Meeting documents

To: All Members of the Council Executive

Dear Member,

Council Executive: Wednesday 6th April 2005

You are invited to attend a meeting of the Council Executive to be held on Wednesday 6th April 2005 at 10:00 am in the Council Chamber, Guildhall, High Street, Bath.

The agenda is set out overleaf.

Yours sincerely

Jo Morrison

for Chief Executive

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The decisions taken at this meeting of the Council Executive are subject to the Council's call-in procedures. Within 5 clear working days of publication of decisions, at least 10 Councillors may signify in writing to the Chief Executive their wish for a decision to be called-in for review. If a decision is not called-in, it will be implemented after the expiry of the 5 clear working day period.

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NOTES:

1. Inspection of Papers: Any person wishing to inspect Minutes, reports, or a list of the background papers relating to any item on this Agenda should contact Jo Morrison who is available by telephoning Bath (01225) 394358 or by calling at the Riverside Offices, Keynsham (during normal office hours).

2. Public Speaking at Meetings: The Council has a scheme to encourage the public to make their views known at meetings. They may make a statement relevant to what the meeting has power to do. They may also present a petition or a deputation on behalf of a group. Advance notice is required not less than two full working days before the meeting (this means that for meetings held on Wednesdays notice must be received in Democratic Services by 4.30pm the previous Friday).

The public may also ask a question to which a written answer will be given. Questions must be submitted in writing to Democratic Services at least two full working days in advance of the meeting (this means that for meetings held on Wednesdays, notice must be received in Democratic Services by 4.30pm the previous Friday). If an answer cannot be prepared in time for the meeting it will be sent out within five days afterwards. Further details of the scheme can be obtained by contacting Jo Morrison as above

3. Details of Decisions taken at this meeting can be found in the minutes which will be published as soon as possible after the meeting, and also circulated with the agenda for the next meeting. In the meantime details can be obtained by contacting Jo Morrison as above.

Appendices to reports are available for inspection as follows:-

Public Access points - Riverside - Keynsham, Guildhall - Bath, Hollies - Midsomer Norton, and Bath Central, Keynsham and Midsomer Norton public libraries.

For Councillors and Officers papers may be inspected via Political Group Research Assistants and Group Rooms/Members' Rooms.

4. Attendance Register: Members should sign the Register which will be circulated at the meeting.

5. THE APPENDED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ARE IDENTIFIED BY AGENDA ITEM NUMBER.

6. Emergency Evacuation Procedure

When the continuous alarm sounds, you must evacuate the building by one of the designated exits and proceed to the named assembly point. The designated exits are sign-posted.

Arrangements are in place for the safe evacuation of disabled people.

7. Officer Support to the Executive

Council Executive meetings will be supported by the Director's Group.

8. Recorded votes

A recorded vote will be taken on each item.

1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

2. EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURE

The Chair(person) will draw attention to the emergency evacuation procedure as set out under Note 6.

3. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

4. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

To receive any declarations from Members/Officers of personal or prejudicial interests in respect of matters for consideration at this meeting.

5. TO ANNOUNCE ANY URGENT BUSINESS AGREED BY THE CHAIR(PERSON)

6. QUESTIONS FROM PUBLIC AND COUNCILLORS

At the time of publication, no items had been submitted.

7. STATEMENTS, DEPUTATIONS OR PETITIONS FROM PUBLIC AND COUNCILLORS

At the time of publication, no items had been submitted.

8. MINUTES: WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2005

To be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

9. CONSIDERATION OF SINGLE MEMBER ITEMS NOW REQUISITIONED TO COUNCIL EXECUTIVE

This is a standard agenda item, to cover any reports originally placed on the Weekly list for single Member decision making, which have subsequently been the subject of an Executive Member requisition to the full Council Executive, under the Council's procedural rules.

10. CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REFERRED BY OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY BODIES

This is a standing agenda item (Constitution rule 21, part 4D - Executive Procedure Rules) for matters referred by Overview and Scrutiny bodies. The Chair(person) of the relevant Overview and Scrutiny body will have the right to attend and at the discretion of the Leader to speak to the item, but not vote.

