Meeting documents

QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED OF EXECUTIVE COUNCILLORS AT THE COUNCIL EXECUTIVE MEETING 06-Sep-2006

1

Question from:

Chris Beezley

There are many parallels between the requirement for the B&NES district to accommodate large numbers of new dwellings over the coming years and the requirement to accommodate University of Bath expansion, including many more student residences, at its Claverton Down campus.

During the debate on the Regional Spatial Strategy at the 12th July 2006 meeting of the B&NES Executive, you clearly stated that "The Green Belt would be built on only as a last resort". This was in the context of the need to build 15,500 new dwellings within the B&NES district.

Does this assurance extend to the expansion of the University of Bath, i.e will the Council wish to be assured that all development potential of the existing campus has been exhausted before considering any application to build on the Green Belt or the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty?"

Answer from:

Councillor Gerry Curran

With reference to the response to Mr. Beezley's previous question to Council in January 2006 the proposed removal of land from the Green Belt at Claverton Down for University related uses is considered to be justified by `exceptional circumstances' in accordance with PPG2. These `exceptional circumstances' including the need for expansion, benefits of the University to the City and the capacity of the existing built campus to accommodate further development were thoroughly debated at the Local Plan Public Local Inquiry.

The Public Local Inquiry Inspector's Report has now been received by the Council. Some of the key Inspector's recommendations, including those relating to the development of land at the University of Bath, are being considered by the Council Executive elsewhere on this agenda. The Inspector recommends allocating the whole of the University of Bath campus including land recommended to be removed from the Green Belt and the preparation of a Masterplan to guide development across the whole site. Once the Council has resolved its response to the Inspector's Report work can be progressed on a Revised Masterplan for the University which will establish how and where future expansion is best accommodated.

With regard to the draft Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) the Council Executive at its meeting in July resolved to submit a response to the draft RSS which is subject to endorsement by Council in September. Mr. Beezley is referred to the relevant Executive report for details of the Council's position including potential need for development in urban extensions within the Green Belt.

It should be noted that policy SR2 of the draft RSS requires the Council to plan for balanced growth of Bath (and Bristol), maximising the use of previously developed land and buildings, and within a revised green belt make provision for urban extensions to meet longer term needs. Within this context further work will be necessary to assess the delivery and phasing of development. This work will inform the Council's input into the Examination in Public on the RSS (due to take place Spring 2007) and its future Local Development Documents.

2

Question from:

Councillor Tim Ball

On the issue of dropping litter could the Executive member please inform us how many fines have been issued for dropping litter?

Answer from:

Councillor Gerry Curran

No Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) have been issued for dropping litter. When the authority introduced fines for litter dropping in December 2005 it was decided to deploy staff in the city centre and warn anybody they saw dropping litter. Over a period of 3 weeks, two officers working 2 hours per day dealt with 70 incidents of litter dropping. All of these were the dropping of smoking materials. Staff cautioned anybody not discarding items correctly and fines would have been imposed if the offending item had not subsequently been picked up. It was not necessary to issue any fines. This approach is consistent with the treatment of other waste offences (e.g. leaving refuse out on the wrong day or in the wrong place) whereby a warning is issued for a first offence and fines are issued for a second offence. This approach is in line with the procedure which was agreed by the Executive member (i.e."The issuing of FPN's as a first action will be carried out only by the Cleansing Enforcement Team at their discretion and using a common sense approach (new residents/traders not yet used to the regulations). Community Wardens and Parks Patrol to stay as now and refer to Cleansing Enforcement Officers if the issuing of a FPN is recommended").

The Cleansing Enforcement team no longer have the capacity to carry out such work, having taken on other duties related to new legislation and Council initiatives. The Parks Patrol service has been disbanded A review of resources is now underway following the restructure of the authority which has led to the Community Wardens, Enforcement Officers and Dog Warden now being managed together and it is planned to instigate spot checks in the near future.

The number of FPNs issued on other offences (trade, domestic waste) since December 2005 is 66.

3

Question from:

Councillor Nigel Roberts

The residents of Rush Hill suffer greatly due to size of vehicles using Rush Hill and also by the total number of vehicles. This problem has been increasing over the years. This road also serves St Phillip's primary school and Culverhay Secondary School.

As this is not a trunk road would the executive member consider a weight limit on this road.

Answer from:

Councillor Sir Elgar Jenkins OBE

It is feasible to introduce a 7.5 Tonne weight limit on Rush Hill but it would be necessary to assess the traffic impact that it would have on other roads in the area and in particular the A36/A4 through Bath. A traffic survey will be carried out on Rush Hill to obtain the necessary traffic data to be able to make the traffic assessment. Any proposal to introduce a weight limit would require the introduction of a Traffic Regulation Order which would be subject to consultation. Although such a proposal would probably be popular among residents on the Pennyquick route, a high level of objection could be expected from those living on the alternative A36/A4 route.

