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 nomination must be seconded to be valid.

Somerset Councillor Mike Hewitson was nominated by Somerset Councillor Tony Lock, seconded by Somerset Councillor Andy Soughton.

 

No other nominations were received so Councillor Mike Hewitson was duly elected as Chair of the Yeovil Local Community Network.

Only members of the core membership are eligible to be nominated as the Vice-Chair. Either the Chair or Vice-Chair must be a Somerset Council Councillor.

 

Only voting members can make nominations. The nomination must be seconded to be valid.

 

Rob Stickland (Yeovil Without Parish Council) was nominated by Somerset Councillor Graham Oakes, seconded by Somerset Councillor Andy Soughton.

 

No other nominations were received so Rob Stickland (Yeovil Without Parish Council) was duly elected as Vice-Chair of the Yeovil Local Community Network.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Somerset Councillors John Bailey, Henry Hobhouse, Andy Kendall, Peter Seib and Wes Read.

 

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 made by Somerset Council members.

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 questions, statements or petitions received from members of the public.

(a)   What are Local Community Networks (LCNs) and how will we work together. A map of the Yeovil LCN area is attached for reference.

 

(b)   Discussion – What is important to residents and businesses in our area? (An opportunity to raise any local issues or concerns for the LCN to consider).

 

Further information about LCNs can be viewed at: Local Community Networks (LCNs) (somerset.gov.uk)

Kate Hellard (LCN Development Lead) provided a presentation on the purpose of the LCN and how it would feed back into the work of Somerset Council.  The presentation slides are attached.

 

There is also a dedicated page for Local Community Networks (LCNs) on the Somerset Council website which is viewable at: https://www.somerset.gov.uk/local-community-networks/

 

The LCN Development Lead invited comments and questions from members.    Her response included the following:

·         There may be issues where there was no data evidence available and this would need to be explored over time and worked on collaboratively.  The experience of residents was also an important aspect to be considered.

·         It was acknowledged that there was a need for the membership of the LCN to grow over time and reach wider parts of the community.

·         It would become more relevant for organisations and voluntary groups to attend in the future as meetings of the LCN evolve and discussions are held on specific topics as the priorities are developed.

 

In break out groups, attendees were asked to consider three discussion questions (sub headings below) and to share what themes, opportunities they wanted the Yeovil LCN to explore over the next 12 months.

 

What is important for residents and how do we know?

 

Accessibility to town

·         Buses

·         Disabled access

·         Elderly

 

Children and Young People

·         Things to do

·         Accessibility

·         Sports facilities for young people

·         Creative arts & opportunities for young people

·         Diversity and how to engage

·         Parks and recreation

·         Support system for pre-school care, young carers and children in care

 

 

Public Transport

·         Connectivity

·         Reliability

·         Cost

·         Equity of service

 

Antisocial behaviour

·         Community policing

·         Sense of community

·         Reporting

·         Breakdown in social fabric

·         Drug dealing

·         Lack of respect

·         CCTV

·         Lack of enforcement

·         Neighbourhood support – no regular input or communication

·         The need for housing associations to focus on anti-social behaviour

 

Highways

·         Hidden signage due to vegetation

·         Potholes and the conditions of roads

·         Speeding on A37

·         Poor road markings

·         Excessive traffic

·         Lack of enforcement around speeding

·         Speedwatch – issues with training

·         Drains

·         Overgrown hedgerows

·         Road closures

·         Incidents and accidents not always reported to the local community and parish councils

·         Parking

·         Over use of single track roadways, pull ins unusable

·         Evidence from SIDs

 

Communication/Connectivity

·         Dialogue

·         Different mediums for difference audiences

·         A voice for all

·         Fibre broadband roll-out, issues with landowners not allowing permission and issues with funding

·         Parish Councils working together

·         People don’t know what parish councils can do

·         Not everyone uses social media

 

Employment

·         Jobs

·         Learning needs of the community

 

Housing

·         Affordable housing

·         Lack of infrastructure of small rural communities with regard to housing development. The roads are not wide enough.

 

Environmental Issues

·         Clean and tidy streets

·         Energy efficiency in homes

·         Sustainability

·         Community orchard

·         Litter picking

·         Solar panels – need to go on buildings and brown field sites not greenfield sites

 

Health and Well-being

·         Dentists

·         Overstretched primary care

·         Defibs – who has them, who doesn’t

·         Shortage of GP appointments in some areas

·         Tackling social inclusion

·         Health and well-being for older people including support network and resources

·         Community Centres

·         Support for single parents

 

Flooding

·         Preventative  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

It was agreed that future meetings of the Yeovil Local Community Network would be held every two months.

 

Kate Hellard said that the next meeting was likely to be slightly delayed due to capacity issues, but the ambition was to hold meetings every two months thereafter.

Officers would look to arrange a suitable date for the next meeting in consultation with the Chair and contact members when this had been agreed.

 

It was noted that there was an issue with suitable venues to hold meetings and therefore any suggestions for a venue that provided adequate wi-fi and car parking were welcomed.