Season’s Greetings from Milborne Port Parish Council. 2024 has been quite a year at MPPC. Everything has happened against a backdrop of the financial troubles at Somerset Council. In some ways, our community has been less affected than many, in that the County Council was responsible for comparatively less in Milborne than in many communities of a similar size. However, we have seen both actual reductions in services, as well as an ongoing threat of further reductions, the details of which remain unclear as the Council itself negotiates with central government to determine the levels of support they receive and the Council Tax revenue they will be allowed to levy. What is clear is that for non-statutory services there will continue to be pressure for parish councils to cover the gaps, should they wish to do so. To give one example, the County has historically cleared drains more or less on an as needed basis; however, the statutory responsibility is to clear them once every four years. Should a community wish a more regular time scale then it can elect to do this, but it must also bear the cost. We will continue to wrestle with these issues.
2024 also saw the Parish Council become the trustee of the Village Hall Charity. Many thanks to all those who have volunteered in supporting the running of the Hall in the past, and we have now moved to a more hybrid role with officers supported by a volunteer Committee, with particular thanks to Chris, Michelle and Paul. We have commenced the Youth project focusing on residents of secondary school age, and the numbers at the Village Hall on Thursdays continue to rise. We will be looking to add some ‘detached’ support in the spring for our youth residents in the community as well as at structured times. We have made a record number and value of community grants. We continue to support the Library and the Friends, both financially and practically. The tennis courts have been resurfaced (all from s.106 and county money). And in the summer and autumn we conducted the Community Plan, including a detailed survey with over 370 responses, which is now up on the web site for residents to review. We will be running a presentation evening on this in 2025. In Planning, the application for 58 dwellings along Wheathill Lane has been given outline approval and we will be meeting with the developer in the New Year. The application at Court Lane has been rejected, for now.
2025 already looks like it will be a busy year. Those that have followed the Redcliffe development at Station Road/Wheathill Lane will see it progressing and this should mean that the related s.106 funding will come ‘online’ shortly. We also continue positive dialogue – including calls and meetings – with the developer regarding the Community Hub, but with no conclusion at the time of writing. The s.106 funding is largely earmarked by contract for projects at the Springfield Road Rec, including children’s play equipment, renovating the MUGA (third hard court), improving the playing fields, and the extension of the sports pavilion, for which we have received planning permission. As part of the County devolution programme, we have expressed an interest in a few parcels of Somerset Council owned land around the village, possibly with a bespoke area for dog walkers away from the Rec, but this is unlikely to progress in the near future. We continue to work closely with the South-East Somerset Local Community Network (LCN. We are actively participating in the Flood committee of the LCN and will be targeting the Highways committee going forward. We have started the consultation process for the development of a new Somerset Local Plan from 2028, on the back of which we are seeking to establish a Planning related pilot committee at the LCN. We are consulting on proposed changes to the Planning ‘verification’ process, which we largely oppose. We will also be pressing for a Council or LCN led collective approach to dog fouling related enforcement (so pick up your dog’s doings)! We are consulting on the proposed boundary changes for Somerset Council constituencies for the 2027 elections (essentially do we support splitting the two seat Blackmore Vale ward into two east/west or north/south units). We continue to lobby for and support the 58 bus route (do please keep using it).
So, a lot done and a lot to do. I would like to thank all of my fellow Parish Councillors, especially our new joiners Aly and Paul, as well as all those who have previously volunteered on the Parish Council. Equally, thanks to the excellent Simon, Nathalie and Chris – our officers – without whom nothing would be done (and congratulations to Nathalie for earning the certificates to prove it!) Thanks to Sarah our MP, and Nicola and Hayward our County Councillors. And I wish all our residents a Happy and successful 2025.
Tim Carty, Chairperson of Milborne Port Parish Council
