Meeting documents

QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED OF EXECUTIVE COUNCILLORS AT THE COUNCIL EXECUTIVE MEETING 6^th Dec 2006

1

Question from:

Ian Thorn

Following his answer to my question at the last Executive concerning dropped kerbs and controlled pedestrian crossings in the city centre and his offer to take up proposals for new locations, will Cllr Jenkins confirm his willingness to consider dropped kerbs and pedestrian crossings at the Grove Street junction with Argyle Street and at the London Road end of Hay Hill as requested by local residents?

Answer from:

Councillor Sir Elgar Jenkins OBE

Yes.

2

Question from:

Councillor Steve Hedges

Since Hayesfield is now a foundation school and the education service is not therefore responsible for funding the refurbishment of their sports facilities, does the Executive member think it is contradictory that the education service will take a slice of funding - made available by the sale of the Hayesfield field - which will be put to use in other schools?

Answer from:

Councillor Jonathan Gay

Although Hayesfield School has foundation status it is a 'maintained' school and a Local Authority school. The Council must ensure that its needs are considered together with the needs of all other schools.

The need for investment in Hayesfield's buildings including planned maintenance is considered along with all our schools.

As a foundation school the Governors have the authority to sell land to raise funds to invest in the school. This is not an option available to community schools.

I support the school's efforts to improve their poor sports facilities. This should be the first priority for the use of any capital receipt from sale of the playing field. However any balance should be made available for investment in facilities at other schools in line with Asset Management Plan priorities.

This would also be my view if the Council was disposing of community school land for a large capital receipt as I think that it is a question of fairness. Schools which do not have surplus land should not be disadvantaged by this fact

The Asset Management Forum in 2001 approved this policy and the DfES would also support consideration of the wider needs of surrounding schools.

3

Question from:

Councillor Chris Watt

Re. Development of the Greater Bristol Bus Network:

i) I have been lobbying First Bus to provide a bus service from Midsomer Norton to Bristol. Could the Executive Member confirm that First have agreed to analyse a business case for an hourly service?

ii) If this is not the case, or a business case proves to be unsuccessful, will the Executive Member consider looking at an alternative plan to provide a shuttle service from Midsomer Norton to the A37 (possibly Farrington Gurney) for passengers to access bus services on this route to Bristol?

Answer from:

Councillor Sir Elgar Jenkins OBE

i) At the Greater Bristol Bus Network meeting on 22 November concerning enhancements to bus services, First Group agreed to consider the business case for a number of improvements to bus routes on the GBBN corridors in the sub-region. One of the service enhancements included in their assessment is the operation of service 379 between Radstock, Midsomer Norton and Bristol via the A37 on an hourly daytime frequency, with extra peak hour journeys. In addition they are considering the business case for enhancing the frequency of the Bath - Bristol service (X39) from every 12 minutes to every 10 minutes.

ii) If a service between Radstock, Midsomer Norton and Bristol via the A37 can not be secured on a commercial basis, the Council will investigate an alternative plan to provide a shuttle service from Midsomer Norton to the A37 (possibly Farrington Gurney) for passengers to access bus services on the route to Bristol. The introduction of such a service would be dependent on budgetary constraints.

4

Question from:

Councillor Gail Coleshill

What efforts have been made to promote access by people with disabilities to the Christmas market?

Answer from:

Councillor Nicole O'Flaherty

The Christmas Market is organised by Bath Tourism Plus, and can of course become very busy at peak times. BTP have therefore advised people with walking difficulties, or disabled customers that they should, if possible, visit the site during quieter periods, as wheelchair users in particular may find the crowds at times overwhelming. BTP staff also give disabled enquirers the locations of the nearest disabled parking bays.

The Christmas market website does not include disabled access information - this is something they will take on board when planning next year's event.

The Guildhall Market Traders have also organised the Guildhall Christmas Market in the Guildhall Car Park. Access is from the Market itself or from the main Guildhall car park entrance. Whilst it is appreciated there are a variety of disabilities, both Christmas Market sites do not have any significant physical barriers to access at any of the entry points.

