Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Guildhall, Bath. View directions

Contact: Jack Latkovic  01225 394452

Items
No. Item

23.

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

 

24.

EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURE

The Democratic Services Officer will draw attention to the emergency evacuation procedure as set out under Note 6.

 

Minutes:

The Chairman drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure.

 

25.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS

Minutes:

There were none.

26.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST UNDER THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972

Members who have an interest to declare are asked to:

 

  a)  State the Item Number in which they have the interest

  b)  The nature of the interest

  c)  Whether the interest is personal, or personal and prejudicial

 

Any Member who is unsure about the above should seek advice from the Monitoring Officer prior to the meeting in order to expedite matters at the meeting itself. 

 

Minutes:

There were none.

27.

TO ANNOUNCE ANY URGENT BUSINESS AGREED BY THE CHAIRMAN

Minutes:

There was none.

28.

ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC OR COUNCILLORS - TO RECEIVE DEPUTATIONS, STATEMENTS, PETITIONS OR QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE BUSINESS OF THIS MEETING

At the time of publication no notifications had been received.

 

Minutes:

There were none.

29.

MINUTES 05/10/2011 pdf icon PDF 49 KB

To confirm the minutes of the above meeting as a correct record.

Minutes:

The Panel confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting as a true record and they were duly signed by the Chairman.

30.

Medium Term Service & Resource Plans approval process (5 minutes)

These reports set out the key influences affecting each Directorate in the next 3-5 years; the changes that the Council wants to make in order to be able to deliver its vision and priorities, and proposed actions to achieve financial balance in an increasingly challenging local and national context.

 

To avoid the potential overlap in presenting Medium Term Service & Resource Plans to more than one panel, the Policy Development and Scrutiny Chairs and Vice Chairs agreed  that the most effective approach would be for the Economic and Community Development  Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel Members to be invited to the relevant Panel meetings and asked to make their comments to the relevant parts of plans:

 

  Housing and Major Projects PDS Panel meeting on 15th November (starts at 5.30pm in the Chamber) – Economic Enterprise and Business Development

  Resources PDS Panel meeting on 21st November (starts at 5.30pm in Keynsham Town Hall) – Community Safety, Big Society/3rd Sector funding and development; and

  Planning, Transport and Environment PDS Panel meeting on 6th December (starts at 2pm in Council Chamber) – Tourism, Leisure and Culture and World Heritage Management.

 

At these meetings Members of the Panel will have the opportunity to:

 

(1)  Comment on the Medium Term Service & Resource Plan

(2)  Identify any issues requiring further consideration and highlighting as part of the service action plans and budget reports to be considered in January by the Panel

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

Minutes:

The Chairman informed the panel about the agreed Medium Term Service & Resource Plans approval process and explained that Members of the Panel are invited to make their comments to the following Policy development and Scrutiny Panels:

 

·  Housing and Major Projects PDS Panel meeting (held on 15th November)

·  Resources PDS Panel meeting on 21st November (starts at 5.30pm in Keynsham Town Hall) and

·  Planning, Transport and Environment PDS Panel meeting on 6th December (starts at 2pm in Council Chamber) – Tourism, Leisure and Culture and World Heritage Management.

 

The Panel NOTED the approval process.

31.

Community Safety Plan: Water Safety (30 minutes) pdf icon PDF 31 KB

In January 2011 Avon Fire and Rescue Service gave a report to the Panel on the work they do to raising awareness of Water Safety and reducing risk.  This report invites the Panel to hear an update from Avon Fire & Rescue and Council representatives on the improving situation, and recommendations for the future which will generate an open question and answer session.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman invited Dennis McCann (Unitary Manager for Bath & North East Somerset Avon Fire & Rescue Service) and Cathryn Humphries (Neighbourhood Environment Manager) to introduce the report and give a presentation on this matter.

 

Dennis McCann took the Panel through the report by highlighting that the number of the incidents in the first 9 months of this year had been reduced by half in comparison with the same period last year.  Dennis McCann also pointed out that the education and training on water safety awareness is on rise and that the commerce across the region showed their support and supported the publicity of water safety awareness.

 

Cathryn Humphries gave a presentation (attached as appendix to these minutes) where she highlighted the following:

 

·  Why did the Council commission the work from RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents)?

·  Who did RoSPA consult with?

·  Main findings (Low risk, tolerable risk and high risk level spots)

·  Main recommendations )short and long term)

·  Next steps

 

The Panel asked the following questions and highlighted the following points:

 

Members of the Panel queried how long it would take for bar or fence to be put up along the high risk level parts of the river.

