Agenda and minutes

The Democratic Services Officer drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure.

There were none.

At this point in the meeting declarations of interest are received from Members in any of the agenda items under consideration at the meeting. Members are asked to indicate:

(a) The agenda item number in which they have an interest to declare.

(b) The nature of their interest.

(c) Whether their interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or an other interest,  (as defined in Part 2, A and B of the Code of Conduct and Rules for Registration of Interests)

Any Member who needs to clarify any matters relating to the declaration of interests is recommended to seek advice from the Council’s Monitoring Officeror a member of his staff before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

The Chairman informed the Panel that he would address the Cabinet on the issue of adequate provision of parking spaces for disabled outside the Keynsham Leisure Centre.  The Chairman also said that he would need to address the Cabinet on behalf of the Panel, and for that reason he had asked for a cross-party support from the Panel.

The Panel unanimously AGREED that the Chairman should address the Cabinet on the issue of adequate provision of parking spaces for disabled outside the Keynsham Leisure Centre.

The Chairman added that he would draft a statement and circulate to political groups’ spokespersons for approval before the next Cabinet meeting.

Susan Charles (Chair of the Access Bath Group) will address the Panel.

The Chairman informed the meeting that Susan Charles had sent her statement, which he read out in her absence.

In summary, Susan Charles expressed her concerns on the issue of adequate provision of parking spaces for disabled outside the Keynsham Leisure Centre.

The Chairman commented that the Panel had discussed this matter under Urgent Business Agreed by the Chairman item.

A full copy of the statement is available on the Minute Book at Democratic Services.

The Panel noted the statement.

Councillors David Dixon and Ben Stevens will update the panel on any relevant issues. Panel members may ask questions

The Chairman informed the meeting that the Panel had received an update from Councillor Ben Stevens (Cabinet Member for Economic Development) and invited Councillor Stevens to highlight the main points in his update.

Councillor Stevens took the Panel through his update (attached as Appendix 1 to these minutes).

Members of the Panel welcomed an extensive update from Councillor Stevens.

Members of the Panel requested more information on the London Rd regeneration project in the update for the next meeting of the Panel.  The Panel also said that an update could have more information on demolition of Bath's last remaining gas tower, and more information on the BDUK.

The Panel commented that the Council would need to insure that there must be enough car parking spaces in Bath for traders and visitors, in particular to those going to theatres and cinemas.

The Chairman thanked Councillor Stevens for his update.

Councillor Stevens then took the Panel through his update on a visit to China (attached as Appendix 2 to these minutes).

Members of the Panel welcomed the update and rationale behind the visit.

Councillor Stevens reminded the Panel that he was aware that the Panel had asked for a cost benefit analysis of the China trip, but he didn’t feel that would be useful at this stage. As always with these programmes of developing economic relationships, the costs had been upfront and the benefits had been 'predicted'.

The Chairman thanked Councillor Stevens for his update.

The Panel is asked to:

(1)  Comment on the update to the 3 year medium term plan update for Place, focusing on matters affecting 2015/16, and note that will be the third year of the plan.

(2)  Identify any issues requiring further consideration and highlighting as part of the budget process for 2015/16.

(3)  Identify any issues arising from the draft plan it wishes to refer to the relevant portfolio holder for further consideration.

The Chairman invited Louise Fradd (Strategic Director for Place) to introduce the report.

Members of the Panel debated the report and highlighted the following issues:

·  Restructure of services – It is about delivering better service but it should not happen all the time.

·  Support for introduction of Heritage Tax

·  Suggestion for an increase of 50p to Roman Baths entry

·  Support for the River Corridor funding

·  Victoria Art Gallery – charging for special events

·  Support for inclusion of Bath Pavilion into leisure programme

·  Suggestion for creation of formulae to attract more one-day visitors to stay in Bath

·  Support for £100k allocated to Sawclose pedestrianised highway space

·  Risk and needs assessment of the Rail electrification and Park & Ride

·  Voluntary Tourist Tax – officers had been looking into that

·  A request for a breakdown on figures for Zero Waste Policy

·  Suggestion for income source – energy generation for waste

·  Suggestion for income generation, such as more effective use of officers’ and shared services.

·  Support for existing income generators, such as parking, pre-planning applications and building control.

It was RESOLVED for officers to take on board comments made by the Panel

The Panel are asked to consider a presentation from Paula Bromley (Connecting Families Manager).

The Chairman invited Paula Bromley (Connecting Families Manager) to give a presentation to the Panel.

Paula Bromley highlighted the following points in her presentation:

·  Payment by results

·  Feedback

·  The Expanded Programme/Phase 2 criteria

·  Measuring Success: Breath and Depth

·  Outcome dashboards (two documents)

Full copies of the presentation and two dashboard papers are available on the Minute Book at Democratic Services.

The Panel welcomed an update from Paula Bromley and congratulated the Connecting Families team on a successful work so far.

Councillor Simmons asked how many families, who had been in the Connecting Families programme, had been moving around from ward to ward.

Paula Bromley responded that the programme had not been monitoring movements of the family from ward to ward. 

Paula Bromley added that the Government had been thinking on new ways of rewarding families involved in the programme, like Work Based Payments.

Councillor Beath asked about work with the voluntary sector.

Paula Bromley responded that work with the voluntary sector had been an important part of the programme because some of the families from the programme did not want to speak to employees of the Council.

The Panel asked if the Council has had statutory duty to make families with complex needs join the programme.

Paula Bromley responded the Council had been working with organisations such as Curo, the police and probation service on the project, to make families with complex needs join the programme.

The Chairman thanked Paula Bromley for the presentation.  The Chairman commented that for one of the future meetings of this, or similar Panel, Paula Bromley should provide more information around difficult to engage families.

It was RESOLVED to note the report and presentation and also to congratulate to the Connecting Families team in good work being undertaken since the start of the programme.

This report presents the latest workplan for the Panel (Appendix 1).

It was RESOLVED to note the workplan with the following addition:

·  Crime and Policing Act update – date to be confirmed