Agenda and minutes

The Chair will draw attention to the emergency evacuation procedure as set out under Note 5.

The Chair drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure, as set out on the agenda.

At this point in the meeting declarations of interest are received from Members in any of the agenda items under consideration at the meeting. Members are asked to complete the green interest forms circulated to groups in their pre-meetings (which will be announced at the Council Meeting) to indicate:

(a)  The agenda item number in which they have an interest to declare.

(b)  The nature of their interest.

(c)  Whether their interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or an other interest, (as defined in Part 4.4 Appendix B of the Code of Conduct and Rules for Registration of Interests)

Any Member who needs to clarify any matters relating to the declaration of interests is recommended to seek advice from the Council’s Monitoring Officeror a member of his staff before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

The Monitoring Officer issued a general dispensation for all Councillors who pay Council Tax, are Parish Councillors or School Governors and therefore had an interest in these items, to enable them to take part in the debate and vote on agenda item 8 - Budget & Council Tax 2026/27.

In addition, specific dispensations were granted for the below Councillors who have a family member in receipt of Council SEND support, social care support or are working for B&NES;

Sarah Warren

Saskia Heijltjes

Sarah Moore

Steve Hedges

To be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair

On a motion from Councillor Sarah Moore, seconded by Councillor Tim Ball, it was

RESOLVED that the minutes of 20^th November 2025 are confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Chair made the usual announcements regarding phones, mic units and webcasting.  She reminded Councillors that Annex 13 of the Budget report was circulated and is available on the website, as are the amendments received.

She then invited the new Chief Executive, Sophie Broadfield, to address the meeting following her recent appointment.

If there is any urgent business arising since the formal agenda was published, the Chair will announce this and give reasons why it has been agreed for consideration at this meeting. In making this decision, the Chair will, where practicable, have consulted with the Leaders of the Political Groups. Any documentation on urgent business will be circulated at the meeting, if not made available previously.

There were no items of urgent business.

The Democratic Services Manager will announce any submissions received. The Council will be invited to decide what action it wishes to take, if any, on the matters raised in these submissions. As the questions received and the answers given will be circulated in written form there is no requirement for them to be read out at the meeting. The questions and answers will be published with the draft minutes.

The Chair  made reference to the Public Q&A document that had been circulated.

Statements were made by the following members of the public;

Dominic Taylor made a statement calling into question the Council’s support to Ukraine, a copy of which has been added to the online record and the Minute book. 

Jem Hovil made a statement calling for a Residents’ Parking Zone (RPZ) for the Firs, Combe Down, a copy of which has been added to the online record and the Minute book.  In response to a question from Councillor Kevin Guy about whether Jem and fellow residents would like to meet with the Cabinet Member to discuss this, Jem confirmed that he would.

Mark Shelford presented a petition of 113 signatures from residents of Milton Avenue and Chaucer Road requesting that the recently installed cycle hangar on Chaucer Road be relocated to a safer location away from the uphill crossroads junction with Milton Avenue.  A copy of Mark’s statement has been added to the online record and the Minute book.  Councillor Eleanor Jackson asked Mark if he considered the same principles he’d raised in his request applied to the one outside the library in Radstock, to which Mark replied that he couldn’t comment on that.  In response to a question from Councillor June Player about whether the residents had been told that the hangar can be moved, Mark replied that it had been agreed and so he was requesting the process could be expedited.  Councillor Tim Warren asked Mark what consultation had taken place, to which he replied that no direct consultation, in terms of letters or email to residents had been sent, nor had the Bear Flats Residents Association been contacted about the location.  Councillor Joanna Wright asked if Mark was aware that a Traffic Regulation Order was needed for the location of hangars, to which Mark confirmed that he was.

Ed Browning made a statement about funding for public toilets following the motion unanimously agreed at Council in July 2025.  Ed was disappointed to see a potential funding cut in the budget and called for proactive steps to put into place those measures outlined in the motion.  Councillor Robin Moss asked if anyone had contacted Ed to identify the gaps on provision since he had raised issues in his statement to Council in July, to which Ed replied they had not.

