Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The Chair drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure.

Councillor Roger Symonds and Councillor Liz Richardson had sent their apologies to the Panel. Councillor Charles Gerrish was present as a substitute for Councillor Richardson for the duration of the meeting.

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.

Councillor Charles Gerrish declared a non-prejudicial interest in agenda item 11 (Flood & Drainage Management) as he is a member of the Wessex Regional Flood and Coastal Committee.

Leonie Robertson made a statement to the Panel and presented a petition on the matter of funding a zebra crossing on Lansdown Road at the junction with Julian Road and Guinea Lane. A copy of the statement can be found on the Panel’s Minute Book.

Councillor Charles Gerrish asked if she had a precise location for where the crossing would be best placed.

Leonie Robertson replied that she felt it would make more sense if it was placed south of the junction, but would be happy to see it installed at either location.

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

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

Councillor Caroline Roberts, Cabinet Member for Transport addressed the Panel. She informed them that some consultant surgeries were due to take place later in the week relating to the Transport Strategy and a public exhibition on the Rossiter Road scheme was planned for the coming weekend.

She stated that the trial of the new bus priority measures in Dorchester Street would begin after the Christmas period.

She said a positive meeting had been held with the Highways Authority regarding road surfacing and signage at the Hartley Bends.

She spoke of a good flood meeting that had been held in the Chew Valley and announced that a consultation meeting would be held soon regarding Saltford station.

Councillor David Martin asked for a timescale in relation to the Transport Strategy.

Councillor Roberts replied that the first draft would be available in January.

Councillor Douglas Nicol asked if it would fit in with the Core Strategy.

Councillor Roberts replied that ideally it would.

Councillor Charles Gerrish asked when Keynsham would become included in the strategy and would there be a programme of public engagement.

Councillor Roberts replied that Keynsham would not be part of this initial draft and that when work relating to Keynsham did commence a programme of public engagement would take place.

Councillor Les Kew commented that he felt the stop/start nature of the trial of bus priority measures in Dorchester Street and works associated with the Widcombe area could become rather confusing for the public.

Councillor Lisa Brett asked how the Panel could be assured that the numerous on-going strategies would all be joined up.

Councillor Roberts replied that as a Directorate (Place) they were aware of the need for integration.

The Chair asked what actions were planned for the Hartley Bends.

The Divisional Director for Planning & Transport replied that additional signage relating to speed and anti-skid surfacing would be introduced.

This report provides an update on the arrangements for the Urban Gulls scrutiny inquiry day on 27 November. This report has been provided to inform panel members of progress on the event, share the plans for the day and prepare them for the next steps.

The Policy Development & Scrutiny Lead Officer introduced this item to the Panel. She highlighted the plans for the day and the actions taken currently by the Council. She added that following the day recommendations would be formed and presented to the Panel in January.

Councillor Charles Gerrish commented that East Devon had already held a similar event and asked if the Council should be made aware of their experiences.

The Policy Development & Scrutiny Lead Officer replied that she was aware that their report was due to be published on November 29^th.

Councillor Charles Gerrish asked for the Panel to seek recommendations that would encompass the whole of B&NES.

Councillor Patrick Anketell-Jones asked why no Central Government or recognised bird organisation representative was on the list of attendees for the day.

The Policy Development & Scrutiny Lead Officer replied that both the RSPB and DEFRA had been invited. She added that a representative from the RSPB did intend to attend the January meeting of the Panel and that DEFRA have offered to meet separately outside of the day.

The Chair thanked her for the update.

The Chairman of the West of England Joint Scrutiny Panel, Councillor Martin Veal will provide a presentation for this item.

Councillor Martin Veal, Chairman of the West of England Joint Scrutiny Committee introduced this item to the Panel. He explained that the Joint Scrutiny Committee had been recently re-established to scrutinise the publically funded aspects of the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership.