5

Question from:

Councillor Gitte Dawson

Fourteen months ago the Council unanimously resolved to raise the profile of sustainability in all decision-making and specifically instructed:

· The Chief Executive to mount a sustainability awareness campaign amongst staff, and

· Executive Members and Heads of Service to consider aspects of sustainability in every decision they make, documenting such considerations in their decision reports, and consulting the Sustainability Manager in case of doubt what sustainability issues might be involved in a particular decision.

We would like to know:

i) What practical efforts has the Chief Executive made to raise Council staff's awareness of sustainability issues?

ii) What examples are there of decisions where sustainability considerations have been specifically considered and those considerations documented?

iii) Does this aspect feature in any routine instructions about making and recording executive and delegated officer decisions?

On this same theme, in view of the recommendation from the Member Champion for Energy (adopted 23rd November 2006) which refers to reducing carbon emissions in order to deliver the Council's sustainability strategy:

iv) When can we expect a report on actions which will need to be taken in each department of the Council to make all activities sustainable and energy efficient?

Answer from:

Councillor Gerry Curran

i) Sustainability issues have been raised through Core Brief during the last year. In addition, in August 2006, the centre-page spread of Inside Out featured a detailed article on the Council's developing energy efficiency work, including the Treasury-funded Invest to Save Budget project. This project, which will deliver a 10% cut in energy use and carbon emissions by 2009 across the Local Strategic Partnership has now commenced and will include a programme of energy efficiency awareness raising under the title `Our Big Energy Challenge'. During Zero Waste week, CIS carried a feature for staff.

ii) In December 2005, the Leader signed the Council up to the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change. In November 2006, the Council approved the Bath Western Riverside SPD, which sets clear targets on sustainability for the development, particularly on energy, requiring 10% renewable energy on site and at least one carbon neutral building, for example. The Local Area Agreement, which comes into force in April 2007, has a strong sustainability theme centred around action on climate change.

iii) Section 8 of the decision-making template, `Issues to consider in reaching the decision', requires report-writers and decision-makers to consider sustainability issues.

iv) Through the Charter Mark process, services have to consider sustainability. All services have to undertake this process by the end of 2008. `Our Big Energy Challenge' is starting now and will tackle energy efficiency at the technical level in key buildings and, as well as deliver energy training to key staff across the Council and energy efficiency awareness training to staff at all levels.

Supplementary question from:

Councillor Gitte Dawson

Does the Executive member really feel that the motion you voted for at Council on 15^th September 2005 has been fully implemented?

Answer from:

Councillor Gerry Curran

We are making progress towards implementing it fully. It is not perfect and with limited budgets there is of course room for improvement.

6

Question from:

Councillor Bryan Chalker

Re. Tin Church, Bailbrook

In October, I made a statement to the Council Executive regarding the impact of a new playground near a structure known as the Tin Church, Bailbrook. The minute of the Council Executive meeting was as follows:

MINUTE 68:..."Councillor Bryan Chalker made a statement relating to the Tin Church, Bailbrook Lane. The Chair referred Councillor Chalker's statement to the Executive member for Sustainability and the Environment."

Unfortunately I have heard nothing from you about this issue, despite sending an email to on Wednesday 1st November at 12.40pm asking "whether you had been able to pay any attention to it yet?"

Could I please have a response to my statement?

Answer from:

Councillor Gerry Curran

The matter of the siting of the playground area in front of the tin church on the above development was raised by Councillor Brian Chalker at a Council Executive meeting on 11 October 2006. It was felt that the play area intended for the development could have been better located with regard to the Tin Church - so as to facilitate the occasional community activities which are operated in association with the nearby former church.

As a consequence an officer will approach Redcliffe Homes to negotiate possible relocation. It has to be emphasised that this can only be done by negotiation as planning permission has already been granted. Sarah James in Major Developments dealt with the application and will approach the developers to see what is open to negotiation. I hope this explains the situation.