This meeting of the Full Council will consider a wide range of topics including a proposed increase to the Chief Executive's pay, changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, and the appointment of Councillor Steven Pugsley as Chair of the Scrutiny Committee – Corporate and Resources, after the resignation of Councillor Bob Filmer. There will also be updates on the Local Authority Housing Fund, and the MHCLG Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund.

Council Tax Reduction Scheme

The Council will be asked to consider proposed changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme and Exceptional Hardship Policy for working age applicants. The proposed changes aim to reduce the council's expenditure by £3.86m per year and are in response to the financial challenges faced by the council.

The Council is required by law to set a CTR scheme in advance of each financial year.

The scheme is currently being reviewed. A full public consultation ran between 24 July 2024 and 1 October 2024, with 1,720 responses received.

The following changes to the scheme are proposed:

• A reduction in the level of discounts in Bands 2, 3 and 4, to 50%, 25% and 10% respectively, but retaining 100% in Band 1. This change alone is expected to save £2.3m per year.
• The introduction of a standard weekly non-dependant deduction of £10. This change is expected to save £1.5m per year.
• A restriction in the maximum level of support that can be awarded to a Band D equivalent charge. This means that people living in Band E and above will have their discount capped to the 100% Band D amount. This change will save £86k per year.
• A reduction in the period claims can be backdated to one month. The expected saving from this change has not been calculated.

The impact assessment says:

Approximately 69% of working age claimants could be impacted by the proposed changes. On average each claimant would be asked to pay an additional £415.48 a year in Council Tax.

The report identifies several risks associated with the proposed scheme.

Risk of legal challenge: "This has been mitigated through:

• Specialist external advice being taken to ensure compliance with Council Tax legislation
• A full equalities impact assessment being completed
• A detailed planning and extensive communication to publicise the consultation exercise
• A full consultation being run over a 10-week period"

Risk that the changes result in hardship, reduced collection rates and increased applications for Exceptional Hardship payments: "Whilst the ability to mitigate the impact would in practice be very limited as resource is limited, the team are able to:

• Request a significantly increased budget provision (within the collection fund) for EH payments"

Risk that the changes result in an increase in complaints and negative publicity: "We will mitigate this through:

• Detailed planning and extensive communications to all customers affected by the changes
• Renewed and increased publicity of EH payments"

The Equalities Impact Assessment identifies negative impacts on several protected groups including people with disabilities and women. It says:

The impact of any such reduction is likely to be proportionately higher for a disabled claimant due to increased living costs and because this group is also more likely to have a non-dependant living with them to provide care and support.

The greater proportion of claimants are females. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that reducing the amount of CTR payable will have a disproportionate impact on this group.

The report sets out ways the council will provide support and advice to people who are struggling to pay their council tax.

Non-Domestic Rating Discretionary Rate Relief and Hardship Policy

The Council will be asked to consider a proposal to amend the Non-Domestic Rating Discretionary Rate Relief and Hardship Policy 2025/26 to prevent private schools from applying for discretionary rate relief after April 2025 when the government's mandatory charitable rate relief for private schools ends.

The report says:

HM Treasury published a Technical Note on 29 July 2024 that gave details on the removal of mandatory charitable rates relief for Private Schools that hold a charitable status.

The Government confirmed in the Autumn statement of 30 October 2024 that they will be legislating the proposed policy change through a Local Government Finance Bill led by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) which will amend the Local Government Finance Act 1988.

In the Autumn statement, the Government announced that Private Schools which are “wholly or mainly” concerned with providing full time education to pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) will remain eligible for business rates charitable relief.

The report says there is a risk private schools will apply for discretionary rate relief and this could increase costs for the council. The report does not consider the impact on private schools in Somerset of losing 80% of their rate relief.

HRA sewage treatment tank replacements using MHCLG Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund grant

The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) will ask the council to approve a proposal to use £1m of funding from the MHCLG Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund (LNMF) to replace five package sewage treatment plants (PSTPs).

The HRA owns and manages 20 Package Sewage Treatment Plants (PSTPs) which serve rural homes which are off the mains sewage network. Many of these plants are 40+ years old and are reaching then end of their lifespan.

The report says the works will deliver an annual reduction of at least 30kg of phosphate from discharges into the Rivers Tone and Parrett catchments and it is expected that the cost of the programme will be £670k.

Any financial surplus achieved by this project (currently estimated at £330k) will be used to facilitate the replacement of high priority plant replacements which do not qualify for Local Nutrient Mitigation funding.

There is a risk the works will not be completed by the funding deadline of 31 March 2025, so the HRA is also considering installing water efficiency measures.

The HRA is also investigating the use of water efficiency measures to achieve phosphate reduction. This method involves fitting flow control devices to existing HRA homes.

