GLORIA CAWOOD’S OCTOBER REPORT TO PARISHES AND PEOPLE OF MENDIP CENTRAL AND EAST NOVEMBER 2008
LOCAL INITIATIVE BUDGET
I have been working with the Parishes and Organisations whose applications were most supported by the Neighbourhood Forum. A couple of schemes have been pulled. Kilmersdon PC has pulled their Street Lighting project for the LIB. They are now considering a cheaper project which will provide lower level lighting and I have tentatively put aside half the expected cost from the Councillor’s Community Budget. Nunney has withdrawn its BMX\Cycleway project because of problems of funding. Stoke St. Michael have asked to come in with the Allotments project, for which they had already done a considerable amount of planning. The rules only allow for 5 projects. The final allocation of the LIB is:
1. Doulting Parish Council Street Lighting £2,000
2. Witham Friary Parish Council BMX\Cycle Track £2,800
3. Stoke St. Michael New Allotments £2,750
3. Batcombe Parish Council New Allotments £2,750
4. Stratton-on-the Fosse PC Bus Shelter Project £2,500
5. Leigh Active Living Centre IT Project £2,200
Any late bids can be considered for the reserve list, but must be in by November 20th.
Holcombe Youth Club has been using MCT for some time, for bringing young people in from other areas and for trips. Recently, Tina Lilley told me the club would have to stop using the service as the cost had drained all the Youth Club funding. They would have nothing left in the kitty and the service would be stopped soon. I rang her this week to tell her that the bills she held would be paid from this fund. As a result, it looks like the youth club will continue to run in the school holidays – and that the visit to the pantomime at Christmas is back on the agenda!
Jane and I are looking into a possible longer-term solution, with one or two County minibuses being based in East Mendip rather than Street. I have asked her to consider basing the bus in Coleford for use by local trained volunteers. Until recently, the youth service would only license voluntary drivers with no speeding points. They are now coming in line with Social Services, which allow drivers with up to 6 points to become volunteers.
So, any volunteers? – or youth clubs wanting to use the service?
Dean and Whylie Green – The complaints have continued as activity continues on this site. I have contacted Mendip District Council many more times on this, delivered photographs of the activities and persuaded Somerset County Council to pay a visit. David Heath MP has raised the matter in Parliament and Government Minister, Harriet Harmon, has advised the apparent scam, offering for sale 209 building plots on this land should be referred to the Fraud Office. There has been significant Media interest in this. What is needed is a change in the Law to prevent overseas companies trying to sell off our countryside this way.
The A361 from Doulting to Marston\Nunney is scheduled to be dealt with at the end of 2009. I am told that parishes and communities will be fully engaged in the project prior to improvements. The delivery of the red route programme is funded by the LTP and so future delivery is subject to funding being available. Wanstrow is on the list for later still.
Posts are to be erected for a Vehicle Activated sign at Stoke St Michael and Trudoxhill. Posts previously erected for VASs can be used again if they are still fit for purpose. Could Parishes with existing VAS sites please let me know where they are.
COUNTY COUNCIL CHAIRMAN’s COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS - I was proud and thrilled to be present at Glastonbury Town Hall on October 15th when the Chairman of the County Council presented certificates recognising the enormous contribution people have made to their communities. Praises rang out for John and Joy Lees of Doulting and Caroline and Graham Harris of Leigh-on-Mendip. It gets better – Graham and Caroline were also asked to accept the overall County Group prize for the Leigh-on-Mendip Community Activity Project, taking home to Leigh an engraved rose bowl. We have such amazing volunteers in our local villages and I believe that in my Division we are particularly blessed.
COUNTY EXECUTIVE BOARD TOURS THE COUNTY – For its last two meetings, the Executive Board (Cabinet) has moved out of County Hall to hold meetings. The first was held in Bridgwater and, following the meeting, they were joined by Sedgemoor District Council for a question and answer session. (Guess who had the most questions thrown at them?) Not surprisingly, there were many questions on Building Schools for the Future, part of my portfolio. Bridgwater is to have 4 new secondary schools and two new co-located Special Schools under this exciting Government project to replace or remodel every secondary school in the country. There isn’t room to re-build Haygrove on the current school site and there are concerns from the public about the other sites under consideration – traffic, highways etc. Few want the new school next to them. I wonder what the will come up when the Somerset Executive comes to Mendip?
Somerset County Council’s Executive Board will meet at Mendip District Council Offices in Shepton Mallet on January 14th. at 2pm. It will be followed at 6pm – 8pm by an ‘Ask the Executives’ any questions session. What will YOU be asking them?
In October I attended at least 37 meetings and events. Although my work takes me to different parts of the County, you can always contact me by e-mail or phone if you need my help.
Home:01749-880404 Fax:01749-880263 Mobile:07815-181393
e-mail: gmcawood”at”somerset.gov.uk