Town and Parish Briefing July 16, 2021

Home , Bratton Seymour, Brewham, Cucklington, Maperton, Pitcombe, Queen Camel

TOWN AND PARISH BRIEFING 16.07.2021 TOWN AND PARISH BRIEFING JULY 16, 2021

Here is your fortnightly update on South Somerset District Council news, including meetings, Coronavirus Support, Stronger Somerset, and more from the past 14 days.

You can also keep up to date on news with our website www.southsomerset.gov.uk or click the button below. If you would like a PDF version of this newsletter or a URL link, please email [email protected]

Visit our Website

Upcoming Online Meetings

Regulation (informal), Tuesday 20 July, 10am

Area West, Wednesday 21 July, 5.30pm

Audit, Thursday 29 July, 10am (agenda TBC)

Previous meetings can be viewed on our Youtube channel.

Coronavirus Support

The Coronavirus Support section on the Government website is a valuable resource to help you support you community, give health advice and keep you updated on COVID-19 news.

Find out more here

SSDC's Coronavirus support pagecan be found here.

Read more www.gov.uk

Somerset Waste Partnership: Service update Eastern Somerset district councillors come together Our waste collections have been disrupted in recent days and we are sorry for the Leaders, Cabinet and Executive members inconvenience. The issues are largely and Chief Executives of South Somerset down to a national shortage of LGV drivers and Mendip District Councils have come and we are working hard with our together to discuss next steps in the collections contractor to get services back preparations for an Eastern Somerset on... unitary council. It is now one month since the clear... Read more www.somersetwaste.gov.uk Read more www.southsomerset.gov.uk

Coronavirus - further advice

You may find the guidance on the Local Government Association website helpful at this time

Find out more here

If you need posters or other resources (including new Stay Alert messaging) for your communities at this time, you can create a free account and download resources from Public Health England

Find out more here

Further support and news

Updates on Coronavirus in South Somerset

Recent and upcoming changes

Easing of restrictions

From Monday 19 July, the majority of legal restrictions relating to Covid-19 will be lifted, but the risks of Covid-19 have not gone away. As cases rise here and across the country, we are urged to be cautious, not only for yourselves, but to protect vulnerable residents and frontline workers.

The advice from the Somerset Covid-19 Engagement Board is that a number of elements of existing guidance continue to be followed such as wearing a face covering in indoor spaces such as in shops, on public transport or in healthcare settings. Please also continue to wash your hands thoroughly and regularly. Meet up outside rather than inside, and, if you are inside, make sure you let the fresh air in by opening windows and doors.

Finally, it’s important to:

• make sure that you get both doses of the vaccine, • self-isolate when required to do so; and, • use rapid tests twice a week.

The message is ‘think twice, do the right thing, and don’t let your guard down’.

Employers have a duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of their staff and customers and Covid-19 risk assessments will need to be reviewed in the light of the latest advice. It is important to respect and be considerate of those who may wish to take a more cautious approach as restrictions are lifted.

The following behaviours should be encouraged by staff to help protect themselves and reduce sickness absence:

1. Meeting in well-ventilated areas where possible, such as outdoors or indoors with windows open. 2. Wearing a face covering where you come into contact with people you don’t normally meet in enclosed and crowded spaces. 3. Washing your hands with soap and water or using hand sanitiser regularly throughout the day. 4. Covering your nose and mouth when you cough and sneeze. 5. Staying at home if unwell, to reduce the risk of passing on other illnesses onto colleagues and others in your community. 6. Considering individual risks, such as clinical vulnerabilities and vaccination status.

Businesses must not require a self-isolating employee to come to work and should make sure that workers and customers who feel unwell do not attend the setting. The Government will provide guidance on how businesses can reduce unnecessary contact in the workplace, where it is practical. Businesses will be encouraged to display QR codes for customers to check in using the NHS Covid-19 app, to support NHS Test and Trace, although it will no longer be a legal requirement.

Visit www.southsomerset.gov.uk/coronavirus for information on a range of different matters including support that is available.

In addition, in line with guidance from the Government and the British Parking Association, free parking for essential key workers can no longer be offered from Monday 19 July.

In order to protect our staff and in line with the NHS, we will also be asking customers to continue to wear face masks when visiting offices.

