Annual Parish Meeting 2021 – Gloucestershire County Council Report
County Councillors report to Somerford Keynes Parish Council Annual Parish Meeting
The year has of course been dominated by the Pandemic and has shown clearly how strong, resilient and community spirited Gloucestershire is as a county. Covid-19 has tested us all, presented new challenges and above all has brought out the absolute best in people. The offers of support from individual members of the community and organisations have been staggering and proven invaluable to those who have needed help. The Pandemic has showcased the strength and effectiveness of the relationships between the NHS, Gloucestershire County Council, The police, district councils and the voluntary and community sectors. By all working together; helping and supporting those wo are most at risk, we have, thankfully seen much lower levels of impact than in other parts of the UK.
That is not to say there hasn’t been loss and suffering as a result of Covid-19, there has, and it is important that we remember those who have sadly lost their lives and we look after those who have they have left behind. GCC, which has a specific statutory responsibility to look after everybody in the county and will continue to do all, it can to help minimise the pain and grief that comes with losing a loved one.
Gloucestershire, and the Cotswolds in particular, is generally recognised as a great place to live, work and do business. Most local people enjoy a high standard of living, and our levels of health and well-being are comfortably above the average for the country. However, there are challenges. Gloucestershire’s population is ageing more quickly than the UK average. The increasing number of retired people in the county will bring experience, resources and time to their communities, but as they grow older and more frail will also need more support from health, social care and safeguarding services. The county is also seeing increasing number of people with disabilities and long-term conditions in all groups. At the same time, our 18-64 population is expected to remain static. While living standards are high overall, there are some areas of the county which fall well below national averages, as a result, local people are more likely to depend on the services provided by the county council. 19.415 people (3.1% of the county’s population) live in areas amongst the most deprived 10% in England.
Along with councils up and down the country, GCC has declared a climate change emergency. GCC is already close to achieving carbon neutrality as a council and has made a strong commitment to achieving a carbon neutral county by 2050.
GCC is committed to improving the County’s infrastructure. 97% of premises within The Cotswolds now have an internet connection. The county has made a significant contribution into the A417 Missing Link and it would seem that construction work will commence towards the end of 2022, and also Junction 10 of the M5. The resurfacing of major routes within the county was able to continue throughout the year, and more is planned and budgeted for in the current financial year.
Lastly, before moving onto Somerford Keynes specific issues GCC’s finances are in excellent order. Central government has covered all COVID related costs and GCC’s general reserve, there to meet unknown emergencies which might arise in the year is circa £18m. Council tax is one of the lowest in the South west.
Turning now to Somerford Keynes
Somerford Keynes escaped major flooding this winter. However, the risk of serious flooding remains noticeably in Water Lane. The gullies will be once more be cleared however a more lasting solution needs to be found, especially now that heavy and often unpredictable rainfalls seem to happen at any time in the year.
The totally unacceptable behaviour of visitors to Neighbridge is well known. Solutions to this problem are not easy. However, a task force has very recently been established. Members of the task force include Cllr. Juliet Layton from CDC, Cllr ‘Chuck’ Berry from Wiltshire Council, Ben Welbourn (Cotswold Lakes Trust) Alexis Newport (GCC Parking Manager), and myself. Whilst the task force remit covers all the water park, Neighbridge is recognised as being probably the worst affected location. The parish council will be kept fully informed.
Residents will be aware of the £150m roads re-surfacing programme which has been rolled out by GCC. This will continue with a further allocation of £100m planned for the next four years. Water Lane is scheduled for large scale patching this summer.
Shaun Parsons