Agenda and minutes

Venue: New Council Chamber - Town Hall. View directions

Contact: Hazel Brinton 

Note: https://youtu.be/aluAglChEeI 

Items
No. Item

EXE 1

Addresses by Members of the Public (ESO 6)

The Executive, at the discretion of the Chairman, will hear up to four people, each of whom must be a resident or a business ratepayer or an elector, who wish to address it in accordance with the Executive Standing Orders, on matters that affect the area or its residents and over which the Executive has powers and duties. The Chairman will select the order of the matters to be heard. Each person will be limited to a period of three minutes and this part of the meeting must not exceed fifteen minutes.

 

Requests to speak must be submitted in writing to the Monitoring Officer, or the officer mentioned at the top of this agenda letter, by noon on the day before the meeting and the request must detail the subject matter of the address. 

Minutes:

None received by the deadline.

EXE 2

Declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (Standing Order 37)

A Member must declare any disclosable pecuniary interest where it relates to any matter being considered at the meeting. A declaration of a disclosable pecuniary interest should indicate the interest and the agenda item to which it relates. A Member is not permitted to participate in this agenda item by law and should immediately leave the meeting before the start of any debate.

 

If the Member leaves the meeting in respect of a declaration, he or she should ensure that the Chairman is aware of this before he or she leaves to enable their exit from the meeting to be recorded in the minutes in accordance with Standing Order 37.

Minutes:

None declared.

EXE 3

Minutes - 27 April 2022 pdf icon PDF 318 KB

27 April 2022, to approve as a correct record (attached)

Minutes:

Resolved: that the minutes be approved as a correct record.

EXE 4

Non-Executive Councillors' Addresses

Non-Executive Councillors wishing to address the Executive are required to notify the contact officer mentioned at the top of this summons letter by noon on the day before the meeting. A total of fifteen minutes will be allocated to hear all addresses.

Minutes:

At the invitation of the Chairperson, Councillor Haverson addressed the Executive on two items.  She asked that the council lead by example and adopt the Covid19 Safety Pledge and that the Executive Member for Highways consider a proposal to support asylum seekers in the district with subsidised bus travel into Bristol.

 

The Executive Member for Corporate Services added that after consultation with the unions and employee representation groups, he could see no reason why the Covid19 Safety Pledge could not be adopted by the council.

 

The Executive Member for Highways thanked Councillor Haverson for her comments on subsidised travel and confirmed that he had contacted the Resettlement Team and that 3 months’ free travel was already being offered but he would consider any further proposals made.

EXE 5

Matters referred to the Executive and not dealt with elsewhere on this agenda

None.

Minutes:

None.

EXE 6

West of England Sub-Region: items not dealt with elsewhere on this agenda

Minutes:

None.

EXE 7

Forward Plan dated 1 June 2022 pdf icon PDF 211 KB

Minutes:

Resolved: that the forward plan be noted.

EXE 8

Bus Service Improvement Plan - Enhanced Partnership pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Report of Councillor Hogg (attached)

Minutes:

Councillor Bridger invited Councillor Hogg to present the report.

 

Councillor Hogg summarised the main elements of the report and noted that the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) was a once in a generation funding stream that had the potential to be transformational in support of bus services in North Somerset.  He added that the plan would also accelerate the council’s decarbonisation plans and complement the Active Travel and Liveable Neighbourhood strategies.  He noted that £48m of the funding was specific capital funding for North Somerset with an additional £58m was allocated jointly to the West of England Combined Authority and North Somerset Council.

 

He added that the sums involved recognised that North Somerset had proportionally more work to carry out on improving bus services than other parts of the country.  The capital funding was for bus prioritisation measures to deliver supportive infrastructure whilst the revenue funding would be used to develop eye catching services and provide concessionary support to drive up patronage.  The draft Enhanced Partnership was the delivery mechanism for the BSIP and would involve partners entering legally binding commitments to making improvements to bus services.  He drew members’ attention to some of the outcomes of the funding package as noted in the report including demand responsive transport, more affordable services, and simplified fares.

