Draft minutes

Nominations: Max Wide, nominated by Adam Boyden, seconded by Dawn Denton.

 

Max was unanimously elected as Chair.

 

Nominations:  Adam Boyden, nominated by Max Wide, seconded by Dawn Benton.

 

Adam Boydon was appointed as Vice Chair.

The newly elected leaders expressed their ambitions for the LCN, focusing on community engagement and the creation of a community plan.This leadership structure aims to steer the LCN towards achieving its goals, particularly in enhancing community engagement and planning.

 

A yearly report summarizing past achievements and future goals was presented, with Max adding an introduction to reflect on the LCN's progress. All agreed the yearly report was great and, while faced with challenges, progress has been made.

Following a brief overview of the Yearly Report the LCN discussed key points and actions still to be completed.

Concerns raised:

·       communication - participants raised concerns about communication issues, including the timely dissemination of agendas and minutes, and the need for a more structured approach to ensure all members are well-informed and prepared for meetings

·       accessibility of meeting information – suggestions were made to streamline the process for better member preparation.

Kevin Bishop commented that the highways meeting was good, particularly having representations, but there has been a gap in the meetings. Kate reassured that dedicated support for the working group would be provided by the newly appointed LCN Link Officer.

Action 1:  Communication: Review and update the mailing list to ensure all parishes receive agendas and minutes timely. (LCN Team)

Action 2:  Highways Working Group: Schedule the next Highways Working Group meeting to discuss terms of reference and membership. (LCN Team)

Priorities discussed:

·       Highways workgroups – top priority to set up an interim meeting

·       Flooding working groups / Flooding environment

·       Active travel – transport – to be combined for consideration

·       Cost of living -

·       Children and young people – this priority was covered in the first year of the LCN, and has a role taken up with Connect Somerset – discussion around whether any more was needed to be done in this area by the LCN or have regular updates on the work of Connect Somerset and other agencies in that area

·       Housing - social and affordable housing were identified as important, albeit it is not in the LCN’s remit in the way that planning decisions are made; may need a different approach

Looking at the other areas to be discussed in the different LCN meetings - each meeting will have notes and an action log.

Action 3: LCN Yearly Report: Review and approve the corrected LCN yearly report at the next meeting. (LCN Members)

 

At this point the room divided into a breakout session including those participants online.

Focus Areas for LCN: The meeting identified several key focus areas for the LCN, including health and wellbeing, broadband and connectivity, active travel, transport links, flooding, highways, and large developments. These areas were chosen based on community feedback and are intended to guide the LCN's efforts in addressing local concerns.

Community feedback played a crucial role in shaping the LCN's focus areas, ensuring that the network's efforts align with residents' needs.

Stakeholder Engagement: The discussion highlighted the need for engaging a wider range of stakeholders, including farmers and the Environment Agency, in discussions on topics like flooding and landscape management. This is to ensure a comprehensive approach to addressing community issues. The call for wider stakeholder engagement underlines the LCN's commitment to a comprehensive approach in tackling community challenges.

Discussions from the group work:

Health and wellbeing – Lenka, Meldoy & Neha

Data

·        F.T.C. data from Community engagement

·        Somerset intelligence

·        FSM

·        Panish Plans (Their Data)

·        Fair Frome Data

·        FMP

Issues

·        Inequality / Poverty

·        Access to Services – Gaps

·        Resources

·        Cost of Living

Who do we need

·        Stakeholders and partners

·        I.C.B.

·        S.F.T.

·        P.C.N.

·        L.M.C (GP’s and health practitioners)

·        Mind MH Forum

·        Fair Frome

Flooding and Landscape

·        FWAG

·        EA

·        Highways

·        Wessex Water

·        Bristol Water

·        Defra

·        Farmers

·        SRA

·        LLFX – Somerset Council

·        Money Land you give to ???? fields to run off

·        Less Water in ??

·        Less Flooding Dirch Cleaning

·        Gulley – Highways

·        Freezing and gritting because drains / Gulleys overflows

Bridges

·        Restrict Flow

·        Damaged by High Water

·        Survey needed

Mapping

·        Catchment

·        Flood areas.

·        Development

·        Land Use

·        Tree Cover

·        Crop – Maize and Bare Fields

·        Where does the money come from to fix?

·        Planning Decisions.

·        Houses / Farm / industry

Large Developments

Impact on infrastructure across the LCN

Data

·        GP Waiting List

·        Sewerage outflows

·        Road usage increase from development

Issues

·        Can’t get a GP Appt.

·        Sewerage outflows increasing

·        Accidents

Who do we need

·        Medical Practice

·        Wessex Water

·        Highways

Affordable Housing

Data

·        30% proposed but only 23% achieved in Somerset east

·        Not Enough one and two bed houses

·        Need Data from Somerset Housing

Issues

·        No Enforcement

·        Weak Planning (No Local plan in force)

Who do we need

·        Enforcement officer

·        Housing Officer

·        County Councillors

Employment

Data

·        Percentage of non-Jobs

·        Amount of employment space

·        Demand for Business

Issues

·        Creating dormitory towns and Villages

Who do we need

·        No DGA?

 

Active travel, Road safety, Transport and Highways

Highways

·        Speed limit enforcement

·        Cameras

·        A&S police

Issues

·        A&SP & S.H Say no

·        Auto speed watch

·        Cameras

·        Inadequate motorbike / police Cameras

·        Frome missing limb

·        Radstock to Great elm to “missing” (needed for walkers and cyclists) – Frome

Who do we need

·        Somerset Bus partnership in the room

·        Trowbridge B&NES limb

·        Repairing verge

·        Sewer capacity for middle village

·        Extra divert Roads, Houses affected

·        Flooding needs FWAG in the room

Action 4: Flooding and Resilience: Organize a detailed workshop with Civil Contingencies Unit and Somerset Rivers Authority to discuss emergency plans. (LCN Team)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Suggested dates:

Tuesday, 15 October 2024

Thursday, 16 January 2025

Tuesday, 22 April 2025

Monday, 14 July 2025