Five-year housing supply

On 6 July 2021 South Somerset District Council (SSDC) received the appeal decision on planning application 19/03416/OUT for a proposed residential development at Manor Farm, Combe Hill, Templecombe: Ref: APP/R3325/W/20/3265558.

The appeal was considered at an inquiry held on 11-14 May and 14-18 June 2021 and was dismissed.

The appeal full decision can be seen here In presenting her findings on the five-year housing land supply, the Inspector concluded that using the standard method with a 5% buffer SSDC is able to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply of between 3.97 and 3.66 years (paragraph 44).

This conclusion primarily stemmed from her concerns over the impact of the uncertainty around phosphate mitigation solutions across the district on housing delivery. The Inspector did however accept that SSDC’s calculations were consistent with the NPPF/PPG methodology.

As a consequence of this decision SSDC currently accepts that it cannot currently evidence a five-year housing land supply. Officers have begun the process of reviewing the published Five-Year Housing Land Supply 2020 to 2025, November 2020 and subsequent addendums (January and March 2021).

A revised report is expected to be published in early autumn 2021, this will cover the period 2021 to 2026. Further information concerning how the Council and the Somerset local planning authorities are addressing the issue of high levels of phosphates in the Somerset Levels and Moors is available on our website here.

Heat Health warning

Somerset is forecast to experience very warm weather from Saturday night through to Tuesday morning. The top ways for staying safe when the heat arrives are to:

look out for those who may struggle to keep themselves cool and hydrated; older people, those with underlying conditions and those who live alone are particularly at risk stay cool indoors – many of us may need to stay safe at home this summer, so know how to keep your home cool close curtains on rooms that face the sun to keep indoor spaces cooler and remember it may be cooler outdoors than indoors use cool spaces considerately if going outdoors, and wash your hands regularly drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess alcohol never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle, especially infants, young children or animals try to keep out of the sun between 11am to 3pm, when the UV rays are strongest walk in the shade, apply sunscreen, and wear a wide-brimmed hat, if you must go out in the heat avoid physical exertion in the hottest parts of the day make sure you take water with you if you are travelling during warm weather going for a swim can provide much welcomed relief; take care and follow local safety advice if you are going into open water to cool down remember that while coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions are in place, you will need to follow any additional government guidance to use public spaces safely

Waste collection - update from the Somerset Waste Partnership

We encourage residents to report all missed collections and to do it online where possible. People can call their district councils but Customer Service teams are extremely busy and the My Waste Services menu on the SWP homepagewww.somersetwaste.gov.uk will be the quickest route for those with internet access and is available 24/7.

This is the current position regarding returning for reported missed collections is:

· Missed rubbish and garden waste collections - we will return within two working days. Make sure you leave it out in the usual place.

· Missed recycling collections - we will do our best to return within two days. If we cannot get back in that time we will return on your next scheduled collection day the following week. Steps are being taken to make sure the same people are not affected repeatedly by this.

Hot weather and crews

The hot spell will make the difficult job of waste collection even harder over the next couple of weeks. Please note the new vehicles have air-conditioned cabs and SUEZ provides crews with chilled water. Collections can also start at 6am if needed to avoid the hottest time of the day.

After 18 hard months, the crews need the support of you and your communities more than ever. If you get the chance, please do show your appreciation and encourage others to do the same. It costs nothing but goes a long way with the crews.

My Waste Services: The quickest and easiest way to make contact with SWP is by using the My Waste Service menu on the SWP homepage www.somersetwaste.gov.uk. Please encourage residents to use this as it will help ease the pressure on Customer Services.

Disruption to collections

Collections are seriously disrupted this week, with missed recycling collections in many parts of the county. As well as the existing staff shortages, Covid self-isolation is having an increasing impact as the infection rate in the county rises. Crews will be working on Saturday, catching up rounds rolled over from today, but they are unlikely to be able to recover all collections.

There will be further disruption next week and the situation is likely to get worse before it gets better. SWP and SUEZ apologise for this and are working flat-out to minimise and manage the disruption.

In this very difficult period is important that expectations are managed. The two key messages from SWP at the moment are: · We are doing our best to get services back on track, but there will be more disruption and we apologise for this. · If your recycling collection is missed and crews have not returned within two days, they will not return until the following week’s collection day.

