The A39 will be closed from 7am to 7pm for surface dressing between Brymore Way roundabout and Currypool Lane/Cannington Enterprises. See map below for details of the bit that is closed. We don’t know yet how this will affect the buses – we have asked. More information at https://one.network/?tm=134045618
The first four affordable homes at Cricketer Farm are now being advertised. If you are interested you need to bid as soon as possible – the closing date is SUNDAY 16 JULY .
Got homefinder somerset – View Homes and use the filter for North area.
You will need to demonstrate a previous close connection to Nether Stowey. You are advised to include ALL connections you may have such as close relatives, work, residence or previous residence.
If you need help and you are not already a Homes in Sedgemoor (HiS) tenant contact housingoptions.north@somerset.gov.uk or phone them on 0300 123 2224.
If you are already a HiS tenant contact them at at neighbourhood@homesinsedgemoor.org or on 0800 585 360.
11.7.2023
Industrial action suspended
We can confirm that strike action by Somerset waste collection crews has been suspended for two weeks pending a union ballot.
Talks today between the Unite union and SUEZ recycling and recovery UK – the Council’s collections contractor – made progress and the union has agreed to ballot its membership on an improved pay offer.
The strike action that was planned to start on Wednesday (12 July) has been suspended pending the outcome of the ballot and all collections services should be running as normal.
Residents are asked to present their refuse, recycling and garden waste as usual.
There is a chance that tomorrow’s services may be compromised to some extent given the late notice of suspension of industrial action.
There is some way to go and a risk of industrial action remains, but the immediate widespread disruption to collections has been avoided.
The online garden waste form has been reinstated to take new subscriptions, renewals and requests for replacement garden waste bins. We are also taking requests for container deliveries.
In the coming days we will be working through reinstating bulk waste collections.
Please continue to use the www.somerset.gov.uk/strike website for the latest updates and advice.
Somerset Council Waste Services
In view of the potential Somerset Waste strike here are the details for reporting flytipping if you see it.
If you discover fly tipped waste, please follow these simple steps but be careful – your safety is more important.:
Report it at https://www.somerset.gov.uk/bins-recycling-and-waste/how-to-fight-fly-tipping/ or call 0300 123 2224.
Unite union members working on Somerset waste collections plan to take industrial action starting from Wednesday 12 July. They intend to strike on Wednesday, Thursday Friday, each week for the four weeks from Wednesday 12 July to Friday 4 August.
We hope industrial action can be avoided and will do everything practical to minimise disruption. However, if it goes ahead large numbers of missed collections will be unavoidable across all parts of the county.
**NOTE: Industrial action could be called off as late as Tuesday 11 July 2023 – if that happens collections would operate as normal.**
We will prioritise collections of clinical waste, refuse and waste from communal properties and schools BUT this is no guarantee these collections will take place on time.
Recycling collections are much more likely to be missed as staff are redeployed. We will do our best to make sure everyone gets at least one recycling collection during the strike.
We do not plan to suspend garden waste collections but expect significant delays. We will make a decision about existing subscriptions when we know the full impact of strike action.
Throughout the strike www.somerset.gov.uk/strike will be the best place for the latest information about disruption and advice on how to manage waste when collections are missed. Please check it frequently.
We will email Somerset Councillors an update each morning during disruption and raise public awareness through various channels – media, social media, emails to parish councils etc. Online and digital information does not suit all, but given the fast-changing nature of the situation they will be valuable tools for providing timely updates.
Waste Services will be focussed on limiting disruption and all other work would be delayed. Please limit direct contact with the team to essential and urgent matters only.
All 16 of Somerset’s recycling sites will be open as usual and can take almost all the materials collected at the kerbside, as well as refuse as a last resort.
Refuse and clinical collections – When to present: put your refuse out on your usual collection day throughout the strike. From 17 July onwards crews will accept one additional black sack of refuse, placed at the side of the bin.
Recycling collections
There are special arrangements for anyone with a recycling collection due on Wednesday 12 July, Thursday 13 July and Friday 14 July and Friday 21 July only.
We’ll do our best to ensure everyone gets at least one recycling collection during the strike.
Food waste must stay in your food waste bin. If you are concerned about holding on to food waste for long periods, as a last resort you can double-bag it and put it in your refuse bin.
Garden waste collections (bin and sack)
If strike action goes ahead it is unlikely crews will be able to collect it.
Bulky collections and container deliveries:
Both services will be suspended for the strike period. Existing bulky collection bookings will be rescheduled.
