Agenda item

The Panel will have an opportunity to ask questions to the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development (Councillor Cherry Beath) and to receive an update on any current issues.

The Chairman invited Councillor Cherry Beath to address the Panel with her Cabinet Member update.

Councillor Beath highlighted the following points in her update:

·  Economic Development

o  Officially approved the Guildhall Hub - £500k provisionally allocated

o  Record number of business start-ups in March (95%) and there are around 155 start-ups in BANES as a whole. 2% more than the previous year.  Higher than London.

o  Demand registration for the BDUK continues.  Over 21,000 people are taking part and we are lining up 2 suppliers but due commercial sensitivity we can’t discuss in more detail.

o  There had been some funding given out via the Community Empowerment fund performance and we were able to give out £15k for training to over 600 people in low carbon technology.

o  £84-85k goes towards funding to develop low carbon skills academy in BANES.

o  The Government put forward criteria for small cities for broadband fund.  We are arguing the case but under the criteria Bath does not qualify as you have to have 45,000 residencies/dwellings whilst Bath has 38,000.  The Leader of the Council has written to put forward our case.

The Chairman asked about the BDUK broadband investment and potential conflict with European law where state aid investment superseding private sector investment could cause an issue and whether that was resolved.

Councillor Beath responded that she was not sure if that was resolved.  The process is still on and it has been a hold up.  It is a national issue.

John Wilkinson (Economic Enterprise & Business Development Manager) added that the issue has not been resolved yet.

Councillor Beath welcomed the outcome of the Graduates Retention Scrutiny Inquiry Day and said that if the Panel resolve to put recommendations to the Cabinet then they, the Panel, have to suggest where the funding will come from - whether it is from existing funding or from additional one.

Councillor Evans said that at one of the partnership meetings there was a presentation about creating business hub in Radstock in the same way as the one in Guildhall and asked what happened to that idea.

Councillor Beath said that the straight answer is that she doesn't know.  Councillor Beath heard that the idea of hubs floated around and the Cabinet listened and looked the evidence.  There was a clear demand for something in the city centre.  It would be useful to see how this model is doing and then consider other areas, as long as future hubs will prove to be sustainable.

Councillor Anketell-Jones asked about Bath Western Riverside problem with the gas infrastructure on that site and possibility of further delay.  Councillor Anketell-Jones asked if there was an optimistic forecast on this matter.

Councillor Beath replied that the Bath Western Riverside matter is within Housing and Major Projects Scrutiny Panel and that she couldn't comment on that but that she couldn't say any more due to commercial sensitivity.

·  Tourism -

o  Nationally there is a confused position on how many beds are booked and where is the spend coming from.  We do not have all the figures due to commercial sensitivity. But we do have generally good picture that people are going for cheaper options.

o  Torch relay that happened on Wednesday 23rd May had approximately 65,000 people on the streets. 

o  Quite a number of events and festivals are happening in Bath.

o  In 2011 we had highest numbers of visitors in Roman Bath.

o  Roman Bath Kitchen opening for public on Friday 25th May with official opening in June.

o  Lot of films are filming in Bath.

The chairman thanked Councillor Beath for her update.

It was RESOLVED to note verbal update from Councillor Beath.