Meeting documents

1. Question from Cllr Nigel Roberts

There has been a persistent problem with mini-motorcyclists using the Odd Down Park and Ride. Would the executive member consider prosecuting persistent offenders?

Answer from Executive Councillor Sir Elgar Jenkins OBE

Yes, there were problems on a Sunday when the Park and Ride was closed. There were also a lot of cars parked in the entrance on a Sunday. Yellow lines have now been painted on the road and signs put up on the entrance gates saying "No unauthorised personnel". Since these measures were taken approximately 3 weeks ago there have been no more complaints.

2. Question from Cllr Brian Barrett

Answer from Executive Councillor Sir Elgar Jenkins OBE

3. Question from Cllr Colin Barrett

The chalets for the Bath Christmas Market are blocking the windows for the Tourist Information Centre. This prevents visitors from seeing the TIC exists.

Does the Executive member think this could have an adverse effect on the sales of merchandise at the TIC, bookings for accommodation, and general inquiries?

Answer from Executive Councillor Nicole O'Flaherty

The Tourist Information Centre and all its services are advertised on the 25,000 pre-event flyers distributed nationally, and similarly within the Programmes available to visitors who attend.

Bath Tourism Plus is running the Christmas market and they have calculated that the income produced by the chalets outweighs any potential drop in footfall in the Tourist Information Centre. Historically, December is a below average month for footfall in the TIC.

4. Question from Cllr Bryan Chalker (asked by Cllr Charles Gerrish in Cllr Chalker's absence)

Local residents in Lambridge have recently complained to me that there has been an increase in the number of young cyclists ignoring the rules of the road. In particular many are cycling on footpaths, ignoring traffic lights, one-way street restrictions and other regulations. I appreciate the majority of young cyclists are very careful on the roads.

Could the Executive Member:

Answer from Executive Councillor Sir Elgar Jenkins OBE

(a), (b) There is a city-wide problem. There are some cyclists who do not have lights, ignore traffic lights, cycle on pavements, ignore one-way street restrictions and other regulations. They are a danger to themselves and others and do no good to the image of cycling which we all wish to encourage and genuine cyclists from the cycling community are very disturbed by this.

I have spoken with the Police on this matter and they do their best to deal with such people. I will contact them again. With young children, it would help if all parents made sure that their children had working lights on their bikes. All of us have seen young children on their bikes with no lights.

(c) The Council provides cycle training to 750 children, 10 and 11 year olds, and in 2006 will be implementing the new national standard that encompasses both younger and older people

5. Question from Cllr Chris Watt (asked by Cllr Charles Gerrish in Cllr Watt's absence)

In 2003/04 the Avon and Somerset Camera Safety Partnership had a surplus of £1.299 million after running costs and receipts from camera fines had been taken into account. The Government have admitted that any surplus goes back to the Chancellor of the Exchequer: "Any surplus generated is paid over to HMT [Treasury] in the form of Consolidated Fund Extra Receipts."
(DfT, Handbook of Rules and Guidance for the National Safety Camera Programme for England and Wales for 2005/06, p.39).

There is a widespread belief in Bath and North East Somerset that this money should stay in the Avon and Somerset area to fund road safety improvements and campaigns.

Will the Executive Member exert as much pressure as possible to ensure the full receipts from speed camera fines are reinvested in Avon and Somerset, and don't get sent back to the Government?

Answer from Executive Councillor Sir Elgar Jenkins OBE

Yes. This also has the support of the Safety Camera Partnership which has been lobbying nationally. The Road Safety Bill is currently before the House of Lords and an amendment supporting this approach has been tabled.

6. Question from Cllr Charles Gerrish

The 2005/06 transportation capital programme has an allocation of £50,000 for road safety improvements on Charlton Road, Keynsham. When will the Council begin public engagement on the proposals?

Answer from Executive Councillor Sir Elgar Jenkins OBE

I have spoken privately to Councillor Gerrish about this. This work has been unfortunately delayed into the next financial year because of pressure on staff resources and a key member of staff working on this has left.

7. Question from Cllr Chris Watt

Could the Executive Member please give a progress update on the construction of the Greenacres residential care home?

Answer from Executive Councillor Francine Haeberling

Greenacres Community Resource Centre for older people, which is to be built on land at Orchard Vale, in Midsomer Norton, will include 30 self-contained sheltered `extra care' flats and 30 Registered Residential Care beds with en-suite facilities. The extra flats are being developed in partnership with Somer Community Housing Trust. Placing all these facilities together will enable a greater level of services to be provided to residents, including catering facilities and a range of therapy/treatment rooms. Planning permission for the Centre has been granted.

This exciting new Centre in Midsomer Norton is the second of three planned for the area and will provide high quality care for older people in purpose-built accommodation.

Originally, it had been intended that both the registered care beds and the extra care flats would be built on land already in the ownership of the Council. However, this existing site is not large enough to accommodate the high standard of housing and range of facilities that the Council and the Somer Community Housing Trust aim to provide. Somer owns properties adjoining the Council-owned site and it has been agreed that these properties will be demolished to create a larger site for the new Centre. Some the properties concerned were occupied but have now been vacated and the tenants re-located.

Work is progressing as programmed towards the issue in January/February 2006 of the Agreed Maximum Price (AMP) for the construction of the Centre.

Construction of the new Centre is planned to commence in March 2006, with site preparation works being undertaken in January to March 06. Consultation with a range of stakeholders on the interior design for the Centre and landscaping for the grounds has started and will continue throughout the early stages of construction.