Meeting documents

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

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

There were no declarations of interest made.

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.

Rae Harris for Action for Pensioners regarding the Draft Community Strategy. Councillor Paul Crossley responded.

Councillor Brian Barrett regarding Northgate Priority Access Point. Councillor Sir Elgar Jenkins responded.

Councillor Tim Warren regarding money for essential repairs to play equipment. Councillor Nicole O'Flaherty responded.

Councillor Chris Watt (on behalf of Councillor Michael Ringham) regarding a proposed mobile phone mast. Councillor Rosemary Todd responded.

Councillor Charles Gerrish regarding Job Centres in Bath. Councillor Colin Darracott responded.

Councillor Brian Barrett regarding approved development partnerships, in relation to the Housing & Supported Living 4-monthly Performance report.

Councillor Chris Watt made a statement concerning the environmental standard of the River Somer. Councillor Todd responded. [Details in Q&A document.]

Other statements relating to Bath Postal Museum were taken when that item was reached.

On a motion from Councillor O'Flaherty, seconded by Councillor Sir Elgar Jenkins, it was

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 9th July 2003 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair(person).

The following item was the subject of a requisition by Councillor Sir Elgar Jenkins, in accordance with Rule 21, part 4B of the Constitution.

BATH POSTAL MUSEUM; GRANT AND RENT SUBSIDY

The following people made statements in support of the Bath Postal Museum;

Councillor O'Flaherty thanked everyone who had made a statement or written to her about this issue. She expressed her hope that her proposal would allow the Museum time to secure their future. She explained that she had visited the museum on a number of occasions, recognised its international status and expressed her desire that the collection would remain in Bath. Councillor O'Flaherty explained that it was her duty to ensure equity for all the different private museums in Bath for the benefit of the public.

On a motion from Councillor O'Flaherty, seconded by Councillor Sir Elgar Jenkins, it was

RESOLVED

(1) To approve a grant by Heritage Services to the Bath Postal Museum of £2,500 in 2003/04 to fund its part-time Education Officer, and a rent subsidy of £18,000;

(2) To approve the transfer of budgets related to 8 Broad Street from Heritage Services to Property Services;

(3) To agree that, in the event that the Bath Postal Museum is unable to fund the balance of its rent on a sustainable basis, No.8 Broad Street will need to be vacated no later than 30 September 2004;

(4) To approve officer support for the Bath Postal Museum:

(a) to continue to investigate suitable and more financially sustainable alternative premises for the Museum in Bath;

(b) to investigate ways of assisting the Postal Museum Trust to maintain its website if it so wishes;

(c) to ensure that the historic significance of 8 Broad Street is commemorated in an appropriate way;

(d) to transfer the Museum's collections to another Registered Museum in Bath as required by its own Registered status;

(5) To confirm that the Council Executive wishes this important aspect of Bath History to be promoted in appropriate ways and be taken into account when considering future museum developments in Bath.

Councillor Caroline Roberts asked a question about the Community Safety Street Lighting entry in Newbridge (Appendix 1) which had not been requested by residents and on which there had been no consultation. Councillor Sir Elgar Jenkins acknowledged that this had not been handled perfectly; there was a sum of money available but works would not be carried out until proper consultation had taken place.

Councillor Brian Barrett regretted that no money had been made available to take forward the review of the Priority Access Scheme and asked the Executive Member to arrange funding so that the re-organisation of the scheme could be looked at, even if it could not be implemented this year.

Terry Reakes asked about the Council's policy regarding making pathways safe, particularly with regard to Frome Road, Radstock. Councillor Sir Elgar Jenkins responded that he had a duty to ensure that pathways are safe and he would look at the situation at Frome Road, Radstock.

Gordon Derrick asked a question about when the public would be consulted about the £20,000 allocated for improvements to Keynsham High Street. Councillor Sir Elgar Jenkins responded that there was no date as yet but that there would be further consultation.

Rae Harris queried whether remedial works to Green Street and Milton Street should be included and what figure had been set aside for the works arising from the in-depth review. Councillor Sir Elgar Jenkins responded that remedial work was being carried out on the bollards; there was roughly £16,000 for this year and soon most of the bollards would be removed. Those that were remaining, due to safety reasons, were being replaced.

Councillor Hanney welcomed the commitment to improved consultation.

Councillor Haeberling referred to the riverbank at Mead Lane, Saltford and, although delighted to see its inclusion, regretted that Wessex Water had not been allowed to use the private road for access. Councillor Sir Elgar Jenkins responded that this had been a planning issue and that the Head of Transportation, Access and Waste Management would be able to brief Councillor Haeberling with further details, if required.

