Around sixty people attended Midsomer Norton Town Council's Annual Town Meeting on Monday evening this week to look back on its second year since the break-up of Norton Radstock Town Council and recalled the then new Town Council's first meeting, held on 12th May 2011, where eleven Independent Town Councillors first took their seats.

Members of the public heard about the Town Council's proactive year, with its three main aims being to encourage community, build civic pride and run a sound Council.

There was an opportunity for members of the public to ask questions after the presentations by several Councillors and the Mayor, Paul Myers, who paid tribute to not just the Councillors, but the local volunteers. "The eleven Independent Councillors work together as a team, enabling us to fulfil our promise to deliver a new era for Midsomer Norton," he said. After the formal business, a second year celebratory cake was cut and buffet provided for guests.

The Town Council has been working to secure leases on green spaces within the town, notably the Catholic Church garden, a relatively unknown but tranquil space. St Chad's Well is also under discussion, with a possible application to English Heritage to help restore the Town's Well. And of course, the concept plan for the proposed Town Park is still ongoing.

A fully fledged arts programme is now in operation, thanks to a £3,000 grant from B&NES Council, with this amount matched by the Town Council. This has allowed for regular events to be held at subsidised ticket prices, featuring live bands at Welton Rovers, the now regular over-60s social, the forthcoming music evening, working alongside local charity, SWALLOW, a string trio event and plans for live drama to take place. The Community Cinema has also been running successfully for some time at the Town Hall on scheduled dates.

A new trust is also in the process of being set up – the Midsomer Norton Community Trust, which will be running these events and bookings. The Town Council is currently in negotiations with B&NES Council's Community Asset Transfer Programme, (which last week handed over the management and financial responsibility for the Beacon Hall and field in Peasedown St John to their Parish Council, see page 9), to secure a long-term lease for both Midsomer Norton Town Hall and Orchard Hall and to create a business plan for both buildings, which will need updating and redeveloping.

There are also plans to provide a growing Thursday market at the West Clewes site, plus a new amenity and toilet block to complement the recently resurfaced car park. The Town Council has also been working with Welton Rovers to put plans into place for a new stand at the ground.

The River Somer Management team have been looking at ways to bring more colour to the river scheme and to make it less 'wild' in future. Over 8,000 bulbs were planted around the town for this spring.

There were calls for ideas for the potential uses of restored phone boxes within the town – current thinking is to use them as miniature libraries or possibly to house a defibrillator. More litter bins have been installed in litter 'hot spots' and more volunteers are always needed for scheduled litter picks.

Councillor Linda Dunford reported on the Community Alcohol Partnership programme, with the introduction of Street Marshals in October 2012 and money from Councillor Michael Evans' Ward Initiative Fund to go towards bodycams for the street marshals to deter anti-social behaviour. She reported a 13% reduction in overall crime since last

October and a 17% reduction in anti-social behaviour. Cllr Dunford also pointed out that upgrading the town's CCTV remains a top priority and that extended coverage is needed. The CAP programme is being watched closely beyond Midsomer Norton to see if it can be introduced outside of the area.

Marie Percival, from B&NES Council's Property Services team, also spoke about plans for the town's regeneration and the marketing of the South Road car park site for the much discussed in-town supermarket. Recent investigative works at the site have concluded that there are no obstacles at South Road for potential development, and she stressed the need for an in-town development to revitalise the high street and increase footfall within the town.

The concept design for the supermarket at South Road would see a 45,000 sq ft gross store selling 10% non-food on a 250-year lease controlled by B&NES Council, who hope

to find a suitable developer by August (with several interested parties enquiring already) and the aim of a planning application to be submitted by December/early 2014, The project is estimated to take 18–20 months to complete.

Finally, Jenny Hillman, from the Midsomer Norton Forum, spoke about the work of the Community Plan Steering Group in coming up with the local Community Plan. The group are currently in the process of building a questionnaire, which will be delivered to the 5,500 householders in Midsomer Norton in October and the results presented to the Town Council next May.

Proposed Town Council expenditure for 2013/2014 is £330,656 with a budget income of £334,602. Last year, the Town Council distributed £38,000 to local community groups who were able to put forward ideas and projects that needed extra financial support.