Late October news
Somerset Councillor for Frome North (Lib Dem) Learn more
by adamboyden on 15 September, 2023
Education education education:
Somerset Council’s Children and Families Scrutiny Committee meeting on 13th September included a presentation on the potential for a reorganisation of schools in the Frome area into a two tier system, at item 7 Education Modelling in Frome – Next Steps – see here. This has been covered in local news here. There are potential opportunities to make education work better for children, and nothing will be imposed from above, as any changes will be agreed in partnership with schools and local councillors before being taken forward. This will include a review of local SEND provision, and the need for school places arising from new housing developments in Frome. A Steering Group is being formed, including local councillors. I also asked for an update to be provided for discussion locally at the next Local Community Network meeting (see below).
Local Community Network:
The next Frome area Local Community Network meeting is on Thursday 5th October at Buckland Dinham village hall and online, from 7pm. As Vice-Chair I have asked that the agenda include a discussion on road safety (the recent tragic fatal accidents in and around Frome) and an update on education (see above). There should also be a questionnaire sent out to all parish councils and others beforehand, to inform the priorities and a future LCN Plan. Please get in touch with your ideas or see here for more.
Scrutiny focus on water quality in Somerset:
There will be a focus on the water environment at a special meeting of the Somerset Council Climate & Place Scrutiny Committee in October, with appearances by Wessex Water, the Environment Agency and Natural England and other experts, in response to concerns raised locally about water pollution issues. This item was deferred from September because one of the key speakers could not make it. Wessex Water’s current business plan for 2025-30 can be found here.
The Climate & Place Scrutiny meeting on Wednesday 20th September was in Yeovil and online – you can see the agenda and watch the meeting replayed here. The meeting included items on the highways maintenance contract, the future Somerset Local Plan and associated Statement of Community Involvement, the Council’s budget monitoring, and an Energy Plan for Somerset. There will be a separate update briefing on the recent ‘call for sites’ to complete the Mendip District Local Plan, for councillors and parish councils, later in September.
Creating places for people:
Somerset Council is seeking opinions on some outline ‘principles’ for new development in Somerset, to help ‘create places that put people at the heart of their design’, in a new consultation – Creating Places for People. These should guide developers towards creating attractive and high-quality environments, but also inclusive and accessible places for all, regardless of age, gender, mobility, or background, where people enjoy living. The principles will guide new development by informing the Council’s approah to planning and transport, including the future Local Transport Plan and Local Plan. Residents and businesses are urged to have their say – the consultation lasts until 16th October, so please see here.
Mendip Local Plan update on development site allocations:
Talking about development, after Norton St Philip Parish Council’s successful Judicial Review of the Mendip District Local Plan Part 2 removed five housing sites (which allocated 505 homes) in the north east of the former Mendip district from the Local Plan earlier this year, a recent High Court Order recently compelled Somerset Council to start to identify replacement sites for 505 homes across the former Mendip district (now Somerset – East planning area). Landowners have responded to the recent ‘call for sites’, but we do not yet know where these are. Having a site allocated for development in a Local Plan really helps get planning permission. Somerset Council’s planning policy team will review the submissions and identify some which are available, suitable and deliverable by 2029 as preferred sites this autumn, and the Council is legally required to go to public consultation on its Preferred Options document by 31st December (see the timescale in the Local Development Scheme in item 8 to the Executive meeting papers here). We will know where the submitted sites are, and the Council planning policy team’s preferred sites are and what the suitability and sustainability assessments say, in mid-late November when reports are released to the public domain and briefings are held with councillors. Local councillors, parish councils and the local community will be informed and consulted in the process after that.
Council finances:
Contrary to some rumours, Somerset Council is not in a financial crisis like Birmingham and is not in imminent danger of issuing a Section 114 notice under the Local Government Finance Act. However, the papers for the Council’s Executive meeting earlier in September described the council’s financial position as ‘stark and challenging’. Like many county or unitary councils with adult and children’s care responsibilities who are raising concerns that their budgets are unsustainable, Somerset’s budgets are under pressure, due to inflation and increased care costs, as well as inadequate and ever-reducing income from Government funding, and previous Council Tax freezes.
The current spending forecast for 2023/24 is over budget by 5.3% (£26m of the £493.4m general budget). Adults and children’s care services (which cost over 60% of the budget) are responsible for 80% of this and have seen a huge rise in demand since Covid. The Council will draw to some degree on its £154m reserves, but the current level of care spending could put the council finances at risk in a few years. Councillors and parish councils are being briefed monthly, and the Council will work to reduce spending this year and in future.
We await the Government’s response to the very clear messaging from County and Unitary authorities about inflationary pressures on social care costs. A change in Government would probably help, but in the meantime, the administration of the new Somerset Council is committed to working hard with all partners to find the best way through this challenging time for the whole of Somerset.
Please see here, and the Executive meeting reports from September in items 6 and 7 here.
Planning responses:
Just a reminder that to be effective, all parish council responses to planning applications must be made within the 21 day consultation period unless an extension is agreed, and include material planning reasons. There was one case recently when a supportive response from the Parish Council disagreed with the case officer’s recommended refusal, but because the parish response did not include material planning reasons, the case officer could not take it into account, in line with Somerset Council’s Constitution*, so the application will be refused without being referred to Planning Committee.
* Please see https://democracy.somerset.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=137&MId=104&Ver=4 Part D8 Planning Committees Terms of Reference, paragraph 8.8 a ii.
Recycling:
Somerset Council has revealed that every piece of plastic the Council collected from households and via the recycling sites last year was recycled in the UK (see here). Also, over four tonnes of plastic bags and wrappings were collected for recycling by Somerset Council from 3,600 homes in and around Frome, as part of a national pilot project – see here.
Become an Ambassador for Somerset:
Invest Somerset is looking for people who are passionate about living and working in Somerset and willing to champion the county as a top business location by becoming Ambassadors for Somerset. Somerset is already home to world leading businesses and the council is bringing innovation and investment into the county. Ambassadors will champion Somerset by sharing positive views and experiences of growing up, being educated, working or relocating businesses here, to help spread the positive message about the county. To find out more please see here.
New MP:
Hopefully you’ll also know our new Somerton & Frome MP Sarah Dyke was recently ‘sworn in’ to Parliament, and that the best way to contact her is by email to sarah.dyke.mp@parliament.uk.
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