He highlighted some of the topics recently discussed at a meeting of the Committee, these included;

·  City Region Deal Growth Incentive Scheme  

·  Update on LEP, City Deal, Enterprise Zone and Enterprise Areas, Going for Growth, bidding for Regional Growth Fund and other LEP bids

·  LEP Skills agenda

·  Presentation on the key issues for the JTEC and Local Transport Body

He said the Committee was also seen as a successful vehicle for lobby groups to engage with.

Councillor Lisa Brett asked he felt the Committee was adequately supported and resourced.

Councillor Veal replied that he felt the Committee was under resourced, underfunded and underappreciated.

David Redgewell, South West Transport Network was invited to address the Panel. He stated that the existence of this Committee was vital, especially considering the huge cuts being proposed by the Mayor of Bristol which may shut down the local bus network at 9.00pm and have an impact on services to both Keynsham and Whitchurch.

He added that he believed the budget in relation to bus services for the four Local Authorities should be debated at the Committee. He said that Metro West needed to be scrutinised and that bodies such as First and DfT must be held to account. He also called for collective solutions to the transport problems of the Greater Bristol / Bath City region.

He wished to congratulate Councillor Veal in his role as Chairman, but was appalled at the level of resources afforded to the Committee.

The Chair asked that an item relating to a Regional Transport Strategy be added to the workplan of the Panel.

Councillor Lisa Brett suggested that a cost benefit analysis of the Committee be undertaken.

Councillor Charles Gerrish commented that this was a view shared by the Resources Panel. He proposed that the matter be raised at a meeting of the Scrutiny Chairs and Vice-Chairs for them to decide which Panel should lead on it.

Councillor Les Kew asked what influence the Joint Scrutiny Committee had over the Local Enterprise Partnership.

Councillor Veal replied that he felt the depth of questioning from the Committee regarding the Local Enterprise Partnership had been essential and that it did influence their work.

The Chair thanked Councillor Veal for attending the Panel.

The Service Manager for Highways & Parking will jointly provide a presentation to the Panel with a colleague from the Environment Agency. The presentation will be in two parts 1) An update on the Council’s duties with regards to the Flood Water Management Act and 2) The outcome of the Council’s investigations into the flooding during last winter.

Ed Lockington, Environment Agency and Kelvin Packer, Service Manager for Highways & Parking gave a presentation to the Panel regarding this item. A copy of which will be placed on the Panel’s Minute Book, a summary is set out below.

Role of the Regional Flood & Coastal Committee:

·  To advise the Environment Agency (Local context)

·  Environment Agency required to consult the RFCC on its exercise of flood and coastal risk functions

·  Their consent will be required prior to implementation of the Environment Agency’s regional programme of works

·  They will retain their executive powers in respect of raising and spending the Local Levy

·  Their remit is extended to cover coastal erosion as well as flooding

SUDS – Sustainable Urban Drainage System:

·  The Act has established a SUDS Approval Body (SAB)

·  The SAB will have responsibility for the approval of any proposed drainage system for new developments and redevelopments. Approval must be given BEFORE a developer can commence construction.

·  Part of the formal planning process

·  The SAB will be responsible for adoption and maintenance of the SUDS that serve more than one property

How is the Local Authority responding to the Act?

·  Looking to establish the Flood Risk Management Board

·  Planning regular meeting between the EA and Council Officers

·  Appointing a Flood Manager as part of the Highways restructure and increased resources.

·  Creating a single Drainage Team as the Lead Local Flood Authority. This team would co- ordinate all the drainage matters and Flood Risk Management issues.

·  Review the relationship with Emergency Planning and set up new working arrangements to reflect our extra duties.

BENEFITS

·  Single point of contact – Members of the Public and other departments will be well informed who should contacted regarding drainage and flood management issues

·  The Team will ensure that all the new statutory duties will be fulfilled

·  More effective way of working

Chew Magna:

·  Predominantly river flooding

·  Flood event that has a 1% chance of happening in any given year.

·  Public meeting with the Chew Valley Flood Forum (CVFF) and residents.

·  EA have improved flood warning system.

·  River maintenance work completed including de-silting at Tun Bridge and vegetation management work.

·  Working with the CVFF to promote risk awareness and help people to protect their properties.

