n 1907 Scouting founder, Robert Baden-Powell, devised the motto ‘Be Prepared’. 

These words came to mind this week when I read a brief that bin collections were to begin at 5.30am to avoid the current exceptional temperatures. Householders affected were being asked to place their refuse out the night before, and additional measures such as hats and extra water were being made available to crews. Simple, straightforward preparedness to ensure service continuity and safety. 

It’s amazing how quick we are to take our public services for granted. We dial 999 and expect an ambulance, if there’s a flood or fallen tree, someone will step-in. When things go wrong we assume our Council, the NHS or our emergency services will sort the situation. It’s what we’ve come to expect, although we often don’t appreciate the amount of forward-thinking that goes on behind the scenes.

There is a general feeling that our society has become more fractious. Just this week a local GP told me that the surgery receptionists are regularly on the receiving end of incredible rudeness. These incidents used to occur once every couple of weeks, now it’s several times a day. Also this week, I had a young man recall a road rage incident he’d witnessed, which left him visibly shaken.

There’s a lot of anxiety, worry, irritation and tiredness out there. Our already-busy days are getting longer and more demanding. Times are tough. While there’s no excuse for bad manners or aggression, we do need to acknowledge there are pressures, and we should support ourselves, and others, as we work through them. We need to embrace ways to unwind, think of our wellbeing, and find pleasure in doing something different.

Last Friday I attended the Wells Theatre Festival. I watched the hugely popular Pirate Taxi Show on Cathedral Green. We were entertained, amused and temporarily taken out of ourselves. The realities of our lives faded further as the faces of the younger members of the audience lit-up with delight and wonder at the aerial act and their imaginary tales.

I attended the delightfully named Wells City Mayor-making Ceremony on Sunday. A traditional occasion, full of symbolism, dating back to the 11^th century. The 648th Mayor, Councillor Stewart Cursley, stepped forward and swore an oath to be loyal to the Crown, the people, and to do his best for Wells. The official appointment was duly declared by the Town Crier who, from his Town Hall balcony vantage point, hollered the news across the ancient city.

The outgoing mayor, Cllr Philip Welch, gave a speech summarising his difficult tenure, coming as it did during a global pandemic. And yet, despite COVID, some £22,500 was raised for charity and many wonderful projects completed. Thanks were given for all his efforts, and in recognition of his service to Wells, a City badge was presented to him and his wife the Lady Mayoress.

Traditionally, new council Leaders report their findings after their first 100 days.
Things are moving much faster in Somerset this year so the Liberal Democrats are
sharing their view after just 50 days.

With just 192* working days before the new unitary council comes into being on 1
April 2023, the first priority has been to understand how work towards this is
progressing. Not surprisingly, there are significant challenges and critical financial
pressures ahead for the new Somerset Council.

We all have moments in our lives when the reality of a situation really hits home.

In 2010 I was invited to watch the ceremonial lowering of the flag at dusk on an army base packed with animated young soldiers just before they embarked on another Afghan tour. It was a moving ceremony, not least because as I looked around I reflected on the fact that many might not come home, or would do so with life-changing physical injuries or mental trauma. 

It was in that moment that war became very real to me, as did the overwhelming belief that we need to use all our energies and resources to find other ways to resolve our differences. 

During the months that followed that army base visit, the news reports about casualties kept coming. I, like many, watched the TV transfixed as a sombre parade of coffins in hearses weaved their way through the streets of (the now-named) Royal Wootton Bassett. Every single year since 1945, bar one, the UK has lost soldiers somewhere in the world. The military are part of our story and heritage, our beliefs and responsibilities.

For quite some time now I have been writing this column to give an insight into the work of your District Council.

On Monday, the District Council held its Annual General Meeting. It was the last AGM ever at Mendip. We know that on 1st April 2023, Mendip will cease to exist, and the new Somerset Council will take over responsibilities for all council services. It’s the end of an era, a sobering thought, and the perfect opportunity to reflect on past achievements and the journey ahead.

Ensuring this new Council is safe and legal, with no interruption to services, will be a challenge in the required, very tight, timescale. Even the simplest services differ between the councils. It’s complex, and there’s a lot to do. This is not helped by the government’s stance that it’s making no monies available to make it happen. 

At Mendip we will continue to deliver for our residents during the next ten months – the people are our priority. And we will find the resources to staff all the transition work too. Because at Mendip, we get things done. We’ve a proven track-record. 

Our two towns contain many communities –there are ones determined by geography e.g.
the Morlands estate, the “Saints”roads; others by age –teenagers, senior citizens; others by
interests –the arts, sport, physical activities; others by income –the comfortably-off, those
who struggle to get by; and many more. These communities interlock so that we all belong
to more than one. The Town Council’s role is to try to serve all of them as well as possible
while recognising that some may need more support than others, and that what is
important to one person or community may not be at all important to another. Inevitably
this will mean that not everyone will agree with everything on which the Town Council
spends money or resources.  Click here for manifesto