Meeting documents

The Chair welcomed everybody to the meeting.

The Chair(person) drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure as set out on the Agenda.

Councillor Hanney declared a personal, non-prejudicial interest in item 13, as Chair of the Primary Care Trust.

There were no items of urgent business.

The following people had given the appropriate notice of their request to ask a question of an Executive Councillor. The text of the questions and responses is contained in a Q&A document which is attached to the minutes electronically, once finalised.

Councillor Colin Barrett regarding revision of the swimming programme at Bath Sports and Leisure Centre. Councillor O'Flaherty responded.

Councillor Charles Gerrish regarding an update on meetings with Jobcentreplus. Councillor Darracott responded.

Councillor Leila Wishart had submitted a question regarding the proposed closure of the public convenience at Rainbow Woods but was not present to ask this. It was agreed that the answer would be sent to her.

Councillor Sarah Webb regarding proposed closure of public conveniences in Abbey Ward. Councillor Todd responded.

Councillor Chris Watt had submitted a question regarding the River Somer but was not present to ask this. It was agreed that the answer would be sent to him.

Councillor Tim Bullamore made a statement regarding the proposed closure of various public conveniences (agenda item 12) and presented a petition asking for the Council Executive to not close the public convenience in Weston High Street without full consultation and until a suitable replacement has been found.

On a motion from Councillor O'Flaherty, seconded by Councillor Hanney, it was

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 3rd September 2003 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair(person), including the exempt minute.

There were no such items on this occasion.

Councillor Darracott introduced this item.

On a motion from Councillor Darracott, seconded by Councillor Jenkins, it was

RESOLVED

(1) That each request to site telecommunications equipment on Council land is dealt with on merit, with consideration given to relevant Council aims and objectives, but in line with the Cautionary Approach recommended by the Stewart Report and subject to the following guidelines;

(a) No masts should be located within 100 metres of a school or other similar sensitive sites;

(b) High priority should be given to the need to safeguard the environmental or aesthetic character of an area;

(c) The applicant will need to demonstrate there are no suitable alternative locations available.

Councillor Darracott introduced this item by explaining that the purpose of this strategy was to make significant long term savings by reducing the inefficiencies resulting from a split office site.

Councillor Hanney welcomed Councillor Darracott's comments and emphasized the revenue savings that would be achieved which could be put back into services.

Councillor J Gay asked whether consideration had been given to the flexible use of time for office locations. Councillor Darracott responded that this issue was being addressed via the Customer Access Programme and the Human Resources improvement Project and that it was linked in to the overall thinking.

On a motion from Councillor Darracott, seconded by Councillor Hanney, it was

RESOLVED

(1) To reaffirm the decision to proceed on the basis of single new office premises as a matter of urgency;

(2) To agree that the project will report to the February 2004 Executive on the locational options generally able to accommodate the single office solution, with a review of the issues affecting them. Options may include; Charlotte St Car Park; Western Riverside; Manvers St Car Park and locality; Bath Quays; employment land at Peasedown St John and any other sites that may meet requirements;

(3) To agree that the Guildhall be retained to provide the political heart of the Council;

(4) To agree that final plans to proceed will consider such matters as space standards, flexible uses of space, outline policy with respect to existing Council offices, and, where relevant, exit strategies with respect to local economies;

(5) That, subject to staff consultation, the proposed space standards and corporate policies on the flexible use of office space are to be applied to any future office reorganisations; and

(6) That, with regard to the future involvement of the Executive in the process, 2 or 3 Executive Members be charged with working together to take this project forward, with appropriate Heads of Service.

[With regard to resolution [6] above, it is anticipated that the Members will be Executive Councillors Darracott, Gay and Hanney

Councillor Bullamore made a statement asking the Executive not to close the public conveniences in Weston High Street without full consultation and until a suitable replacement has been found and presented a petition in support of this.

Councillor Fraser commented that far more consultation was needed.

Rae Harris spoke on behalf of Action for Pensioners in support of Councillor Bullamore's statement.

Councillor Webb also supported Councillor Bullamore's comments and asked that replacement toilets could be put in before others are closed.

Helen Dunne representing an Access Charity commented that the consultation had not been adequate as she had only been made aware of the proposed closures from reading about it in the press.

Councillor Todd explained that the Council had inherited approximately 40 public conveniences, which had met the perceived needs at the time, but were not effectively located. The current 37 were financially unsustainable and, although there was no statutory provision on the Local Authority to provide public conveniences, the aim was to provide clean and safe toilets. Councillor Todd further explained that, drawing on the experience of other Local Authorities, the Council had the following objectives in implementing this strategy; investigating more in-store provision, paying special attention to special needs, constructive collaboration with parish councils and broad consultation with Members and the public. Councillor Todd acknowledged that the consultation period had been short and she would therefore be expanding the opportunity to comment.

Councillor Jonathan Gay spoke on behalf of Norton Radstock Councillors and asked for more comprehensive information. He suggested an overall map of all public convenience sites and hoped that this could be made available to the Overview and Scrutiny Panel.

Councillor Hanney also acknowledged that the consultation could have been better but reminded Members that a third of the total budget had been cut by Council so that any alternative proposals would need to remain within budget.

On a motion from Councillor Todd, seconded by Councillor Haeberling, it was

RESOLVED

(1) To approve in principle the three phase programme for improvements;

(2) To delegate to the Executive Member for Sustainability and the Environment, the decisions on actions required to implement Phase 1; and

(3) To request that the report be referred to the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Panel, as a matter of urgency, prior to the Executive Member's decision, in order to allow wider consultation.

[The underlined words were suggested by Councillor Crossley and accepted by Councillor Todd.]

Rae Harris, on behalf of Action for Pensioners, reminded Members that older people were a large and growing proportion of the population and asked for positive links with older people.

Councillor Crossley explained that there had been a slow start on this but that now a very good emerging plan had been produced, with cross cutting strategies.

On a motion from Councillor Crossley, seconded by Councillor O'Flaherty, it was

RESOLVED

(1) To request officers to work with partners to develop revisions to the draft Community Strategy based on the feedback received following consultation, focussing on the key issues as set out in paragraph 4.6, and any other issues identified by the Executive;

(2) To request officers to ensure all appropriate links are made in the Community Strategy to emerging planning frameworks, including the Corporate Plan and Town and Parish Plans, as set out in paragraph 4.10; and

(3) To endorse the process for adopting the Community Strategy set out in paragraph 4.11, and that a revised draft be brought to the Council Executive at its meeting on 5^th November 2003.

Councillor Darracott introduced this item and suggested that Executive Members might want to revisit their elements within this, after the publication of the Corporate Plan later in the year. He also informed Members that, with regard to the `red' indicators in Education, Whitehall had agreed that the targets were unrealistic and were being revised.

On a motion from Councillor Darracott, seconded by Councillor Haeberling, it was

RESOLVED to note the report.

Councillor Darracott congratulated the Planning department on meeting their targets and performing well.

On a motion from Councillor Todd, seconded by Councillor Darracott, it was

RESOLVED to note the report.

The following two minute numbers refer.

On a motion from Councillor Crossley, seconded by Councillor O'Flaherty, it was

RESOLVED to adopt this declaration on behalf of Bath and North East Somerset Council and to instruct the Leader of the Council to sign the declaration.

On a motion from Councillor Crossley, seconded by Councillor Haeberling, it was

RESOLVED

(1) To join with the Local Business community through the Bath and North East Somerset Initiative in signing up to the Global Compact and thus becoming the first area of the UK to join this Global Initiative; and

(2) to request the Chief Executive to write to Secretary General Kofi Annan expressing support for the Global Compact and its principles.