Agenda and minutes

Venue: Kaposvar Room - Guildhall, Bath. View directions

Contact: Mark Durnford  01225 394458

Items
No. Item

1.

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

 

2.

EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURE

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

 

Minutes:

The Chairman drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure.

 

3.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS

Minutes:

Councillor Colin Blackburn and Councillor Liz Richardson had sent their apologies to the Panel. Councillor June Player and Councillor Les Kew were their respective substitutes for the duration of the meeting.

 

The Cabinet Member for Homes & Planning, Councillor Marie Longstaff had sent her apologies to the Panel.

4.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

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 Officer or a member of his staff before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

Minutes:

The Chairman, Councillor Rob Appleyard declared a disclosable pecuniary interest as he is a Director of Curo.

5.

TO ANNOUNCE ANY URGENT BUSINESS AGREED BY THE CHAIRMAN

Minutes:

There was none.

6.

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

Minutes:

Linda Gamlin addressed the Panel. She informed them that she had become involved in the community response to two planning applications over the course of 2014 and attended two meetings of the Development Control Committee.

 

She stated that she believed that the Planning Department had a priority on saying ‘yes’ to applications that they receive. She said that the experience had changed her view of governance and that the public consultation was a sham. She added that she believed that others had also become cynical of the process.

 

She explained that she had already sent in a detailed complaint relating to one of the applications which had only received a bland dismissal from the department.

 

The Chairman commented that he understood how emotive the issues around planning applications can become, but stressed that the recommendations and decisions made were governed by policy and law. He wished to add that the department had recently been recognised with a national award and was aware of the work they do to try to improve.

7.

Cabinet Member Update

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

Minutes:

The Chairman drew the Panel’s attention to the updates that had been provided by the Cabinet Members for Homes & Planning and Economic Development.

 

Councillor Cherry Beath thanked the Head of Housing for his recent correspondence and said that the Panel should consider looking at Curo, the Housing Association, Right to Buy and budget matters as part of its future work areas.

 

The Chairman commented that he felt that the private rented sector also needs to be discussed.

 

Councillor Patrick Anketell-Jones, Cabinet Member for Economic Development addressed the Panel. He said that he felt his update gave a good example of current work. He stated that he strongly encouraged the Council to embrace a ‘whole economy approach’ to the delivery of economic growth in B&NES.

 

Councillor Barry Macrae commented that he was concerned and sought reassurance that fairness would be given towards youth employment opportunities of those living in the villages and the City.

 

The Cabinet Member for Economic Development replied that he was acutely aware of the Somer Valley needs and would seek to develop employment sites.

 

Councillor Cherry Beath commented that she would like some detail in future reports of how the budget will be spent.

 

The Cabinet Member for Economic Development replied that the Arts Development budget was £490,000 pounds and that he had asked officers to ensure that this was shared fairly across the Council.

 

Councillor Cherry Beath commented that she was pleased to see that worklessness was addressed within his report.

 

The Cabinet Member for Economic Development replied that he was confident that the current strategy will not leave anyone behind.

 

Councillor Cherry Beath stated the need for good office space to be maintained in Bath.

 

The Cabinet Member for Economic Development replied that he recognised this as a potential threat to economic growth and would look to push this issue in the future.

 

The Chairman thanked him for his update and attendance on behalf of the Panel.

8.

Bath Flood Alleviation Scheme Update pdf icon PDF 69 KB

Some relevant background papers on the issue of Flood Risk Management are attached to this agenda. Officers from the Council and the Environment Agency will deliver a joint presentation to the Panel on the day.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Ian Herve addressed the Panel. A copy of his statement is available on the Panel’s Minute Book and online as an attachment to these minutes, a summary is set out below.

 

This dramatic photograph was taken on the late afternoon Christmas Eve, 2013. It shows a building just downstream of Cleveland Bridge.  It houses vulnerable and infirm residents.  Thankfully the flood peaked later that night and only the basement was flooded.

 

It is a relatively low flow event, measured by the Environment Agency as less than the 1/20 year Annual Return Risk.  That is, slightly less than the floods of the year 2000.

 

The Environment Agency estimate the flow at about 250 cubic meters per second.  That is 250 tonnes of water is passing a given point in that photograph every second.  Do the multiplication and it becomes about 900,000 tonnes every hour. The 1/100 year flood will bring flows about 60% greater, over 1.5 million tonnes an hour will pass over Pulteney Weir.

 

In June 2012, the Environment Agency stated that “The current level of flood risk in Bath is considered unacceptable”. At that time the number of properties currently at risk within the 1:100 annual probability footprint was put at approximately 1,100, increasing to 1,800 with climate change taken into account. In their September 2014 update the numbers were put at 930 at the moment and increasing up to maybe 2000 with climate change.

 

We urge the Panel and this new administration to seriously address this problem before history is repeated and action becomes necessary after a disastrous flood.

 

Robin Kerr, Chairman of the Federation of Bath Residents’ Associations (FoBRA) addressed the Panel. A copy of his statement is available on the Panel’s Minute Book and online as an attachment to these minutes, a summary is set out below.

 

He asked that flood mitigation measures upstream of Pulteney Bridge be seriously investigated and adopted as policy by the Council. He said that it was his understanding that significant effect could be obtained at about £6m, for part of which an Environment Agency contribution should be available.

 

He said that the approximate figure of £6m should not be confused with the £6.2m which has been pledged through the Rotating Infrastructure Fund for the Enterprise Zone.

 

Sarah Hardick addressed the Panel. A copy of her statement is available on the Panel’s Minute Book and online as an attachment to these minutes, a summary is set out below.

 

1. A few years ago the sluice gate got stuck on the railings & couldn’t rise. Although it seemed there hadn’t been much rain the flooding upstream of Pulteney Weir was far worse than we would have expected.  As soon as the gate was reopened the river dropped dramatically, please explain how flooding will not be worse with no gate to open?

 

2. Disruption to our business. I expect this work will be carried out in the summer to avoid high river levels. This will shut down our motor boat business & could  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Additional documents:

9.

Panel Workplan pdf icon PDF 125 KB

This report presents the latest workplan for the Panel. Any suggestions for further items or amendments to the current programme will be logged and scheduled in consultation with the Panel’s Chair and supporting officers.

Minutes:

The Chairman explained that he and the Vice-Chair had had meetings with officers to populate the current workplan. He said that where possible he would look to theme meetings.

 

Councillor Cherry Beath commented that the Panel should look to have further debate on Flood Risk Management over the coming year.

 

Councillor June Player said that the Panel should expect a considerable discussion when they have the matter of Student Accommodation on their agenda.