Agenda and minutes

Councillor Cherry Beath informed the meeting that Councillor Robin Moss, regular Chairman of the Panel, had sent his apologies for this meeting.  Therefore, Councillor Beath, as regular Vice Chair of the Panel, would Chair this meeting only.

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

Councillors Moss, Ward and Furse had sent their apologies to the Panel. Councillor Rob Appleyard was a substitute for Councillor Furse.

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 Chair informed the meeting that the Members of the Panel had received a number of statements about Warm Water Pools. 

The Chair invited Alexander Jones Grech, Susan Charles and Susan Smith to read out their statements.  All three speakers presented their views on benefits from the Warm Water Pools provision.  Speakers also asked the Panel to support their suggestion for a provision of the Warm Water Pools.

The Chair informed the meeting that all statements submitted to the Panel would be placed on the Minute Book at Democratic Services, and all of these statements would be forwarded to the relevant Cabinet Member for consideration.

The Chair asked Jack Latkovic (Senior Democratic Services Officer) to read out a briefing note from the Council in terms of the Warm Water Pools provision.

Statement from the Council:

‘Warm Water Exercise group – Briefing Note

The Council is looking at a range of options – including accessible teaching pools – as it seeks to modernise its leisure facilities, this is supported by the ‘Fit for Life’ Strategy.

The Council and the CCG will be working closely to ensure that the new leisure contract provides the best possible service for local people and supports them to live healthy lifestyles. 

It is important to clarify that the provision of warm water swimming facilities is not the same as the provision of hydrotherapy services which is a specialist health service provided from appropriately equipped, specialist facilities and funded by the CCG. 

The Council’s objective is to provide accessible leisure facilities, rather than specialist health services, for which there is advice and guidance on best practice produced by Sport England in their ‘Accessible Sports Facilities Design Guidance Note. (http://www.sportengland.org/media/30246/Accessible-Sports-Facilities-2010.pdf)

The Council appreciates comments from the public as it continues to develop plans for delivering these options through dialogue with potential contractors as part of the procurement process for the new leisure contract.  This contract will be awarded in January 2015, with a contract start date of July 2015.’

Members of the Panel asked speakers some factual questions to which they gave their answers.

Members of the Panel also asked some technical questions in terms of the actual provision.  Jack Latkovic suggested that Members could contact Sports and Active Team Business Development Manager directly with their queries. 

The Panel confirmed the minutes of the previous two meetings as true records and they were duly signed by the Chair.

The Cabinet Member will update the panel on any relevant issues. Panel members may ask questions

The Panel noted the update (attached to these minutes as an appendix).

This report invites the Panel to receive an update on the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act, particularly the new tools and powers it introduces which affect anti-social behaviour. This follows up on previous briefings for the Panel in July 2012, March 2013 and January 2014”.

The Panel are asked to note and consider potential impacts of the provisions contained in the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act, particularly the new tools and powers affecting anti-social behaviour and to consider establishing a Task and Finish Group of Panel members to examine in full the implications of these new powers for the Council and its partners.

The Chair invited Andy Thomas (Group Manager for Partnership Delivery) to introduce the report.

The Chair commented that the new ASB, Crime and Policing Act tools and powers had been an important development and the Panel should monitor its progress.

Councillor Appleyard commented that the public would welcome new powers though they would want to know at what point Community Trigger could be activated.  The community would also need to understand what the level of tolerance was.

Councillor Anketell-Jones queried which powers the Council would have most interest in.

Andy Thomas replied that there had been an ongoing discussion in terms of the level of tolerance.  The Community Trigger would be activated if a certain threshold has been passed. This varies from place to place but the Home Office have suggested that, at a minimum, it can be activated if:

·  We have reported a number (vary from area) of separate incidents of anti-social behaviour and not received a satisfactory response; or

·  A number (vary from area) of individuals in the local community have reported similar incidents of ASB and are dissatisfied with the response.

Andy Thomas suggested that the Panel should consider setting up a Task & Finish Group on this subject.

The Panel also heard from officers on a successful pilot which had been happening in Mendip.

Members of the Panel discussed on what part Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) would play with the new tools and powers; what steps victims should take; and who would be the lead contact.

Members of the Panel agreed that these issues should be included in the review from the Task & Finish Group.

It was RESOLVED to note the report and to consider establishment of a Task and Finish Group of Panel members to examine in full the implications of these new powers for the Council and its partners, including the issues raised in the debate.

The purpose of this report is to provide an update to the Panel on the Strategic River Group (SRG) and Working Groups especially the River Safety Officers Working Group. The panel requested at its March meeting an update report and action plan on River Safety activities.

The Chair invited Mark Minkley (Team Leader for Environment) to introduce the report.

Mark Minkley informed the Panel that the Cabinet, at its meeting on 6th June, approved the River Corridor Fund of £340K, which included identified edge protection safety works at Widcombe.

Members of the Panel debated this matter and commented that the Panel would want a further update on this matter in six months’ time.

The Panel requested that these issues be included in the next update:

·  Position of the Scrutiny within the whole process – the Panel felt that Scrutiny should have more prominent role.

·  Community Safety – an update either from River Safety Group of Strategic River Group

·  Point of contact – Panel felt that the public might be confused if there have been many points of contacts

·  Flooding issues

·  What is the exact role of River Co-ordinator?

·  Environment and how the river could contribute towards Energy Strategy.

The Panel welcomed the creation of the Strategic River Group by saying that the group would contribute towards culture and events in the area.

It was RESOLVED to receive a further update in six months’ time.  The update should include issues raised by the Panel in their debate.

This is an update report on World Heritage (WH) management in Bath. It concentrates on the forthcoming revision of the WH Site Management Plan, the work of the WH Enhancement Fund grant scheme and progress of the ‘Great Spas of Europe’ project.

The Chair invited Tony Crouch (World Heritage Manager) to introduce the report.

Members of the Panel welcomed the report and commended the forthcoming revision of the World Heritage Site Management Plan, the work of the World Heritage Enhancement Fund grant scheme and progress of the ‘Great Spas of Europe’ project.

Members of the Panel also welcomed that the World Heritage Team had been working proactively with other organisations and services.

It was RESOLVED to note the report.

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

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

·  An update from the Strategic River Group in January 2015