Agenda and minutes
PDF 85 KBVenue: Curry Rivel Village Hall - Curry Rivel. View directions
Contact: LCN Team Email: lcn@somerset.gov.uk
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To appoint the Chair of the Local Community Network 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.
Minutes: Nominations: 1. Cllr Sean Dromgoole - nominated by Rupert Cox, seconded by Cllr Jane Redfearne 2. Cllr Richard Wilkins – nominated by Cllr Mike Stanton, seconded by Cllr Adam Dance Resolved:
Cllr Sean Dromgoole – 8 in favour Cllr Richard Wilkins – 23 in favour
Cllr Richard Wilkins was duly elected as the Chair of the Local Community Network. |
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To appoint the Vice-Chair of the Local Community Network 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.
Minutes: Nominations: 1. Cllr Anthony Betty of Othery Parish Council - nominated by Cllr Diogo Rodrigues, seconded by Cllr Andy Dingwall 2. Cllr Louise Clarke of Martock Parish Council – self nomination, seconded by Cllr Mike Stanton
Resolved: Cllr Anthony Betty – 17 in favour Cllr Louise Clarke - 11 in favour
Cllr Anthony Betty was duly elected as Vice-chair of the Local Community Network.
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Apologies for Absence To receive any apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from: • Cllr Alan Bradford, Somerset Council • Cllr Tim Kerley, Somerset Council • Cllr Norman Cavill, Somerset Council • Cllr David Fothergill, Somerset Council • Cllr Bill Revans, Somerset Council • Philip Edge – Langport and Somerton Transport group • Cllr Gerard Tucker, Aller Parish Council • Cllr Jackie Fisher, Westonzoyland Parish Council
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Declarations of Interest 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.) Minutes: Declarations of interest were received from: • Cllr Mike Stanton declared an interest due to his role as the Chair of the Somerset Rivers Authority Board.
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Public Question Time 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. Minutes: There were no questions, statements or petitions received from members of the public.
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(a) What are Local Community Networks (LCNs) and how we will work together.
(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)
Minutes: Frances Gully (LCN Development Lead) shared a presentation on the purpose of the LCN and how it would feed back into the work of Somerset Council.
There is a dedicated page on the Somerset Council website which can be accessed via this link.
The LCN Development Lead invited comments and questions from members and the following items were discussed. • The role of the LCN as a decision-making body. • The role of the link officers and when they will be in post.
Attendees were asked to share what themes, issues, and opportunities they wanted the Levels and Moors LCN to explore over the next 12 months. What is important to our residents and how do we know that? Somerset Council • The planning function – approvals process, lack of enforcement, lack of communication • Lack of understanding of Somerset Council responsibilities • Lack of action on known issues
Housing and development management • Protection of Heritage and listed buildings • Affordable and Social Housing • Community Land Trusts • Lack of strategic planning
Transport • Public Transport – cuts to bus services, access to train, links to larger villages and towns - especially when no amenities at a village/loss of local shops. • Active Travel issues – lack of cycle/walking routes, lack of pavements on walking routes, inaccessible footpaths, car sharing • EV charging points
Highways • The state of roads i.e potholes • Freight routes through small villages causing disruption. • Air pollution • Availability and cost of parking in rural areas • EV charging point at key sites • A358 dualling
Communication/connectivity • Access to broadband/fiberoptic
Flooding • Businesses struggling to operate due to disruption. • Impact on mental health in flood hit communities.
Rural crime • Antisocial behaviour • Burglary & theft • Speeding • Drink and drug driving
Environmental issues • Out of date sewage systems/water pollution/phosphates • Tree Planting and tree care. • Loss of habitats • Loss of hedgerows • Reducing waste • Dog waste/fouling • Air pollution
Employment and Skills • Tourism and Local Economy
Health and wellbeing • Education and special educational needs provision • All social care - Adults, Youth, Seniors, Disabled • Youth Services – funding streams, what is available, venues and support, non-sport related ideas • Lack of support for those who work as voluntary carers. • Lack of burial space • Access to funds for community projects i.e. playground equipment and community shop, and knowing where to apply and help in applying • Cost of living issues • Access to open spaces • Mental Health in rural communities
How do we know? • Complaints received. • Surveys • Speedwatch • Local data collection • Existing village plans
Is there something we can do about it, and/or are there local examples already working?
Somerset Council • Somerset Council contact for repairs and improvements on council land • Support for available funding and grant opportunities • Effective two-way communication
Housing and development management • More support in claiming 106 ... view the full minutes text for item 6. |
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To agree the frequency of meetings Minutes: The Chair asked members to consider the frequency of meetings of the LCN Levels and Moors and advised that the officer recommendation is 6-8 weekly. The following comments and questions were received and discussed – • The frequency of meetings would depend on the resource available within the LCN team. • Some members felt daytime meetings would be preferred, but officers advised that during early consultation with parish and town councils there had been a strong steer for evening meetings. The Chair concluded that the recommendation from officers of 6-8 weekly meetings was agreed, but that this would need to be reviewed after the initial 12-month period.
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The schedule of meetings for the next 12 months Minutes: The Chair asked members to consider the schedule of meetings for the LCN Levels and Moors and advised that the next meeting would be scheduled in for September. The following comments and questions were received and discussed: • Need to plan LCN meetings carefully to avoid repeated clashes with parish and town council meetings where possible. • Need to consider timings of how parish and town council representatives can feed back LCN notes and decisions to their own council meetings, especially Parish Meetings that are only held once or twice a year. The Chair concluded that the schedule of meetings for the next 12 months would be confirmed at the next meeting in September 2023.
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