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After May's local elections, North Somerset Council's new leadership is mapping out its priorities for the next four years. They want to hear the views of local residents about what is most important and how council tax should be spent.
Last month the council launched a six week opportunity for local people and organisations to help shape the council’s work until 2027. As well as an online survey and North Somerset Live online event, the council has also organised a series of face to face opportunities for people to find out more and give their views about council priorities and finances for the years ahead.
The sessions are taking place:
- Wednesday 20 September, Nailsea – Tithe Barn, 6.30pm onwards
- Monday 25 September, Weston-super-Mare – Weston Museum, 6pm onwards
- Wednesday 27 September, Portishead – Folk Hall, 6.30pm onwards
- Monday 2 October, Yatton – Hangstones Pavilion, 6pm onwards
- Wednesday 4 October, Weston-super-Mare – Town Hall, 6pm onwards
- Monday 9 October, Clevedon – Castlewood, 6.30pm onwards.
These sessions will be hosted by Cllr Mike Bell, leader of the council and Cllr Catherine Gibbons, the council's deputy leader.
There will also be opportunities in rural areas for people to visit their local mobile library, speak to councillors on North Somerset's Executive and have their say:
- Monday 2 October, Backwell – Rodney Road, 2.15pm – 4.15pm
- Tuesday 3 October, Kingston Seymour – Village Hall, 11.10am – 12.40pm
- Wednesday 4 October, Wrington – Memorial Hall car park, 2pm – 4.30pm
- Wednesday 11 October, Winford – main layby, 11.35am - 12.20pm
- Thursday 12 October, Banwell – car park opposite the primary school, 2.40pm – 4.30pm
- Friday 13 October, Long Ashton – Community Centre car park, 9.30am – 11.30am.
Cllr Bell said: "We have some tough decisions ahead of us, with a £50m budget gap to close by 2027, but we're also ambitious and want to provide good services that local people value. I'm really keen that we provide plenty of opportunities for people living in North Somerset to talk to us and let us know what they think of our plans for the next four years.
“Not everything can be a priority, so we also want to find out about the things people think we should be spending council taxpayers' money on. Understanding what our communities value the most as well as the things they think are less important will help us prioritise public money in the right places.
"If you can, I'd encourage you to come along and chat to us so we understand what's important to you."
There's no need for people to book in advance for any of these sessions. Paper copies of the engagement survey will also be available at each session for people to complete if they want to.
The council’s current vision is to be open, fair and green, so people will be asked whether they think this remains the right focus for the area. They’ll also be asked for views on four draft ambitions for North Somerset:
- For our children and young people to feel cared for, safe, supported and given equality of opportunity to thrive.
- For our communities to be caring, healthy and safe, where people help each other to live well.
- For our towns and villages to be thriving and sustainable places to live, work and visit.
- For our council to deliver consistently good services and value for money to support an ambitious community.
The engagement survey is also online at https://n-somerset.inconsult.uk/consult.ti until Monday 16 October. Paper copies are also available at all North Somerset libraries. People will also get the chance to share their views at this month's North Somerset Live virtual Q&A event at 6pm on Thursday 21 September.
After the engagement period ends, the draft plan will be developed before being shared publicly during November for more formal consultation among the local community. The responses to that consultation will inform the final version of the plan that will be presented to councillors in the new year for approval alongside the annual budget.