the Scrutiny Task and Finish Review of Member Representation on Outside Bodies detailed in Appendix A;

2. agreed that the information presented be used to inform the development of a policy regarding the appointment of Member representation to Outside Bodies.

Reason: To note the results of the member consultation on Representation on Outside Bodies and agree a new policy.

(Kim Close, Assistant Director (Communities))

(kim.close@southsomerset.gov.uk)

Area Committees

Area South

No decisions.

Decisions to be taken by Portfolio Holders

Decisions taken by Portfolio Holders (2)

Support for a Class A Drug Premises Closure Order at an address in Yeovil

within the SSDC Area by Avon & Somerset Police

Executive Portfolio Holder: Cllr Tony Fife, Community Safety

Assistant Directors: Service Manager:

Kim Close, Assistant Director (Communities) Kim Close, Area Development Manager (South)

Lead Officer: Steve Brewer, Community Safety Co-ordinator

Contact Details: steve.brewer@southsomerset.gov.uk or (01935) 462390

Decision Taken

That the Portfolio Holder has confirmed his support to the Avon and Somerset Police in their application to the Magistrates Court for a Class A Drug Premises Closure Order under Part 1 of the Anti-social Behaviour (ASB) Act 2003 (Crack House Closures), for a period of 3 months at an identified address within the South Somerset area.

Reason

To support the Avon and Somerset Police in their application for a Class A Drug Premises Closure Order under Part 1 of the Anti-social Behaviour (ASB) Act 2003 (Crack House Closures).

Portfolio Holder Report authorising a Planning Application to be made for

the installation of an Electric Vehicle Charging Point for Yeovil

Executive Portfolio Holders: Ward Member(s):

Henry Hobhouse, Property and Climate Change Tim Carroll, Finance and Spatial Planning John V Chainey, Peter Gubbins, Andrew Kendall

Strategic Director: Vega Sturgess, Operations & Customer Focus

Assistant Director: Laurence Willis, Assistant Director for Environment

Service Manager: Garry Green, Property and Engineering Services Manager

Lead Officer: Laurence Willis, Assistant Director for Environment

Contact Details: laurence.willis@southsomerset.gov.uk or (01935) 462428

Decision Taken

That the Portfolio Holder for Property and Climate Change authorises the making of a planning application for the installation of a rapid electric vehicle charging point in Market car park, Yeovil.

Reason

To authorise an application for planning approval to be made for the installation of an electric vehicle charging point in Market car park, Yeovil to encourage the use of electric vehicles as a viable alternative to the internal combustion engine.