Crisis is not an exaggeration. There is a shortage of realistically priced houses for local people to live in.
Can we explore the scale of this problem, its implications and some solutions?

**Idea**
For the RCC to work with the community to create a ‘Vision for the Community’, which embraces the views of local residents and stakeholders and informs how we see our community, what we value, the ways in which we would like to see it change and what we think is important to conserve. The document would be used by the RCC to inform its comments to SCC regarding local planning applications.

**Background to the idea**
The Community of Rhossili as with all others is subject to influences of various kinds, and some of these may bring positive or negative change. As a community, we need to be aware, to ensure the community we value does not change in ways which we do not want. If those in power are unaware of what the community values, they will not be able to take this into account when decisions are made which have wide ranging and long lasting impact on the community.

In particular when planning decisions are made, Swansea City council is unaware of a community position on how we view our built heritage or value our environment and what we would find acceptable in terms of proportions of community dwellings to holiday lets to second homes. There is a considerable risk that if holiday lets and second home numbers continue to grow in an uncontrolled way, our community will gradually become eroded and eventually disappear as house sales in the area are captured by property developers, who buy small properties, enlarge them and sell to the highest bidder, thereby moving these properties out of reach of young people who would like to stay/ live in Rhossili, and are in fact the community’s future.

Perhaps a first step would be to raise awareness of RCC within the community eg who is on it: Pen portraits. Then some detail about the sort of issues RCC deal with and a bit about it's finances and the precept. Then maybe have some open surgeries where people could meet with Councillors and talk through issues which could lead to more engagement and some areas of focus.

This is more than an idea. It's actually happening. The hall social committee and Roger Button are organising a fun Quiz for 7.30 on Monday 8th May.