Agenda item

(Voting: 7 in favour, 1 against, 0 abstentions)

The Locality Manager introduced the report which gave a brief overview of what the partnership was set up to do, an update on the current situation with M3 (Making the Most of Martock) and provided members with an opportunity to consider the future relationship of SSDC with the local partnership. He reminded members that the report had initially been discussed at the March meeting of Area North Committee (Informal) where members had deferred the report in order to obtain comments of the representative member to the group. He highlighted that the group did not ask for any funding or officer support from SSDC.

Two members of the public addressed members and some of their comments included:

·        A letter from the group, which included their comments, had been circulated to all Area North members. They had no new comments to raise at this meeting.

·        Reference to all the good work that the group had done, and does, in the community. It cost nothing for SSDC to be a core partner of the partnership so please could SSDC continue in the role.

County Division Member, Councillor John Bailey, acknowledged the good work done by the volunteers in the community. From making enquiries in his County Councillor role, he understood that Somerset County Council had not formally withdrawn from the partnership. He saw no reason to not support the partnership.

Ward member, Councillor Louise Clarke, commented she could see no reason to stop SSDC representation to M3. She noted it was a fantastic group with many representatives from other groups within the community.

Ward member, Councillor Neil Bloomfield, commented that no one was saying that the group should not exist. He felt there were some constitutional failings with the group as for example it did not meet in public and there had been no Annual General Meeting. Attendance at meetings had also declining. He noted the group was fairly unique in that it used SSDC branding and he felt the matter of SSDC support was about consistency and equality. He felt it was a question of whether SSDC needs to attach itself to the organisation.

During discussion, some of the comments raised by members included:

·        M3 has existed for a number of years and delivered many projects. Now may be a time to not only reflect on what has been done but also the future, and perhaps consider how could be more publicly accessible.

·        Any organisation such as this with volunteers should be supported.

In response to other comments made the Locality Officer clarified that:

·        From an officer perspective there was no recommendation to withdraw from the group, it was about how we interpret SSDC's role with the partnership.

·        Cannot see anything in the activities happening that is inappropriate or aren't supported locally.

·        It is a local partnership and SSDC had a representative on the group as we had been asked to have one. No reason why current situation could not continue. It would be difficult to withdraw from something for which we don't actually give any resources to - no funding or officer support is asked for.

·        A Community Plan was separate from a Neighbourhood Plan - the latter had a statutory function.

·        It was up to members to decide if they wished to continue appointing a representative to M3.

At the request of the Chairman, the representative for the group responded to queries about how their meetings were held. She explained they had previously held meetings in public when community venues had been available free of charge. However, that arrangement had ceased when the venues were no longer available free. Agendas and minutes were available on the website. In response, the Chairman suggested an approach to the Parish Council to ask if they would consider funding a venue for the meetings of M3.

At the end of discussion, it was proposed to continue the current arrangement and for Area North Committee to continue nominating a representative to Making the Most of Martock (M3).

(Voting: 7 in favour, 1 against, 0 abstentions)