RECYCLING COLLECTIONS DUE TO TAKE PLACE TODAY (FRI 16 JULY) IN SEVERAL AREAS WILL BE DELAYED. CREWS ARE AIMING TO RETURN FOR IT TOMORROW (SAT 17 JULY). Please leave containers out.

South Somerset: Locations including Bruton, Queen Camel and Sparkford, Wincanton.

Crews are returning today for recycling collections missed in various locations across the county, including these below. If collections are not returned for within two days, they will not be returned for until the following week’s scheduled collection day.

· South Somerset: Locations including Langport, Aller and Drayton.

Container deliveries: Extra crews are catching up on deliveries of new and replacement recycling boxes, food waste bins and rubbish bins. Demand is high, so please bear with us as it is taking longer than usual.

South Somerset: · Rubbish – No significant issues expected with today’s collections. · Recycling – Collections missed today in the following locations should be returned for tomorrow. Please leave containers out. Bratton Seymour, Brewham, Bruton, Charlton Musgrove, Cole, Cucklington, Holton, Kilmington, Maperton, North Brewham, Pitcombe, Shepton Montague, Queen Camel, Sparkford, Stoney Stoke, Weston Bampfylde, Wyke Champflower, Vobster, Wincanton. Crews are returning today for recycling collections missed in various locations across the district including in Langport, Aller and Drayton. If collections are not returned for within two days they will not be returned for until the following week’s scheduled collection day. · Garden Waste – No significant issues expected with today’s collections. Future of Local Government - latest information from Districts' Leaders Leaders, Cabinet and Executive members and Chief Executives of Somerset's District Council have come together to discuss next steps in the preparations for an Eastern Somerset unitary council and a Western Somerset District Council. It is now well over a month since the clear preference of Somerset voters was revealed in the result of the local poll, with voters choosing Stronger Somerset over One Somerset by 65% to 35%. It is the third time in recent history that Somerset has decisively rejected proposals for a single unitary. In a 2007 referendum, 82% rejected a single unitary council for Somerset. In an independent, representative Ipsos MORI opinion poll in 2020, 29% preferred the Stronger Somerset proposal compared with 27% who preferred more collaboration between councils and 23% who preferred no change at all – just 15% said they preferred the creation of a new single unitary council for the whole of Somerset. While the Local Government Secretary, Robert Jenrick, MP is yet to announce his decision on the future of local government in Somerset, it is evident he will need to take account of the expressed views of local people. With that decision expected by 22 July, district councils are keen to have arrangements in place to move quickly to begin the transition to the new unitary councils. Leader of Sedgemoor District Council Cllr Duncan McGinty said: “The voters of Somerset have decisively backed our proposal for two unitary councils for Somerset – one for Eastern Somerset and one for Western Somerset. The Local Government Secretary wants unitary local government in Somerset and ours is a proposal that has public support. All he needs to do is make the decision to green light our proposal and we are ready to crack on and make it work for the people of Western Somerset.” Leader of Mendip District Council, Cllr Ros Wyke said: “Mendip and South Somerset district councils have a proud track record of achievement for our local communities and this must be built upon in any new arrangement for local government in our areas. We have come together to support our businesses and communities through Covid, worked well together on economic development and skills issues – these are real examples that show a new Eastern Somerset council will be able to hit the ground running and quickly deliver benefits to our communities.”

Covid-19: Further key links

· Guidance for local councils and LRFs during the coronavirus outbreak: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance- for-local-government · Latest information on coronavirus: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus · Coronavirus communication materials: https://coronavirusresources.phe.gov.uk/ · FAQ from the Cabinet Office: https://www.gov.uk/government/ publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant- do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do · Coronavirus cases: https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/ · MHCLG Coronavirus Bulletins: https://bit.ly/3iC2Pnz

Covid-19: Booking a test

For the latest information on Covid tests, visithttps://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing/ Guidance to support local communities with Brexit

A page which brings together guidance and information from across Government to help councils is available.

You can check what else you or your organisation may need to do to prepare by answering a few questions on the Brexit checker.

Brexit checker: https://www.gov.uk/brexit

‌ ‌