Author: ParishClerk

The Annual Assembly is an opportunity for parishioners on the electoral roll for Stogursey to raise any matters of concern to them that relates to the local community.

It would be helpful to have written notice of any matters to be raised, to provide time for an answer to be prepared if necessary,.  If you do have an issue to be raised please contact the parish clerk on stogurseypcclerk@gmail.com. 

However, it is not essential – matters can be raised at the meeting without prior notice.

What is the Annual Assembly?
Strictly this is the Annual Meeting of the Parish. It can also be known as the Annual Parish Meeting, they are all the same thing.
The Annual Assembly is the meeting where the parish council report to its electorate on what it has accomplished in the preceding year
Electors, public and press are invited are the to hear reports from the Chairman, District & County Councillors, community groups and any organisation that the town or parish council has funded during the year.
The Council may also invite the local community policeman, neighbourhood watch co-ordinator, local headmaster etc. to address and inform the audience on community matters.
The Annual Assembly  is a SEPARATE meeting from the Parish Council Annual Meeting. The Annual Assembly should be a relatively informal event for the community whereas the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council is a formal council meeting.

The Annual Meeting of the Parish Council must be held in the month of May and in an election year the meeting must be held between 4 and 14 days after polling day. This is the meeting of the parish council where they elect the chairman, make other annual appointments and review their insurance, risk management policies, etc.

When must the Annual Assembly  be held?
The annual Assembly must be held between 1st March and the 1st June (inclusive) each year on a date decided by the Parish Council. The Annual Parish Meeting may not start earlier than 6:00pm. (LGA 1972 s 14 (4)).  It is recommended that in an election year the Annual Parish Meeting should be held after the elections to prevent the meeting being used as hustings for potential District and County Councillors.

There should be an opportunity for the public and press to express their opinions on what the council are doing during the meeting.

Have your say about providing care closer to home in Somerset

Health and care services in Somerset are running an engagement programme to gather feedback from local people about providing care closer to home.

Health and care services in Somerset aim to support people to live independent, healthier lives by having the right services in the right place for their needs, available at the right time and delivered by the right people. The engagement programme runs until 12 April 2020.

Everyone who lives and works in Somerset is invited to join in, think about and help shape a new way of providing services which is, where practical, closer to where they live, supports independence and maintains health. Everyone’s input, ideas and suggestions are vital to helping them make sure that we have the right services in the right place.

The engagement document shares with everyone the reasons why current services need to change and the challenges faced in continuing to run them.

Using all the feedback received, a number of ways that health and care services could be delivered differently will be developed. There will be public consultation about these potential options in the future.

Health and care services would like to know what you think about their ideas so far and get your feedback. You can read the full engagement document on their website at www.fitformyfuture.org.uk or contact them by email somccg.fitformyfuture@nhs.net or telephone 01935 384119.

Community health and care services – Summary

Sir Reginald Neville Howse VC – Local Hero

By Steve Lee

For nearly twenty five years now I have been part of a small research team of four who collate information and record memorials to those awarded the Victoria Cross (VC), Britain’s highest military gallantry award for actions in the face of the enemy. The aim of the group has always been to create a definitive record of all memorials worldwide in order to ensure that no VC is ever forgotten. The work is currently being added to a memorial website www.memorialstovalour.co.uk

Living in Somerset I have a particular interest in all VCs connected to the county which brings me to the purpose of this article. Although he spent much of his life in Australia, Sir Neville Reginald Howse VC was born in Stogursey on 26^th October 1863, much of his life is well document but I have been unable to find much out about his early life in Somerset. Through this article I was hoping that someone in the area may be able to tell me more about Sir Neville’s early life. There are many references to him being born in Stogursey but none give anything more specific and this is one of many questions I’d hope to find the answer to. Local knowledge tends to be a very useful resource so with this in mind I’d appeal to anyone who may know more to contact me via the email address below or on the telephone number also included.

What is commonly known is that Sir Neville was the son of Alfred and Lucy Howse; Alfred was a surgeon. He attended Fullard’s House School, Taunton and went on to study medicine at London Hospital (M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P). Due to declining health he migrated to New South Wales where he registered to practice in December 1889.

In January 1900, he was commissioned into the New South Wales Medical Corps and sailed out to South Africa to help with the Australian Forces during the Second Boer War. During action at Vredefort on 24^th July ‘he went out under heavy crossfire and picked up a wounded man and carried him to a place shelter’. For this act he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

His achievements after this point continued to show how remarkable a man he was, his contribution to medical care, particularly in the Armed Forces doubtlessly saved many lives. I do him little credit by not expanding on his life after his VC action but I’m mindful of not taking up to much of your local publications.

In conclusion, I appeal to anyone who may be able to add any information regarding his early days in Stogursey to contact me. My email address is stevelee@memorialstovalour.co.uk or telephone 07551191070.

I’d also be very keen to look at the possibility of erecting some form of memorial to Sir Neville in the village which I’d hope would be befitting of a very special ‘Son of Stogursey’.