Chief Executive's Pay Award 2024/25

The Human Resources Committee will ask the council to approve a 2.5% increase to the Chief Executive's pay for 2024/25.

The HR Committee forms a key part of the Council’s constitutional arrangements which underpin the aims and delivery of the Somerset Council Plan. The Council is currently opted out of national pay agreements by the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) for Chief Executives of Local Authorities. Under the Councils constitution (Part D3), the HR Committee acts as the Council’s Remuneration Committee for Chief Officers’ pay. Full Council are required to approve any recommendation from the Committee for a pay award to the Chief Executive.

Report of the Monitoring Officer

The Monitoring Officer will report to the council. The report will provide the council with the opportunity to approve the appointment of Councillor Steven Pugsley to the Scrutiny Committee for Corporate and Resources, and to appoint him as Chair of that committee. Councillor Pugsley has been nominated by the Leader of the Council and the Leader of the Opposition. The report will also ask the council to note the Chief Executive's decision to approve a six-month leave of absence for Councillor Gill Slocombe.

Review of Part B of the Council's Constitution - Retention of Committee Meeting Recordings

The Constitution and Governance Committee will ask the council to approve a change to Part B of the council's constitution to specify how long recordings of council committee meetings should be retained. The report proposes that the council should retain recordings on its internal systems (Sharepoint) for twelve months and on YouTube indefinitely.

The Council also uses YouTube to store the recordings for public access via the Council’s website, which was currently free of charge.

Motions

The council will consider three motions:

Supporting Somerset Farmers and Food Producers

A motion proposed by Councillor David Woan and seconded by Councillor Oliver Patrick. The motion sets out the council's commitment to supporting Somerset's farmers and local food producers. It highlights the environmental benefits of local food and drink, pledges the council's opposition to excessive government interference in farming, and commits the council to procuring food locally.

Somerset Council recognises, in line with our environmental commitments, the benefits of locally-produced food and drink, which has lower food miles than imported food and drink and is produced to some of the highest environmental and welfare standards in the world.

The council's officers have assessed the motion and say it will not require significant additional resources.

Minimal resources required, noting that the council does not routinely provide refreshments for meetings or events. Will need to review the current purchasing practice for tea / coffee / milk.

Some resources through a communications campaign if that is requested.

Protecting British Family Farms and Preserving Rural Communities

A motion proposed by Councillor Faye Purbrick and seconded by Councillor Lucy Trimnell. The motion notes the government's proposal to scrap Agricultural Property Relief (APR) from Inheritance Tax.

Somerset Council notes with concern the proposed changes to inheritance tax announced by the Labour Government in the recent Autumn budget, which would scrap Agricultural Property Relief (APR).

The motion says this will have a negative impact on food security, rural communities, and environmental stewardship.

Somerset Council believes that this tax will have severe impacts on:

1. Food Security: Selling off land or closing farms will put our national food independence at risk, at a time when global stability is already fragile. British family farms are critical to ensuring a steady supply of homegrown food.
2. Rural Community Stability: Family farms are the foundation of rural Britain and Somerset, contributing to local jobs, schools, and essential services. Labour’s proposed tax risks destabilising communities, eroding the rural way of life, and causing a negative ripple effect across the countryside and our communities.
3. Environmental Stewardship: Farms cover 70% of the UK’s land (over 420,000 hectares in Somerset alone), with family farms playing a leading role in nature recovery, biodiversity, and sustainable land management. The sale and fragmentation of these lands would hinder conservation efforts and undermine environmental initiatives that his council has pledge to support.

The motion calls for the council to formally oppose the government's proposal and write to the Prime Minister, Chancellor and Secretary of State for DEFRA. The council's officers have assessed the motion and highlighted the potential resource implications of one aspect of the motion:

It is difficult to assess item three as “all available means” is undefined and could have both resource and financial implicatisn depending on the approach that is anticipated.

Food and Farming

A motion proposed by Councillor Lucy Trimnell and seconded by Councillor Faye Purbrick. The motion calls for the council to recognise the contribution of farmers to the local economy, food security and the environment. It also calls for the council to oppose the government's increases to employer national insurance contributions and inheritance tax.

Strengthen our partnerships with arable, livestock, and dairy farmers to support and enhance Somerset’s iconic countryside and will seek to oppose unnecessary additional pressures such as the hike in employers National Insurance contributions and Inheritance Tax on farmers.

The motion asks the council to commit to using local suppliers for events.

Make a commitment to support local farmers, growers, and the food and drink sector by ensuring, where possible, that food and beverages served at council-organised events are sourced from local suppliers. This will include meat and dairy, alongside fruit, vegetable and cereal products, reflecting the full diversity of Somerset's agricultural output.

