News Updates from North Cadbury and Yarlington Parish Council

Climate Emergency Community Fund

We wrote to you earlier this month about a new grant scheme that is now available to help local communities take positive action to help Somerset become carbon neutral and mitigate the impacts of Climate Change.

It’s now less than 2 weeks away until 1 October when your council can bid for between £5,000 and £75,000 for innovative projects that can make a real difference in reducing carbon emissions and can contribute to making Somerset resilient to the effects of Climate Change.

I would like to highlight the fact that your application for this funding can include administrative costs for implementing the fund, for example your council may need to hire a part-time staff member or outsource some support. So please remember to include these costs in your bid.

As a reminder the scheme will be open from 1 October for six weeks and applications for funding of projects are invited from city, town and parish councils and community groups in unparished areas of Somerset. Qualifying projects will include those to reduce carbon emissions, reduce consumption and to implement activities around climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Full details are now available at www.somerset.gov.uk/climate-emergency

The following documents and information are now available on this website:

· FAQs about the Somerset Climate Emergency Fund

· Climate Emergency Community Fund – Guidance for Applicants

· Sample application form

The online application form will be available from 1 October.

Once you have read through all the information, if you need any advice or support please email climateemergency@somerset.gov.uk

Your sincerely,

Michele Cusack,

Director Economic and Community Infrastructure Commissioning

Somerset County Council

Community Fund

22nd September 2020

Covid-19 Update

Hi everyone

It's that time of the week again – so please check out the latest attached Somerset Coronavirus statistics and all the good work continuing to support communities in these challenging times.

National testing issues have dominated media headlines this week as demand for tests surge. Commissioned by the Department for Health and Social Care, Local Coronavirus testing sites are up and running across the county with 7000 people tested in Somerset last week alone.

The key messages we'd really like your help to reinforce this week are:
Only book a test if you have symptoms (fever, new persistent cough and/or a loss of taste and smell)
Book a slot through the national online portal and keep trying – slots are released regularly throughout the day. Please don't phone 111, turn up at local test sites without an appointment or visit A&E
And continue to self-isolate whilst waiting for a test result – this includes everyone in your household

Many thanks – and have a good socially distanced weekend.

Deborah

Please note - As a result of Coronavirus, all Somerset County Council staff have been asked to work from home, where this is practically possible, or to support other services if their role is not critical to the Coronavirus response. This will have an impact on our ability to deliver some services, so we thank you for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.

Deborah Porter
Service Manager – Communications
Somerset County Council
County Hall
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 4DY
01823 359177
Mobile: 079766 98075
Press Office: 01823 355020

22nd September 2020

The Somerset Fund

Hello there,

We are getting in touch to let you know that The Somerset Fund is now open for applications until Friday 16 October, 2020.

If you are a grassroots community group based in Somerset and running on less than £100,000 per year, you can apply for a grant up to the value of £2,500 from The Somerset Fund. The grants are 'unrestricted', which means they can be used to pay for ongoing running costs, also known as 'core costs'.

What do we want to fund?

We're keen to support a wide range of groups from across Somerset. We are particularly interested in:

giving the best start in life to the most disadvantaged children
growing the life skills of young people
improving the mental health of people of all ages
increasing opportunities for better physical health
supporting people with disabilities and life-limiting illnesses, and their carers
combating loneliness and isolation

Please note that preference will be given to applicants that have not previously been awarded a grant from The Somerset Fund.

The Somerset Fund

14th September 2020

Covid-19 Update

Hi all

Please find attached this week's update highlighting all the many actions Somerset County Council and partners have been up to over the last week in response to the continuing pandemic.

Although cases continue to remain low in Somerset compared to other areas, we are seeing an increase – 69 new cases were reported in Somerset over the last fortnight, with the Mendip area seeing slightly higher levels than the rest of the county.

Director of Public Health Trudi Grant issued the following press statement earlier today urging everyone to follow the government guidance and 'remain vigilant'. She also highlighted the new 'rule of six' coming into force on Monday (14 September) with a reminder to think 'Hands, face and space' – wash your hands regularly, use face coverings if you can and follow the 2 metre rule.

As always, if you have any questions – feel free to get in touch. It's always great to hear from you.

Best wishes

Deborah

Please note - As a result of Coronavirus, all Somerset County Council staff have been asked to work from home, where this is practically possible, or to support other services if their role is not critical to the Coronavirus response. This will have an impact on our ability to deliver some services, so we thank you for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.

