Issue - meetings

Endorsement of the Green Infrastructure Strategy for Bath & NE Somerset following amendments arising from consultation in May 2012

Virginia Williamson (Convenor, Transition Bath Food Group) in a statement [a copy of which is attached to the Minutes as Appendix 12 and on the Council's website] referred to the fact that although DEFRA included agriculture within its definition of green infrastructure, the B&NES document seemed to ignore the role of agriculture despite being a substantially agricultural area.

Councillor Peter Anketell-Jones in an ad hoc statement welcomed the new strategy but warned that measuring “growth” and “progress” would always lead to more tarmac.  He asked why the Park and Ride sites could not be included in the document, so as to encourage planting, wildlife and access to the countryside.

Peter Duppa-Miller (Secretary, Local Councils Association) in an ad hoc statement [a copy of which is attached to the Minutes as Appendix 13 and on the Council's website] asked the Cabinet to endorse the amended strategy.

Councillor Paul Crossley in proposing the item, thanked Councillor Peter Anketell-Jones for his suggestion about the inclusion of Park and Ride sites.

Councillor Tim Ball seconded the proposal.  He referred to the comments made by Virginia Williamson by saying that he felt the need for food was outside the remit of a green infrastructure strategy.  He was pleased to report however that the PCT had appointed a Food Project Officer which he felt was the right way to tackle the issue.

Councillor Roger Symonds observed that the document would form an important part of the Core Strategy.  He reminded the meeting that Bath had been the site of the very first farmers’ market in the whole country and that it was still going strong.

Councillor Cherry Beath agreed that local food sourcing was very important.  She reported that in Combe Down the local people had planted an edible landscape and had taken other initiatives to improve the area.

Councillor Dine Romero also reported the planning in Southdown of blackthorn and apple trees.  Some local schools were using local produce in their kitchens where possible and in some cases that was coming from the school’s own garden, grown by the pupils.

On a motion from Councillor Paul Crossley, seconded by Councillor Tim Ball, it was

RESOLVED (unanimously)

(1) To APPROVE the Green Infrastructure Strategy “Valuing people, place and nature” for the Bath and North East Somerset area;

(2) To SUPPORT delivery of the Strategy by championing Green Infrastructure and commend the Strategy to the partners and stakeholders who have shaped it and invite them to continue to work with the Council to develop and deliver the action plan; and

(3) To DELEGATE authority to the Divisional Director for Planning and Transport Development, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, to make minor text changes and minor design changes to the layout, if required, and for the inclusion of the rest of the appendices and changes to the selection of photos to the Strategy.