Agenda and minutes
PDF 80 KBVenue: Wiveliscombe Community Centre - Wiveliscombe. View directions
Contact: LCN Team Email: lcn@somerset.gov.uk
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To elect the Chair of the Local Community Network Minutes: Somerset Councillor, Ross Henley, was nominated by Somerset Councillor Gwil Wren and seconded by Somerset Councillor Sarah Wakefield.
No other nominations were received, Councillor Ross Henley was duly elected as Chair for the Wellington and Wiveliscombe Local Community Network.
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To appoint the Vice-Chair of the Local Community Network Minutes: Somerset Councillor, Gwil Wren, was nominated by Nynehead Parish Councillor Malcolm Vest and seconded by Nynehead Parish Councillor Jeremy Toye.
No other nominations were received, Councillor Gwil Wren was duly elected as Vice Chair for the Wellington and Wiveliscombe Local Community Network.
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To receive any apologies for absence To receive any apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies were received from Somerset Councillor Dave Mansell and Sampford Arundel Parish Councillor Janet Lloyd.
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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: None. |
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Public Question Time (items not covered on the agenda) 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: No public questions or statements were made.
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To determine the priorities and areas of focus for the Local Community Network for the next 12 months a. What are LCNs and how will we work together?
b. Discussion – what is important to residents and businesses in our area? (An opportunity to raise any local issues or concerns for LCN to consider) 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.
The meeting noted there was a dedicated page on the Somerset Council website at https://somerset.gov.uk/local-community-networks/.
Attendees were asked to share what themes, issues and opportunities they wanted the LCN to explore over the next 12 months.
What topics are important to our residents? How do we know? What data/evidence/information would help?
What could be done to solve/improve topics? Are there local examples already working?
Who do we need to involve? Top priorities were reported to be:
Travel Active travel, co-ordination between buses and other modes of transport. Traffic calming and safer roads at junctions. More buses and public transport, they need to run to more places, currently no route between Wellington and Wiveliscombe. Limited evening connections with Taunton. More 20 mile an hour zones and implemented quicker. Safer cycling routes. Safer tractor driving. Road closures and diversions – poor planning and at times very limited notice. Lengthsmen Scheme Community Transport Footpath maintenance Hedges and Verges
Highways The number of potholes and amount of time it takes to address them is unacceptable. Also lack of messaging from the Council when they have been notified of a needed repair.
Planning and Planning Enforcement Lack of planning enforcement; members felt lots of building work was happening, but not always that which was given permission or what is wanted by the local communities. Villages need to be supported to keep their identity in future local plans.
Environment and Climate Change Renewable energy should be used at every opportunity. More green corridors. Open spaces and recreational areas and facilities.
Communications Reliable and fast broadband needs to be available in rural areas as well as towns. Improved mobile phone signal.
Housing Affordable housing for both owner and rental markets.
Other priorities, which were captured on flipchart paper included:
Medical Support – Access to GP’s, Dentists and Pharmacies
Affordable housing: younger? Lower income? Not so commuter-focused
Fly tipping/litter
Development where the infrastructure exists
Support for the young – Mental Health support access / school readiness
Inappropriate development
Winter emergency plans – general emergency planning
Support in the home – facilities for changing need / social isolation.
Ensuring all parishes have a within their LCN
Influence on wider planning issues
Sustainable Business Opportunities
LCN’s to consider Link Officer JD’s before recruitment
Local Authority employees more sympathetic and attuned to local issues.
Ideas for who to involve in improving/solving the issues included:
Schools Primary Care Network Early Years Housing Police Wider Health Citizen’s Advice / CAP Churches Debt and Benefit Advisors at Council Volunteer Networks
Local examples that already work:
Wellington Community Counselling Warm spaces Community lunches Food banks Best Before Store One Team Area Champions Village Agents
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To agree the frequency of meetings Minutes: The Network agreed to meet on a bi-monthly basis, with the next meeting likely to be late September/early October, and from then on hold the meetings every other month (with the intention of avoiding December).
LCN team will contact the LCN membership with possible dates.
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The schedule of meetings for the next 12 months Minutes: It was requested that the next meeting was scheduled for September/early October, and then followed bi-monthly after that. Thus, future meetings would fall in November, January, March and May.
The meeting finished at 8.25pm
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