Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Norman Cavill, Somerset Council, Cllr Alan Bradford, Somerset, Council, Gerard Tucker, Aller Parish Council and Laura Howard, Fivehead Parish Council. 

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 )

There were no declarations of interest received.  

To approve the notes from the previous meeting.

The meeting notes of the previous meeting held 15^thJanuary 2024 were approved as a correct record.   

To discuss matters arising from the notes not covered in later agenda items.

The Chair invited Kate Hellard, Local Community Networks (LCN)Engagement and Development Manager, to the give the update on the actions from the last meeting, as follows;  

1.     The health and wellbeing working group has not met since the last meeting. 

2.     The highways working group has met once since the last meeting. 

3.     The active travel working group has met once since the last meeting.

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.

There were no public questions received. 

The Chair asked members to break out intosmall groups to discussthe data around Health and Wellbeing in our communities, with a focus on 3 key questions. 

1.     What do we know about mental health, loneliness and physical health? 

2.     What partners do we have that might know more? 

3.     How can we hear more from our residents?  

Following the group discussions, a representative from each group fed back to the wider LCNmeeting and members heard the following. 

·         Martock has a community team made up of 3 members of staff, working with village agents on issues such as training and employability (i.eMartockJob Club), mental health, and care for the elderly.  

·         Some felt that health and wellbeing amongst young people is at a low point, and this could be improved with more engagement through schools andorganisations such as Young Somerset.  

·         MartockParish Council are currently looking at running a community survey to better understand the needs of the community.    

·         Long Sutton has aworking group deliveringenvironmental projects in the community whichalso hassignificant mental and physicalhealth benefits for the Long Sutton community.  

·         Some members felt that health and wellbeing data can be difficult to obtaindue to confidentiality of patient data.  

·         Health and wellbeing issues are often heardabout anecdotally, second hand or too late. 

·         Some members felt that surveys are not always an effective way of collecting data.  

·         There are many well establishedcommunity support groups operating with the LCN area such as Angel Cares, Forget-me-not Cafe,Coffee mornings, Youth Clubs, Men’sSheds, Walking groups, Scouts, Sports clubs, Pub nights, Carnival Clubs, Foodbanks, Dementia Support groups, Baby groups i.e Little Pickles, and it would be beneficial for the towns and parish councilsin this LCN to advertise and raise awareness ofcommunity support services on offer across the LCN area, and particularly in nearby/neighboring towns and parishes. 

·         How can we encourage more people to knock on doors and reach out topeople in need of support? 

·         Some members felt that health and wellbeing groups are more focused on supporting the young and elderly, and that we must not forget about the support needs of people of working age too. 

·         Public/community transport provision in the Levels and Moors LCN area is a challenge, and more needs to be done to ensure residents with no access to a vehiclecan access community support services in rural areas and across local community network areas.We could look at facilitating car share schemes andvolunteer driver groups, or workwith existing volunteer driver networks thatare already in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

The Chair asked members of the LCN to consider and feedback on how this LCN will operate over the coming months in terms of meeting frequency, venues, topics and speakers.  

Following a brief discussion and show of handsthe LCN agreed; 

1.     To continue with the hybrid style meetings. 

2.     Meetings to be held 4 times per year.  

3.     That all meetings should commenceat 7pm. 

In terms of topics and speakers, members of the LCN made the following suggestions; 

·         Planning policy – feeding into the Somerset Council Local Plan 

·         Development planning and enforcement – possible working group?  

·         Rights of Way officer 

The Chair, in Gerard Tucker’s absence, provided an update from the Active Travel working group, which had met 3 times. He presented members withseveral photographs showing completed and ongoingprojects and advised that the group aspire to make improvements to footpaths/walkways between Westonzoyland to Bridgwater and investigate the potential for a network of walkways/cycleways through theplanned solar farms which would have both environmental, financial and social/health and wellbeing benefits for many people. 

The Chair advised that the working group are seeking more volunteers to help fill knowledge gaps in terms of mapping and project planning, as well as ‘hands on’ help to complete the works required to deliverthe projects.  

Sean Dromgoole of Langport Town Council gave the first update from the newly established Highways working group which had met once.Mr. Dromgoole felt that the meeting had been very positive and was well attended by Somerset Council Highways officers who have agreed to provide the working group with a revised schedule of planned road works across the LCN area. The group had also discussed the Somerset Council Highways Steward scheme and asked for more information, particularly onstatutory Highways provision position. Finally, the group had discussed the need fora Terms of Reference for LCN working groups in general, which should be shared and agreed upon by all LCN members. 

The Chair advised that the next meeting of the LCN Levels and Moors would be held on Monday 11th June 2024, and that this will be the Annual General Meeting. 

The LCN team have worked hard to avoid diary clashes but please contact them on LCN@somerset.gov.uk if there are any issues. The team would also like information on alternative suitable venues within the Levels and Moors area.  

For any other queries regarding the LCN Levels and Moors, please email LevelsandmoorsLCN@somerset.gov.uk