Connecting Communities - An Overview

Our Connecting Communities programme is designed to help public services, community organisations and residents work together to identify and address areas of concern in our local communities.  To achieve this, the Council has worked with partners, parishes and councillors to establish five Area Forums to help streamline and simplify local engagement.  The five Forums cover the the whole of Bath and North East Somerset, affording opportunities for place based discussion and working.  They are:-

Bath Area Forum 
Bathavon Area Forum
Chew Valley Area Forum
Keynsham Area Forum 
Somer Valley Forum 

Click on the links above to find out more about each Forum, the communities they cover, when they meet and their recent discussions.

Next Forum meetings (all starting at 6pm)

Each Forum meets either in person or online around four times per year.  The online meetings are recorded and placed on the Council's YouTube Channel.

We are currently holding two possible dates for each of the Forums' next meetings and will confirm as soon as possible.

• Bath Area: 18 July 2023 5.30pm - The Brunswick Room, The Guildhall, Bath
• Bathavon Area: 5 July 2023 6pm - St Andrew's Church, Foxhill, Bath
• Chew Valley: 12 July 2023 6pm - Chew Valley School
• Keynsham Area: 6 July 2023 6pm - Keynsham Community Space
• Somer Valley: 4 July 2023 6pm - Trinity Methodist Church, Radstock

Who attends?

All Forum meetings are open to the public to attend.  Members of the Forum include Ward Councillors, Parish Councillors in parished areas and representatives of local community groups.  The Forums are independent of, but supported by, the Council.  Each has its own terms of reference which can be found on the documents section of this page.

What is discussed at Forum meetings?

Bath and North East Somerset is a diverse area with differing needs and priorities.  The Council and its partners recognise this and value the local knowledge and feedback those attending Forum meetings provide as this helps to shape local services.   The items discussed at Forum meetings include those the Council and its partners need to share or would like feedback on; items the Forum members themselves wish to discuss and opportunities for local organisations to share information and best practice.  The Forums also provide a useful channel for residents to raise concerns with partners such as the Police and Fire Service, which regularly attend.

The 'Connecting Communities' approach has been built around five key principles:

• listen
• prioritise
• join-up
• work with you
• share ideas

Links to further information

Working with Parish Councils and The Parish Charter

Planning - Advice and Guidance for Parishes

Connecting Communities Framework

If you need any further information please contact: 

The Community Engagement Team

connecting_communities@bathnes.gov.uk

Telephone 01225 396539