 

Cathryn Humphries replied that this had been put forward to the Environmental Agency and that hopefully the resolution would be soon available.

 

The Panel also asked if there was communication with Sainsbury about the high risk level part of the river and their contribution towards water safety.

 

Cathryn Humphries replied that this had been raised with the Economic Development and it might be part of the Section 106 agreement.

 

The Panel asked if lightning along river bank had been considered.

 

Cathryn Humphries replied that RoSPA also recommended lightning along the river bank.  Once the fence, or bar, along the high risk level sport is approved the lighting will be as well.

 

The Panel welcome the report and congratulated everyone on reducing the number of incidents related to water safety.  The Panel was also impressed with the prevention activities and education about the subject.

 

It was RESOLVED to note the report and presentation.     

Water Safety presentation pdf icon PDF 3 MB

32.

Analysis of funding for Third Sector in Bath and North East Somerset in 2010-11: Update and Progress Report (25 minutes) pdf icon PDF 76 KB

This report updates the Panel on progress made so far in drawing together and analysing funding for the “third sector” (comprising voluntary, community and not-for-profit organisations) in Bath and North East Somerset. It places this analysis (for the year 2010-11) in the context of the Council’s overall approach to support for this sector and also its current Medium Term Service and Resource Planning process.

Minutes:

Councillor Brian Simons informed the meeting that he is the Chairman of the Keynsham Dial-A-Ride and that he will remain at the meeting during the discussion on this item.

 

The Chairman invited Andy Thomas (Group Manager for Partnership Delivery) to give a presentation on this subject.

 

Andy Thomas gave a presentation where he highlighted the following points:

 

·  Overview of Council funding

·  Range of Payments

·  Third Sector Review

·  Total Income (data from Develop ECS survey)

·  Spread of payments to organisations

·  Issues identified so far

·  Next Steps

·  The Council’s Approach

·  Changing Context

·  Medium Term Service and Resource Plans

·  The Change Programme

 

A full copy of the presentation is available on the minute book in Democratic Services.

 

The Panel asked the following questions and made the following points:

 

The Panel asked how the Council identify who gets funding from national funding opportunities.

 

Andy Thomas replied that there is a small grants pot that has criteria on identifying the projects that might be sustainable.  Andy Thomas mentioned the ‘pump priming’ money allocated to the scheme in Chew Valley.

 

Paula Cannings (from Develop Enhancing Community Support) added that 3rd sector organisations may never receive funds directly from the Council as they depend on organisations and charities such as Develop ECS which is a local development agency providing support for the voluntary and community sector in Bath and North East Somerset.

 

Andy Thomas also said that the Council would encourage collaborative work between groups and agencies in order to promote partnership work between them. 

 

It was RESOLVED to:

 

1.  Note the update and presentation

2.  Request from officer/s to circulate updated chart and data as soon as possible, preferably before the next Panel meeting in January 2012; and

3.  Receive an update at the next panel meeting in January 2012.

 

33.

Funding Search and EU Funding resources (20 minutes) pdf icon PDF 53 KB

This report invites the Panel to receive a presentation on resources available to the Council, third sector and community to identify sources of external funding. In addition, an update will be given on the EU as a source of funding and identify other emerging funding streams.

Minutes:

The Chairman invited Andy Thomas (Group Manager for Partnership Delivery) to give a presentation on this subject.

 

Andy Thomas gave a presentation where he highlighted the following points:

 

·  External Funding key issues

·  Value of External Funding to B&NES

·  Keeping up to date with funding opportunities

·  EU Funding

·  Support for EU funding

·  Looking ahead

 

A full copy of the presentation is available on the minute book in Democratic Services.

 

The Panel asked the following questions and made the following points:

 

The Panel commented that a lot of funding targeted deprived areas in the past and asked why that is not happening anymore.

 

Andy Thomas replied that the current Government had reduced the amount of ring-fenced grants across the country, including funding targeted for this purpose.

 

Councillor David Bellotti (Cabinet Member for Resources) said that EU Funding sits within his portfolio.  The earliest year that Council could get some EU funding is 2014.  The Council should consider accessing those funds in partnership with other Local Authorities from South West.  Councillor Bellotti suggested that the Panel should invite David Fletcher (The South West European Partnership Executive Director) who would provide more information about EU Funding.