Whereas a 7.5 Tonne weight limit would prevent the use of the Pennyquick route by through HGV's, HGV's could still use the route to deliver within the weight limit. Although the Pennyquick route forms part of the unofficial bypass south of Bath, it cannot be used as a through route for HGV's from the A4 to the A36, as there is an existing weight limit on the route between Midford and Hinton Charterhouse.

4

Question from:

Councillor Mrs Hazel Ware (London Borough of Ealing)

1. How much did it cost to lay the tarmac along the wall of properties School Cottage, School House, Arachino and Chapel walls in Withy Ditch Lane (Dunkerton) BA2 8AY.?

2. What was the justification for not completing the works ?

3. From where or whom did the request for the works emanate ?

4. What consultations with local groups or people have been conducted in connection with either the problem that the works seek to resolve or the works themselves ?

Answer from:

Councillor Sir Elgar Jenkins OBE

1. £819.09. Most of the work was done by hand as a machine could have damaged the adjacent wall.

2, The works were completed

3. As is often the case the request came from a local member and the work had already been identified for inclusion in the works programme.

4. It is not normal to consult when carrying out routine highway maintenance works.

5

Question from:

Councillor Marie Brewer

Many residents in Keynsham East have approaching me asking if a second alleygate could be provided to enhance the existing scheme behind Chandag shops. The Executive Member has been very supportive in providing support for this initiative in the past. Could he provide funding for a second alleygate behind the shops to complete this project?

Answer from:

Councillor Vic Pritchard

The Executive Members is pleased to announce that both the Council and Bath and North East Somerset's Community Safety and Drugs Partnership are aware of this alleygate project. The Keynsham East Community Safety Action Group has been in discussions with the Partnership and through the Partnership's community fund, funding has been approved to support this alleygate project.

The Action Group has been advised to liaise closely with the Partnership, the Police Crime Reduction Officer, businesses, residents and the landowner to ensure this project can be implemented successfully.

6

Question from:

Councillor Colin Barrett

The news that 40% of waste was recycled in May was excellent. It is something which all councillors across the political groups have been seeking to achieve. Could the Executive Member provide the figure for June and July, with comparisons for the previous two years?

Answer from:

Councillor Gerry Curran

The figures are:

2004/05 2005/06 2006/07

May 33.0% 35.8% 42.0%

June 33.6% 37.5% 41.3%

July 32.4% 38.4% 41.4%

7

Question from:

Councillor Brian Webber

Following my conversations with the Executive Member suggesting improvements to CCTV cameras in the city centre area, could he please give an update about how these projects are progressing?

Answer from:

Councillor Vic Pritchard

The rollout of new CCTV cameras within Bath City Centre is going well.

Work commenced on the four cameras in Avon Street Car Park and two within Avon Street Coach Park on 22nd August. Columns have been erected and the cameras are due to be installed.

Work is progressing for the camera at Green Park, at Grand Parade and a further two cameras at Windsor bridge.

The Executive Member will provide a full response within seven days.

Supplementary Question from:

Councillor Brian Webber

Has there been any progress on the CCTV car recognition?

Answer from:

Councillor Vic Pritchard

It is the intention to introduce Automatic Number Plate Recognition into cameras for use by the Police. They will be used at the most effective points - at the gateways to the city, on Pulteney Bridge and Green Park.

Additional Information from:

Councillor Sir Elgar Jenkins OBE (provided at the meeting)

The ANPR will be implemented into the Northgate Priority Access Point (Bus Gate) on a full-time basis from October.

Additional Information from:

Councillor Vic Pritchard (provided after the meeting)

Avon Street
Four cameras in the car park and two cameras in the Coach park are being installed this week and should be up and running by the beginning of next week (11^th September).

Windsor Bridge (x2), Green Park and Bridge Street  (All Bath)
All cameras are awaiting the power to be installed by Avonline.  However, this has been put on hold by the Council due to the A4 road works at Saltford.
An alternative solution (for Bridge Street specifically) is to run power off of the traffic lights that are already there.  Discussions are presently taking place between Property Services and Street Lighting.

8

Question from:

John Osborne

1. Is the Council aware that the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy (for which BANES is a joint sponsor) includes the A36 Warminster Road as a County Freight route on it's Regional Freight Map? A lorry ban would make a nonsense of that strategy.

2. What are the Council's estimates of the traffic volumes which would be diverted by such a ban and has the Council assessed the impact of this traffic on the communities outside its own area?

3. Has the Council consulted the local authorities in Wiltshire through which the diverted traffic will pass and, if so, what were their responses?

Answer from:

Councillor Sir Elgar Jenkins OBE

1. The A36 is identified as a "County" freight route, allowing HGVs coming from the south to deliver goods to Bath. The A36 has been downgraded from a "Regional Route" in consultation with with other highway authorities and the haulage industry through the Freight Quality Partnership, to reflect that the route is not appropriate for longer distance "through" movements.

2. The Council will be carrying out a full impact assessment in order to forecast the volume of traffic likely to divert to other routes, before carrying out consultation with authorities affected by any restrictions in Bath.

3. Yes, the Council has had early discussions with Wiltshire County Council who have expressed some concerns about the impact upon part of the route through Wiltshire. These concerns will be addressed.