Agenda and minutes

The Chairperson welcomed everyone to the face-to-face meeting and noted that those councillors attending via Teams would not be in attendance formally or able to vote.

The Council will hear any person who wishes to address it in accordance with the Standing Orders. The Chairperson will select the order of the matters to be heard.

Each person will be limited to a period of five minutes for public participation and deputations and three minutes for petitions.  This section of the meeting must not exceed 30 minutes and discussion must not refer to a current planning application.  

The Council will also receive questions from the public and provide answers thereto, subject to the Chairperson being satisfied that the questions are relevant to the business of the meeting.  

Requests must be submitted in writing to the Assistant Director Legal & Governance and Monitoring Officer, or to 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.

1. Malcolm Nicholson, resident, Birnbeck Pier and other matters

Malcolm Nicholson addressed Council, speaking in advocacy about the work local government had undertaken over a significant time period and the pride he had in regard to his own involvement and that of several colleagues. He spoke in high praise of officers and councillors past and present, noting that whilst people might like to complain about the council, there had been impressive achievements despite the challenges that were presented by austerity, government cuts to funding and the pandemic. He shared that there had been some fantastic things delivered under the current and previous administrations of multiple parties including; the Marine Lake dredging, restoring lighting to the Silica, the Bus Hub and town centre road improvement work, the progression of the Banwell Bypass and the commencement of restoring Birnbeck Pier. He felt the Council should be proud of its achievements and asked that it keep working hard for its communities.

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 Chairperson 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.

None declared.

12 November 2024, to approve as a correct record (attached)

Resolved: that the minutes of the meeting of 12 November 2024 be approved as a correct record.

(attached)

The Leader presented the forward plan.

Resolved: that Council noted the Forward Plan.

(1) Care Experience to be treated as if it were a Protected Characteristic – Councillor Gibbons

(attached)

1.     Care Experience to be treated as if it were a Protected Characteristic

Introducing her motion, Councillor Gibbons explained the benefits, research and spoken accounts that had been provided to her regarding Care Experience being treated as a protected characteristic and, that better support and understanding of individual needs could be provided as a result.

Seven members indicated their support for a debate on the motion.

Members noted the importance of these works and recommended notable literary works that may be useful for other members to read to gain knowledge about the lived experience of Care Experienced individuals.

Motion: moved by Councillor Gibbons and seconded by Councillor Bell.

“North Somerset Council recognises:

• Every elected member and employee of this Council is a corporate parent to the children and care leavers in our care.

• We are all responsible for providing the best possible care, safeguarding and outcomes for the children who are looked after by us.

• That Councils have a duty to put the needs of vulnerable people at the heart of decision-making through co-production and collaboration.

• Care-experienced individuals should be safeguarded from discrimination against them in areas such as employment, education, housing, and access to services.

• Acknowledging care experience as a protected characteristic helps to normalise and validate their experiences, reducing feelings of isolation and shame.

• This recognition could lead to better educational, employment, and health outcomes by addressing systemic barriers and inequalities.

• Recognition would challenge stereotypes, promote empathy, and celebrate the resilience of care-experienced people.

Care-Experienced children and young people have told us that they can feel stigmatised and discriminated against because of having care experience.

One young person said about this motion, “I think that this is a good idea as it will open a lot more minds for us care leavers and will also allow us to not be looked at any differently from anyone “

Another said, “Being care experienced isn’t just a label we are given by our corporate parents and other legal bodies, it is a life experience of someone who is often stigmatised and seen as “less than” their general population peers... this could be because care experienced children are more negatively affected...  we can show you exactly what we can do when we are believed in and protected by a system built for us, by us”.

North Somerset Council notes:

A recommendation of the Josh MacAlister’s Independent Review (Care Review) of Children’s Social Care (2022) was to look at making care experience an additional protected characteristic; another was that all public bodies become corporate parents. The "Stable Homes, Built on Love: Implementation Strategy" that followed the review addresses the proposal to recognise care experience as a protected characteristic under equality law and has not adopted the recommendation to make care experience a legally protected characteristic, however over 100 local authorities have chosen to treat care experience as a locally protected characteristic.

• This local-level recognition reflects a growing acknowledgment of the disadvantages and stigma faced by those with care experience. By  ...  view the full minutes text for item COU74

Oral update from Councillor Bell

The Leader addressed Council providing a verbal update on the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) 2025-28.

Good progress was being made to close the 2025-26 budget gap, which now stands at £500k. During the last Executive meeting in December, councillors heard North Somerset Council faced a £2.5m budget gap for 2025-26 and a £7.3 million forecast gap over three years. The government had since published its draft local government finance settlement for 2025-26 which outlined how it proposes to distribute core funding to local councils. It included some welcome measures and targeted funding for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities services and social care but would not deliver the fairer deal North Somerset Council needs. Significant work had been undertaken to reduce the budget gap, including using £15m of one-off resources.

The Council was disappointed not to receive any recovery grant, particularly as the funding was intended to support councils who like North Somerset Council had high spending pressures and low tax bases.

Due to continued increase in demand for services and the rising costs, the council’s longer-term landscape had deteriorated. The gap over the council’s three year Medium Term Financial Plan now stands at £8million, a £700K increase since last reported in December. The council would continue with the programme of efficiencies and savings, introduction of service reductions and look to generate more income.

