Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Andrew Govier, Somerset 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.

Resolved that the notes of the previous meeting held on 12^th December 2023 are approved as a correct record.

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

Jeff Brown, The Service Manager, Stronger Communities advised that the agreed action from the previous meeting, minute Item 24: to organise a meeting of the LCN and Somerset Council Highways Team would be picked up after today’s 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.

The Chair invited members to identify the key priorities for the LCN by holding discussions in small groups. Following the discussions each group fed back on its two key areas of focus and the following suggestions were made - 

·         Public Transport accessibility – Bus Services and Community Transport

·         Affordable Housing

·         Agriculture issues such as farm run-off.

·         Flytipping and similar environmental issues i.e litter, dog fouling.

·         Access to Leisure, Arts and Culture

·         Climate change

·         Social issues such as food poverty, mental health, support for young people ,

·         Rural broadband connectivity

·         Rural isolation

·         Road safety

Resolved

After each group had listed its key issues, the LCN came to a consensus that the Public Transport/Community Transport issue was listed by all groups and would therefore become the second working group of this LCN, in addition to the Highways working group that had been agreed upon at the previous meeting.

Jeff Brown, The Service Manager, Stronger Communities gave a presentation on the Somerset Council Highway Steward Scheme.

In summary, members were advised that –

·         The Highway Steward will cost 50k per year.

·         Clusters of Parish and Town Councils may share the service and costs where appropriate (i.e neighbouring parishes).

·         The Highway Steward service does not replace Somerset Council Statutory Highways services – it is an optional enhancement.

·         The Highway Steward will undertake low tech/high value work i.e. weeding, clearing vegetation.

·         The Highway Steward will not undertake any major works including tree works. 

The Chair invited comments and questions and the following points were discussed –

·         There is no need for any additional insurance, this is covered in the 50k annual fee.

·         The scheme can be cancelled after 12 months if it not found to be effective.

·         There are no direct employment requirements for the parishes, but it would require some co ordination to plan the work required.

·         The Highway Steward Scheme has been proposed very late in the year, many precepts and budgets have already been set.

·         The scheme will help to minimise the impact of the cuts to Highways Services that are part of the savings proposals being taken to the 2024/2025 Budget Setting meeting of Full Council on 20^th February 2024.  

Jeff Brown, the Service Manager Stronger Communities asked members to refer back to the communication that had been sent to parish and town councils concerning potential devolution of assets and services as part of Somerset Councils response to the Financial Emergency and the impacts of this on the services that the council can continue to fund. The Service Manager asked members to hold discussions in small groups to consider the following questions.

a)    What opportunities have been identified?

b)    What additional information is required?

c)    Where are you working together to achieve actions?

During the discussions the following points were recorded –

·         Wellington Town Council is already proposing to pick up a lot of assets and services at risk, and the precept will be going up by 96% to bring it up to the level need to be able to deliver those services. Part of this service delivery will include employment of an Open Spaces Manager, and there is an opportunity for neighbouring parishes to work with Wellington Town Council on this.

·         More information is needed in terms of ownership and management of assets such as open spaces, gulleys, public rights of way, bus shelters, salt bins, litter bins etc.

·         More information is needed regarding contracts, budgets, condition surveys etc.

·         Parish and Town Councils may consider linking up with neighbouring councils to share resources and use economies of scale.

·         Somerset Association of Local Councils has written a Legal Pack on devolution and members of SALC should be able to obtain this.

·         Many community groups are already managing assets and services at a local level, and this is an opportunity for the Council to work with them and identify where the gaps in service provision may be.

·         In terms of its impact on biodiversity, a reduction in grass cutting can be considered a positive cut in service provision.

·         The LCN is a conduit for collaborative working between parish and town councils regarding potential devolution agreements.

The Chair asked that all members consider joining one or both of the working groups to address the LCN priorities as agreed at Agenda Item 6 and at the previous meeting. He asked that names and contact details be given to the Democratic Services officer at the end of the meeting, or by email by Friday 9^th February 2024. 

The Chair advised that the dates of future meetings were proposed as –

·         Thursday 18^th April 2024

·         Thursday 11^th July 2024

The LCN team were advised that both of the proposed dates clash with Oake Parish Council meetings.

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 Wellington and Wiveliscombe area. For any other queries regarding the LCN Wellington and Wiveliscombe, please email wellingtonandwiveliscombeLCN@somerset.gov.uk.