 

As a result of the Department for Transport’s (DfT) timescales, he informed members that as some of the decisions would need to be taken at pace, a level of delegation as set out in the report was required but he was committed to engaging with other Executive members and the scrutiny process.

 

The Head of Public Transport Transformation informed members that a recent meeting with the DfT indicated that the department was looking for a higher amount to support the fares reduction package so this was expected to be nearer £20m rather than the £9m initially proposed.  This would mean that ambitions to deliver higher frequency services was likely to be curtailed but with the ongoing driver recruitment issue, this was more appropriate.

 

In commenting on the report members raised a number of key issues including whether parking charges were tied into the funding package; the support for community transport where there was no access to cars; that there should be a clearly articulated expectation in the partnership that operators properly consult with communities on any schedule changes; engagement with the town and parish councils; a focus on getting the basics right including updating bus stop information and ensuring reliability and frequency and making sure bus services were provided where needed and not just where wanted.  They also noted the importance of the reliability of bus services to SEND learners and those who cannot drive.

 

Resolved:

 

That the Executive:

 

(1)      Noted the current iteration of the draft Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme as attached in Appendix 3 of the report and delegates to the Executive Member for Highways and Transport the authority to approve the final Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme on behalf of North  ...  view the full minutes text for item EXE 8

EXE 9

Award of contract and authorisation to enter into a Joint Venture with the recommended development partner for land to the south of The Uplands, Nailsea (includes exempt appendix) pdf icon PDF 473 KB

Report of Councillor Canniford (attached)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Bridger invited Councillor Canniford to present the report.

 

Councillor Canniford noted that the report was a culmination of a 2 to 3-year long process and that the result met all the council’s objectives within its development programme.  He added that the proposal would provide a development of flagship standard including 40% affordable housing and several adaptable houses including homes that were future proofed as people aged.  They would be 10% larger than national standards.  He added that the procurement process had engaged all local members with each stage and the scrutiny process.  The land would be retained by the council until the development had been fully built and certified and where possible, the availability of the homes would be publicised first to local residents before others.

 

In discussing the report, members noted that the key to the delivery of the development would be a set of non-negotiable targets.  Whilst this was new ground for the council and its contractors, there would be a need for monitoring and record keeping to facilitate learning for future projects.  Members asked whether there would be an opportunity during the project for the Parent Carers Forum and other disability groups to be engaged around accessibility of the homes.

 

Councillor Canniford added that as this was the council’s own land, it could set the standard.

 

Resolved:

 

That the Executive:

 

(1)      Approved the award of a contract for the development of Council’s land south of The Uplands, Nailsea to Stonewood Partnerships Limited, The Stonewood House, West Yatton Lane, Castle Combe, Wiltshire, SN14 7EY (company registration no. 11645128).

(2)      Delegated authority to the Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the

Executive Member for Placemaking and Economy, to enter into the

contractual Joint Venture with the selected developer, subject to final due diligence and within the terms outlined in the report, including provisions for the transfer of the land and agreement on terms for the transfer of £480,028 One Public Estate funding for the delivery of enabling works.

 

Reasons for the decision:

 

As set out in the report and discussed above.

 

Alternative options considered and rejected:

 

As set out in the report and discussed above.

EXE 10

Month 12 Budget Monitor and Financial Update pdf icon PDF 357 KB

Report of Councillor Cartman (attached)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Cartman introduced the report and noted that the council had balanced its budget in the last financial year with the underspend of £0.691m to be moved to General Reserves to support any unforeseen future risk.  He added that Earmarked Reserves had increased by around £20m and drew members attention to the recommendations in the report.

 

The Director of Corporate Services added that it was pleasing to note that in spite of the challenges due to Covid19 to the council’s services, there had been an underspend to transfer to General Reserves.  Similarly, Earmarked Reserves used to support spending within the revenue or capital budget, smooth impacts across financial years or hold to cover future financial risks had increased by £20m.

