Mendip District Council "Well-placed" for the future

At last week's meeting of Mendip District Council, Leader of the Council Harvey Siggs outlined the Conservative-controlled Council's priorities for the next financial year.

Councillor Siggs announced: "Local Government has seen the most radical changes over the last two years. The changes in funding have meant a major rethink about the role that Councils can play and their relationship to the people they serve.

"We can no longer be the provider of every service or decision maker on so many things. We have to realize that our role is one of shaping our District by influence and cooperation. We should ensure that we are clear on the priorities which have come from the consultations with our residents.

"We at Mendip District Council have been very aware of this changing World.  People thought two years ago that we were being too pessimistic in our forecasts for reduction in Government spending. In fact we were pretty exactly right.

"We reshaped our workforce and those early moves have paid off. 

"This year the Council, without there being any further staff redundancies, is presented with a balanced budget and a forward looking Medium term financial plan for the next three years."

"We intend to use the New Homes Bonus funding to secure growth both for the Council and for partners towards being less reliant on Government grant as well as choosing the right opportunities to improve the lives and communities which we serve.

"In spite of the difficult times this has been a year of considerable achievement, including:

1.      DCLG have given Pathfinder status to our work with Somerset County Council on "pan public sector assets rationalization and service transformation" in our language developing the Hub as a focus for local service to our customers .

2.      The Food Standards Agency, LOCOG and JLARS have confirmed that the Mendip system to monitor food hygiene at the Glastonbury Festival is to be used across Olympic and Paralympic Games Venues. Further with the Olympic theme we have officers advising Weymouth and Portland Councils .

3.      We have achieved a significant reduction in the numbers requiring temporary accommodation from 52 down to 37 by working closely with the private sector to help people move into more sustainable accommodation

"These are only a few examples I could find many more.

"We have sound finances and clear priorities.  I believe with all Councillors working together and supporting our Officers we can in the next three years truly shape our District for the future.

"We need to encourage our existing and new businesses to flourish and I have already tasked Cabinet with making sure that this focus is carried through all the work we do.

"From this we will be able to encourage the provision of more decent homes and also tackle the different challenges facing our rural communities.

"In times of uncertainty I believe this Council is as well placed as it could be to take opportunities and work with others to improve the service to our residents and to the overall economic well-being of the area" Councillor Siggs concluded.