Yes, being a local councillor involves meetings with other councillors, council officers, and alot of other people. Some are formal, some not. Many can be held online now on Teams or Zoom, and this can be more time-efficient, reduce travelling, emissions and climate impact, but if a formal vote is needed, and to be most effective, you really have to be in the room.

Some are required for all councillors, some only if you are on a particular committee, and you can initiate many yourself to progress an issue. You might say participatory democracy “takes too many evenings” (but it’s not just evenings!). I may have missed a few, as there are always some clashes with family and work commitments (and other meetings), and I also alternate parish council meetings in Frome North with cllr Dawn Denton.

So here is the list of meetings I have been to (or attended online ‘*’) since my last update. I could not attend many for a while after I broke my wrist on 22nd January:

• November 2022
• 1st Nov 2022: Somerset Bus Partnership meeting online*, discussing impacts of possible end of Government bus recovery grant next Spring and need to increase bus passenger numbers.
• 8 Nov: Beckington Parish Council meeting: gave a county councillor update to the meeting including on local government reorganisation (see agenda and minutes here).
• 9 Nov: Norton St Philip Parish Council meeting: similarly, gave a county councillor update and listened to local concerns (see agenda and minutes here).
• 14 Nov: informal catch-up meeting with Chair of Tellisford Parish.
• 15 Nov: Rode Parish Council meeting: county councillor update including LGR, LCNs, planning, highways, budgets, and listened to local issues (see agenda and minutes here).
• 16 Nov: Somerset County Council (SCC) Executive*: to hear latest on the development of the Local Community Networks (LCNs) including results of the consultation, see here.
• 16 Nov: Frome Town Council (FTC) meeting: answered questions on Saxonvale, gave a county/district councillor update, heard from Frome Welcomes Refugees (taking a question away), saw a heated debate on the Weymouth Road residents parking scheme, heard about the Town Council Plan, and FTC agreed to take on the former Broadway Allotments as a Community Garden (see a report of the meeting here).
• 18 Nov and 1 Dec: SCC Environment Scrutiny Committee* pre-meetings as Vice-Chair with Chair cllr Martin Dimery and committee officers and presenters.
• 23 Nov: SCC Full Council, Canalside, Bridgwater: see here for agenda and decisions, including approval of the new improved Council Tax Discount Scheme for lower income households.
• 24 Nov: FTC led a town wide discussion on the proposed Selwood Garden Community development (see here)*. The application is likely to be determined by the new Somerset Council’s East Planning Committee later this year.
• 25 Nov: meeting* with SCC area highways officer, on a list of local issues.
• 28 Nov: informal meeting in Frome Town Hall with FTC, MDC and SCC councillors and officers and Frome Community Speedwatch coordinator, about potential 20mph speed limits for Fromefield and elsewhere as part of the LCWIP.
• 30 Nov, and 14 Dec: SCC Environment Scrutiny Committee, County Hall, Taunton (see here and here): looking at Phosphates and planning, reports of flooding in Chard and Ilminster, a county nature recovery strategy, the Quantock Hills AONB, proposals to end peat extraction in Somerset, and estate decarbonisation projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy bills, including at Frome Library and the Key Centre (see Environment Scrutiny above).
• December
• 8 Dec: Frome Town Council meeting: highlights were the talk on Edventure, decisions on School Streets and to turn on the Boyle Cross fountain in the Spring each year (see here).
• 13 and 19 Dec: meetings* with SCC Highways officers about gritting roads to/from Beckington (see here).
• 14 Dec, 21 Dec, 4 Jan, and 11 Jan: SCC Scrutiny at Somerset Council Task & Finish Group meetings* to draft and finalise recommendations for new scrutiny arrangements at the new council.
• 15 Dec: Mendip District Council (MDC) Strategic Leisure Forum*: met Fusion Lifestyle and MDC officers and councillors, discussed Fusion’s annual review of operating the 5 leisure centres including Frome, further development plans for Tor Leisure (Glastonbury), pricing, customer numbers, and energy/ sustainability initiatives.
• January 2023
• 10 Jan: Beckington Parish Council meeting: gave an update on LGR and gritting (see agenda and minutes here).
• 16 Jan: Frome Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan working group* (see 23 Feb).
• 16 Jan: SCC budget briefing for all councillors*.
• 18 Jan: Meeting* with MDC housing and FTC refugee support officers and councillors about problems Ukrainian refugees are having in securing independent accommodation, to follow up issues raised by Frome Town Councillors. I subsequently raised the need for SCC’s Resettlement team to look into the potential for the council to act as rent guarantor for refugees.
• 18 Jan: MDC Planning Board, Shepton Mallet, 6-9pm: several planning applications decided (see here), including residential development at Cherry Grove at which I helped secure additional noise-related conditions to try and reduce the impacts of noise on future residents from an adjacent industrial unit.
