Content

The
Committee :
I.             
Scrutinised and commented on the draft budget
proposals for 2024/25 and the proposed council tax increase, with
reference to the cumulative impact assessment, individual
equalities impact assessments and the budget
consultation;
II.          
Scrutinised and commented on the proposed Housing
Revenue Account budget for 2024/25;
III.       
Scrutinised and commented on the proposal Capital
Budget for 2024/25;
IV.         
Agreed to make the following recommendations to
the Executive:

Service  

Ref/title of budget
proposal: 
 

Proposed
recommendation  
 

Reason 
 

OVERALL BUDGET 

Capitalisation Direction and proposed additional increase to
Council Tax – awaiting DLUHC approval 
  

Scrutiny Committee to recommend to Executive and S151 Officer
that it receives an update on the outcome of the capitalisation
direction and council tax increase request at meeting on 7 March
and if unsuccessful what mitigations are proposed 
 

To ensure S114 is avoided   
 

Developing the approach to Transformation (outline business case
for Executive 7 February) 
 

Scrutiny Committee to scrutinise the Outline Business Case at
its meeting on 7 March   

To understand the potential impact on Council services and
delivery of Council Plan priorities 

Level of General Reserves in 2024/25 and 2025/26 being
sufficient and level of pressures for 2025/26 to avoid a
S114 
 

Scrutiny Committee to receive regular updates on the level of
general and earmarked reserves in 2024/25 and projections for
2025/26, together with projected pressures for 2025/26 as part of
monthly budget monitoring reports throughout
2024/25 
 

Concerns whether the level of general reserves and potential
pressures projected for 2025/26 will result in Section
114  
 

COMMUNITIES 

Appendix 6 – pg 3 

Devolution of Services/Facilities to Parish/Town councils and
pressures on Parishes taking on these additional areas of
work 

The Committee welcomes the partnership work being undertaken
with Somerset’s Town and Parish Councils and recommends that
Scrutiny Committee for Communities receives quarterly update
reports regarding the progression and delivery of devolution of
various communities services and assets to Parish and Town
Councils. 
 

To monitor the delivery of devolution proposals and 
whether additional capacity is needed from Somerset Council to
enable this 

CMS 018 (pg 3 of Appendix 6 savings proposals) -
CCTV 
 
 

Scrutiny Committee for Communities to receive quarterly update
reports regarding the progression and delivery of income generation
proposals with relevant Parish and Town Councils to deliver the
target value to avoid cessation of the CCTV
service. 
 

To monitor the delivery of alternative solutions to avoid
cessation of the service and provide a 2024/25 and future years
viable solution  

CMS022 – Octagon Theatre in Yeovil 
 
CMS038 – Westlands entertainment venue,
Yeovil 
 
CMS020 – Yeovil recreation Ground 
 
 
 

Scrutiny Committee Communities to receive quarterly updates on
the delivery of the devolution of specific assets and services to
Yeovil town council as alternative solutions to these savings
proposals. 
 
To receive a quarterly update on the capital bid to DCMS and the
potential capital investment in the Octagon
Theatre 
 

To monitor the delivery of these devolution proposals and the
proposed capital project for the Octagon during 2024/25 together
with delivery of any mitigations if unsuccessful 

Adults & Health
Services 

Appendix 6 – pg 1 

Significant and high risk savings proposals 

Scrutiny Committee Adults & Health to receive quarterly
updates on the delivery of ADS 001, ADS 004, ADS 005, ADS 006, ADS
007 and ADS 011 and scrutinise any adverse impacts on service
users, partners and providers 
 
 
 
 

To be assured on the delivery of the proposed savings and
scrutinise any adverse impacts on service users 

Children, Families &
Education 

 
Education & Inclusion 

Recommend that Scrutiny Children & Families receive
quarterly reports regarding the Deficit Action Plan for High Needs
Block and Dedicated Schools Grant and the continuation of the
statutory override 
 