Chew Magna PLP scheme (Property Level Protection):

·  A pilot scheme, limited to certain properties and a financial limit on the amount per property

·  31 properties experienced flood inundation (approximately half of the PLP properties)

·  Ownership and maintenance PLP not clear

·  Action plan to address the lessons

·  EA producing a new model for the river

·  Survey of properties affected

·  Funding bid for enhanced PLP

Chew Stoke:

·  River and surface water flooding

·  Intense rainfall caused rapid rise in river levels and saturated ground unable to absorb any more rain.

·  Planning a public meeting to review findings

·  Council have improved flood warning signs at the Ford

·  Flood warning system improved by the EA

·  Package of measures to mitigate the risk of surface water flooding.

·  Parish Council keen to develop their Community Flood plan

Mike Curtis  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

The draft Place Medium Term Service & Resource Plan (MTSRP) update is presented for consideration by the Panel:

i)  To ensure all members of the Panel are aware of the context for Service Action Planning and budget setting.

ii)  To enable comment on the progress being made on this 3 year plan.

iii)  To enable issues to be referred to the relevant Portfolio.

The Strategic Director for Place introduced this item to the Panel. She wished to highlight certain points from within Appendix 1.

Place Directorate – Key policy context changes:

·  To progress the Core Strategy through the further stages of the Examination in Public to Adoption so that the National Planning Policy Framework no longer takes precedence over the Council’s own policies. 

·  Developing the Enterprise Area Master Plan which will focus where future mixed use development opportunities exist that takes into account the Core Strategy requirements and where future expenditure will be targeted, linking in the West of England (WoE) City Deal and  other funding opportunities, whilst also ensuring the effective and efficient disposal of land and property.

·  Developing the Bath and Keynsham Transport Strategies to support the significant growth in homes and employment that is being promoted through the Core Strategy and further developed in its Placemaking Plan.

·  Ensuring the Place Directorate is compliant with the new Council Procurement strategy with a “Think Local” theme.

·  Developing the Leisure Strategy to provide direction for the procurement of a leisure provider during 2014, thus ensuring they meet our local needs and priorities.

·  Developing an Economic Strategy that will also encompass tourism, arts and cultural activities including key events, as these functions also have a major impact on the local economy.

·  Further reducing waste sent to landfill sites by recycling and recovering residual waste.

·  Seeking further opportunities to share services including the procurement of shared contracts with other local authorities.

Councillor Lisa Brett commented that she welcomed the approach to integrate strategies. She asked if the Council could afford the new capital projects.

The Strategic Director for Place replied that funding for a lot of them was provided through external grants, with the Enterprise Area being just one example.

Councillor Les Kew commented that he believed the investment made in Heritage Services was key to its recent success.

The Strategic Director for Place replied that the intention was to continue to grow the heritage attraction of the City.

Councillor Charles Gerrish asked for further information on the £1.2m allocated to the Midsomer Norton Business Centre in 2015 / 16.

The Strategic Director for Place replied that income associated with the Business Centre would pay for that figure.

Councillor Charles Gerrish asked why Rossiter Road was absent from the Plan and is the current budget associated with the scheme sufficient.

The Strategic Director for Place replied that the budget is in this year’s allocation and the scheme was being prepared in the knowledge of the funds available. The tender process would confirm the final cost.

Councillor David Martin asked how the Council would be achieving its corporate objectives in terms of sustainability.

The Strategic Director for Place replied that it is a key component and for example we are investigating the use of District Heating and potential grant opportunities through the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC).

Councillor David Martin commented that the European Union was about to launch a project named Horizon  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

This report presents the latest workplan for the Panel.

The Chair introduced this item to the Panel. She recapped that earlier in the meeting they had agreed to add items to the workplan relating to a Regional Transport Strategy under future items and a further Flood & Drainage Management Update in January 2013.

Councillor Charles Gerrish proposed that the report on Cross Boundary Bus Services be delivered to the January 2013 meeting.

The Panel RESOLVED to agree with these proposals.