North Somerset Council was looking to the government’s spending review, the promised consultation on reform of local government funding and the move to three-year settlements to offer long term sustainable funding.

The Leader thanked all officers of the council who has supported in identifying budget savings and who had worked hard to deliver services despite the pressure and challenges faced.

Members sought clarification about the National Insurance increase and the resulting payroll implications. The Leader advised that where services were commissioned, they were not covered by the compensation available to local authorities, which would pose issues and financial challenges. The council was exploring opportunities to in-source services to reduce costs but that was not something that could be implemented quickly. In response to member comments about whether it was more viable to in-source services to enable the recovery of National Insurance, members were advised that this was being explored and would also be discussed as part of the Commissioning Plan for the supply of Temporary Agency Workers.

Resolved: that Council noted the update to the Medium Term Financial Plan 2025-28.

Report of Councillor Bell (attached)

The Leader presented the report and explained the intention was to get trains running by Autumn 2027 subject to government approvals. There had been encouraging indications that the approvals were being prioritised. The Leader closed by emphasising the complexity of the project and works involved to date, and by paying tribute to the officers’ dedication to what had been a lengthy mission in bringing the project to fruition. He asked that the recommendations were supported to enable movement towards timely delivery of the project.

During the debate, members expressed the importance of being clear about what was being agreed to, supporting the proposals and the benefits that would be felt locally from successful delivery of the project.

Members were also advised that the project was identified as a regionally significant priority under the Western Gateway Strategic Investment Plan consultation. Members who were in favour of the project going ahead were encouraged to complete the consultation to bolster support for investment.

Motion: proposed by Councillor Bell, seconded by Councillor Mason.

Resolved: that prior to the approval of the Full Business Case by the Department for Transport, the Council:

1. delegated authority for the Director of Environment, Assets and Transport Services advised by the s151 officer and Head of Strategic Procurement to finalise, sign and enter into a variation of the existing Funding Agreement with Network Rail Infrastructure Limited (NRIL), for the transitional phase between February and June 2025. The variation  is for the completion of essential preconstruction activities, including Full Business Case funding approval and governance activities that are required in order to be in a position for the project to commence construction mobilisation in June 2025, at an estimated cost of £0.599m. This work increases the total NSC (working jointly with the MCA) spend since December 2022 from £3.425m to £4.024m, funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) via NRIL. The DfT  has authorised this additional spend via their change control process with NRIL.

2. delegated authority for the Assistant Director Legal & Governance to serve requisitions for information requesting that holders of interests in Order land provide details of their interest to the Council under S16 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.

On the basis that the Full Business Case for the MetroWest Phase 1b project is approved by the Department for Transport, and that any funding gap is met by central government, the Council

3. delegated authority for the Leader (Executive Member for Major Infrastructure Projects) advised by the Director of Environment, Assets and Transport Services, Assistant Director Legal & Governance and Monitoring Officer, s151 officer and Head of Strategic Procurement, to finalise and enter into the following agreements with project delivery partners, subject to confirmation of Full Business Case and funding approval by central government:

i. to enter into a ‘Joint Promotion Agreement’ between North Somerset Council (NSC) and the West of England Combined Authority (CA), in line with the draft version attached in appendix A to the report. This agreement will set out  ...  view the full minutes text for item COU76

Report of Councillor Bell (attached)

The Leader presented the report and explained the proposal was to move away from the joint commissioning approach that had existed under the current arrangement with the aim of developing a single supplier. The current arrangement resulted in an unforeseen relative lack of flexibility due to fluctuation in demands. The plan would reduce agency spend and ensure a smooth transition to a new contract. Work would continue to recruit into permanent roles as these were known to provide better long term outcomes for the council.

Motion: proposed by Councillor Bell, seconded by Councillor Canniford

Resolved: that Council APPROVED the commissioning and procurement plan to proceed with the preparation of a framework procurement for the supply of Temporary Agency Workers from 2 November 2025.

Questions must relate to issues relevant to the work of the Executive, the Planning and Regulatory Committee, Employment, Licensing, Audit or Standards Sub-Committee.

Members are requested to supply the Democratic Services Officer with a note of each question at, or just after, the meeting.  A summary note of each question will be included in an appendix to the minutes.

Oral questions were directed to members concerned and the summary notes and topics involved are contained within Appendix 1.

None.

These have to be received by the Assistant Director Legal & Governance and Monitoring Officer by 12.00 noon on the day of the meeting. 

None.

1.    Chairperson’s Announcements

2.    Leader’s Announcements

3.    Chief Executive’s Announcements

The Chief Executive, Jo Walker provided an update on the following:

1. Further to the recent organisational development restructure, updates to the Constitution were now required to reflect amended responsibilities for functions between directors and the necessary changes would be undertaken by the Monitoring Officer.

Resolved: that Council noted that updates to the Constitution were required and would be undertaken by the Monitoring Officer.

2. Mickey Green had been appointed as Director of Environment, Assets and Transport Services with a March 2025 start date, replacing Lucy Shomali who was retiring.

For a matter to be considered as an urgent item, the following question must be addressed:  “What harm to the public interest would flow from leaving it until the next meeting?” If harm can be demonstrated, then it is open to the Chairperson to rule that it be considered as urgent. Otherwise the matter cannot be considered urgent within the statutory provisions.

None.