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. Featured News Public Health leaders urge caution as restrictions ease Public Health leaders in Somerset are urging people to proceed with caution and act responsibly as the country prepares for the easing of national Covid-19 restrictions. From Monday 19 July, the majority of legal restrictions relating to Covid-19 ... Read more www.southsomerset.gov.uk Jane Portman is appointed as SSDC's CEO South Somerset District Council has appointed Jane Portman as its Chief Executive Officer after the decision was agreed by Full Council. Jane will be taking the position on an interim basis for an 18-month period and will join ... Read more www.southsomerset.gov.uk NHS Patients, staff and visitors must continue to wear masks England's Chief Nurse has reminded the public that everyone accessing or visiting healthcare settings must continue to wear a face covering and follow social distancing rules. Covid restrictions will end in many settings in England from... Read more www.england.nhs.uk Heat-health alert issued by Public Health England Much of England is forecast to experience very warm weather from Saturday night through to Tuesday morning. Dr Owen Landeg, Scientific and Technical Lead at PHE, said: Much of the advice on beating the heat is common sense and for many people... 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.