Agenda item

The Chairman informed members:

·         Super Saturday - Yeovil’s Super Saturday took place in Yeovil Town Centre on 26 September, bringing live music, market stalls and plenty of fun activities for children.

There was a flower and gardeners market which was complemented by the monthly farmer’s market at nearby Middle Street.  The annual Yeovil in Bloom prize-giving event also took place at the bandstand.

At King George Street, the monthly Vintage Market took place which consisted of local retailers offering recycled or ‘up-cycled’ hand painted furniture, interiors, giftware, collectable and accessories.

This is the second year that we have worked with the town council to bring this vibrant event to Yeovil and it is hoped that it will become part of the annual calendar like the Christmas Light Switch On event in November.  The press coverage for Super Saturday was fantastic.

·         Yeovil Half Marathon - The Yeovil Half Marathon will take place on the 20^th March 2016 and the web site opened for entries on Sunday.

Following negotiations with the organisers they have agreed to bring the start and finish of the race into the town centre.  It is estimated that his will bring around 4,000 people into the town centre that day and so it is great news.

The route will start at or near Petters Way, and finish in the Ouedam.

·         2015 Lantern Parade - Following the success of last year’s event, the second annual lantern parade in Yeovil will take place on Saturday, 14^th November immediately before the switch on the Christmas Lights. 

The parade will once again be led by the fantastic HMS Heron RN Volunteer Band which was extremely popular last year.

It is hoped that the route will be extended this year – full details to follow.

Children’s lantern making workshops, run by Playart, will be taking place in the Quedam Centre, Yeovil on Saturday, 31^st October and Saturday 7^th November.

·         Yeovil Vision - The Yeovil Vision Board continues to focus on transport issues for Yeovil, funds have been set aside to commission small scale improvement to improve traffic flow.  Work has also begun on a project to explore ways of resourcing a strategic assessment of lower middle street and the surrounding area to enable the Lower Middle Street Enhancement scheme to be undertaken.  Meanwhile work is progressing on developing the plans for the second exit from Tescos on to Clarence Street and these will shortly be circulated for consultation.

·         Community Forum Meeting - There will be a Community Forum Meeting on Monday 12^th October 2015 at 9.30am here at Brympton Way in the Council Chamber B.  This is an opportunity for members of community groups to get together and discuss a range of subjects including community safety.

Yeovil In Bloom - Councillor David Recardo Vice-Chairman informed members on the success of Yeovil in Bloom.  For the last seven out of eight years, Yeovil in Bloom has been awarded Gold at the South West in Bloom competition presentation.  He explained the method of point scoring and the excellent Yeovil in Bloom Facebook page.  He thanked Steve Fox and the Horticultural team for their excellent work.

Yeovil in Bloom also received two ‘outstanding’ It’s Your Neighbourhood awards for Kenmore Drive Residents Association and King Arthur Drive Residents.  Four ‘Thriving’ It’s Your Neighbourhood awards were also received for Brympton Allotments Association, The Foyer, Huish Primary School and West Abbey Residential Home.