Councillor Gloria Cawood’s Report to Leigh-on-Mendip Parish Council APM

As you know, I was appointed this year to the Executive Board of Somerset County Council and given the Education Portfolio. It has proved an interesting and absorbing portfolio, giving me plenty to do across the whole of Somerset. For example, falling school rolls are a big issue now – and have urgently to be tackled in some areas of the county, such as West Somerset. Some schools have less than 20 pupils – and there is a question over their viability. Further, small schools in Somerset are funded as though they had at least two classes (60 pupils), which means bigger schools often feel that they are being treated unfairly as they get so much less per pupil. Our new Small Schools Policy encourages schools to federate with one head and one governing body to give the children more opportunities and a broader education.

I have visited Leigh-on-Mendip First School several times this year – and have always been made to feel welcome. Mrs. Harry is an excellent Head-teacher and it is no wonder that so many children come into the school from outside the village. It is a small school, with just over 40 pupils, but also with a Pre-School on site and a welcoming ethos.

The work I do as an Executive member of SCC means that I spend a lot of time away from my home base, with many more evening meetings. It’s a pretty full time job! However, I have tried to keep in touch still with the residents of Leigh-on-Mendip and visit the village quite often for various meetings and social events. I’ve worked with Paul Emery, PCSO, and others over problems with motorcycles in Barn Close and attended the Halecombe Quarry Advisory Committee, the quarry having now re-opened.

During the year, I gave funding from my County Councillors Community Grant towards new benches for Leigh-on-Mendip First School. In my Division, I used the grant last year to support youth clubs, equipment for pre-schools in Stoke and Cranmore, a donation to Somerset Arts Week, a Youth Art project in Doulting and towards a new projector for Batcombe Film Club. The Councillors Grant is again available this year – any local community organisation can apply directly to me for grants from £50- £500. I try to spread it across my area, but, I do need the applications from you. Just write, ring or e-mail me if you think I can help. A warning – the first grant for this year has already gone out – the first in Somerset this year – which was £250 towards the Frome Festival, which I know so many of my constituents support – so if you have a project that needs support, get in quickly before the money’s all spent!!

Highway matters are ever present for Leigh-on-Mendip – and I have urged Highways to be more responsive to Parish Councils in particular, as I know how hard they work to get highway problems sorted quickly. We all know they are under pressure from the huge number of requests – and I know that they are performing better according to auditors - but it does not make the council look good when they are not as responsive as they should be. I have had assurance from both Somerset Direct and the Director for the Environment that more improvements will be seen soon. I have met Highways with the Parish Council at Leigh, particularly over concerns of safety close to the school. It appears there is no easy solution. There also has been a great deal of concern over the poor road marking at Townsend – and certainly up to last week, there still remained work to be done there to improve safety. I have today spoken to the Portfolio Holder for Highways, Tony Shire, to ask for urgent action on this.

For the District Council, I have had a number of Planning issues to look into. The trickiest has been the affordable housing, for which planning has now been agreed. We will watch the progress of this. I have kept in touch with the Parish Council on all planning matters that have come to me and supported their view on most, if not all, that have come forward this year.

All in all there has been a lot of good news at Somerset County Council this year, not least that Adult Social Services proved the best in the Country – meaning many elderly and disabled people in Leigh-on-Mendip have continued to receive excellent services. Children and Young People department received 3 stars – again Somerset is proving a really good authority and national environmental awards have been presented marking Somerset as one of the greenest councils in the country.

I can say that I enjoy being your district and county councillor – and am particularly proud of the job the county council does. But – please let me know if you’re not happy with the services and I’ll do my best to help.

Finally, thanks to the Clerk and Parish Council for all the help and support you have given me. I enjoy working with you and look forward to another year of working with you for the benefit of the people of Leigh-on-Mendip.