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RESOLVED
 
The Scrutiny Corporate and Resources Committee
was asked to:
 

·      
Note the significant progress made on the Council’s Local
Devolution Programme to date.
 
Although progress of the Council’s Local
Devolution Programme was noted, the Committee expressed concerns
about the speed of the progress made so far but accepted that some
delays may be impacted by the legal process. It was requested that
delays caused by the legal process be prioritised and resolved as
soon as possible to address growing lack of confidence in the
process of devolution.
 

·      
Consider and made recommendations in relation to future phases of
Local Devolution.
 
The Committee requested:
 

1.    
Reassurance on the position of assets devolved on a leasehold
basis, should the Council be subject to a S114 notice.

2.    
Learning from Councils that have been through devolution.

3.    
Communications between the Council and Divisional Councillors to be
improved to enable them to understand the work being undertaken
within their division.

4.    
More opportunities to be explored to enable smaller parish councils
to share the administration, costs and legal activities involved
with devolved services.

5.    
Regular updates to be provided to the Committee on the progress of
devolution, the next being no later than October 2025.

6.    
A more detailed breakdown of the savings made by the Devolution
Programme.

7.    
Monitor the devolved work and services being commissioned by the
Parish, Town and City Councils to ensure they are getting value for
money.

8.    
Reassurance that there is sufficient resources within Somerset
Council to deal with and process requests for devolved services
from the Parish, Town and City Councils.
 

·      
Consider and recommend key messages for inclusion in a letter or
briefing to all City, Town and Parish Councils.
 
The Committee requested that the comments made
during the course of the discussion be taken into consideration
when composing the letter or briefing for the local Councils.