Councillor Darracott welcomed the element of overprogramming that had been incorporated.

On a motion from Councillor Sir Elgar Jenkins, seconded by Councillor Crossley, it was

RESOLVED

(1) To approve the Detailed Capital Programmes in Appendices 1 and 2 of the report; and

(2) To grant delegated authority to the Head of Transportation, Access and Waste Management, in consultation with The Executive Member, to alter the capital programme as may prove necessary during 2003/2004 within the overall budget allocation.

Councillor Hanney introduced this report and stressed the need to reduce the overspend as quickly as possible.

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

RESOLVED

(1) To note the expenditure and income position for the Council in the financial year to the end of June and the year end projections detailed in Appendix 1 of this report; and

(2) To approve the virements listed in Appendix 2 of the report.

Councillor Hanney explained that it was inappropriate for the underspend on modernisation to be carried forward so this had been removed from Table 3, Appendix 4.

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

RESOLVED

(1) To note the provisional revenue Outturn for 2002/03 in Appendix 1 of the report at £0.299m overspent, rather than the previously reported and expected £0.952m;

(2) To agree the carry forward proposals in the tables in Appendix 4 of the report as exceptions to the budget management scheme, with the removal of the £23,558 for Modernisation of Local Government in table 3;

(3) To request Council to approve use of balances to write off the shortfall of £355,000;

(4) To request Council to agree to use £51,000 of balances to write off the requirements for savings in member and democratic services budgets in 2003/04.

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

RESOLVED to endorse the Statement of Accounts for 2002/03 and to forward it to full Council for approval.

Councillor Haeberling introduced this item and explained how the Council had received a good report from the Social Services Inspectorate, highlighting the strong leadership and good multi-disciplinary and partnership working. Councillor Haeberling also explained that there were no areas for improvement that had not already been identified by the service areas themselves. She explained that the Council currently has a 2 star rating (rating goes from 0-3 with 3 being best) and was optimistic that it would remain that way.

On a motion from Councillor Haeberling, seconded by Councillor Sir Elgar Jenkins, it was

RESOLVED

(1) To note the Social Services Inspectorate's (SSI's) current assessment of performance for Bath & North East Somerset Social Services; and

(2) to refer this report to Overview and Scrutiny for their consideration.

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

RESOLVED

(1) To note the results of the review;

(2) To recommend to Council to approve the proposed updates to the strategic objectives and revisions to targets for the period until the publication of the next plan; and

(3) To delegate its publication to the Strategic Director of Social and Housing Services, and to make any consequential minor amendments necessary, in consultation with the Executive Member.

[A question from Councillor Brian Barrett on this item had been taken earlier in the meeting (minute number 29 refers)]

Councillor Pritchard explained that, as there had been no Council Executive meeting in August, some of the information contained within this report (produced in July) was out of date. He ran through various updates for Members' information.

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

RESOLVED to note the report.

The following link leads to the latest press release on this issue (to be inserted).

Gordon Derrick asked whether he could be assured that the package of loan support would have the interest factor locked in. Councillor Crossley responded that the detail was confidential but that he could give an assurance that this would not cost the Council in the long run.

Terry Reakes gave his view that it was important for the public to know if public money was being loaned to a private company. Councillor Hanney responded that this had to be considered in exempt session, but that a public statement would be forthcoming.

Councillor Brian Barrett asked whether there was an intention to take this issue to Council at some stage. Councillor Crossley responded that there was currently no proposal to do so, but this would be kept under review. Councillor Hanney added that there had already been a briefing for all Councillors, and that the issue was being considered by the Resources Overview & Scrutiny Panel on the 11^th September.

At this point, the Executive moved into exempt session, as set out below.

[The following resolution reflects an open summary of the fuller resolution which was agreed during the discussion in exempt session.]

On a motion from Councillor Crossley, seconded by Councillor Jonathan Gay, it was

RESOLVED

(1) That, in the light of all the exempt information received, and in view of the considerable additional unexpected financial pressure that these delays have caused, and being satisfied that it is appropriate for the Council to use its powers under Section 2 of the Local Government Act 2000 and in the best interests of the citizens of Bath & North East Somerset to take this action, the Council Executive approve a package of loan support for their partner TDC;

(2) That a revised project budget of £26.043m was approved;

(3) That the revised admission charges requested by TDC were approved, subject to some further negotiations of resident discounts; and

(4) That any financial implications for the Council of the delays to completion of the facility are included in the revised financial plan.

On a motion from Councillor Crossley, seconded by Councillor Sir Elgar Jenkins, it was

RESOLVED that, in accordance with the provisions of Section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business because of the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 5, 7 & 12 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.