We will do our best to honour existing orders of containers, but they are likely to be delayed.
Advice on managing waste when collections are missed
This is available on the somerset.gov.uk/strike webpage. It focusses on making the most of space in recycling boxes and bags, and options for food waste if collections are missed for a prolonged period. These are not ideal solutions, but they could help some residents during a difficult time.
Unite union members working on Somerset waste collections plan to take industrial action starting from Wednesday 12 July. They intend to strike on Wednesday, Thursday Friday, each week for the four weeks from Wednesday 12 July to Friday 4 August.
We hope industrial action can be avoided and will do everything practical to minimise disruption. However, if it goes ahead large numbers of missed collections will be unavoidable across all parts of the county.
**NOTE: Industrial action could be called off as late as Tuesday 11 July 2023 – if that happens collections would operate as normal.**
We will prioritise collections of clinical waste, refuse and waste from communal properties and schools BUT this is no guarantee these collections will take place on time.
Recycling collections are much more likely to be missed as staff are redeployed. We will do our best to make sure everyone gets at least one recycling collection during the strike.
We do not plan to suspend garden waste collections but expect significant delays. We will make a decision about existing subscriptions when we know the full impact of strike action.
Throughout the strike www.somerset.gov.uk/strike will be the best place for the latest information about disruption and advice on how to manage waste when collections are missed. Please check it frequently.
We will email Somerset Councillors an update each morning during disruption and raise public awareness through various channels – media, social media, emails to parish councils etc. Online and digital information does not suit all, but given the fast-changing nature of the situation they will be valuable tools for providing timely updates.
Waste Services will be focussed on limiting disruption and all other work would be delayed. Please limit direct contact with the team to essential and urgent matters only.
All 16 of Somerset’s recycling sites will be open as usual and can take almost all the materials collected at the kerbside, as well as refuse as a last resort.
Refuse and clinical collections – When to present: put your refuse out on your usual collection day throughout the strike. From 17 July onwards crews will accept one additional black sack of refuse, placed at the side of the bin.
Recycling collections
There are special arrangements for anyone with a recycling collection due on Wednesday 12 July, Thursday 13 July and Friday 14 July and Friday 21 July only.
We’ll do our best to ensure everyone gets at least one recycling collection during the strike.
Food waste must stay in your food waste bin. If you are concerned about holding on to food waste for long periods, as a last resort you can double-bag it and put it in your refuse bin.
Garden waste collections (bin and sack)
If strike action goes ahead it is unlikely crews will be able to collect it.
Bulky collections and container deliveries:
Both services will be suspended for the strike period. Existing bulky collection bookings will be rescheduled.
We will do our best to honour existing orders of containers, but they are likely to be delayed.
Advice on managing waste when collections are missed
This is available on the somerset.gov.uk/strike webpage. It focusses on making the most of space in recycling boxes and bags, and options for food waste if collections are missed for a prolonged period. These are not ideal solutions, but they could help some residents during a difficult time.
Local Community Networks: Minutes of the inaugural meeting held on 14 June are available on the Somerset Council website here
Planning applications: None
The agenda is available here. Copies are also available in the Parish Office window and on notice boards at The Cross and Harry Prowse Close from Wednesday afternoon.
Draft minutes: Minutes from the most recent meeting(s) are posted here : Draft Minutes – meeting of 15 May are here.
Minutes for previous Parish Council meeting are here: Previous minutes
Local Community Networks: Minutes of the inaugural meeting held on 14 June are available on the Somerset Council website here
Planning applications: None
PLEASE NOTE: The meeting will be held at the Church Centre and will start at 7pm. Everyone is welcome. There is a public session at the beginning of the meeting when members of the public are welcome to address the Council on any matter relating to the agenda or on any other matter that they would like the Parish Council to consider at a future date. It is helpful if you inform the Chairman or the Clerk beforehand of any matter you wish to raise, so that the Clerk can have to hand any necessary information.
The agenda is available here. Copies are also available in the Parish Office window and on notice boards at The Cross and Harry Prowse Close from Wednesday afternoon.
Draft minutes: Minutes from the most recent meeting(s) are posted here : Draft Minutes – meeting of 15 May are here.
