Agenda and minutes

Only members of the core membership are eligible to be nominated as the Chair. Either the Chair or Vice-Chair of the Local Community Network shall be a Somerset Council Councillor.

 

Only voting members can make nominations. The nomination must be seconded to be valid.

Somerset Councillor Mike Best was nominated by Somerset Councillor Jo Roundell Greene, seconded by Somerset Councillor Val Keitch.

 

No other nominations were received so Councillor Mike Best was duly elected as Chairman.

 

Only members of the core membership are eligible to be nominated as the Vice-Chair. Either the Chair or Vice-Chair must be a Somerset Council Councillor.

 

Only voting members can make nominations. The nomination must be seconded to be valid.

Leanne Taylor (Ilminster Town Councillor) was nominated by Somerset Councillor Adam Dance, seconded by Somerset Councillor Sue Osborne.

 

No other nominations were received so Leanne Taylor (Ilminster Town Council) was duly elected as Vice-Chairman.

 

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Somerset Councillor Mike Hewitson due to illness, however he was in attendance online via Teams.

To receive and note any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests, other registrable interests and non-registrable 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.)

There were no declarations of interest.

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.

A question was briefly raised from a member of the public present at the meeting who asked if there would be a performance standard regarding communications with everyone. In response Sara Skirton (Service Director for Partnerships and Localities), thanked the gentleman for his suggestion and noted it was a good idea and she would take it forward.

(a)   What are Local Community Networks (LCNs) and how we will work together.

A map of the Crewkerne and Ilminster LCN area is attached for reference.

(b)   Discussion – What is important to residents and businesses in our area? (An opportunity to raise any local issues or concerns for the LCN to consider).

 

The Terms of Reference for the LCNs are detailed at agenda item 1 or can be viewed at: Terms of reference (somerset.gov.uk)

 

Frequently Asked Questions can also be viewed at: Frequently Asked Questions (somerset.gov.uk)

Kate Hellard (LCN Development Lead) provided a presentation on the purpose of the LCN and how it would feed back into the work of Somerset Council. The presentation slides are attached.

 

There is also a dedicated page for Local Community Networks (LCNs) on the Somerset Council website which is viewable at: https://www.somerset.gov.uk/local-community-networks/

 

In break-out groups, attendees were asked to consider three discussion questions (sub headings below) and to share what themes, issues and opportunities they wanted the Crewkerne and Ilminster LCN to explore over the next 12 months.

 

What is important to our residents and how do we know that?

 

Transport

 

·     Public transport – routes and costs vs fares

·     Road links

 

Communication / Connectivity

 

·     Poor access in some areas to fast internet/broadband service.

·     Poor mobile network coverage in many areas

 

Services - Lack of, or difficulty accessing

 

·      Banks

·      Dentists

·      GP access and nurses – stroke and hyper acute services

·      Access to health hubs and links to transport

·      School Places

·      Youth Activities

·     Services accessible to the elderly

·     Lack of health infrastructure to support growth

·     Access to education and youth provision

 

Rural / Social Isolation

 

·     Lack of public transport – and so reliance on private car

·     Growing elderly population

·     Lack of things for young people to do / and transport.

·     Rural sustainability

·     Access to and maintaining existing essential services such as shops and post offices

 

Environmental Issues

 

·     Dog Bins/Mess

·     Litter and fly-tipping.

·     Maintaining open spaces

·     Ranger services – communication – management and cost vs quality.

·     Play park equipment

 

Anti-Social Behaviour

 

·     Lack of Police

·     Perceptions of Anti Social Behaviour

 

Employment and Skills

 

·     Employers – needed to attract people to stay and live locally

·     Support infrastructure / jobs for population growth

 

Highways

 

·      State of roads – potholes, verge and hedge cutting, land slips, fly tipping – reporting and timelines for issues

·      Accountability of utility companies regarding states of roads post their works.

·      Efficiency of repairs

·      Road closures  - notices – lack of consistencies

·      Volume, speed and weight of traffic, and also driver behaviour

·     Flooding and blocked drains and culverts.

·     Dualling of A358 delayed

 

Somerset Council

 

·     SC Financial performance

·     Growth in properties has been slowed by the phosphates issue

·     Housing need

·     Sheltered housing and affordable / social housing

·     Planning – Parish Councils not listened to.

·     Planning – issues with portal, timeframes, enforcement and inconsistencies

·     Financial support for village halls

·     Finance and grant funding

·     More engagement early and often at a local level

·     How will LCNs empower communities and deliver priorities if no access to funding or beudgets?

·     More accountability and easier access into services.

·     More input at parish council meetings.

·     Access to every-day services delivered efficiently and cost effectively – able to speak to person when needed.

 

Other

 

·      Access to resources – equality across the LCNs

·      Cost of living – distribute data

·      Resilience

­  weather – flood and heat

­  food security

­  isolation

 

How do we know?

 

·     Social media / Facebook

·     Emails

·     Speaking to residents informally and formally

 

 

Is there something we can do about it, and / or are there examples already  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

During a brief discussion mixed opinions on the frequency of meetings were raised. It was agreed that initially the meetings would be bi-monthly but may move to quarterly at a later date.

It was suggested and agreed, that the main summer holidays be avoided and the next meeting be arranged for early September.

 

The Chairman noted there was much work to be done. Officers would look closely at parish meeting dates and suggest some dates for future meetings of the Crewkerne and Ilminster LCN.