Agenda item

Service Action Plans for Policy & Partnerships, Tourism, Leisure and Culture & Economic Development and Regeneration.

The Economic and Community Policy Development & Scrutiny Panel is recommended to:

·  Comment on the Service Action Plans, taking into account the matters referred to above;

·  Identify any issues requiring further consideration at the special meeting of the Resources Policy Development & Scrutiny Panel on 6th February and subsequently by Cabinet in February as part of the annual Service Action Planning and Budget process; and

·  Identify any issues arising from the draft Service Action Plans it wishes to refer to the relevant portfolio holder for further consideration in advance of the Cabinet meeting in February.

Equality Impact Assessments for Financial Plans are available on Council’s website on the following link http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/communityandliving/equality/Pages/FinancialPlans.aspx .

POLICY AND PARTNERSHIPS SERVICE ACTION PLAN

The Chairman invited Alex Raikes and Navian Simms from the ‘Support Against Racist Incidents’ (S.A.R.I.) to read their statements.

Alex Raikes read out her statement in which she highlighted the following points:

·  Policy and Partnerships’ Service Action Plan and its impact on BME Communities.

·  BANES is changing demographically changing.  In 2009, as per the last estimate, BANES had 12% of its settled population as non-white British whilst Bristol had 13.5% BME population at the same time.

·  Number of cases that S.A.R.I. considered over the past couple of years in BANES.

·  The needs for newly arriving and existing BME Communities in a rural authority such as BANES.

·  A letter from 19 old Zimbabwean man who lives and studies in BANES.

A full copy of the statement from Alix Raikes, including the copy of the letter read at the meeting, is available on the minute book in Democratic Services.

Navian Simms (former client of S.A.R.I.) read out his statement I which he supports the work that S.A.R.I. does and questioned why the Policy and Partnerships Service Action Plan didn’t mention BME Communities.

A full copy of the statement from Navian Simms is available on the minute book in Democratic Services.

The Panel thanked the speakers for their statements.

The Chairman said that number of issues had been raised that require longer debate.  The main issue is the lack on BME Communities mention in the Service Action Plan.  The Chairman said that he will look together with the officers if there are any opportunities for external funding and these findings will be communicated with S.A.R.I.  These finding will be also communicated with the Resources PDS Panel who have Equalities in their remit.

The Chairman invited David Trethewey (Divisional Director for Policy and Partnerships) to introduce the report.

The Panel made the following points:

The Panel expressed their concern that Council specific operational roles relating to Anti-Social Behaviour will end. 

David Trethewey informed the Panel that new joint team involving Council, Somer Housing and the Police will be set.

The Panel expressed their concerns that schemes such as Taxi Marshals will cease to exist due to significant reductions in Community Safety budget.

Andy Thomas added that Taxi Marshals will be commissioned until July 2012.  Council will negotiate what funding could be put in for integrated city marshalling.

The Panel asked about the CCTV budget.

David Trethewey responded that Council will have the assessment process on what equipment is there.  The idea is to have one place with 24 hour service integrated with the Emergency Management Services.

The Chairman summed up the debate by saying that the Panel expressed their concerns on the following areas:

·  Community Safety budget reduction.  The proposal would need to be looked again and Community Safety reductions should not be as steep as they are proposed.

·  Proposed Equality saving of 40%.  Budget decisions in some Councils are overturned because of the lack of Equality Impact Assessments.  The proposal of 40% saving would need to be looked again.

It was RESOLVED to note the Policy and Partnerships Service Action Plan with the summary of concerns mentioned above.

CULTURAL SERVICES SERVICE ACTION PLAN

The Chairman invited David Lawrence (Tourism, Leisure and Culture Divisional Director) to introduce the report.

The Panel made the following points:

The Panel asked about Mobile Libraries and if the multi-purpose vehicles had been considered, as the one in the PCT.

David Lawrence replied that multi-purpose vehicles had been considered but there was no financial support from the PCT.  The service got to that position where vehicles needed to be replaced.  David Lawrence also said that the service would be very keen on looking into using local vehicles to help people getting to libraries.

The Chairman summed up the debate by saying that the only concern made by the Panel was reduced spending on marketing and impact that will have on number of visitors to Bath.  The Panel asked for regular reports on the initiatives that will continue to attract visitors to Bath.

It was RESOLVED to note the Cultural Services Service Action Plan with the summary of concerns mentioned above.

DEVELOPMENT AND MAJOR PROJECTS SERVICE ACTION PLAN (ECONOMIC AND ENTERPRISE SERVICES)

The Chairman invited John Wilkinson (Economic Enterprise & Business Manager) to introduce the report.

The Panel made the following points:

The Panel asked if there are any further updates on creation of Technology Hub in Bath to support our creative industries.

John Wilkinson replied that they are considering a range of options in order to take this further and create a viable sustainable model.

Some Members of the Panel commented that in Service Delivery of the Plan there is no information on how business rates will be collected.

John Wilkinson took on board that comment.

The Chairman summed up the debate by saying that the Panel did not have any concerns from the Service Action Plan but that they would wish to have more updates on the potential for a Social Enterprise Zone at future meetings.

It was RESOLVED to note the Economic and Enterprise Services Service Action Plan with the request for updates on Social Enterprise Zone at future meetings.