As I write, our health, care and other local services remain under considerable pressure. The Council continues to protect the vital services on which residents rely, working closely with local care and health services. For example, the Community Wellbeing Hub, based at Peasedown, is providing Help Packs to patients discharged from hospital to ease their transition back home. My thanks to all those who are keeping our services going and supporting local communities.

I hope 2022 will also bring more positive news. For example, we are expecting to see some major developments start in Radstock this year. We are fortunate to have, in the Somer Valley, a very wide variety of local businesses, particularly small and medium sized firms. I will ensure the Council remains focused on helping the local economy, including providing grant support to hospitality, leisure and accommodation businesses impacted by Omicron.

A key priority of the Council is to give people a bigger say. It is vital that we listen to and act on what residents and businesses think about what we are proposing. I can assure residents that we listen very carefully to what people say through our consultations. However, we then have the difficult task of weighing up what are often the very different views that have been expressed. Our role as Councillors is to consider all views that have been put forward and not just act on the loudest voices.

Transport is a key issue for our area, and one where people are keen to make their views known. We have been consulting this month on our ‘Journey to Net Zero’. This covers transport projects that we need to progress if we are to meet our climate emergency targets. WECA too have been consulting on improving travel between Midsomer Norton, Radstock, Westfield and Bath/Bristol through better bus services and enabling more walking and cycling. Sometimes we can make a big difference by working closely with local people and acting on their concerns. For example, we have been able to provide funding through our Ward Councillors Fund to High Littleton Parish Council for a new speed awareness sign, following local concerns about speeding traffic.

We are currently working up the Council’s spending plans for 2022-23. We will aim to balance the books for the third year running, despite huge financial challenges, and whilst continuing to invest in local services. Previous administrations delayed or ignored the big issues and gazed through the cracks while the sun was shining. This administration is busy fixing the roof while enduring the worst storms in 300 years and I will report back on this in my next Journal column.