The Chair thanked the speakers for their statements, which will be forwarded to the relevant Cabinet Member.

The Council considered a report presenting the revenue and capital budgets together with proposals for increases in Council Tax and the Adult Social Care Precept for 2026/2.

An amendment was moved by the Labour Group (attached to the online record) calling for an exemption for public conveniences contracts and all charity and voluntary sector contractors from the list of “top 25 contracts” targeted for savings and a business case for a Discovery card.  This was lost on a vote.

An amendment was moved by the Green Group (attached to the online record) calling for additional software to accurately model changes to the Council Tax Support Scheme.  This was lost on a vote.

On a motion from Councillor Kevin Guy, seconded by Councillor Robin Moss and RESOLVED that, in accordance with rule 3.1.15 (Suspension of rules), rule 3.1.34 be suspended to allow the length of speeches for the Budget debate to be varied (NB: unless otherwise stated, all mover speeches 5 minutes, all others 3 minutes).

On a motion from Councillor Mark Elliott, seconded by Councillor Kevin Guy, it was

RESOLVED that

1.  The Council approves:

·  The General Fund net revenue budget for 2026/27 of £193.17m and the individual service cash limits for 2026/27 as outlined in Annex 1.

·  The savings and income plans outlined in Annex 2(i), funding requirements 2(ii), in conjunction with the Equalities Impact Assessment Report in Annex 3.

·  An increase in general Council Tax of 2.99% in 2026/27 (an increase of £54.51 per Band D property or £1.05 per week).

·  An increase of 2.00% to Council Tax for the Adult Social Care Precept in recognition of the current demands and financial pressures on this service. This is equivalent to an increase of £36.46 on a Band D property or £0.70 per week.

·  The movement in reserves outlined in Section 5.6 and the adequacy of Un-earmarked Reserves at £12.58m within a risk assessed range requirement of £12.00m - £13.20m.

·  To note the Children’s Services management plan update set out in paragraphs 5.2.65 to 5.2.66 of the report.

·  The Efficiency Strategy attached at Annex 4.

·  The Capital Programme for 2026/27 of £110.219m including new and emerging capital bids outlined in Annex 5(i), planned sources of funding in 5.8.10, and notes the programme for 2027/28 to 2030/31 and that any wholly funded projects coming forward during the year will be added to the Capital Programme in line with the Budget Management Scheme.

·  The delegation of implementation, subject to consultation where appropriate, of the capital programmes set out in Annex 5(i) to Annex 5(vi) to the relevant Director in consultation with the appropriate Cabinet Portfolio Holder.

·  The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) allocations and amendments outlined in Annex 5(vii).

·  The Capital & Investment Strategy attached at Annex 6.

·  The Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy attached at Annex 7.

·  The Capital Prudential Indicators outlined in 5.8.17.

·  The Annual Pay Policy Statement at Annex 8.

·  The Community Contribution Fund extension outlined Section 5.5.

·  The Council Tax Support Scheme for 2026/27 shown in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.

The Council considered its Treasury Management Strategy statement for 2026/27, fulfilling its legal obligation under the Local Government Act 2003 to have regard to the CIPFA Code which requires this.

On a motion from Councillor Mark Elliot, seconded by Councillor Robin Moss, it was unanimously

RESOLVED to

1.  Approve the actions proposed within the Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2026/27 (Appendix 1); and

2.  Note the Treasury Management Indicators detailed in Appendix 1.

The Council considered a report regarding proportionality, following a change in political group membership.

On a motion from Councillor Kevin Guy, seconded by Councillor Karen Walker, it was unanimously

RESOLVED to

1.  note the required revised totals in the proportionality table; and

2.  note that actual place changes to achieve the new totals will be considered by the political groups concerned and notified in due course.

The Chair  made reference to the Councillor Q&A document that had been circulated.