• 25 Jan: MDC briefing* on the recent High Court judgement on the Local Plan Part 2 (see here).
• 30 Jan: SCC Constitution & Governance Committee*: I watched parts of the meeting online and contributed via WhatsApp from a hospital bed after an operation in Bath RUH to set my broken wrist, as this was an important meeting about the future planning arrangements for the new Somerset Council, and the new Local Community Networks (see here). An unusual day.
• 31 Jan: Review of Stonebridge playground project spend*: meeting with FTC and MDC councillors and officers to agree way forward on s106 funding for playground improvements. This clashed with the MDC Assets of Community Value Panel meeting on the Packsaddle Fields (see here), which I could not attend.
• February
• 1 Feb: SCC Scrutiny Place Committee Workshop on budget and Council Plan*.
• 7 Feb: Frome Councillors Forum*: discussion of the potential for a new Frome Transport Strategy, with town, district and county councillors for Frome.
• 9 Feb: MDC Full Council, Shepton Mallet: Extraordinary meeting, called by opposition councillors to discuss the recent High Court judgement in relation to MDC’s Local Plan Part 2, a case brought by Norton St Philip Parish Council, and it was agreed to issue a new press release on the matter (see here). This clashed with a meeting of the Frome Pilot Local Community Network which I could not attend.
• 14 Feb: SCC Constitution & Governance Committee*: including the revised planning arrangements, and agreed additional time for public speakers at planning committee meetings (see here and outcomes here), and Constitution.
• 15 Feb: MDC Planning Board* (see here): including the Marston Pond planning and listed building applications for 20 lodges and the restoration/reuse of historic ruins, which were refused and deferred respectively (see here) (I watched online in part due to feeling unwell, and did not participate or vote).
• 16 Feb: SCC Environment Scrutiny Committee chair/vice-chair* briefing with officers.
• 20 Feb: Ukrainian cultural awareness session in Frome Library (see here)
• 21 Feb: MDC/SCC Local Government Reorganisation briefing*.
• 21 Feb: MDC Scrutiny Climate Ecological Emergency Group*, discussing emerging Tree Strategy for Somerset, and recommendations for new council in a cross-party working group.
• 22 Feb: Somerset County Council, Full Council meeting, all day at Canalside Conference Centre, Bridgwater, 10.00-3.15pm: council passed a balanced budget, a new staffing structure, a Council Plan, and Constitution (including new planning arrangements) for the new Somerset Council (see here and here).
• 22 Feb: Frome Town Council, Full Council meeting, evening: Town councillors passed a motion of no confidence in David Warburton MP, heard that allowances for Town Councillors are on hold pending an independent review panel being set up, agreed to support the use of section 106 agreement funding for play equipment at two Mendip District Council open spaces – Blackbird Way and Hawksworth Close at Stonebridge (see here), and noted that the play area in the Old Showfield needs refreshing with funding from another section 106 agreement. I attended online then in person and spoke on the two play area items. Please see here for FTC’s report and a link to the Youtube video of the meeting.
• 23 Feb: Briefing for county, district and town councillors on Frome Town Council’s commissioned draft Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP)* which will identify local priorities to promote walking and cycling in Frome, including potential extensions to the town centre 20mph speed limit, pedestrian crossings and cycle routes. This will come to FTC for adoption in April.
• 27 Feb: Mendip District Council Full Council meeting*: the last one ever (see here), with a final update from council leader Ros Wyke and reflections on 49 years of Mendip District Council from the Chair of Mendip Helen Sprawson-White (who has been a councillor for 16 years). It had reports on progress on addressing climate change and on mental health champions, which will be work for the unitary Somerset Council to progress, and my motion (presented by cllr Damon Hooton and Drew Gardner, and amended by cllr Barry O’Leary) in support of proportional representation and also opposing the Government’s voter id law (see the motion here), which was approved by majority with support from Lib Dem, Green and independent/non-aligned councillors.
• 28 Feb: SCC Environment Scrutiny Committee*: we heard, supported and asked plenty of questions on the flexible plastics recycling pilot scheme, the hosting of the Somerset Rivers Authority, a future Local Energy Plan for Somerset, and how we can govern the Council’s action on climate – see here.
• March
• 1 March 1.00pm: SCC Full Council*: appointments to committees and outside bodies, and reports of committees, including Environment Scrutiny – see here.
• 6 March: Mendip District Council Cabinet*, 6.30pm Shepton Mallet – the final ever MDC Cabinet meeting – final reports on budget monitoring, council performance on priorities, enhancing air quality, and a proposal to house resettled refugees.
