Agenda item
QUESTIONS, STATEMENTS, PETITIONS AND DEPUTATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
The Democratic Services Manager will announce any submissions received under the arrangements set out in note 5 above. The Council will be invited to decide what action it wishes to take, if any, on the matters raised in these submissions. As the questions received and the answers given will be circulated in written form there is no requirement for them to be read out at the meeting. The questions and answers will be published with the draft minutes.
Minutes:
The Chairman made reference to the printed Q&A document which had been circulated at the meeting.
Statements were made by the following people;
Guy Matthews made a statement regarding the Fairer Rate Contribution policy and the negative effect the application of it had had on him. He also talked about difficulties with housing costs. Following his statement, the Cabinet Member for Wellbeing offered to meet Mr Matthews to discuss his concerns.
Susan Charles made a statement regarding warm water swimming. In response to a question from Councillor Gerrish regarding the cost to the Council, Ms Charles responded that she didn’t have those figures, but said there were grants available towards building and that it wouldn’t be a free facility She urged the Council to think of its equalities duties. In response to a question from Councillor John Bull about the difference in recreational swimming and hydotherapy, Ms Charles responded that small pools for rehabilitation were between 33 and 34 degrees, too hot for other activities, regular swimming pools were usually 28 degrees, a little too cold unless actively swimming, so the 32 degrees of the warm water pools was the ideal temperature for physical and mental relaxation. The statement was referred to the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, attached to the online minutes and added to the Minute book.
The following statements were all made at the Core Strategy item;
David Redgewell made a statement in support of the Core Strategy, making a case for even more housing to be provided and calling for appropriate transport infrastructure to be in place to support it. The statement is attached to the online minutes and added to the Minute book.
Petra Scofield made a statement on behalf of Residents Protecting Peasedown. She raised the problems of extra development at Peasedown and the effect this had had on traffic, schools, GP surgeries etc. A sustainable planning policy was needed so that developers didn’t always win at appeal.
Bob Elcome-Thorpe, Friends of Breaches Gate, made a statement in support of the green belt around East Keynsham and Saltford, outlining the many benefits to the community of this area. He argued there were no extraordinary circumstances to warrant development in this area.
Peter Duppa-Miller, Combe Hay Parish Council, made a statement putting forward the views of the Parish Council. The statement is attached to the online minutes and has been placed on the Council’s minute book.
Robert Hellard, South Stoke Parish Council, made a statement opposing adoption of the Core Strategy and calling for more work to be done to produce a properly balanced plan. In response to a question from Councillor Eleanor Jackson asking for evidence to support Mr Hellard’s assertion that this policy will ‘create a student ghetto’, he referred to the 461 units being built in Green Park and a further application in James Street West. The statement is attached to the online minutes and has been placed on the Council’s minute book.
Colin Webb, South of Bath Alliance, made a statement opposing adoption of the strategy. The statement is attached to the online minutes and has been placed on the Council’s minute book.
Mary Walsh, Whitchurch Village Action Group, made a statement in support of adopting the Strategy. She acknowledged the loss of some green belt land but highlighted the greater damage that could be inflicted across the region and urged Councillors to be brave enough to vote for adoption. The statement is attached to the online minutes and has been placed on the Council’s minute book
Peter Holland, Friends of Breaches Gate, made a statement opposing adoption of the strategy. He objected to residents being excluded from the process to date and presented 300 letters of protest which had been collected over 3 days from local people opposing the removal of land from the green belt between Keynsham East and Saltford.
Caroline Kay, Bath Preservation Trust, made a statement welcoming the fact that development will not be permitted at Weston but expressing regret that it will be permitted at South Stoke. A full copy of the statement is attached to the minutes and has been placed on the Council’s Minute book.
Brian Huggett, Englishcombe Parish Council, made a statement opposing the loss of green belt, but supporting adoption of the Strategy to give a degree of certainty and control. He stressed that alternative traffic routes would be needed so that it wasn’t all travelling on single lanes through villages. He suggested that providing retirement housing would introduce fluidity to the housing market.
The Chair explained that the statements would be taken into account during the debate.