 

Members noted the positive outcome for the council’s budget last year and asked that any underspend be used to continue to deliver the council’s service priorities should service areas require part of it.

 

Resolved:

 

That the Executive:

 

         i.          noted the revenue and capital out-turn positions for 2021/22 as detailed within the report and the associated transfer of the underspend of £0.691m into the council’s general revenue reserve as 31 March 2022

       ii.          noted the transfer to / from earmarked and capital reserves as set out in Appendix 5 of the report

      iii.          approved the amendments to the revenue budget as detailed in Appendix 1A of the report

     iv.          approved the amendments to the capital programme as detailed in Appendix 7 of the report

       v.          endorsed the indicative spending plans for 2022/23 and beyond in respect of the Discharge to Assess programme as shown in Appendix 9 of the report, funding for which is held in an earmarked revenue reserve

     vi.          delegated authority to the Director of Adult Social Services, with advice from the Section 151 Officer, to increase the relevant expenditure and income revenue budgets in 2022/23 in line with the proposed spend as outlined in paragraph 3.14 of the report.

 

 

Reasons for the decision:

 

As set out in the report and discussed above.

 

Alternative options considered and rejected:

 

As set out in the report and discussed above.

EXE 11

Adoption of Heritage assets on to the North Somerset Local Heritage List pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Report of Councillor Canniford (attached)

Minutes:

Councillor Canniford presented his report and noted that whilst the list currently focussed on Weston-super-Mare as nominations were not received from other areas of the district, work is being done to encourage nominations from outside of Weston-s-Mare.  He highlighted that the numbers added at any one time were restricted as the panel considering nominations were volunteers.  A series of outreach engagements for the rest of the district were planned.  The intention was to add to the list on a 6 monthly basis.

 

The officer involved in the report and Councillor Crockford-Hawley were thanked for their time in constructing the report and advising the panel.

 

Resolved:

 

That the heritage assets being put forward in the report to the North Somerset Local Heritage List be adopted.

 

Reasons for the decision:

As set out in the report and discussed above.

 

Alternative options considered and rejected:

As set out in the report and discussed above.

 

 

EXE 12

Appointment to Outside Bodies (Executive) pdf icon PDF 233 KB

Report of Assistant Director Legal and Governance (attached)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Assistant Director Legal and Governance highlighted the new nominations required as noted in his report.  He advised that the North Somerset Partnership would pass to Councillor Bridger as the new Leader of the Council and all other appointments as listed to remain unchanged, subject to those appointments by designation to be updated to reflect the new Executive Member portfolios.

 

Resolved:

 

(1)  that the appointments contained in the updated schedule attached as an appendix to these minutes be approved and adopted for the 2022/23 municipal year

 

(2) that the Leader and Deputy Leader confirm the nomination the PATROL (Parking and Traffic Regulations Outside London) Adjudication Joint Committee 2022-23 in due course

 

(3) that Councillor Canniford be nominated as the council’s representative on the Visit West Board and

 

(4) that Councillors Gibbons and Canniford be nominated as the council’s representatives to the West of England Combined Authority Business and Skills Board

 

Reasons for the decision:

 

As set out in the report and discussed above.

 

Alternative options considered and rejected:

 

As set out in the report and discussed above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXE 13

Oral reports of Executive Councillors

Executive Councillors might report orally on matters in progress. Such reports will be for information only and no material decisions can be made arising from them.

Minutes:

Councillor Solomon updated members on the Green Waste uptake for the new municipal year which now stood at a 73% renewal rate.  He advised that it appeared the take up would be lower than the previous year.

 

Councillor Bridger noted the long service and retirement of two longstanding officers; Pam Kirby and Colin Medus and thanked them for their work for the council over many years.

 

Councillor Bridger also noted the third rail strike on the weekend may impact those intending to use public transport to attend the Weston Air Show, but Executive Members emphasised that the event was still going ahead.