Agenda and minutes

The Chairman drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure as set out on the agenda.

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 complete the green interest forms circulated to groups in their pre-meetings (which will be announced at the Council Meeting) 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.

On a motion from Councillor Tim Warren, seconded by Councillor Dave Dixon, it was

RESOLVED that the minutes of 16^th January 2014 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Chairman made the customary announcements regarding mobile phones, webcasting the meeting and a comfort break.

He checked that everyone had seen the extra documents that had been circulated following the despatch of the agenda; the Resources Policy Development & Scrutiny Panel minutes, the Formal Council Tax setting resolutions (Appendix 7 to the budget report), the revised Budget recommendations and the various amendments.  He explained that a recorded vote would be taken for all budget decisions on item 8, in accordance with new legislation.

The Chairman announced his intention to take item 10, the petition for debate, straight after item 7, before the budget consideration.

He also offered congratulations to Lizzie Yarnold from the University of Bath for her success in winning a gold medal at the Winter Olympics.

There were no items of urgent business.

Statements were made by the following people;

·  Leonie Robertson made a statement regarding a proposed zebra crossing on Lansdown road.  She referred to the petition she had brought to the November Council and asked Councillors to now vote to the secure the funds that were needed.

·  Karen Avent made a statement in support of the zebra crossing on Lansdown road, a copy of which has been placed on the Council’s Minute book and is attached electronically to the minutes.

·  Stephen Little made a statement also in support of a zebra crossing on Lansdown road.  In response to a question from Councillor Patrick Anketell-Jones about having a traffic island, Mr Little responded that it was a step in the right direction but not as good.

·  Jess Entwistle also made a statement in support of a crossing, as a parent of 2 sons at St Andrew’s school who had difficulty crossing the road and stressed the danger of the current situation.  In response to a question from Councillor Paul Crossley acknowledging the awkward and complex nature of the crossing and seeking agreement that it was a good thing that money had been allocated to this in the budget, Ms Entwistle agreed that it was.

·  Conor Haughton made a statement regarding the zebra crossing on Lansdown road.  A copy of the statement has been placed on the Council’s Minute book and is attached electronically to the minutes.

·  David Redgewell made a statement regarding the Greater Bristol Supported Bus network.  A copy of the statement has been placed on the Council’s Minute book and is attached electronically to the minutes. The statement was referred to the Cabinet member for Transport.

·  David Redgewell made a statement regarding MetroWest, economic strategy for Transport and rail resilience.  In response to a question from Councillor Paul Crossley about whether David Redgewell was aware that the Cabinet were talking to Network Rail about CCTV on stations, David said that he was aware and he welcomed it. A copy of the statement has been placed on the Council’s Minute book and is attached electronically to the minutes. The statement was referred to the Cabinet member for Transport.

·  David Redgewell made a statement regarding South West regional rail resilience and investment.  A copy of the statement has been placed on the Council’s Minute book and is attached electronically to the minutes. The statement was referred to the Cabinet member for Transport.

This report presents the Cabinet's draft medium term financial plan, and revenue and capital budgets for the 2014/15 financial year together with a proposal for a Council Tax level for 2014/15.

The Council considered a report presenting the Cabinet’s draft and medium term financial plan, and revenue and capital budgets for the 2014/15 financial year together with a proposal for a Council tax level for 2014/15.

In addition to the reports circulated with the agenda, all Councillors received a copy of the draft minute of the Resources Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 10^th February with the Panel’s comments on the budget proposals.  Councillors also received Appendix 7 – Formal Council Tax Setting resolutions (incorporating precepts from Parishes, Fire and Police).

On a motion from Councillor Paul Crossley, seconded by Councillor Tim Warren, it was RESOLVED that the Council suspends Council rule 42, Content and Length of Speeches, for the duration of this debate so as to enable variations to be permitted to the length of speeches by the Cabinet Member for Community Resources, the Conservative, Labour and Independent Groups and the Chair of the Resources Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel.  During the debate, a motion was received from Councillor Paul Crossley that the meeting continue until 1am in accordance with Council rule 48.  This was accepted by the meeting.

On a motion from Councillor David Bellotti, seconded by Councillor Paul Crossley, it was

RESOLVED

1.  To approve:

a.  The General Fund net revenue budget for 2014/15 of £120.386m with no increase in Council Tax, with the additional sums allocated from the Financial Planning Reserve;

  i.  £100k over two years to support the delivery of the Council’s Advice Services Strategy and protect as far as possible the universal advice services currently provided under contract for the Council;

  ii.  £200k as a revenue contribution to capital for additional funding for Disabled Facilities Grants;

  iii.  £50k to create a Looked After Children & Disabled Young Persons fund, which can be used to enable foster carers to access grants to provide activities, facilities and equipment for children in their care, to meet exceptional needs linked to the learning and achievement of Looked After children, particularly at Key Stage 4 and to enable parents, foster carers and legal guardians of young disabled people supported by the Council’s Disabled Children’s Team to access funds to meet or enhance the equipment needs of these children;

b.  That no special  Expenses be charged other than Town and Parish  Council precepts for 2014/15;

c.  The adequacy of reserves at Appendix 1, table 8 with a risk-assessed level of £10.5m;

d.  The individual service cash limits for 2014/15 summarised at Appendix 1, table 4 and detailed in Annex 1;

e.  That the specific arrangements for the governance and release of reserves, including invest to save proposals, be delegated to the Council’s Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community Resources and the Chief Executive;

f.  Recognising the proposals and feedback from the Resources PDS Panel;

  i.  To earmark an on-going revenue allocation of £300k for 2015/16 onwards to be ring-fenced to further reduce the savings required specifically relating to Children’s Centre Services.  It is intended  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68.

