Agenda and minutes

The Administrator drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure

At this point in the meeting declarations of interest are received from Members in any of the agenda items under consideration at the meeting. Members are asked to indicate:

(a) The agenda item number in which they have an interest to declare.

(b) The nature of their interest.

(c) Whether their interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or an other interest,  (as defined in Part 2, A and B of the Code of Conduct and Rules for Registration of Interests)

Any Member who needs to clarify any matters relating to the declaration of interests is recommended to seek advice from the Council’s Monitoring Officer before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

To consider any submissions received and decide what action to take, if any, on the matters raised therein. As the Questions and Answers 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.

The Chair referred to notice of Questions given by Councillor Brian Webber which, together with the answers, had been circulated at the meeting. (The document is attached as Appendix 1 to these Minutes). A number of speakers had given notice to make statements and they proceeded to do so. (Copies of statements, where provided, are included on the Minute Book). He informed the meeting that notice of a Question had been given by Jon Harrop, Bath Lacrosse Club, and this and the reply had been included on the Questions and Statements document which had also been circulated. (The Question and Statement document is attached as Appendix 2 to these Minutes).

To consider a report regarding a draft scheme issued by the Charity Commission which would alter the trusts of the Recreation Ground charity and which, if confirmed, would enable the trustees to resolve the breaches of the existing trusts arising from the lease to Bath Rugby Club and the Leisure Centre being on trust land

The Board considered the report of the Lead Advisor to the Recreation Ground Trust informing that the Charity Commission had issued a draft Scheme which would alter the trusts of the Recreation Ground charity and which, if confirmed, would enable the trustees to resolve the breaches of the existing trusts arising from the lease to Bath Rugby Club and the Leisure Centre being on Trust land.

The Lead Advisor to the Recreation Ground Trust introduced his report and stated that the draft Scheme by the Charity Commission was an “enabling” scheme and provided a framework for the Trust to go forward. It would resolve the current problems with the objectives of the Trust and existing land uses. The timetable was determined by the Charity Commission and the Scheme would be published tomorrow and give one month in which representations can be made to the Charity Commission. He emphasised that this was not a new consultation and not a planning application or a property transaction but would deal with the uses of the land and constitution.

The Recreation Trust Project Adviser gave a power point presentation which covered the issues of the Objects of the Trust, Conflicts with the Objects, Strategic Review Options, Increases due to Lambridge and the Main Features of the Scheme. The draft Scheme had been slightly amended since the despatch of the Agenda papers and a revised version had been circulated. He stated that representations would need to be sent to the Charity Commission (details of how to do this were in the Report) but Officers and Members were available to assist with enquiries and explanations. Copies of the leaflet “The Future for the Rec”, together with plans showing the existing land use of the Recreation Ground and an indicative reconfiguration of the Ground showing activities and opportunity for additional activities, were available for members of the public to take away; further copies could be made available on request.

The Chair stated that he was willing on this occasion to take questions from the floor. The members of the public asked their questions about the use of Lambridge Training Ground (land swap), the draft Scheme, the Leisure Centre and the Rugby Club to which Officers responded. Councillor Manda Rigby also asked various questions to which the Chair responded. Councillor Dave Laming requested that, as Ward Member for Lambridge, he be included in any matters involving the Training Ground.

The Chair reiterated some of the main points of the draft Scheme. Councillor Tim Ball stated that this was a draft Scheme by the Charity Commission which would give enabling powers to a reconstituted Trust. Therefore, if confirmed, this could be the last meeting of the Trust as currently set up. He supported the proposals of the Charity Commission and therefore moved approval of the Recommendations as set out in paragraph 2.1 (i) – (iv) of the report. The motion was seconded by Councillor Simon Allen and on being put to the vote was carried unanimously.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

To consider a date for the next meeting of the Board

The Chair stated that the date of the next meeting would not be decided at this time pending the decision of the Charity Commission on the proposed new arrangements for the Trust Board.