Issue - meetings

Sophie Broadfield, Director of Sustainable Communities, introduced the report and referred to slides which covered the following:

·  2021 Budget Performance – Quarter 2 Forecast on Budget

·  The Budget Context

·  Core Spending Power – The annual funding from Council Tax and Government Grant Income

·  The 2022/23 Budget Headlines

·  2022/23 Budget Proposals

·  The five year forward view

·  Appendix 1: Draft Savings and Income Proposals

·  Appendix 2: Draft Funding Requirement Proposals

·  Appendix 3: Draft Emerging Capital Proposals for Climate Emergency and Sustainability PDS Panel Portfolios

Panel members asked the following questions and made the following points:

Councillor Grant Johnson commented that this was an unrealistic budget with further costs being put on to residents. He stated that he would like more transparency in the budget papers. Councillor Johnson asked the following questions (Officer or Cabinet Member response shown in italics):

·  How can the Council raise the cost of the Garden Waste Service as this service is not always delivered? Councillor Dave Wood, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services, explained that there is extra investment going into curb side recycling to help build resilience after years of underinvestment in this area. There have been some recent staffing issues due to Covid – this was only for a couple of weeks whereas other areas have had to stand down this service for longer so I am proud of our service. He added that more residents had signed up for the service.

·  Introducing Car Parking Charges in Midsomer Norton and Radstock will have a catastrophic effect on the high street, do you know how much damage that will do? Councillor Richard Samuel, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Resources, responded that the savings proposed are realistic, they have been through a very rigorous process. Regarding car parking charges, this is one of the areas of income for the Council. Parking is currently free in the Somer Vally and Midsomer Norton and we have had feedback that this leads to people block parking all day. High Streets want a high turn over in car parks. He added that you cannot just remove something from budget proposals, it must balance. He rejected Councillor Grant’s reference to Bath parking being a ‘mess’. He explained that free parking has been removed on single yellow lines on Sundays in Bath. He explained that the yellow notices on cars shown in pictures in the local press were not fines but warnings. This charge encourages use of Park and Rides and Car Parks.

Councillor Lisa O Brien asked the following questions (Officer or Cabinet Member response shown in italics):

·  I am concerned to see a potential saving regarding street lighting – the Council unanimously agreed to a motion on women’s safety and one of the issues was bad lighting. Councillor Dave Wood, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services, explained that there would be no reduction in the service and that there was a rolling programme.

·  I would also like reassurance in terms of the Climate Emergency staffing budget savings. Sophie Broadfield, Director of Sustainable  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39