Minutes for previous Parish Council meeting are here: Previous minutes
Local Community Networks: Minutes of the inaugural meeting held on 14 June are available on the Somerset Council website here
Planning applications: None
PLEASE NOTE: The meeting will be held at the Church Centre and will start at 7pm. Everyone is welcome. There is a public session at the beginning of the meeting when members of the public are welcome to address the Council on any matter relating to the agenda or on any other matter that they would like the Parish Council to consider at a future date. It is helpful if you inform the Chairman or the Clerk beforehand of any matter you wish to raise, so that the Clerk can have to hand any necessary information.
The agenda is available here. Copies are also available in the Parish Office window and on notice boards at The Cross and Harry Prowse Close from Wednesday afternoon.
Draft minutes: Minutes from the most recent meeting(s) are posted here : Draft Minutes – meeting of 15 May are here.
Minutes for previous Parish Council meeting are here: Previous minutes
Local Community Networks: Minutes of the inaugural meeting held on 14 June are available on the Somerset Council website here
Planning applications: None
PLEASE NOTE: The meeting will be held at the Church Centre and will start at 7pm. Everyone is welcome. There is a public session at the beginning of the meeting when members of the public are welcome to address the Council on any matter relating to the agenda or on any other matter that they would like the Parish Council to consider at a future date. It is helpful if you inform the Chairman or the Clerk beforehand of any matter you wish to raise, so that the Clerk can have to hand any necessary information.
The agenda is available here. Copies are also available in the Parish Office window and on notice boards at The Cross and Harry Prowse Close from Wednesday afternoon.
Draft minutes: Minutes from the most recent meeting(s) are posted here : Draft Minutes – meeting of 15 May are here.
Minutes for previous Parish Council meeting are here: Previous minutes
Local Community Networks: Minutes of the inaugural meeting held on 14 June are available on the Somerset Council website here
Planning applications: None
Somerset Council’s waste services are preparing for planned industrial action by some of the county’s waste collection crews. The council was informed this week that members of the Unite union intend to start industrial action on Wednesday 12 July.
Talks continue to resolve the dispute, but contingency planning is underway to try and limit the impact on residents if it goes ahead. Though all efforts would be made to limit the impact, industrial action is likely to cause widespread and significant disruption affecting the majority of residents in some way.
The planned action follows unsuccessful annual pay negotiations with Suez UK, the council’s collections contractor. An initial 5.8% increase has been rejected by the union and a recent ballot of Unite members was in favour of industrial action. A further offer of 8% from Suez has also been rejected.
The staff intend to strike Wednesday to Friday each week in the four weeks from 12 July to 4 August. On the other days of the week staff taking action would not work overtime or be involved in catch-up collections, for example on Saturdays.
Three-weekly refuse collections would be prioritised, along with clinical waste collections and collections from communal locations. However, there is no guarantee that these collections will take place on time.
Recycling collections would be affected to a much greater extent as their crews are redeployed to support the other collections. The scheduling of the industrial action means some residents could go multiple weeks without recycling collections.
At this stage we do not yet know how garden waste collections will be affected.
The disruption will also extend beyond the days of industrial action as crews will need to pick up extra, accumulated waste when collections restart.
If industrial action does take place, the Somerset Council’s website: www.somerset.gov.uk/waste will be the best place for the latest information about disruption to service and advice on how to manage waste when collections are delayed.
Mickey Green, Somerset Council’s Executive Director for Climate and Place, said:
“Talks are ongoing and we very much hope that industrial action can be avoided or resolved quickly.
“We know cost of living pressures are affecting everyone, including waste collection crews, but this action would have a big impact on residents across the county.
“We will continue to support Suez as it works to resolve the dispute, assisting where we can.
“If action is taken, we will make as many collections as possible, but some services will have to be prioritised at the expense of others and we would ask for the public’s patience.”
If you are a walker you will have undoubtedly have noticed that some of the paths have become very overgrown. Unfortunately we no longer have the services of Colin who has been a volunteer strimmer for the last 6 years keeping them immaculate. Until we find a new volunteer, maintenance of the paths reverts to Somerset Council who have a rolling schedule cutting most paths twice during the growing season and a few paths three times. If you could be a volunteer please click here to go to Somerset Council’s website for further details. Equipment, training and costs are provided by Somerset Council.
At present all the public rights of way are open – please take care to follow any remaining diversions around the Cricketer site. Other tracks are NOT public rights of way and should not be used. This is as much for your safety as anything – agricultural vehicles are large and noisy and the driver may not be able to see or hear you. A map of the local footpaths is available here Nether Stowey Footpaths Map
We all have a responsibility for our own safety and in the case above the safety and education of our children, please Walk Safely, Walk Responsibly and Obey the Country Code. Please make sure you know where your children are playing. And if you’re out with dogs please think – is it under tight control, is it damaging crops or is it chasing stock? And please pick up after your dog. Dog faeces causes illness and death in farm animals.
