Agenda item
Cabinet Member Update
This item gives the Panel an opportunity to ask questions to the Cabinet Member(s) and for them to update the Panel on any current issues.
Minutes:
Councillor Cherry Beath, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development addressed the Panel.
Broadband Delivery UK: She assured the Panel that the Cabinet took a long time in reaching their decision not to proceed with the Government funding offer that was being made available to the West of England authorities of Bath and North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Bristol as it must be matched locally. She added that the Cabinet had decided to allocate £25,000 of funding from Development and Regeneration reserves to complete its own Broadband Plan. Councillor Beath indicated that the focus of the Plan should be on Community Hubs, households with no connections and identifying those with the most need.
The Chairman asked for further information of the funding offer.
Councillor Cherry Beath replied that a figure of £1.4m had been offered to Bath and North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Bristol and that from that the Council could expect to receive around £690,000. The Council however estimates that it would cost a further £1m to implement the decision.
Public Realm and Highway Improvement Scheme for High Street: She informed the Panel that the Cabinet had decided to proceed with Option 1 which would result in the loss of 1 pay & display space in Terrace Walk. She added that it was the intention to approach traders within the next week regarding consultation.
Development & Regeneration:
o Radstock - Completed and launched the Radstock and Westfield Economic Action Plan
o Midsomer Norton – We have provided supporting information to Midsomer Norton Town Council in their launch of the Somer Valley 100 initiative to promote the largest and fastest growing businesses in the area.
o Bath – Launch of the Enterprise Area at Bath City Riverside
o Planning, Delivering & Financing the Future – a significant workstream being carried out to establish the impact of development upon viability and corporate financing
Enterprise & Business:
o Progressed options analysis on a creative hub for Bath – looking at 10 sites, operational models and finances, including consultation with interested parties. Due to report in January.
o Agreed to fund and lead X Media Lab, the internationally acclaimed creative industries event in Bath from 15th – 18th March showcasing Bath as the cutting edge of digital enterprise
Corporate / Directorate resources, budget & activities:
o Budget Fair - Good stakeholder involvement in Development & Major Projects (D&MP) workshop, showed high level of support for Development & Regeneration agenda
o D&MP have made an interim ‘Head of Regeneration’ appointment to bring in required skills to support the Development & Regeneration agenda.
Councillor Barry Macrae commented that he could not see the purpose in spending £25,000 on a study into developing broadband access given the likelihood that the study will show that it is necessary.
Councillor Cherry Beath replied that she wished the Council were being offered a more substantial amount. She added that there were concerns as to whether it would be appropriate to accept the offer considering that technology within this area moves so fast.
Councillor Will Sandry asked if the Development and Major Projects department had been assigned the task of making safe and re-opening the Victoria Bridge.
Councillor Cherry Beath replied that discussions were on-going between herself and Councillor Roger Symonds, Cabinet Member for Transport.
Councillor Tim Ball, Cabinet Member for Homes and Planning addressed the Panel.
Bath Western Riverside: 48 affordable homes from the first phase of BWR, including 31 homes for social rent and 17 for shared ownership, have now been successfully allocated. The new tenants include at least 4 homeless households.
In recent months 3 landlords have been successfully prosecuted for failing to meet minimum housing standards. In all three cases fire precautions were inadequate putting tenants at risk. In each case the landlord had refused to cooperate with Housing Services. Fines ranged from £2,000 to £700.
Housing Services has commissioned Bristol Credit Union to undertake the financial transactions associated with our Homefinders Scheme. This has provided a number of benefits for our clients including providing them with independent financial advice, providing a free banking service and housing benefit payment service which pays rent according to tenancy requirements and not according to HB payments.
Housing Services in partnership with South West Homes hosted a Home ownership Roadshow in the Guildhall. The event, which aimed to promote various forms of intermediate housing, such as shared ownership and Firstbuy and other low cost homes was very successful, attracting in excess of 150 visitors.
Councillor Steve Hedges asked the Cabinet Member for his views on Somer having a housing cap set at 35 years of age.
Councillor Tim Ball replied that he was concerned by this fact and was in discussions with Somer on the matter. He added that Somer had set their Affordable Rent Tenancy figure at 80%.
The Chairman commented that all housing providers had been given the choice as to what figure they wished to set.
Councillor Tim Ball replied that it must be made clear to the public what agreements they are entering into.
The Chairman commented that Registered Providers were given direction from the Local Authority as no formal policy was in place. He added that he would welcome such a policy to be brought before the Panel.
On behalf of the Panel the Chairman thanked the Cabinet Members for their update.