Issue - meetings

The Democratic Services Manager will announce any submissions received. The Council will be invited to decide what action it wishes to take, if any, on the matters raised in these submissions. As the questions received and the answers given will be circulated in written form there is no requirement for them to be read out at the meeting. The questions and answers will be published with the draft minutes.

Statements were made by the following people;

Donna Smith presented a petition of over 500 signatures calling for Special Guardians to be treated the same as Foster Carers.  She explained that they faced the same issues but without the necessary support or funding to assist. In response to a question from Councillor Tim Ball about what the Local Authority could do better to support Special Guardians, Mrs Smith said it would be useful if more support groups could be arranged so Guardians could help one another.  Councillor Robin Moss asked if it would be helpful if he raised this at the next meeting of the Fostering Panel to which Mrs Smith agreed it would.  Councillor Sarah Bevan asked whether they had been offered training to undertake this role, Mrs Smith replied that they had had not anything, although she understood that training was now being offered.  She added her view that it should be compulsory.  Councillor Lin Patterson asked for clarification of SGO – Special Guardianship Order – and whether she could access more information about this online.  The Chairman thanked Mrs Smith for her statement and explained that a copy of her petition would be passed to the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services.

William Gaskell made a statement about wellbeing in Bath.  [A full copy of the statement has been placed on the Council’s Minute book and attached to the online minutes.]  In response to a question from Councillor Sarah Bevan enquiring whether Mr Gaskell had been the victim of violence, he responded that he had, both here and in London.  The Chairman thanked Mr Gaskell for his statement which was referred to the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health.

Christina Biggs from the Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways made a statement urging Councillors to carefully consider the devolution deal and transport opportunities it could offer, and to negotiate for what the area needed.  [A full copy of the statement and railway map has been placed on the Council’s Minute book and attached to the online minutes.]  In response to a question from Councillor Joe Rayment about whether Ms Biggs was aware that a majority decision under devolution had to include the vote of the Mayor, Ms Biggs referred to Section 5 of the deal which she didn’t see as presenting a problem.  Councillor Jonathan Carr referred to the railway map and asked about potential stations in rural B&NES; to which Ms Biggs responded that a service from Weston Super Mare to Chippenham could stop at all stations in between.  The Chairman thanked Ms Biggs for her statement which would be referred to the relevant Cabinet Members.

Colin Skellett made a statement on the business perspective of the devolution deal, urging Councillors to recognise the significant challenges the Authority faced and the opportunity the deal would bring with investment and additional powers.  [A full copy of the statement can be accessed via the online minutes and on the Council’s Minute book.]  In response to a question  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8