NO doubt some of us are grappling with our New Year’s resolutions and thinking about a bit of a health kick, whether it be to eat more greens after all those mince pies and Christmas pud, Dry January, or getting a bit fitter! Wishing everyone good luck and plenty of willpower.

This month we want to give you a flavour of our council commitments beyond our ward work. While on the topic of health, Cllr David Harding sits on the Health, Wellbeing and Social Care Scrutiny Panel which helps drive better quality, accessible care for everyone in Bath and North East Somerset. Last month, the RUH's challenges meeting A&E target times and waiting lists as well as much-needed improvements to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system were centre stage.

We have great news for vulnerable children, whose wellbeing is a top priority for our administration. The Council is employing six more people to help improve the process of agreeing Education, Health and Care Plans. The Council’s plans for more local specialist school places within B&NES at Culverhay in Bath and Charlton House in Keynsham are moving forward. These investments - “spending to save” - will improve things for vulnerable young people in the future while saving over five million pounds a year once they come onstream. It certainly makes wading through the hundred or so pages of Scrutiny Panel minutes and papers worthwhile when you read things like this!

Cllr Anna Box is a member of the Climate Emergency and Sustainability Panel. The Council’s latest Annual Climate and Nature Report was full of achievements. Two praiseworthy facts: carbon emissions per capita in B&NES have decreased by 53 per cent since 2005, and our local authority was ranked 4th of all UK local authorities outside London on its Climate Scorecard produced by the ‘Climate Emergency UK’ advocacy organisation.

Collaborating with regional partners, B&NES has developed the first Local Nature Recovery Strategy in England. It has helped the Forest of Avon in securing funding to develop the first new national forest – which will span B&NES, North Somerset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire – in 30 years.

Linking wellbeing and the environment, we are continuing efforts to develop the southern part of the Chew Valley recreational trail around the lake. With the extra impetus and energy of Nick Baker of Chew Stoke Parish Council, Phil Heath of the Chew Valley Reconnected Partnership and Bristol Water, we are looking at getting more pathways developed in small chunks and how we can better connect to the villages around the lake. A full circular route is a longer-term goal.

We have also been working with the Parish Councils and B&NES Highways officers on recent proposals from the Walk, Wheel and Cycle Trust (WWCT) to improve National Cycle Network 3 from Compton Martin to Whitchurch. As residents have pointed out, some initial WWCT proposals were unworkable. Our focus will of course be on supporting new proposals that meet your needs.