Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies received from Somerset Councillors Lee Baker, David Fothergill, Derek Perry, Bill Revans and Creech St Michael Parish Council.

To approve the notes from the previous meeting.

The Members of the Hestercombe Local Community Network (LCN) agreed that the notes from the previous meeting held on 28 June 2023 were a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To receive and note any declarations of interests in respect of any matters included on the agenda for consideration at this meeting.

(The other registrable interests of Councillors of Somerset Council, arising from membership of City, Town or Parish Councils and other Local Authorities will automatically be recorded in the minutes: City, Town & Parish Twin Hatters - Somerset Councillors 2023 )

Norman Cavill West Monkton Parish Council

The Chair to advise of any questions, statements or petitions received that are not covered by items on the agenda for the meeting on which members of the public have requested to speak.

Kate Wilson (Cheddon Fitzpaine Parish Council) asked for items planned for the first year of the LCN.

The Chair responded that it was for the LCN as a group to decide where the focus should be, emphasising the focus should be to benefit all areas.

Officers from the LCN Team presented the members with data gathered on the themes and priorities raised at the previous meeting.

During the group discussion the LCN members highlighted the following themes from the data presented:

Number of pupils in the area – living in the area and going to school in / out of the area

The percentage of SEND support compared with other areas in Somerset

The Percentage of pupils electively home educated – reasons?

More Community talking / check in with residents to understand the data and find the latest data / support data / gain more data resources

The low anti-social rates compared with the rest of Somerset areas, mostly adult behaviour

More access to mental health support

What migrant support is available

Data comparisons with other LCNs

·       Climate and Environment

·       Flooding

·       Footpaths and Open Spaces

·       Anti-social Behaviour

·       Young People

The LCN focused on three areas: Climate and Environment, Flooding and Young People.

Climate and Environment

The challenges for the Broomfield area - 5 streams that flow from and around it and pass through multiagency land owned areas.

Suggested work / plans that could be considered to improve and help the environment – introduce beaver colony, leaky dams, more hedge growing / retaining, invitational speakers i.e.The Quantock Landscape Partnership Scheme

The development of properties and the designation of West Monkton as a garden town – the demand to enhance approach and the affect on planning applications.

New developments and non-enforcement of delivery of the original planning requirements – not managing tree planting and maintaining trees, lack of retail and industrial, the skew from the original balanced neighbourhood concept (and reinforces the need for cars).

West Monkton Parish Council water management and threats and maintenance of trees – residents to work together.

Flooding

The many challenges presented, including the flooding affects for both higher and lower ground, ditches and drains, where and who does the responsibility lie with, average and increased rainfall, flash flooding, farming methods, containing and preventing water flow.

Suggested work to aid the situation, including: multi agency collaboration, tree and hedge planting, stream meandering, reinstate ponds, dams, catching and retraining water flow, attenuation ponds.

That planning applications require developers to prove and demonstrate mitigation of phosphate generation for 80 years, phosphate credit system - how is this defined, monitored and enforced for non-compliance – more information needed for Local Councils understand phosphate mitigation system to enable effective commentary on planning applications.

LCN Member invitation to the Flooding resilience meeting West Monkton Parish Council:

Flooding resilience meeting:

Friday 20th October at 11.30am

Brittons Ash Community Hall, Bridgwater Road, Bathpool, Taunton, TA2 8FT

Young People

What provisions already exist and challenges across urban / rural areas - the number of children in the areas, public spaces.

Mapping of youth sports activities, sports clubs information and diversity of requirements.

Mental Health and wellbeing support.

How can the young migrants (particularly Holiday Inn residents) be supported and aid integration.

Planning policy - what could work well to serve the diverse community

Town and Parish Councils requested to find out what youth provisions there are in their area. A request for this information to be reported back by the next LCN meeting (11th December 2023).

Other discussion

The Cross referencing of notes / topics with other LCNs / link with other LCNs to work together on topic areas.

Action plans for delivery – working groups, guest speakers, invitations to groups.

Communication of meeting discussion and actions to residents – Parish Council newsletter / LCN Team newsletter / Leveller / summary of notes to distribute / circulate / website / Facebook – all have different ways of communicating is a communication strategy or plan required – consider staff resources and funding.

LCN attendance and the availability / challenge due to short spaces between other meetings.

Healthwatch Somerset Gillian Keniston-Goble, advised of the Dentistry  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

Venues of future meetings to be confirmed.

Dates and times of future meetings:

11 December 2023 – 7pm

21 February 2024 – 7pm