To maintain sufficient oversight on delivery of this plan and
its mitigation of significant risks to the Council 

Significant and high risk savings proposals 

Scrutiny Committee Children & Families to receive quarterly
updates on the delivery of savings proposals CFE 003, CFE 004, CFE
005, CFE 009, CFE 011, CFE 012, CFE 013 and CFE 014, together with
scrutinising any adverse impacts on young people, partners and
providers 
 

To be assured on the delivery of the proposed savings and
scrutinise any adverse impacts on young people 

Service delivery and Ofsted rating of service for vulnerable
children 

Seek assurance from the Executive that the proposed savings
proposals will not adversely affect outcomes for vulnerable
children and the Ofsted rating that the Council has invested
significant staff and financial resources to
achieve 

Climate & Place
Services 

Appendix 6 (savings) – pg 5 

CAP010 Household Waste Recycling Centres 
 
 
 
 

Due to significant member and public concerns about the
potential closures, recommend that Scrutiny Committee Climate &
Place  receive quarterly updates to scrutinise the potential
options to deliver this savings proposal (CAP 010) and any adverse
impacts on local communities  
 

To scrutinise adverse impacts on local
communities 
 
 

Significant and high risk savings proposals 
 

Scrutiny Committee Climate & Place to receive quarterly
updates on the delivery of savings proposals CAP 001, CAP 002, CAP
007, CAP 012, CAP 036 together with scrutinising any adverse
impacts on local communities and partners  
 
 

To be assured on the delivery of the proposed savings and
scrutinise any adverse impacts on local
communities 

CAP 027 Transport policy post 

Recommend that the Executive withdraws the proposed saving CAP
027 (£70k) in order to ensure the Council can continue to
adequately bid for external funding for its infrastructure and to
fund  he target saving instead from savings to Local Community
Networks support costs 
 

Concerns about lost opportunity for bidding for infrastructure
funding  

CAP032 reduction in highways maintenance 

Recommend that the Executive withdraws the proposed saving CAP
032 (£ 330k) in order to continue existing levels of highways
maintenance and to fund the target saving instead from Local
Community Networks support costs 
 

Concerns over impacts to local communities and mitigate risks of
reactive costs occuring 

Resources & Corporate
Services 

No recommendations 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Strategy Workforce &
Localities 

SWL 001 

Recommend that the Executive withdraws the proposed saving SWL
001 
 

SWL010 Reduction of Scrutiny committees  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SWL 006 Combine Audit and C&G Committee 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SWL007 reduction in  size of some
committees 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SWL012 - reduction of some SRAs 

Recommend that the Executive withdraws the proposed saving SWL
010 in order to continue existing 5 scrutiny committees and support
the increased frequency of their meetings and to fund the target
saving and any additional costs from Local Community Networks
support costs 
 
Recommend that the Executive withdraws the proposed saving SWL
006 whilst the council is in a financial emergency and completing
the further review work on the Constitution 
 
Recommend that the size of each of the Planning Committees and
Scrutiny Committees remains at 13 members 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The proposed reduction in some SRAs is not in line with the
Independent Remuneration Panel’s recommendations and this
saving proposal should be withdrawn and not be recommended to
Council on 20 February  
 

Significant concerns over this proposal especially during a
financial emergency when greater scrutiny
needed.  
 
 
 
 
 
Concerns that this will adversely impact on Council’s
governance framework 
 
 
 
Concerns that reducing size of  scrutiny and planning
committees will adversely the democratic and  local
representation. 
 
 
Concern regarding this proposal as impacting on
democracy.  

Local Community Networks 
 

Recommend that the Executive reduce the council’s budget
for supporting Local Community Networks and instead share the costs
of supporting these meetings with parish and town
councils 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Views that some of the costs to the Council of  supporting
the LCNs could be used to fund other savings
proposals 
 

HRA Budget 2024/25
Proposals 

No recommendations