Present: G. Willcox (Chair), M. Colman (Vice Chair), M. Heal, D. Creed, J. Gane, County Councillors Clare Sully and Alex Wiltshire.
Disclosures of Interest - Nil.
Apologies: A. Creed.
Public Speaking-time:- C. Sully precis of S.C.C. Report for Mendip South, Parish Councils August 1st 2022.
(as per Correspondence).
1. Local Community Network.
A timeline is in place to consider the role, geographies, governance and funding - July 2022.
Refine governance and financial modelling linked to med term Financial Planning - July to September 2022.
Engage and consult on the Geographies for LCN's - Autumn 2022.
Publish a Formal Decision Paper including a resourcing plan - November 2022.
LCN's are set to be treated as Committees of the council, meaning they will be given specific decision-making powers and influence.
Three LCN pilots (Exmoor, Frome and S/E Somerset) continue to progress and learning from those is being fed back into the development programme.
Local Government Reorganisation.
D. Sharkey will be Chief Executive of SCC then the new Somerset Council next April.
Council Finance Update.
Inflation is hitting hard. Demands for services are increasing. The saving of £18.5 M annually by those who decided on a single unitary council is likely not going to be realised.
The Cost of Living and Ecological Emergencies has been declared (SCC Meeting 20.07) calling on the government to immediately reduce VAT to 17.5% for 12 months (saving the average Somerset household £600 this year), to reintroduce the pensions triple lock and restore the Universal Credit supplement of £20. The Council has joined other Councils to call for a Cost of Living Summit.
Ecological Emergency.
The motion reaffirmed the council's commitment in ensuring that 'tackling the climate and nature emergencies' policies are at the heart of everything the council does and is embedded in the decision making processes. The motion also sets out a plan to ensure that across the county biodiversity is improved , environments enriched and destruction of habitats is resisted when development occurs. It also calls out the council to lead in this.
Support for Somerset households with food and energy bills.
Those struggling could be eligible for support with these costs and other essentials such as electrical goods over the coming months. The C.C. is distributing £3.8m before 30th September through the Household Support Fund.
To Apply visit the SCC website and search Household Support Fund or call 0300 123 2224.
Withdrawal of Bus Services.
Wells to Weston Super Mare, Frome to Bath are ceasing.
Parish Councillors pointed out the need for these services both for work, college and University.
Consultation on Council Tax Support Scheme launched.
It proposes lowest income households across Somerset get 100% council tax relief.
NB Somerset's four district councils currently offer varying levels of council tax support. The proposed changes would harmonise support for working-age people on low incomes across the county and come into effect on 1st April 2023 with the creation of the new council.
The consultation survey runs until September 19th and is available at smartsurvey.co.uk/s/SomersetCTRLIVE/ - paper versions at local libraries.
Have your say on Somerset SEND services on choices.somerset.gov.uk/025/discussing-things/annual-send-survey.
SCC, NHS Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group and Somerset Parent Carer Forum are keen to hear from children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), their families, professionals and health colleagues to help services go forward.
The anonymous survey runs until September 19th 2022.
Correspondence file circulated.
All correspondence relating to previous Highways Matters to be taken up by SCCllr Sully.
Finance: 1 Cheque drawn for £100.00 Mendip District Council ReCharge for Elections 2022.
Bank Statement 11.08.22 - Balance £9,760.22.
Planning.
The Use of The Owls as a separate independent dwellinghouse/The Owls/Scotts Lane/Certificate of Use Existing/Planning Ref 2022/1366/CLE.
Proposed, seconded and passed Recommend Refusal.
Reason - It should be retained with the working farm.
There being no further business the meeting was closed.