Meeting documents

The Chair welcomed people to the meeting and explained how the meeting would be managed.

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 questions were asked and answers given, or promised in writing within 5 working days of the meeting;

Councillor Perry made a statement regarding the possible closure and relocation of a play area in her Ward. This item was taken at the start of item 10.

Councillor Jovcic-Sas presented a petition regarding Clandown school and the impact on the community, and spoke in support of it

On a motion from Councillor Dawson, seconded by Councillor Hedges, it was

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 4th September 2002 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair(person)

The Executive considered a report regarding a request from the Norton Radstock Regeneration Company for resources to assist them in progressing with the next stage in developing the vacant derelict land in the Centre of Radstock, which is a key regeneration priority within Bath and North East Somerset.

Councillor Pritchard asked a question regarding the nature of the grant to the Norton Radstock Regeneration Company. Councillor Symonds answered. A question from Councillor Jovcic-Sas on this matter had not been circulated and a written answer was promised.

Questions and statements were made by various members of the public and non-Executive Councillors regarding the amount of grant requested, future regeneration of the area and future potential traffic problems in Radstock. Executive Members reminded the meeting of the 20 year transport vision which is being developed and urged that any comments be fed into that process.

The meeting was also reminded of the financial limit to which the Council Executive could go in allocating additional, unbudgeted resources.

On a motion from Councillor Metcalfe, seconded by Councillor Dawson, it was

RESOLVED

(1) To grant fund the Norton Radstock Regeneration Company (NRR) up to £25,000 to assist with future Company operations until a more permanent funding regime for the Company is agreed; and

(2) To request officers to ascertain future resource requirements of NRR and report to the next full Council in November detailing the long-term resource needs and options about how they could be met.

The Executive considered a report which informed them of the findings of the Strategic Youth Issues Project Group and requested a formal Council response to the report. Executive Members were also asked to consider options for effective inter agency work with young people to prevent or reduce their involvement in nuisance, crime and disorder and also how communities can feel and experience greater safety from crime and disorder.

(1) To require the Community Safety Partnership formally to request and collate responses to the report from partner agencies;

(2) To agree that the recommendations and action plan as outlined in pages 10 - 14 of the appended report be carried out in the following way;

(a) Where there are no financial implications, the named lead officers take action to implement these;

(b) To refer the identification of a single lead officer to have oversight of individual actions and to progress the findings of the report (paragraph 5.5 of the main report) to the Directors Group for their decision; and

(c) To charge that single lead officer, once identified, with progressing the outstanding recommendations that do have financial implications, in consultation with the appropriate groups and officers.

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

RESOLVED to note the report.

The Executive considered a report seeking their agreement to the Local Policy Statement (LPS) and Statement of Priorities (SP) for submission to the Department for Education and Skills (DfES).

The deadline for submission of the documents to the DfES was 31 July 2002. This did not allow sufficient time for the documents to be drafted, submitted to the Asset Management Forum, the Overview and Scrutiny Panel, the Executive and full Council. The Executive Member decided on the 27th June 2002 that a draft version should be sent to the DfES and that consultation should be undertaken, and the approval of the Executive and Council sought during the autumn term. Councillor Curran explained that this report had been considered at the relevant Overview & Scrutiny Panel.

A question and comment was made by Councillor Jovcic-Sas.

On a motion from Councillor Curran, seconded by Councillor Dawson, it was

RESOLVED to refer the documents to the Council for approval and final submission to the DfES.

The Executive Member for Education took this opportunity to congratulate the Director of Education, David Williams, on his new appointment and to thank him for his work with the Council. He read an extract from a letter from Estelle Morris, Secretary of State for Education and Skills, regarding the improved education standards within Bath & North East Somerset.

The Executive considered a report which invited Members to agree the Draft Annual Library Plan, which must be provided to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The report included progress against targets in the current annual plan and set out future plans and aspirations. The Executive Member for Tourism, Leisure & Culture explained that this had been considered at the relevant Overview & Scrutiny Panel, and amended in the light of their comments.

Non-Executive Members and members of the public contributed questions and comments.

Councillor O'Flaherty thanked officers for their work and open approach.

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

RESOLVED

(1) That the Draft Annual Library Plan is agreed for submission to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport;

(2) To note that the Bath and North East Somerset Library and Information Service is currently working on a long-term Vision and Action plan; and

(3) That this Draft Plan be commended to Council.

All Local Authorities are required to produce an Implementing Electronic Governance (IEG2) Statement for submission to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. This report set out the way in which it is proposed to make all possible services available electronically by December 2005.

Councillor Dawson introduced this report, explained that it had been considered at the relevant Overview & Scrutiny Panel and invited the Convenor of that Panel, Councillor Robin Nicoll, to present an outline of their findings.

Councillor Nicoll ran through various conclusions which the Overview & Scrutiny Panel had reached and explained that he would be passing a full version of their findings to the Executive Councillor.

Members of the public, Executive and non-Executive Councillors made various comments and asked questions.

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

RESOLVED

(1) To endorse the overall content of the IEG2 Statement which was attached as Appendix 1 to the report;

(2) To delegate to the Executive Member for e-gov any amendments required to improve the overall presentation, accuracy of content and accessibility, in consultation as necessary with the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel for Resources and Customer Service;

(3) That the IEG2 Statement is submitted to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister by 31^st October 2002 subject to formal adoption by Council as part of the designated Policy and Budget Framework;

(4) That the IEG2 Statement is submitted to Council on 21^st November 2002.

(Note: This item was taken immediately after the agenda item recorded at minute 69 in order to accommodate the Convenor of the Resources etc Overview and Scrutiny Panel who made a presentation on his Panel's conclusions.)

The Executive considered a report which sought authority to proceed with the required preparatory work to acquire the necessary land in order that a footbridge could be built over the by brook at Bathford, parallel to the A363 road bridge.

The Executive Councillor undertook to keep the local Member and Parish Councillor informed.

On a motion from Councillor Metcalfe, seconded by Councillor Curran, it was

RESOLVED

(1) That the Council Executive agree that a requisition for information notice be issued forthwith and that the preparation of a compulsory purchase order to acquire the land, outlined as land area 1 on the plan attached at Appendix 2, be initiated; and

(2) That the Council Executive also agree to authorise officers to take all other necessary steps to bring this issue to a conclusion, subject to confirmation of funding from within the Traffic and Safety Capital Budget, and the relevant Executive Member being kept advised on the progress on a bi-monthly basis.