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 nominations must be seconded to be valid.

Somerset Councillor, Dawn Johnson, was nominated by Somerset Councillor, John Hunt and seconded by Somerset Councillor, Habib Farbahi.

No other nominations were received, Councillor Dawn Johnson was duly elected as Chair for the Taunton Local Community Network.

Only members of the core membership are eligible to be nominated as the Vice-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 nominations must be seconded to be valid.

Somerset Councillor, John Hunt, was nominated by Somerset Councillor, Dixie Darch and seconded by Somerset Councillor, Simon Coles.

No other nominations were received, Councillor John Hunt was duly elected as Vice-Chair for the Taunton Local Community Network.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Somerset Councillors: Lee Baker, Derek Perry, Mike Rigby, Federica Smith-Roberts and Fran Roberts.

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.)

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.

No public questions were raised.

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)

6a. What are Local Community Networks and how will we work together?

During the discussion the Local Community Network members discussed the following:

Q: The consideration of a time frame or deadline for the submission of public questions.

A: The LCN team to liaise with Democratic Services regarding a time frame for the submission of public questions.

Q: PowerPoint presentation and the use of discursive and inclusive spaces.

A: The LCN team to amend to ‘They will be discursive and inclusive events.

Funding / training for Parish Councils with limited staff and capacity.

The progression and recruitment of a Link Officer and expected time frame for implementation.

6b. Discussion – What is important to residents and businesses in Taunton Local Community Network area?

Top priorities were reported to be:

Youth and young people support, activities and services (Separate meetings for youth and young people groups / Youth Council forum development / Youth services / Youth clubs / sports community groups).

Community engagement and resilience.

Business Enterprise for greater networking and connecting people.

Bridging communities across divisions and connecting different demographics.

Traffic calming and speed limits.

Improving the mobile network, especially rural areas.

The Lack of vibrancy / entertainment – especially in new developments.

Active travel / safe travel and the improvement of provision of travel network i.e. bicycle routes.

Safety in local areas: anti social behaviour / noise.

Other priorities, which were captured on flipchart paper included:

The importance of stakeholder attendance and strategies sharing of core membership groups, including police and NHS.

The importance of engaging partnership and voluntary organisations.

How to address community needs around changing behaviour & patterns that would have positive wellbeing impacts.

Flooding.

The need for decentralised business centres to connect communities.

Climate issues, including trees.

Health and Wellbeing - improvement and maintenance of public open spaces, including litter and park equipment.

Cost of living issues.

Third party funding opportunities / Shared theme funding.

Improving community services / ow can people get information and support.

Community Information / notices across multiple media platforms i.e. social media platforms, newsletters, noticeboards.

Community Services for developments i.e Doctors.

Resident parking issues.

Infrastructure – Responses of highways services.

Improvement of Taunton High Street and parking in Taunton.

Goodlands garden bridge.

Encouraging Diversity.

LCNs – a voice for all to deliver and implement priorities for all.

Parish / Town Councils – share success stories.

The Taunton LCN agreed that the next meeting would be scheduled for September 2023 and would focus on Youth and Young people support and services.

The meetings to be held on rotating days of the week and look to hold meetings in the Parishes within the Taunton LCN.

Agreed alternate representation from Parish and Town Councils, so that the preferred representative can attend, based on knowledge and expertise, to advise and provide input on upcoming themed LCN agendas.

The LCN Team would work with the Chair of the LCN to schedule the meeting dates for the remainder of the year.