South Somerset District Council reveals Annual Action Plan

SSDC has announced its five key priorities for the year, "alongside a range of other work", in its new Annual Action Plan. 

The council's action plan for the next 12 months was unanimously approved by its district executive committee on Thursday, February 17.

It will need to be ratified by the full council later this month. 

Council leader Val Keitch said: "I am proud to lead South Somerset District Council and I am delighted to put forward this plan which is ambitious, innovative and has the best interests of our residents at its heart.

"Our Annual Action plan sets out how we will accelerate action to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change and enable healthy communities which are sustainable and enjoy a high quality of life.

"It will also help businesses to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, while supporting growth within the South Somerset economy in partnership with other organisations and ensure housing is provided and communities are equipped to meet the existing and future needs of residents and employers.

"And, as we look to the future, it will ensure a safe and legal transition to the new Somerset Council on April 1, 2023."

OPPORTUNITIES HUBS: SSDC opened three centres offering free support for jobseekers under its last action plan

The five key priorities outlined in the plan are environment; healthy and self-reliant communities, economy and Covid-19 recovery, improving places where we live, and local government reorganisation. 

To reduce its impact on the environment, the council plans to install 50 electric vehicle charging points across its car parks; expand the No Mow Conservation initiative across the district, relaunch the River Parrett Trail, and continue its programme to decarbonise council buildings.

To create and protect healthy, self-reliant communities, the plan sets out investment in two local volunteer organisations - Spark and Citizens Advice South Somerset. 

It also outlines the delivery of three new youth facilities to replace existing skate parks in Yeovil and investment in the growth of emergency alarm service Careline. 

Read more: Council leader set to face vote of no confidence in scandal aftermath 

To support local economies and help them recover from the impact of Covid, SSDC is planning to complete the Chard regeneration project and continue work on the regeneration of Yeovil and Wincanton's town centres.

The Chard regeneration project has been scaled back because the council was “unrealistic” about how much the town’s new leisure centre would cost, according to a report laid out at a meeting of the council’s district executive committee last month. 

The plan also aims to support Yeovil's manufacturing hub (M-Hub) in partnership with the Chamber of Trade and encourage investment in other towns and villages including Somerton, Castle Cary, Ilminster, and South Petherton.

To improve 'places where we live', the council aims to develop Yeovil's Octagon Theatre into a "flagship theatre and cultural hub", plan an eastern relief road in Chard, deliver a Passivhaus scheme in South Petherton, and improve accommodation for homeless people and rough sleepers. 

OPENING: Commonwealth Games Gold medallist Matthew Clay opened Chard Leisure Centre in November (Image: Daniel Mumby)

The district council will work in partnership throughout the year to ensure a smooth transition to the new Somerset unitary authority by April 1, 2023, while protecting essential services. 

Under its previous action plan, the council says it provided more than £90,000 in community grants across sectors including the arts, community transport and sport.

It also provided a new leisure centre in Chard and opened new opportunities hubs in Chard, Wincanton and Yeovil.

The council says it also helped deliver more than £10 million in grants to support businesses through the pandemic and planted 1,650 new trees in the district.

South Somerset District Council's Annual Action Plan for 2022-23 can be seen in full on its website.