Deborah Porter
Service Manager – Communications
Somerset County Council
County Hall
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 4DY
01823 359177
Mobile: 079766 98075
Press Office: 01823 355020

Weekly update

14th September 2020

What3words

Hi,

I hope that you and your community are safe and well.

You might have recently seen what3words in the news and/or some adverts on Channel 4.

Just over 80% of services in the UK now use what3words, so I thought maybe an opportunity to (re-)encourage your community to download the what3words app on their phones in case they need to call 999.

Your community could also use what3words to report incidents with organisations like National Grid, Network Rail and the Environmental Agency.

The app is totally free to download and use, you can download it on iOS or Android.

I’m here to help if you have any questions or need support.

Warmest regards,

Molly

Molly Macgregor

what3words

Download document (pdf)

Find a full list of what3words services here

14th September 2020

Launch of Somerset County Council’s new £1m Climate Community Fund

Do you have any potential projects that could fit the criteria to secure funding to help make positive changes happen? In the coming months, Parish and Town Councils will be able to bid for grants of between £5,000 and £75,000 to support practical initiatives to reduce emissions and/or consumption, restore biodiversity, and raise awareness.
This funding will provide the opportunity for parishes and communities to push forward on potential schemes and projects.
Parishes can apply on their own, or in partnership with other parishes and organisations.
There are two application windows, 1st Oct 2020 – 12th Nov 2020 and 1st Dec 2020 – 12th Jan 2021.
If you have an idea and would like to take advantage of this funding for the benefit of our community and local environment, or if you would like to discuss potential projects, then please contact Tim Gilbert, the Environment Champion for North Cadbury and Yarlington on marcusgilbert@hotmail.com

Further details can be found here

13th September 2020

Somerset Waste

Somerset Waste Board RESOLVED to: Agree the revised roll-out timetable for the Recycle More collection service and authorise the Managing Director of the Somerset Waste Partnership to vary the roll-out due to the significant uncertainty created by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Regards

Nick Cater
Senior Communications Officer
Somerset Waste Partnership

Recycle

31st July 2020

Phased re-opening of Somerset Libraries with new order-and-collect service

We are very pleased to announce that as part of the phased reopening of library buildings, the order-and-collect service which was launched on July 6th in Taunton has now been extended so that collections of up to 10 books can also be picked up from Frome, Yeovil, Minehead or Bridgwater libraries when they begin re-opening on July 13th. Further details of opening times and which services are available can be found on our website, or on Facebook and Twitter

By filling in a Reading Request form, customers will receive a selection of up to ten hand-picked books, DVD’s or talking books, based on the types of authors or genres that are of interest to them. Requests can be made either by email, website or telephone (0300 123 2224) and the selection of books, talking books, and DVDs will be available for collection at a pre-arranged convenient time for people to pick up. No hire charges or overdue charges will be applied.

Internet access will be available in libraries that are open, but it will be primarily for users who don't have home internet access and require essential services. Computers will need to be pre-booked and will be available for one-hour slots. Each computer and workstation will be thoroughly cleaned between bookings and there will be at least a 2m distance between desks.

Customers can return any items currently on loan to any libraries that are open, but customers are being encouraged not to make an unnecessary journey to do this. All current loans that would have been due back during the lockdown period have been extended to the end of August, and any overdue charges that customers might have incurred as a result of library closures due to COVID-19 have been waived. It is hoped that all Somerset libraries, with the possible exception of a few community-managed libraries, will be open again by mid-August.

The Somerset Mobile Library Service is also back on the road and the Home Library Service, delivered in partnership with the Royal Voluntary Service, has started to deliver books to people unable to leave their homes.

We are happy to provide flyers for anyone able to help ‘spread the word’ about this new service (see attached) – just email libsdevelopmentteam@somerset.gov.uk , letting us know how many you would like and we will arrange to get some posted to you.

Finally, just a reminder to follow our Facebook and Twitter posts for some engaging content including videos made by library staff, activities, quizzes, news and links to other useful resources.

13th July 2020

One Somerset

JOINT STATEMENT FROM THE LEADERS OF MENDIP DISTRICT COUNCIL, SEDGEMOOR DISTRICT COUNCIL, SOMERSET WEST & TAUNTON COUNCIL AND SOUTH SOMERSET DISTRICT COUNCIL IN RESPONSE TO 'ONE SOMERSET' AND THE FUTURE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN SOMERSET

"We want to make it clear that the District Councils of Somerset do not support 'One Somerset' and the proposals for a single council for Somerset. "The detailed work which the five councils of Somerset commissioned together clearly concluded that a single council was the wrong solution for the people and communities of Somerset. "Somerset's District Councils have been focused in recent months on supporting our residents and businesses through the Coronavirus crisis. This remains our priority including focusing on how we help Somerset's communities and economy recover. However, as Somerset County Council is determined to push the debate on the future forward during the pandemic, as four districts we will now be putting our collective efforts to developing an alternative proposal. We have always said would refocus on this when the time was right. "We know we can offer a better future for the people of Somerset that reforms local government and is ambitious for our communities and their quality of life. Somerset does not deserve the cheapest local Government. Somerset deserves the best local government. "We will develop the best plan for the future with the help and involvement of our communities."