• 15 March: Frome Town Council (see here) had presentations by the Friends of Easthill Field about the need for formal designations to protect its biodiversity, and the Green & Healthy Frome project, amongst other things, and I gave an update (saved here).
• 23 March: People for Packsaddle public meeting, Frome Rugby Club: attended, answered questions from the audience and spoke about the LiveWest consultation, planning procedure and policy.
• 24 March: Farewell Mendip event, Mendip District Council, Shepton Mallet, met current and former councillors and officers, to say goodbye to the Council.
• 28 March: Somerset Council planning training, Batcombe.
• 28 March: Frome pilot LCN*: attended online.
• 29 March: Somerset County Council, Environment Scrutiny Committee*: the last meeting of this committee (to be replaced by Somerset Council’s Climate & Place Scrutiny Committee which has a wider remit (see here), discussed the new Somerset Tree Strategy, and an update on SCC’s work on climate change.
• 29 March: Mendip District Council, Planning Board: at the final ever Planning Board meeting, we listened to residents’ concerns but granted permanent planning permission to the Glastonbury Festival (see here; I seconded the motion to approve, due to the wider economic and cultural benefits and the joy the festival brings to millions), and dealt with two other applications.
• 30 March: Frome Town Council Planning Committee*: attended online and communicated with the meeting about the Acacia Drive trees application (see here).
• April
• 4 April: Frome Councillor Forum* (aborted due to low attendance).
• 5 April: Somerset Council briefing* on 20 mph speed limits. I understand that the Council will shortly be inviting parish councils to identify roads where the local community would benefit from reducing the speed limit to 20mph, with the understanding that the parish council would take on the costs of the process.
• 5 April: Frome Town Council annual meeting*.
• 12 April: Norton St Philip Parish Council (see agenda here): gave an update on the new Council, and heard a report of a positive meeting with the local Somerset Council traffic engineer on ideas for traffic calming in Farleigh Hungerford; the need for a response from SC Planning Policy on the Neighbourhood Plan; the need for litter clearance along main roads between villages; and a discussion of Farleigh & District Swimming Club’s proposal to apply to DEFRA to designate the River Frome around the club site as an official inland Bathing Water.
• 18 April: Somerset Council briefing on Local Community Networks*.
• 19 April: Frome Town Council meeting – see here, which dealt with the Frome Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, the football club, a review of open spaces and a new ‘oversight committee’. I caught up with it on Youtube (see here) as I was away.
• 22 April: meeting with Farleigh & District Swimming Club to visit club site and discuss future application for formal Bathing Water status for their stretch of the River Frome.
• 24 April: met Fusion Lifestyle’s regional manager at Frome Sports Centre to discuss current issues.
• 26 April: met residents in Rudge concerned about unauthorised developments.
• 27 April: met Frome Town Council team and bidding contractors at Old Showfield play area.
• May
• [2 May: Somerset Council Planning Committee East – missed due to birthday and school strike]
• [3 May: Berkley Parish Council meeting – attended by cllr Denton for Frome North]
• 4 May and 24 May: Somerset Council briefings* on Packsaddle Fields.
• 9 May: Truespeed at Frome Town Hall; Beckington Parish Council, and Rode Parish Council
• 9 May: Beckington Parish Council: Annual and Council meetings – see here
• 9 May: Rode Parish Council: see here
• 10 May: Norton St Philip Parish Council meeting on planning and licensing applications.
• 11-12 May: Farleigh Hungerford residents, Farleigh House, Somerset Council licensing officer and NSP parish councillors.
• 15 May: Tellisford Parish Meeting/ AGM, at The House, Woolverton
• 17 May: Somerset Council, Climate & Place Scrutiny Committee, including updates on phosphates mitigation, electric vehicle charging, the highways service, and the new approach to scrutiny – agenda and reports are here.
• 17 May, 7pm: Frome Town Council: Annual Town Council – see here, and a new Mayor of Frome was elected: Philip Campagna – please see here
• [22 May: Beckington Parish Council extraordinary meeting, and Lullington Parish Meeting AGM – missed due to medical appointment]
• 24 May: Somerset Council AGM, Full Council (at Canalside Conference Centre, Bridgwater), the first Full Council and Annual General Meeting of Somerset Council (agenda and reports are now online here and a link to a video will be added in the near future). This included: annual reports, redundancies arising from the senior leadership restructure; the report of the Leader of the Council (here); and opposition motions on treating experience in care as a protected characteristic, and a discounted bus pass for 16-25 year olds – both were passed with the support of the Lib Dem group.
• [24 May: Norton St Philip Parish Council, Annual Council and Annual Parish meetings – missed due to Somerset Council meeting]
• 25 May: Somerset Council: Scrutiny Committees Chairs and Vice-Chairs meeting

I will keep this list updated to keep everyone informed.

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