In February 2012, the Council adopted the revised CIPFA Treasury Management in Public services Code of Practice 2011 Edition, which requires the Council to approve a Treasury Management Strategy before the start of each financial year and for this to be scrutinised by an individual / group of individuals or committee.

In addition, the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) issued revised guidance on local authority investments in March 2010 that requires the Council to approve an investment strategy before the start of each financial year.

This report fulfils the Council’s legal obligation under the Local Government Act 2003 to have regard to both the CIPFA Code and the CLG Guidance.

Councillors considered a report which fulfilled the Council’s legal obligation under the Local Government Act 2003 to approve a Treasury Management Strategy and an Investment Strategy before the start of each financial year, in accordance with the CIPFA Code and the CLG Guidance.

The report had also been scrutinised by the Corporate Audit Committee on 4^th February 2014.

On a motion from Councillor David Bellotti, seconded by Councillor Andy Furse, it was

RESOLVED (unan)

1.  To approve the actions proposed within the Treasury Management Strategy Statement (Appendix 1);

2.  To approve the Investment Strategy (Appendix 2);

3.  To approve the authorised lending lists detailed in Appendix 2 and highlighted in Appendix 3.

An electronic petition has been received regarding regeneration plans for London road.  According to the Council’s petition scheme, if a petition with over 1000 signatures of people who live, work and study in Bath & North East Somerset is received and meets the criteria, it triggers a debate at Council.

An electronic petition had been received regarding London road regeneration and the effect on cyclists.  According to the Council’s petition scheme, if a petition with over 1000 qualifying signatures of people who live, work and study in Bath & North East Somerset is received, a debate is held at Council.

The following members of the public made statements at this item;

·  Polly Cassidy made a statement concerning her cycle route to work along London road and the difficulties she encountered.  She considered most of the scheme to be fine but it needed to be safe for cyclists.

·  Francesca Thompson made a statement as a resident of London road and Chair of the Gateway Steering group.  She outlined the work that had taken place thus far and the plans which were designed to benefit the whole community.

·  Alex Schlesinger made a statement in support of the Gateway project.  A copy of the statement has been placed on the Council’s Minute book and is attached electronically to the minutes.

·  Ian Parsons spoke as a local resident and mentioned the links Gateway had made with other organisations which had already attracted private investment. He urged the Council not to delay in enabling the project to go forward.

·  Katy Mallia made a statement in support of the Gateway proposals which had been amended to incorporate a positive response to concerns about cycling.  She stressed the need to consider the area as a neighbourhood, not just a route to pass through.  In response to a question from Councillor Bryan Chalker about whether a police presence would make a difference, Ms Mallia responded that it did make a real difference when a PCSO was present to check that cycle boxes and traffic lights were kept clear.

·  Susan Traill made a statement as a resident of London Road and a pedestrian and public transport user.  She commented on the congestion and conflicting uses of the pavement, which could not be considered for just one set of users in isolation. 

·  Michelle Farmer spoke as a resident of Walcot Terrace who was concerned about potential proposals to change the Walcot Terrace area which has wide pavements, a loading bay and a cycle lane, and set out her reasons why this would be detrimental.   In response to a question from Councillor Patrick Anketell-Jones enquiring whether Ms Farmer was aware that B&NES had a road user hierarchy which placed pedestrians at the top, she responded that she was aware but still did not consider the area should be changed for the reasons she had outlined.

Bryn Jones, lead petitioner, spoke in support of the petition of 1150 signatures and on behalf of the community cycling groups.

Following contributions from Members, the Chairman announced that the comments would be fed into the ongoing consultation on the project.

The purpose of this report is to invite the Council to name a Councillor as Chair(man) of the Council (Designate) for the next Council Year beginning in May 2014.  The Council, at its Annual Meeting on 8th May 2014, will still be required formally to elect a Councillor to be the Chair(man) of the Council for the forthcoming Council Year.

This report allows Council to indicate which Councillor is likely to take over as Chairman from the Annual General meeting in May.  This allows advance planning of the Chairman’s diary but will still require a formal election to take place at the May meeting.

On a motion from Councillor Paul Crossley, seconded by Councillor Tim Warren and with an indication of support from Councillors John Bull and Bryan Chalker, it was

RESOLVED (unan) that Councillor Martin Veal be designated as Council Chairman for the Council year 2014/15 and that a Liberal Democrat Councillor be nominated as Vice-Chairman at the May Council meeting.

There were none.