Somerset Labour

Ø  Continue to lobby for opportunities to improve navigation on the River Parrett and encourage the use of our waterways for leisure without detriment to the wildlife.

Ø  Work with others to enhance our local green spaces and parks

Ø  Continue to promote the Meads Eco Park as a place of quiet enjoyment, whilst

Ø  Work towards Transition Town status

Ø  Continue to work with local councils and businesses to reduce throwaway single use plastics

Ø  Encourage local organisations to sign up the Re-Fill initiative to discourage the purchase of bottled water and use tap water instead.

Ø  Support increased recycling and 3 weekly refuse collection

Ø  Working with the Somerset Waste Partnership to provide adequate storage of refuse and recycling waste which will help to reduce litter on our streets

Ø  Encourage the use of green and spaces for a healthy community and team events, such as Sport, Park runs and Buggy walks.

Ø  Promote our natural assets such as the Coastal footpath and the River Parrett for tourism and leisure.

Ø  Bid for grants and fundraising, to support the creative activities across the District.

Ø  Celebrate our culture by strengthening Arts Centres, theatres and cultural venues in Sedgemoor, and such activities as Carnival, Performing Arts, Festivals, Film and Music.

Ø  Promote walking and cycling in the town to improve health and wellbeing as well as putting Bridgwater ‘on the map’ for touring cyclists and walkers.

Ø  Provide the use of open spaces for community events such as fairs, markets and festivals

Ø  Negotiating Local labour force agreements

Ø  Encouraging employers who offer well trained and well-paid work

Ø  Providing good quality apprenticeships for all

Ø  Campaigning for a public transport policy that connects people with work

Ø  Opposing zero-hour contracts

Ø  Work with Towns and Councils to create a network of digital Tourism marketing

Ø  Build Council houses

Ø  Avoid overdevelopment by building smaller estates that meet the needs of the community and concentrating on brownfield development

Ø  Challenge the upsurge of ‘Houses in multiple occupation’ which causes major local issues with parking

Ø  Bring back empty properties into use

Ø  Address the shortage of single bedroom properties by building more including modular homes

Ø  Encourage small local businesses throughout Sedgemoor’s market towns and regenerate our High streets

Ø  Maximise use of CIL funding to benefit town.

Ø  Campaign for Somerset CC to re-establish a County Transport Forum to enable LAs, transport operators & service users to develop integrated public transport plans for their areas,

Ø  Press for Highbridge and Bridgwater stations to be developed as community assets, with improved access, extended ticket office opening hours, bus and taxi links, provision of refreshment and other facilities, and signage to town centre and other locations provided

Ø  Continue to lobby government and Cross Country for XC trains to stop at Bridgwater

Ø  Encourage pedestrianisation of town centre areas

Ø  Explore opportunities for regulation of bus fares and services via franchising or municipal ownership

Ø  Develop a planned and integrated system of cycle paths across the County, with local planning input

Ø  Carry out safety and access audits of town centre areas on a regular basis

Ø  Champion young people’s rights by expanding youth services to engage and support young people

Ø  working with others to enhance the bio-diversity and wildlife habitat.

Ø  Bridgwater Town Council has already agreed to oppose fracking in the area.  We will continue to put pressure on other councils to do the same.

Ø  Promote green energy providers and encourage our councils, local organisations and businesses to sign up with ‘green’ energy providers.

Ø  Investigate opportunities to harness the power of our tidal rivers to create energy.

Ø  Encourage grassroots community projects that aim to increase self-sufficiency and reduce the potential effects of climate change and economic instability.

Mayor Making

24 May

TH

Town Hall -review of future works and costs

LR

Docks Gala Saturday 2 July

Twinning Conference 19 July

Quayside Festival 20 July

KP

BS

TH

Simon Bawler ‘Disc system’ presentation & establishment of Police Liaison Group

KP

Bridgwater Fair 25-29 Sep

TH

Madeira Twinning 3-6 Oct

Single use plastics policy

Bridgwater Arts Centre Resolution

Cemeteries SLA review

TH

KP

BS

ML

Carnival, Fireworks, Snowflakes & Shopping, Christmas tree & lights  

Bridgwater History Day 23 Nov

Staff Review

Finance 12/11

TH

BS 

ML

Bridgwater Docks Lease & Tidal Barrier TWA

Outline Budget Core funding, Ward Grants, & Precept Budget options circulated 

Mayoralty Review

Town Hall-front of House review

KP

BS

LR

LR

Cemeteries Rules & regs

Deputy Mayor 20-21

ML

BS

Youth awards (24 April)

Mayors Memory Walk (26 April)

BS

TH