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The Somerset network has grown in an organic fashion, as a small group of us have worked hard to reach out to other community-based 'champions' in every district. In some cases, this has led us to well-established groups of long standing. In others, we have found brand new groups riding on the Transition wave. All of us share broadly common objectives and ways of doing things, so why not collaborate to share best practice, spread learning and avoid reinvention of the wheel - not to mention the strengthening of our collective voice in calling for the issues we are concerned about, and the visions we harbour, to be taken seriously…

This becomes increasingly important as progress is made in enacting the landmark resolution, passed unanimously in July 2008 by Somerset County Council in support of the work of community based groups in the transition to a low carbon economy. Representatives from all five districts met with Council Leader Jill Shortland in March 2009. In addition, SCC is also taking the first steps to becoming the first Transition Local Authority in the country, and to this end senior councillors and officers took part in a Transition Seminar led by Transition Network Trainers - including Rob Hopkins - in April 2009.

This year's event attracted new people who may have heard much about Transition over the last year and also people who are already invloved. It's an idea whose time has come and is a seed that is falling on fertile soil across the country and around the world. There are now more than 160 'official' Initiatives in the UK and abroad, and people are mulling over Transition ideas on four continents. There are at least 23 Transition groups, both official and 'mullers', in Somerset alone!

I strongly believe that real and lasting change happens at the local level – for good or ill. The Transition model gives us an abiding set of principles embedded in an ever evolving framework, which changes and expands in accordance with our experience of putting it into practice in our communities. It's challenging, it's rewarding, and ultimately, it's empowering. It's up to all of us to take the opportunity offered to us now – to roll up our sleeves and get our hands dirty in the physical building of resilience, finding cause to be hopeful in the process!

Somerset County Council's resolution of 23 July 2008

The Council RESOLVED to adopt the following resolution:

That this Council

1. acknowledges the work done by communities in Somerset on Transition Towns and that the independence of the Transition Movement is key to its grass roots appeal

2. as demonstrated in its Climate Change Strategy, fully endorses the Transition Town Movement and subscribes to the principles and ethos of the organisation’s goals to reduce dependence on fuel oil and create more sustainable communities

3. commits to providing support and assistance to all towns in Somerset that wish to join this initiative to help them achieve the goals they set for themselves as local communities, as demonstrated under the 'Community Initiatives' section of the Climate Change Strategy

4. therefore, requests the Scrutiny and Executive Committees to consider through the council’s strategic planning process: - allocating funds to assist in achieving the outcomes of the Transition Towns Movement in Somerset. - requiring all directorates to engage with and provide support for Transition Initiatives in Somerset

5. through the work outlined above, seeks to become the first Transition Authority in the UK

6. agrees to undertake a review of its budgets and services to achieve a reduction in dependence on fuel oil and produce an energy descent action plan in line with the principles of the Transition Initiative.