If you find a defect, whether it is overgrowth, a broken stile etc you can report the issue direct using the Roam Somerset website. Although you can report issues to the Parish Council, using the website means you can pinpoint precisely where the problem is, which is more effective than me trying to work out where you mean from an e-mail.
To use the Roam website simply click the Report Issue button, click the map, select the path or furniture you are reporting and then add a description of the problem. You can add photos in some cases.
Annual Governance and Accountability Return (unaudited)
Notice of public rights and audit
Local Authority Accounts: a Summary of your Rights
The Local Audit & Accountability Act 2014 and the Accounts & Audit Regulations 2015 set out the responsibilities of all local councils in respect of their accounting and auditing procedures. As part of this process, the Council must publish the unaudited Annual Return and must make arrangements for a period in which interested persons can inspect the Council’s accounts and related documents. The period this year is Wednesday 14 June until Tuesday 25 July, during office hours or by appointment.
Each year, the Council’s financial accounts and statements are examined by an independent ‘internal’ auditor appointed by the Council to advise them. This year our accounts were audited by MJ Dodden & Co in Bridgwater.
The Council is also required to complete an ‘Annual Return’ which includes the findings of the Internal Auditor, together with Governance Statements and Financial Statements. This Annual Return is then submitted to another independent ‘external’ auditor, PKF Littlejohn, for examination. The External Auditor is appointed by Smaller Authorities’ Audit Appointments Ltd (SAAA), not the Parish Council.
If you are a registered local government elector (i.e. you appear on the electoral register for the parish) you can also ask questions about the accounts and object to them. Details about your rights are given in Local Authority Accounts: a Summary of your Rights
The agenda is available here. Copies are also available in the Parish Office window and on notice boards at The Cross and Harry Prowse Close from Wednesday afternoon.
Draft minutes: Minutes from the most recent meeting(s) are posted here : Draft Minutes – meeting of 15 May are here.
Minutes for previous Parish Council meeting are here: Previous minutes
Internal Audit and Annual Return documents (to be approved, not audited)
Planning applications: Links to planning applications on the agenda are below (opens the application in the Somerset Planning website):
Consultation: Link to Somerset Council Consultation on Licencing (opens in the Somerset Council website)
PLEASE NOTE: The meeting will be held at the Church Centre and will start at 7pm. Everyone is welcome. There is a public session at the beginning of the meeting when members of the public are welcome to address the Council on any matter relating to the agenda or on any other matter that they would like the Parish Council to consider at a future date. It is helpful if you inform the Chairman or the Clerk beforehand of any matter you wish to raise, so that the Clerk can have to hand any necessary information.
The agenda is available here. Copies are also available in the Parish Office window and on notice boards at The Cross and Harry Prowse Close from Wednesday afternoon.
Draft minutes: Minutes from the most recent meeting(s) are posted here : Draft Minutes – meeting of 15 May are here.
Minutes for previous Parish Council meeting are here: Previous minutes
Internal Audit and Annual Return documents (to be approved, not audited)
Planning applications: Links to planning applications on the agenda are below (opens the application in the Somerset Planning website):
Consultation: Link to Somerset Council Consultation on Licencing (opens in the Somerset Council website)
PLEASE NOTE: The meeting will be held at the Church Centre and will start at 7pm. Everyone is welcome. There is a public session at the beginning of the meeting when members of the public are welcome to address the Council on any matter relating to the agenda or on any other matter that they would like the Parish Council to consider at a future date. It is helpful if you inform the Chairman or the Clerk beforehand of any matter you wish to raise, so that the Clerk can have to hand any necessary information.
The agenda is available here. Copies are also available in the Parish Office window and on notice boards at The Cross and Harry Prowse Close from Wednesday afternoon.
Draft minutes: Minutes from the most recent meeting(s) are posted here : Draft Minutes – meeting of 15 May are here.
Minutes for previous Parish Council meeting are here: Previous minutes
Internal Audit and Annual Return documents (to be approved, not audited)
Planning applications: Links to planning applications on the agenda are below (opens the application in the Somerset Planning website):
Consultation: Link to Somerset Council Consultation on Licencing (opens in the Somerset Council website)