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 Senior Manager Appointments and Employment 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.

67 meetings · Page 1 of 14

Full Council Committee Member

Annual General Meeting, Full Council - Wednesday, 20th May, 2026 1.00 pm

May 20, 2026, 1:00 pm
Scrutiny Committee - Children and Families Committee Member

Scrutiny Committee - Children and Families - Monday, 18 May 2026 - 2.00 pm

May 18, 2026, 2:00 pm
Scrutiny Committee - Children and Families Committee Member

Scrutiny Committee - Children and Families - Monday, 20 April 2026 - 2.00 pm

April 20, 2026, 2:00 pm
Standards Committee Committee Member

Standards Committee - Thursday, 16 April 2026 - 10.00 am

April 16, 2026, 10:00 am
Full Council Committee Member

Budget Setting Meeting, Full Council - Wednesday, 4th March, 2026 11.00 am

March 04, 2026, 11:00 am

Decisions from Meetings

166 decisions · Page 6 of 34

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

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

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 Corporate and Resources Work Programme

From: Scrutiny Committee - Corporate and Resources - Wednesday, 29th October, 2025 10.00 am - October 29, 2025

...to revise the scrutiny work programme to include an additional meeting, a full-day joint scrutiny session, and a meeting to consolidate feedback for executive consideration, while also ensuring timely communication, continued oversight of scrutiny review implementation, and monitoring of the community engagement review.

Recommendations Approved

Summary

Meetings Attended: 67

Average per Month: 2.7

Decisions Recorded: 166