Meeting documents

1. Question from Bath Friends of the Earth

Will you support our call that a carbon-neutral economy should be a fundamental guiding principle of the Vision?

Answer to be given by Executive Councillor Gerry Curran

The document `2026: The Vision for the West of England in 2026 and delivery priorities' produced by the West of England Partnership for public consultation refers to the aspiration to achieve a carbon neutral sub-regional economy. The concept of "a carbon neutral economy" has wide-ranging implications for the sub-region and for a number of Council policy areas. It should be seen as a long term aspiration and research into its implications for Bath and North East Somerset would need to be undertaken and considered alongside other economic and social aspirations also set out in the sub-regional Vision. Therefore, whilst the Council (as part of the West of England Partnership) supports the concept of a carbon neutral economy in the West of England area as an aspiration it is one that needs to be considered alongside other economic and social aspirations.

2. Question from Tim Conroy

If the Council decide against buying the Wansdyke Business Park to site part of St John's School, how do they envisage the future of the land? Will the Business Park still be in operation in ten years time? Will the former factory sites which are already in a poor state continue to be standing?

Answer to be given by Executive Councillor Colin Darracott - see combined answer to question 2 & 3 at question 3 below

3. Question from Tim Conroy

The Wansdyke Business Park is for starter businesses so, by its nature, all the current users will not (or at least should not) be there in 5 years time. Is it therefore wise to deny the land to St John's school who will be there for many generations to come for the sake of businesses who will only be using it temporarily?

Answer to be given by Executive Councillor Colin Darracott

The Wansdyke Business Park is at present operating to capacity. The facility currently has occupants in all of its 22 units and King Sturge, the agents responsible for managing these premises, have a waiting list of clients that would keep the centre at occupancy should 27% of these units become available.

The size of these B-classified industrial units is between 500 sq/ft and 2,000 sq/ft, of which there is a paucity in the Bath area. The Economic Development Business Enquiry service records property enquiries from businesses looking to start-up, expand or relocate in the Bath & North East Somerset area. During 2003 and 2004 we received 54% more enquiries for industrial units than for office premises. Of these enquiries for industrial premises 67% were for units of 2,500 sq/ft and below indicating the high demand for workspace of this nature.

In terms of the condition of the site it is both structurally sound and fully able to support the activities currently undertaken in and around these units. The managing agents at present have no concerns over the state of these buildings to continue in their current use.

Bath & North East Somerset has a high level of start up activity and is consistently ranked among the top areas for the number of new businesses. In the Barclays Small Business Survey for Quarter 2 2003 we were ranked the 8th best Start-Up hotspot in the UK. During this period there were counted 50 new businesses per 10,000 people aged 16-59. In the same survey for the first half of 2004 this figure was 103, an increase of 3%. The loss of units such as these which are able to support small businesses could pose a significant risk to the sustaining of such start up activity.

One of the key objectives of the Council's Economic Strategy `Towards 2013' is to `support an enterprise culture which fosters business creation and growth and recognises the diversity of the areas business base'. To achieve this the provision of suitable workspace is key and under the local plan we have adopted a policy to protect small employment sites of 0.4 hectares and below within the city where there is clear evidence of the ability to sustain such a location.

If the Council decide to adopt a policy of discouraging business start-up activity because it has been deemed there is already a sufficient number active in the Bath area we will look at making land such as this available for other uses. Until then we aim to retain such facilities to support both the proven demand and the local and national initiatives aimed at encouraging entrepreneurship and small business development.

I must add, though, that the biggest risk to the economy is the lack of appropriate land in this area.

4. Question from Caroline Clayden (Mendip Cross Trails Trust)

Equal Access to multi-user paths in B&NES

We are grateful to the Overview and Scrutiny Panel and the Executive Member for Transport for organising a 12 month trial in order to confirm that equal access for horseriders on shared use paths is acceptable and safe. May we please ask the Executive Member to confirm that on completion of a successful trial period, the Council will implement and equal access policy on all multi-user paths throughout the B&NES authority, in line with Council policy in adjoining councils such as Somerset.

This will enable the Council to ensure that in future a policy of equality is implemented on all such routes, including those developed by other organisations with partnership funding.

Answer to be given by Executive Councillor Sir Elgar Jenkins

If the trial proves to be successful then use of the paths involved will be confirmed. At this stage, I cannot commit to introducing other paths without considering factors such as landowner approval and suitability of design or location. Where new paths are being created, the design will be such that allows for horse riders as long as the landowners approve.

5. Question from Councillor Caroline Roberts

In the Chancellor's pre-election budget in March 2005, the government pledged to provide free off peak local bus travel for the elderly by April 2006. As yet, there has been very little clarity or guidance on how this will be achieved and concerns over how this will be financed.

Has the Executive member conducted an investigation into the projected impact of free local bus travel for the elderly on this council, including the financial impact and if not is an investigation planned?

Answer to be given by Executive Councillor Sir Elgar Jenkins

Councils are still waiting for the guidance on how the provision of free travel for Over 60s will be financed. The impression given is that it will be included in our revenue settlement but the Council has not yet been given any indication of the cost to us of the policy.

At this stage, I would think that it is entirely possible that the policy will not be fully funded and thus put pressure on the Council's budgets in 2006/2007 and beyond.

At this stage I do not consider it appropriate to do any detailed work on potential costs until the basis of the scheme is understood. For instance it is not clear yet whether or not someone taking a trip from Bath to Cornwall would mean the cost of the concession being picked up by this authority alone.

6. Question from Councillor Chris Watt

The drugs charity `Involve' have now been part of the Council's commissioned services for about a year. Could the Executive Member details how he thinks the involvement of `Involve' has helped to improve the anti-drugs effort in B&NES?

Answer to be given by Executive Councillor Vic Pritchard

The work of Involve, who now conduct work for the Council under the name Project 28, has had a very positive affect on the anti-drugs effort in Bath and North East Somerset.

Project 28 undertakes a range of initiatives to help children and young people who have drug and alcohol problems including preventative work, open access services, treatment plans, and residential rehabilitation for those with the most serious problems. Training is also provided for professionals who work with children and young people, such as Social Services and Health Visitors. Project 28 has begun developing links with several schools in B&NES to undertake direct work within the education system, particularly preventative approaches.

In April/May 2005, there were 23 referrals to Project 28. These referrals cover a wide range of substance abuse, ranging from cannabis to heroin and crack cocaine. Under Project 28, these children and young people stand a better chance of a brighter future with access to such a comprehensive service.

I am delighted to report that the Community Safety and Drugs Partnership are pleased with the development of this service so far. There are two notable achievements. Firstly, there are a high number of self-referrals by young people indicating that the service is becoming increasingly well known and trusted. Secondly, increasing numbers of young people are willing to disclose Class A drug use which is a sign of high quality work and increased trust.

The future looks promising for this initiative.