Frances Nicholson - Councillor for Somerset

Councillor Frances Nicholson

Conservative Opposition Lead Member for Children, Families and Education

Email: frances.nicholson@somerset.gov.uk

Council: Somerset

Council Profile: View on council website

Committees: Local Community Network - Exmoor Full Council (Committee Member) SACRE (Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education) (Committee Member) Audit Committee Executive (Guest) Scrutiny Committee - Children and Families (Committee Member) Scrutiny Committee - Communities Scrutiny Committee - Corporate and Resources (Guest) Standards Committee (Committee Member) Property and Investments Executive Sub-Committee Appointments Committee (Committee Member) Constitution and Governance Committee Scrutiny Committee - Adults and Health

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Activity Timeline

Meetings Attended Note this may include planned future meetings.

60 meetings · Page 1 of 12

Standards Committee Committee Member

Standards Committee - Thursday, 22nd January, 2026 10.00 am

January 22, 2026, 10:00 am
Full Council Committee Member

Full Council - Wednesday, 17th December, 2025 1.00 pm

December 17, 2025
Full Council Committee Member

Special Meeting, Full Council - Wednesday, 17th December, 2025 12.00 pm

December 17, 2025
Appointments Committee Committee Member

Senior Manager Appointments and Employment Committee - Thursday, 11th December, 2025 4.30 pm

December 11, 2025
SACRE (Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education) Committee Member

SACRE (Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education) - Wednesday, 10th December, 2025 2.00 pm

December 10, 2025

Decisions from Meetings

152 decisions · Page 3 of 31

Housing Revenue Account Rent Setting 2026-27 Delegation Report

From: Full Council - Wednesday, 17th December, 2025 1.00 pm - December 17, 2025

Recommendations Approved

EHCP timeliness

From: Scrutiny Committee - Children and Families - Monday, 8th December, 2025 2.00 pm - December 08, 2025

... to address the urgent need for SEND reforms and improve EHCP timeliness, the committee resolved to urge the Executive to expedite recruitment, prioritize children in care and phase transfers, and advocate for the progression of the new special school while enhancing interim family support.

For Determination

Internal Fostering Update

From: Scrutiny Committee - Children and Families - Monday, 8th December, 2025 2.00 pm - December 08, 2025

...to convey to the Executive the importance of stability and community support for carers, request continued updates and offer help with recruitment promotion, and emphasize the need for continued investment in fostering and kinship care initiatives, including Mockingbird and intervention support.

For Determination

Scrutiny Committee - Children and Families Outcome Tracker

From: Scrutiny Committee - Children and Families - Monday, 8th December, 2025 2.00 pm - December 08, 2025

Information Only

Budget Proposals 26/27 - 30/31 - Fees and Charges Policy

From: Scrutiny Committee - Children and Families - Monday, 8th December, 2025 2.00 pm - December 08, 2025

...the Committee was unable to formulate adequate recommendations regarding the Budget Proposals for 2026/27 to 2030/31 and the Fees and Charges Policy due to a significant lack of detail in the presented papers, and reiterated concerns about the Dedicated Schools Grant Deficit Management Plan.

Recommendations Approved

Summary

Meetings Attended: 60

Average per Month: 2.9

Decisions Recorded: 152