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Chairman's address annual report 2007 (for year 2007/2008)

The Parish Council plans for the year

It’s never an easy time to predict the coming year in times of election and this year – a first for some years – we have more standing for election than seats. This represents a real achievement since many parish councils in England and Wales are forced to co-opt people simply because not enough are prepared to stand. We will be encouraging people to cast their votes.

Following the elections the council will elect its chairman as well as other roles that councillors are required to fill – Planning and Finance for example.

I am delighted to say that after three years of preparation (and a lot of hard work by the council) we were awarded Quality status earlier this year. The Government White Paper which sets out the advantages of status is close to conclusion and we will attend a June 2007 conference with the other 40 or so councils in the South West when we hope to have more details. The council will then publish more information. One thing for sure is it does mean we are more likely to retain our parish identity than those who do not acquire status.

Much of our plans for the coming year depend on whether or not we can re-lease the Mead. Discussions are now in their second year but until we see the outcome it’s difficult to put in place any plans. Again we will ensure that we keep you abreast of all the news on a space that we see as the green heart of Blagdon.

We do want to do more for the local environment and last year the council formed a group to look at things we might do to help. We are looking at what we might do to facilitate the recycling of plastic bottles but currently it looks as if it would mean hiring skips, siting them in the village and then paying for the filled skips to be taken to Weston for recycling. It is a lot of money to ask a small village to pay and it is probable we will seek your views in the Autumn Survey on what you want.

Dogs featured in the council’s programme last year and with the Dog Control Orders now passed by North Somerset we wait to see to how effective the new legislation will be. What we do hope to see is a cleaner Mead and Rocks that will benefit everybody but without the need for any prosecutions.

We will continue to press North Somerset Council to do more to maintain roads and gulleys. We bear in mind that many of us have chosen to live in a rural community and therefore the trees, farm vehicles and the absence of pavements are always going to make a difference to living here than say Weston. We also know that living on the side of a (very) steep hill will see consequences after heavy rain. Nevertheless we continue to believe that North Somerset Council can do more.

We continue to look at available grant money and, depending on what is available, we may look to improve facilities for young people within the Play Area while we would also like to do something to provide decent changing facilities for those who play sport on the Mead. Whatever we do, we will ensure you are kept informed and wherever necessary your view sought before decisions are made by your council.

Mary Taviner, Chairman - April 2007