 

It was RESOLVED to note the report and presentation and to note the suggestion from Councillor David Bellotti about inviting David Fletcher (The South West European Partnership Executive Director) in near future.

34.

Scrutiny Inquiry Day: The benefit of Joint working to retain Graduates in Bath & North East Somerset (5 minutes) pdf icon PDF 44 KB

The Economic and Community Policy Development & Scrutiny Panel is asked to:-

·  Note the Draft Terms of Reference and agree the proposal to have a joint Scrutiny Inquiry Day investigation

·  Nominate 2 Councillors from the Panel to act as key contacts for the Co-ordination of the Single Inquiry day

·  Make any initial suggestions for invitations to the Inquiry Day.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman invited Donna Vercoe (Acting Policy Development and Scrutiny Manager) to introduce the report.

 

The Panel RESOLVED to:

·  Note the Draft Terms of Reference and agreed to have a joint Scrutiny Inquiry Day investigation

·  Nominate Councillors Robin Moss and Ben Stevens as the key contacts for the Co-ordination of the Single Day Inquiry.

35.

Presentation on Sustainable Economic Growth including an update on LEP Enterprise Zones and Areas (45 minutes)

The Panel are asked to consider a presentation from the Economic Enterprise and Business Development Manager.

Minutes:

The Chairman invited John Wilkinson (Economic Enterprise and Business Development Manager) to give a presentation (attached as Appendix to these minutes).

 

John Wilkinson gave a presentation where he highlighted the following points:

 

·  Economic Strategy for Bath & North East Somerset 2010-2026 - Launched in 2010 by Sustainable Growth Alliance.  2 update papers since then, including Nov 2011 at Cabinet.  Overall aim is to improve the prosperity and wellbeing of Bath and North East Somerset residents through a more productive, competitive and expanded economy by 2026.

·  Economic Strategy Progress - contains series of actions and milestones.

·  Core economic indicators - In the past 10 years productivity, measured by GVA increased from £36,400 in 2001 to £43,400 in 2011 (3rd out of 15 South West LAs).  Over the same time 3,000 jobs were created ranking the area below the national and South West averages.

·  Emerging economic challenges: % of 18-24 year olds claiming JSA as proportion of total WAP - Gone from bottom to top in last year.  33% of all JSA claimants are 18-24 years old. Figures out yesterday 765 down from 815 in Sept (3% of all claimants, compared with 8% GB).

·  National policy changes - Enterprise Zone in Bristol 70 hectares, 17,000 jobs, 240,000m² new or refurbished offices, with these offers:

o  Retain business rates from April 2012 (new and growing businesses)

o  Business rate discount worth up to £275k over a 5 yr period

o  Local Development Order

o  Superfast broadband

·  B&NES importance in SW region

·  Potential for recovery: Employment West of England LEP, 1991 – 2020 - According to Oxford Economics, the West of England economy as a whole is projected to ‘recover’ by 2013, compared with LEP’s in core cities by 2015 and core cities generally by 2015/17.

·  Bath City Riverside ‘City of Ideas’ Enterprise Area - Collection of development sites in central Bath along Upper and Lower Bristol Roads. East: largely office-based development - creative, computer-related, financial and business services; engineering consultancies. Central Area: Housing, leisure.  West of the Area: Mix of employment ranging from light industrial to office.

·  New actions

 

The Panel asked the following questions and made the following points:

 

The Panel asked about the breakdown per area on time people that people were unemployed. 

 

John Wilkinson said that he will provide that information to the Panel.

 

Councillor Cherry Beath (Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development) suggested that the Panel should invite Jeremy Smalley (Divisional Director for Skills and Employability) to talk about Job Seekers Allowance and unemployed young people.  The Panel welcomed this suggestion.

 

John Wilkinson informed the Panel that current status of unemployment does not include any MoD redundancies as the relocation is yet to be implemented and its impact is still to be fully understood.

 

John Wilkinson also said that Bath has strong creative sector and also strong professional business sector.  Combination of those is a recipe for a success future.

 

It was RESOLVED to note the presentation.

Sustainable Economic Growth presentation pdf icon PDF 2 MB

36.

Workplan pdf icon PDF 35 KB

This report presents the latest workplan for the Panel.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was RESOLVED to note the workplan with the following additions and amendments:

·  Further update/details on funding for Third Sector in Bath and North East Somerset (January 2012)

·  Impact of Olympic Games on Bath and North East Somerset and how Olympic Games are promoted here (January or March 2012)

·  Business West Evaluation report (move from January to March 2012).