Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor Dean Ruddle.

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 additional declaration of interest.

To approve the notes from the previous meeting.

The notes of the previous meeting held on 19 July 2023 were approved.

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 questions were asked.

To discuss the highlights of the themes raised at the previous meeting.

It was explained that the key themes identified at the previous meeting were:

·         Rural broadband speeds

·         Community infrastructure

·         Roads and footpaths

·         Transport

·         Youth services and support

·         Adult social care

·         Traveller sites

·         Planning/development and infrastructure

·         Health

·         Environmental concerns

Attendees were shown an example of the types of data available which included:

§  Population statistics

§  Crime statistics

§  Property data

§  Road information

§  Educational data

It was explained that the high level data itself did not tell a story but that it could provide a starting point for seeking further information and drilling down. Particularly now that data sets, at the LCN level, had been created.

The discussion topics for this meeting are:

1.      Health – Including access to services

2.     Environmental – Including litter, fly tipping and grass cutting

3.     Community Travel and Transport – Including active travel routes and community transport

It was suggested that the LCN should discuss three selected topics. However, after some debate, it was agreed that the meeting should decide what topics to discuss and after a poll it was agreed that the three highest ranked topics were:

1.     Health

2.    Roads, footpaths and transport and active travel

3.    Planning and travellers

Health issues were then discussed in groups and the following points were highlighted:

Pharmacies

Ø  Lack of pharmacies and the need for pharmacies in rural areas

Ø  The need for pharmacies to be open at night and at the weekend or to have an automated system to allow you to collect your prescription.

Ø  The community pharmacy was on its knees with Government funding cuts

Ø  People should be encouraged to study chemistry and become pharmacists and the need for universities to facilitate this. Chemistry clubs in schools.

Ø  Ways to encourage pharmacies and pharmacy hubs to open e.g. funding, rate relief and rent reductions

Ø  Pop up pharmacies

Ø  Help and support people to access on-line prescription services

GPs

Ø  Difficulty getting a GP appointment

Ø  GP waiting times

Dentists

Ø  NHS dentistry – not enough government funding to encourage it

Ø  Lack of dental practices

Other

Ø  What were good examples in other places?

Ø  Glastonbury health & wellbeing hub

Ø  Street – Crispin Community centre

Ø  Health connectors

Ø  A regular transport service was needed to allow people to access health care and pharmacies.

Ø  Village agents

Ø  Communication from Somerset Council – Meare has a bi-monthly magazine giving info on what’s available

Ø  Physical and mental abuse

Ø  Mental Health - Local groups, men’s sheds, meetings for youths and adults

Ø  CHAMS – for major crises only

Ø  Adult care

Ø  Under 18s social care

The setting up of a working group was proposed and with no volunteers it was agreed that the offer should stay open and if anyone feels that they would like to participate to contact the LCN Team.

To discuss the process of the next few meetings including actions and responsibilities.

Based upon the poll of topics it was announced that that the theme for the next meeting would be transport, highways and active travel.

The dates for the next two meetings were confirmed as:

Monday 27^th November 2023

Monday 29^th January 2024

People were asked to let the LCN Team know if there were any significant clashes with other meetings.