A message from Cllr Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset CouncilI want to start by saying thank you to everyone who took part in the Local Plan Options consultation. Your input is absolutely vital in shaping the future of Bath & North East Somerset. The Local Plan isn’t just a document - it’s a roadmap showing how we will manage growth, housing, transport, and sustainability over the coming years. We know these conversations aren’t always easy, but they are essential, taking part shows just how much people care about our area. We’re now reviewing all the feedback and will keep you updated as we move to the next stage in 2026. Alongside this important work, I’m delighted to share some news about leadership within the council. A recommendation is going before a meeting of the full Council this evening that Sophie Broadfield is appointed as the next Chief Executive of the authority. Sophie will replace Will Godfrey, who is retiring at the end of December after six years of dedicated service to the council and 39 years of service in local government. I want to thank Will for his hard work and dedication to the council and welcome the recommendation. Sophie will continue to lead the council’s work to build a fair, green, creative and connected place where we help to improve people’s lives. As you are aware Bath & North East Somerset has a friendship agreement with the Ukrainian city of Oleksandriya and we continue to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. On Tuesday I was delighted to join Bath resident Zhenya Shkil, founder and trustee of The Friends of Oleksandriya at Bath Central Library to promote ‘Vitalii Petrenko and the Secret of the Roman Baths’. The book which we are now stocking in our libraries, inspires kindness and friendship among children in both Ukraine and the UK. You can read more about it on our newsroom. This week has also been a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we come together to tackle big issues. The Guildhall hosted two major conferences that brought people from across the region to share ideas and drive action. The first focused on domestic violence - a subject that affects far too many lives. The event brought together people with lived-experience, charities, and community leaders to discuss how we can strengthen support for survivors and prevent abuse before it happens. These conversations are never easy, but they are essential. We are committed to working with partners to make sure that everyone in Bath & North East Somerset feels safe and supported. The second conference was all about climate and nature. The Climate and Nature Network Forum event which brought together partners businesses and organisations. It was inspiring to see so many people coming together with a shared purpose. Tackling climate change isn’t something any one organisation can do alone. It requires collaboration, creativity, and commitment - and that’s exactly what we saw at the Guildhall this week. Have a great weekend, Councillor Kevin Guy. | 
