Agenda item

In each of the following four areas:

·       Assets and Infrastructure

·       Thriving for All

·       Disadvantage and Vulnerability

·       Sustatinability and Resilience

Feedback

The Chair presented a set of slides and asked attendees to give consideration to the following four areas:

·       Assets and Infrastructure

·       Thriving for All

·       Disadvantage and Vulnerability

·       Sustainability and Resilience

During the discussion that followed the LCN noted that Somerset had already made many cuts compared to other places like Birmingham.  There was some concern that parish precepts would have to raise too much if parishes were to try to provide all of the former Somerset Council services. 

Parishes were discussing other ways of delivering services.  For instance, it was noted that Frome thrived in the arts despite having no specific funding. 

Buckland Dinham has a toilet in the church, and a defibrillator.  Also, a bus shelter and millennium gardens which it already maintained.  They said the parish needed changes in planning to encourage smaller developments.  In the future they expected to take on grit bins, dog pooh bins and footpaths.  They asked if they could be involved in the highways discussions.

The next group felt social issues needed to be considered.  Wanstrow did not have any Somerset assets within the parish.  However, they also expected to take on grit bins.  And they were interested in being involved in highways.  Other than that, they hoped to wait and see exactly which services would be impacted by cuts before agreeing to take on services.

The next group talked generally about collaboration and how a community hub might be able to look for gaps and ways of filling the gaps.  This may be preferable to, or work alongside, getting parishes to take on more services.

The online group spoke about what work the parishes already had taken on.  In addition to this there was interested in bus subsidies and mobile libraries.  There was concern that small communities should not have to take on too much.  There was interest in the Highway Steward service.  However, some parishes felt their precepts were high enough already.

Members noted that highways was separate from traffic management. 

The Chair suggested the LCN establish a Highways Working Group to meet with Officers from Somerset Council on a quarterly basis.  Cost of the Highway Steward would be included with the invite.  It was noted that parishes could work together to share the cost of a highway Steward service.

There was also appetite for members of the LCN to meet with Officers from the Somerset Rivers Authority.

Rode Parish Councillor Mike Salmon said he wanted to hear from anyone with experience of planning applications in Conversation Areas.

The Chair thanked the participants.  He encouraged discussions to carry on outside of the meeting.