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Local government has seen big reductions in funding from central government and that means challenges for everyone. At the same time, the challenges our communities face require urgent attention which cannot wait. The key challenges for Somerset communities, alongside recovering from the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic, are: High rates of children growing up in poverty and poor social mobility Large numbers of struggling families, Growing numbers of older people who are increasingly living in poor health The climate emergency Homelessness and the lack of genuinely affordable housing The economy including productivity, skills and wage levels District Councils in Somerset have already undertaken radical change and as a result are financially sustainable, and able to protect services to communities without making cuts. However, we recognise that further change is required in the future. A team drawn from the five councils of Somerset, including the county council, undertook further work on the options, and we agreed the well-trodden path of a single Unitary model was not the right choice for Somerset. Our invitation to Somerset County Council to rejoin this joint work remains open. We will focus on a plan for widespread joint reform, that focuses on the needs of our communities. Our aim is not to simply cut costs. Our intention is to find a way, to improve life for all residents in Somerset now and for the future. Our communities do not deserve the cheapest local government. They deserve the best local government which will drive improvement in quality of life. Just as Somerset County Council, we need to be invited by the Government to submit our plan for positive change in Somerset. If that invitation is received, we will consult with our communities on our proposals to help the people we serve, alongside partners in the NHS, police and more, shape the way our plans develop. This will be a plan developed with our communities to create a better future for everyone in Somerset. This statement has been released by South Somerset District Council on behalf of Mendip District Council, Sedgemoor District Council and Somerset West & Taunton Council.

2nd July 2020

Local Government Association Model Member Code of Conduct

Code of Conduct

21st June 2020

Community Grant Opportunities

SSDC press release dated 15. 6.20 on Community Grant Opportunities for Your Environmental Projects
South Somerset District Council has a long tradition of supporting communities, local voluntary groups and the wider community sector. One of the ways this is enabled is through the Community Grants programme for projects such as community transport, improving recreational facilities, community halls and many more schemes that enhance the lives of the local community. SSDC have now extended the Community Grants scheme to support local
environment initiatives.

Last year the Council acknowledged the climate emergency and are now committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030. This includes supporting environmental progression for communities across the district to develop existing, and kick start new exciting environmental projects. This new extension to the existing community grants scheme will place environmental progression at its core, offering funding for communities to inspire environmental projects across South Somerset's local landscape. We've seen significant changes in our communities over the past three months and this is an excellent opportunity to ensure the changes are positive with novel projects championing sustainability, carbon neutrality and biodiversity. The fund will cover up to 50% of the project costs and you will need support from your Parish Council.

Applications in the range of £100 to £1,000 will be reviewed by SSDC and your Ward Member, any applications for more than £1,000 are decided by your SSDC Area Committee with a maximum grant of £12,500. Applications can be made at any time throughout the year, but revenue funding is limited so do apply in good time, especially if you have seasonal deadlines to meet.

With the range of funding available, all forms of projects can benefit, from smaller funding projects such as a community orchard, building a bat hotel, or even paying for a regular meeting space where your group can meet to discuss and implement your projects.

Larger projects could be for schemes such as a local electric vehicle charging points, energy efficiency for your community hall, wild-flower meadow creation or even buying an acre of land. This new funding will give your community the opportunity to take a great eco idea and see it through to fruition.

If you would like to speak to someone about our grants programme you can email communities@southsomerset.gov.uk. You can also visit our website and find additional information on how to apply

15th June 2020

'Environment Champions' Wanted

Environmental Champions are volunteers whose role will:

- Be the recipient of any environment/climate information South Somerset District Council (SSDC) wishes to share with parishes, through emails and attendance at forums.

- Compile and return any information on their parish which would be useful for SSDC to know (environment groups, electric vehicle charging points, re-wilded areas, etc)

- Encouraging on specific green measures in the parish, to enable environmental sustainability to be at the core of the parishes’ decision making.

- Collaborating with surrounding parishes/groups to maximise impact and share expertise.

Environment Champion Leaflet (pdf)

6th February 2020