Finally, it asks the council to explore ways to encourage residents to shop locally.

As part of Somerset Council’s efforts to address environmental priorities, the Council will explore ways to encourage residents to shop locally whenever possible. This will include promoting home-grown, affordable, and nutritious produce to reduce food miles, boost the local economy, and support our farming community.

The council's officers have assessed the motion and say it will require minimal additional resources.

Minimal resources required, noting that the council does not routinely provide refreshments for meetings or events. Will need to review the current purchasing practice for tea / coffee / milk.

Some resources through a communications campaign if that is requested.

Report of the Five Scrutiny Committees

The five scrutiny committees will report to the Full Council on their activities since August 2024. They will ask the council to note the report and approve a change to the Constitution.

That the Constitution Part 6 – Scrutiny Terms of Reference be amended as follows:

1.17 REPORTING: A Scrutiny Committee can report and make recommendations to the Leader, the Executive or the Council, as appropriate, and to partner public bodies involved with Community Safety or the NHS. Each Committee reports annually to Full Council on its work, its future work programme and recommendations for improving the way it carries out its functions, if appropriate.

Summary of Key Decisions taken since the last Full Council meeting

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Bill Revans, will provide a summary of the key decisions taken since the last meeting of the Full Council. Decisions made between 13 September 2024 and 6 December 2024 will be included in the report.

Annual Report of the Lead Member for Transport and Waste Services

Councillor Richard Wilkins, the Executive Lead Member for Transport and Waste Services, will provide his annual report to the council.

The report is the annual report for the Executive Member for Transport and Waste Services.

The report will set out what has been achieved over the past year across a range of services including highways, transport, and waste. It will highlight the following notable achievements:

• The development of a new Local Transport Plan.
• Progress on rail partnerships for reopening Wellington Station and linking Taunton to Bishops Lydeard.
• The implementation of a vision-led approach to transport assessments for new developments.
• The completion of several active travel projects, including the A38 Bristol Road footway widening, the A39 Dunster to Minehead cycle route, and a new crossing between Taunton town centre and Vivary Park.
• An updated Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) and the launch of a new, more reliable park and ride service in Taunton.
• The procurement of new electric vehicles for the Housing workforce and charging infrastructure at depots.
• The successful bid to secure a £2.2m Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) grant for 25 electric buses and charging infrastructure.
• The completion of the new access road for the Firepool Development.
• The start of construction work for an improved Dunball Roundabout.
• The completion of the A303 Sparkford to Ilchester dual carriageway scheme.
• Participation in the government's £30m Live Labs 2 programme for decarbonising road maintenance.
• The successful procurement of new highway maintenance contracts.
• An increase in the council's recycling rate to 58%.
• The successful renegotiation of the council's waste collection contract with Suez.
• The expansion of the flexible plastics recycling trial.
• An increase in customer satisfaction with kerbside collection services.

The report will also cover:

• Progress on the Decide and Provide Vision led approach to traffic impact assessments
• Adoption of Place Making Principles
• Secured the closure, via Public Inquiry, of Berkley Lane and Dark Lane to vehicular traffic to stop antisocial behaviour and fly tipping.
• Delivery of the highway elements of major urban residential developments at Comeytrowe and Staplegrove in Taunton, Brimsmore and Lufton in Yeovil, Cokerhurst Farm in Bridgwater, Key Site in Crewkerne and Keyford in Frome.
• Overseeing the delivery aspects of the main access roads serving the Gravity Smart Campus (Huntspill Energy Park) in Puriton, Bridgwater.
• Engagement on the delivery of highway infrastructure associated with Hinkley Point C focusing on adoption of the new highway assets.
• Continuing to support the Somerset Rivers Authority in the assessment of selected Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems installed within the County.
• Undertaking road safety audits for improvement schemes and safety assessments for walked routes to schools.
• The introduction of Local Community Network (LCN) dashboards to help communities understand road safety issues in their area.
• Plans to use AI technology to focus road safety enforcement resources.
• A new contract with the councils enforcement contractor.
• A framework contract for routine tree maintenance, including Ash dieback removal
• A replacement for the council's bridges and structures framework contract
• A pilot project managed by Somerset Council Lifeline to handle out-of-hours contacts
• An enhanced highway maintenance pilot, enabling parish councils to purchase services directly from the council's contractor.
• A flexible plastics recycling trial in Frome.
• The Schools Against Waste (SAW) project, delivered by Carymoor Environmental Trust.
• The Fixy Project, which diverts smart tech items for reuse.
• The Local Engagement Project, which aimed to increase food waste recycling in Priorswood, Taunton.
• Online functionality for accepting construction and demolition waste
• A national trial for kerbside collection of plastic bags and wrappings.