1.     Question fromCllr Brian Webber

With particular reference to the large refuse bins whichlatterly have been parked adjacent to the maze near the Pulteney Bridge weir atBath, what is the Council's policy regarding the positioning of such binsin visually sensitive parts of the public realm?   Doeither the refuse removal contractors, or the businesses which use the bins,require a licence to place a bin in a particular spot?  If so, who isresponsible for ensuring that the bins are not moved elsewhere and what sanctionsare available? 

Answer from Executive Councillor Gerry Curran

As the Highways Authority, we havethe power to stipulate where bins may be placed upon the public highway. Any private contractor wishing to place a bin on the highway should seekpermission from the Highways Authority who will ensure that no obstruction isbeing caused (as a guideline enough room for a double buggy to safely pass byshould be maintained). 

The Highways Authority have thepower to enforce removal of bins.

In the particular case of thePulteney Bridge Weir, the bins were moved from the position that they had beenin for many years without permission of the authority.  Officersare arranging for the bins to be moved back to theiroriginal position.

Supplementary question from Cllr Brian Webber

Would the Executive Member agree that wheelie bins are notthings of beauty and that there are problems associated with them and will hebear this in mind in any decision making?

Answer from Executive Councillor Gerry Curran

I agree with Councillor Webber and will touch on this laterduring the debate on item 15 on this agenda.

2.     Question fromCllr Tim Ball

With the increased pressure of landfill tax, what is theExecutive Member doing to reduce the amount of refuse going to landfill andconsequently reducing cost to the council? 

Answer from Executive Councillor Gerry Curran

The Council adopted its Waste Strategy in July 2005which detailed a 5 year action plan to reduce waste to landfill and increasethe amount of waste recycled.  This action plan is in progress and newmeasures implemented at the Recycling Centres have contributed to a forecast 8%reduction in waste arisings in 05/06 and a year end forecast of 37% recycled (a5 % increase).

3.     Question fromCllr Gitte Dawson

What measures are being taken to manage energy use withincouncil buildings? 

Answer from Executive Councillor Gerry Curran

Property Services haverecently taken over energy procurement and management and are intending toemploy a dedicated Energy Manager shortly who will take on responsibility forthis role, ensuring that all aspects of energy within the council are monitoredand savings made where possible, in co-ordination with the Council'sCorporate Sustainability Officer.  Education of staff and other users isseen as an important aspect of achieving reductions in energy consumptionwithin the authority.

For many years theCouncil has, however, pursued energy saving measures where possible and hasbeen using lighting controls that frequently turn off lighting in offices thathave to be re-energised if the area is manned. Building Management systems areinstalled in most offices that monitor the heating systems and follow externaltemperatures to automatically adjust start and finish times. When newlighting is installed, low energy usage lighting is specified. This oftenresults in 30% energy saving.  During Legionella alterations waterstorage has been done away with in a large number ofbuildings and hot water taken direct from the heating source, againachieving large savings in energy use. This in the region of 35% savingsby calculation.

4.     Question fromCllr Andy Furse

In 2005, the Executive Member indicated there would be aninvestigation into the extension of egg oiling to all Council occupiedbuildings in the city centre. What progress has been made on this and would theExecutive Member consider extending this to all Council owned properties? 

Answer from Executive Councillor Vic Pritchard

With the approach of the newbreeding season, the Head of Environmental and Consumer services has circulatedall other heads of service requesting that appropriate officers e.g. surveyorsand building managers be advised of the intention to extend the scheme. Theyhave been asked to report known or suspected nest sites to the pest controlunit so that an appropriate oiling programme can be drafted for implementationlater this year. This work is in progress.

The Council, like otherowners/occupiers of effected properties, is only permitted to take actionagainst Herring and Lesser Black Backed Gulls in accordance with the terms ofthe General Licence issued by DEFRA under the Wildlife and Countryside Act1981. The purpose of any action must be for the protection of Public Health orPublic Safety. Prevention of nuisance is not by itself a valid purpose forinterfering with the gulls, their nests or eggs. The concentration of gulls atthe centre of the colony (around the city centre) where there is an obvious interfacebetween the birds and large numbers of people, creates a potential for publichealth or public safety issues which justifies block action. Away from thecentre of the colony, programmedinterference on council buildings loses validity in terms of the licence butthere may well be individual circumstances which warrant action. Egg oiling hastherefore already been extended, where relevant, to all council properties.