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Agenda and minutes

Budget Consultation Event– hosted by the Connecting Communities Somer Valley Area Forum, Somer Valley Forum - Monday, 30th November, 2015 6.00 pm

Venue: Conygre Hall - Timsbury. View directions

Contact: Mark Hayward 01225 396975  Email: mark_hayward@bathnes.go.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

B&NES Budget Fair including Question and Answer session

The Somer Valley Area Forum is hosting one of the Council’s Budget Fairs.  This year there will be five meetings which are open to the public and are each being hosted by the Connecting Communities Area Forums.  The Budget Fairs provide an opportunity to hear about the Council’s financial plans for the next four years.  There will be an opportunity to ask questions and feed into the discussions on the budget proposals.

Minutes:

In attendance: 

Lynda Robertson, Midsomer Norton Society (Chair)

Cllr Karen Walker, B&NES Ward Councillor (Peasedown St John) (Vice Chair)

Cllr Rosemary Naish, Chair of Clutton Parish Council

Cllr Mike Hedges, Chair of Farrington Gurney Parish Council

Teresa Marston, Clerk to Farrington Gurney Parish Council

Cllr Jonathan Rich, Peasedown St John Parish Council

Cllr Eleanor Jackson, B&NES Ward Councillor (Westfield)

Cllr Doug Deacon, B&NES Ward Councillor (Timsbury)

Mrs Deacon, Local Resident

Cllr David Collett, Timsbury Parish Council

Cllr Barry Macrae, B&NES Ward Councillor (Midsomer Norton North)

Cllr Liz Hardman, B&NES Ward Councillor (Paulton)

Shirley Steel, Somerset and Dorset Railway Heritage Trust

Jan Merchant, Local Resident

Cllr Ray Merchant, Timsbury Parish Council

Cllr Richard Robertson, Midsomer Norton Town Council

Roger Tollervey, Welton Valley Group

Cllr Deirdre Horstmann, B&NES Ward Councillor (Radstock)

Becky Brooks, Midsomer Norton, Radstock and District Journal

Cllr Michael Evans, B&NES Ward Councillor (Midsomer Norton North)

Cllr Hugh Warren, Paulton Parish Council

Cllr Bob Piper, Paulton Parish Council

Cllr Rupert Bevan, Radstock Town Council

Cllr Tom Clifford, Peasedown St John Parish Council

Peter Barter, Somer Centre

Terry Taylor, Norton Radstock Regeneration

Cllr Chris Dando, B&NES Ward Councillor (Radstock)

Cllr Robin Moss, B&NES Ward Councillor (Westfield)

Cllr Jane Lewis, Midsomer Norton Town Council

Emily Merko, Clerk to Hinton Blewett Parish Council and Administrative Assistant to Westfield Parish Council

Mike Horler, Local Resident

Cllr Veronica Packham, Chair of Timsbury Parish Council

Cate Le Grice-Mack, Norton Radstock Regeneration

Cllr Lesley Mansell, Peasedown St John Parish Council

Cllr Kathy Thomas, Chair of Peasedown St John Parish Council

Cllr Sue Langton, Timsbury Parish Council

Cllr Paul Myers, B&NES Ward Councillor (Midsomer Norton Redfield)

Cllr Charles Gerrish, Cabinet Member – Resources, B&NES

 

Officers: Mike Bowden, Gary Adams, Cathy McMahon, John Wilkinson, Denice Burton, Richard Baldwin, Jo Lewitt, Dave Dixon, Sara Dixon, Alison Wells, Andrew Pate, Simon De Beer

 

 

Question 1 – It seems that much of this budget depends on income generation – when can Councillors expect more information on this?

Answer – The information about the Property Company went to Cabinet on Wednesday so Councillors should have received papers relating to this.  The Council has made two, very successful property investments in recent years and will be seeking more.  The income estimates contained in the presentation are conservative and more may be generated.

Question 2 – How will the Council derive income if it is selling its properties to a private company?

Answer – The Council will be the only shareholder in the Property Company so will be retaining ownership in this way.

Comment 3 – The Government states that Housing Associations need to be compensated for any properties they lose under the ‘Right to Buy’ scheme.  There does not seem to be provision for recompensing them.  Also, the Government has indicated that Councils should, themselves, sell off their ‘high end’ assets.

Answer – The Council is no longer a housing authority, with flats in the Royal Crescent  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

2.

West of England Joint Spatial Plan including Question and Answer session

The West of England’s Joint Spatial Plan and Transport Study will set out a prospectus for sustainable growth that will help the area meet its housing and transport needs for the next 20 years.  Estimates state that to maintain its current prosperity, the area needs at least 85,000 new homes by 2036, nearly 30,000 more than the number already planned, as well as the transport and other infrastructure needed to support this level of growth.  Officers from Planning Services will give a presentation to the Forum and update them on Placemaking

Minutes:

Question 1 – We are concerned about over development and out commuting in the Somer Valley.  Bristol needs the housing, why does B&NES have to take their quota? 

Response – We have a duty to co-operate and B&NES is part of Bristol’s housing market needs.  The option of development in the Somer Valley does not have the transport infrastructure to support it. 

Question 2 – The Somer Valley has huge problems with traffic congestion.  To travel from Radstock to Bath during peak times can take you over an hour.  We need to look at initiatives like the Radstock to Frome Railway to enable people to get to work.  These initiatives should be supported by the Council.

Response – There maybe scope for a railway if it can be demonstrated that it is viable. The Council is undertaking a joint transport plan for the Somer Valley and Chew Valley which is being led by Peter Dawson.  Peter is also involved in the West of England joint transportation plan.  Transport infrastructure needs to be planed early as it takes a significant amount of time to implement.

Question 3 – Will the Transport Study be linked to funding?

Response – There is a cap on the level of growth if the infrastructure is not supported.  The Government devolution plans, eg Metro Mayor, could enable more funding to be released for infrastructure. 

Comment 4 – We have always played catch up, we need to ensure we plan in reasonable time.

Response – There is a lot of scope in the Somer Valley to improve the infrastructure.  The trigger is sustainable growth.

Comment 5 – There has been a lot of housing development around Keynsham and Bristol which has increased congestion.  Travelling into Bristol can take over two hours from the Somer Valley.  We need to think about attracting employment outside of Bristol and Bath.  The situation is not going to get better unless the infrastructure is improved.  Public Transport routes on non-profitable routes are poor.  We should consider a railway from Radstock to Bristol not to Frome, we need to think more radically, it is not impossible to consider a tunnel from Radstock to Bristol as an alternative.

Comment 6 – We need to ensure we have genuine affordable housing schemes within these plans. 

Response – The number of affordable homes will be around 30,000.  The housing crisis is a national problem and needs to national attention to address this.

 

Comment 7 – Villages around the World Heritage Site and AONB are empty most of the time as the area attracts people from London who wish to buy second homes. 

Comment 8 – The cost of the Radstock to Frome Railway was £43 million.  The Radstock to Bristol and Radstock to Bath routes are good for cycling and walking.  We need to invest up front infrastructure and public transport.  We need to do something really radical.  If all the people in B&NES travelled into Bath at the same time we would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.