11. A REVIEW OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN NORTH WEST BATH

Falling rolls in schools are a national issue which is reflected in Bath & North East Somerset. Examination of the number of unfilled and potentially surplus places in schools can ensure that funding is directed to where it is most needed, to the benefit of all pupils. Reviews of the way in which schools are organised are therefore an important element of the Council's strategic management role. Regular examination of the supply of, and demand for, school places is essential in order to ensure that education is being delivered in the most effective way.

At September 2004 the North West Bath area has, using the Audit Commission method of calculation, 76 unfilled primary school places which represents 7.34% of capacity in the area.

12. THE FUTURE OF SOUTHDOWN INFANT SCHOOL AND SOUTHDOWN JUNIOR SCHOOL - OUTCOME OF CONSULTATION AND NEXT STEPS

A consultation exercise has been undertaken examining the future of Southdown Infant School and Southdown Junior School and raising the possibility of creating a new one form entry primary school. A decision is sought on further action in relation to this exercise.

13. TAXI POLICY AND DELIMITING OF HACKNEY CARRIAGE LICENCE NUMBERS

The Annual Progress Report of the Local Transport Plan recognises that a taxi policy is required in order to develop the integrated transport strategy for Bath and North East Somerset. This report presents a policy highlighting the key objectives.

The report also covers the issue of whether or not the Council should remove its current policy on the limitation on the number of hackney carriage vehicle licences in the city of Bath.

14. PROPOSED APPPOINTMENT OF CREST NICHOLSON AS JOINT MASTER DEVELOPMENT PARTNER WITH GROSVENOR FOR BATH WESTERN RIVERSIDE

The Council Executive is asked to agree in principle that Crest Nicholson are formally appointed as preferred joint Master Development Partner, alongside Grosvenor, for the Bath Western Riverside Project, in accordance with regulation 10(2)(e) of the Public Services Contracts Regulations 1993 ("Services Regulations") and to give delegated authority to the Bath Western Riverside Regeneration Manager in consultation with the Major Projects Director and the Executive Member for Economic Development, to obtain all necessary further information and resolve any outstanding actions and due diligence required to formally introduce Crest Nicholson to the Project Partnership.

15. COMBE DOWN STONE MINES - ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDING OFFER

UPDATE REPORT - COMBE DOWN STONE MINES

The Council has been undertaking negotiations over terms and conditions from English Partnerships for over a year. Significant progress has been made during the negotiations and the final version has reduced the risks to the Council. However, some of the conditions are difficult to manage and the risk profile reported to Council previously has been remodelled to encompass these.

The Council is due to receive the final set of terms and conditions for the scheme by the 5^th April 2005.

16. BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT PARTNERSHIP - ANNUAL SERVICE REVIEW

This report provides the findings of the Business Improvement Partnership annual service review and identifies the key deliverables for the Partnership for 2005/06.

17. CASH LIMITS AND VIREMENTS 2005/06

The report presents the opening revenue budget cash limits for 2005/06, and includes a number of budget transfer requests that require Council Executive agreement or are reported for information purposes as prescribed by the Budget Management Scheme.

18. PSA PERFORMANCE REPORT

This report provides updated information about progress made on the Council's Public Service Agreement (PSA) which was agreed with the Government in August 2003. The PSA includes 30 "stretch" targets which, if achieved by March 2006, trigger performance reward grants to the Council. The Government also provides upfront funds to assist achievement.

19. TRANSPORTATION 4 MONTHLY PERFORMANCE REPORT

20. ENVIRONMENT 4 MONTHLY PERFORMANCE REPORT

21. COMMUNITY SAFETY AND DRUG ACTION TEAM 4 MONTHLY PERFORMANCE REPORT

22. HOUSING & SUPPORTED LIVING 4 MONTHLY PERFORMANCE REPORT

23. EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC

The Committee is asked to consider passing the following resolution:-

"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 items(s) of business because of the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act"

24. DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN KEYNSHAM - ISSUES REPORT