Agenda and minutes

The Chairman drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure for the Assembly rooms.

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.

Councillor Eleanor Jackson declared an ‘other’ interest in the Core Strategy item as a member of Meadow View Residents Action group who had previously given evidence to the Planning Inspector.

Councillor Sarah Bevan declared an ‘other’ interest in the Core Strategy item, having involvement with the River Corridor Trust (not as a Trustee but carrying out press/publicity on behalf of the Trust).

Councillor Neil Butters declared an ‘other’ interest in the Core Strategy item as a resident of Southstoke Lane.

Councillor Manda Rigby declared an ‘other’ interest in the Core Strategy item as Chairman of Bath city football club who currently have their grounds at Twerton park.

On a motion from Councillor David Bellotti, seconded by Councillor Eleanor Jackson, it was

RESOLVED that the minutes of the 19^th February be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair(man).

The Chairman made the following announcements;

1.  He congratulated Councillor Geoff Ward on becoming a Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial army.

2.  He asked everyone to turn their phones to off/silent and reminded members of the public that some Councillors were accessing their meeting papers on their iPads.

3.  He asked everyone to keep contributions to the debate relevant and not repeat comments already made.

4.  He indicated that a short comfort break would be announced if necessary at an appropriate time in the meeting.

5.  He announced that item 8 “Referral from the Standards Committee” would be taken after the Core Strategy item.

There were no items of urgent business.

Statements to the meeting were made by the following people;

·  Mark Owens, Managing Director of Horseworld, addressed the meeting.  A copy of his statement is available on the Minute book and attached to the electronic record.

·  Mary Walsh, Joint Chair of Whitchurch village Action group, addressed the meeting.  A copy of her statement is available on the Minute book and attached to the electronic record.

·  Cliff Shellard, Chairman of Fosseway campaign group, made a statement in which he argued against the use of green field sites and unwelcome speculative development in the Somer valley.  He highlighted one area, a site that was not in the Core Strategy and presented a petition against the Development at Fosseway South Midsomer Norton – Plot no. 5400, Ref. 13/00127/out.  He pressed for progress on the Placemaking plan.

·  Jill Britten addressed the meeting.  A copy of her statement is available on the Minute book and attached to the electronic record.

·  Nigel Websper addressed the meeting.  A copy of his statement is available on the Minute book and attached to the electronic record.

·  Racheal Hushon addressed the meeting as a local Bath resident.  A copy of her statement is available on the Minute book and attached to the electronic record.

·  David Redgewell endorsed the need for a sustainable Core Strategy and urged Councillors to make the difficult decisions to allocate housing. A copy of a statement from David is available on the Minute book and attached to the electronic record.

·  Robert Hellard, Vice-Chairman of South Stoke Parish Council, addressed the meeting.  A copy of his statement is available on the Minute book and attached to the electronic record.

·  Peter Duppa-Miller addressed the meeting.  A copy of his statement is available on the Minute book and attached to the electronic record.

·  Caroline Kay addressed the meeting on behalf of the Bath Preservation Trust.  A copy of her statement is available on the Minute book and attached to the electronic record.

·  Sarah Moore addressed the meeting.  A copy of her statement is available on the Minute book and attached to the electronic record.

·  Geoff Dunford, Chairman of the  River Regeneration Trust, addressed the meeting.  He explained their vision of wanting to reconnect communities to the river Avon through various measures including giving more access, cleaning it up, using it to transport people and goods, protecting biodiversity etc. In response to a question from Councillor Paul Crossley seeking clarification on Mr Dunford’s reference to the Broadmead peninsula, Mr Dunford responded that it was the area between the river and the railway behind the Co-operative shop, to the north of the railway line.  In response to a further question from Councillor Dave Laming querying whether Mr Dunford had any experience of employment in this field, Mr Dunford responded that he’d been in the catering and leisure industry for many years and had a training company for those who wished to work in these sectors.  Basically, he identified where jobs were available and designed courses to meet that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 88.

This report sets out the changes to the Bath & North East Somerset Core Strategy needed to address the examination Inspector’s concerns raised following the hearings which were held in January 2012.

The Council considered a report setting out changes to the Bath & North East Somerset Core Strategy needed to address the examination Inspector’s concerns raised following the hearings which were held in January 2012.

In addition to the reports circulated with the agenda, all Councillors and members of the public at the meeting received a copy of a composite replacement motion.

During the debate, Councillor Paul Crossley moved, seconded by Councillor Tim Ball, that the meeting continue until 11pm in accordance with Council rule 48. This was accepted by the meeting.

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

RESOLVED to

(1)  Note the errata to the Council report listed in Schedule 1 of the composite recommendation and circulated at the meeting (unanimous);

(2)  Agree that the Core Strategy should be amended to enable an increase of around 10,200 jobs and 12,700 homes, including around 3,100 affordable homes, in B&NES between 2011 and 2029 as set out in Annex 1 of the report (unanimous);

(3)  Agree that each of the locations listed in Table 8 of Annex 1 of the report identified for development in the Plan period, and set out below are (voting shown in Notes below); -

a)  Land adjoining Odd Down

b)  Land adjoining Weston

c)  Extension to MoD Ensleigh

d)  Land adjoining East Keynsham

e)  Land adjoining South West Keynsham (south of K2)

f)  Land at Whitchurch

g)  Somer Valley area, with a change to strike the following words from the officers report at page 55, Somer Valley section – line 6 “around 2 or 3” and line 8 “All new sites are highly likely to be greenfield” in order to ensure these words do not influence Council’s decision to adopt the Core Strategy and/or pre-empt the Placemaking plan.

h)  Rural Areas, with a change regarding Policy RA1, to request that Cabinet investigate the current RA1 status of Clutton and to consider if it should be listed as RA2 and with a correction to the officer report, page 55, Rural Areas section, final sentence, to replace ‘5 years’ with ’18 years’.

(4)  Agree the necessary planning requirements in Table 10 with the inclusion of affordable housing targets in the ‘Land at Whitchurch’ section on page 69 of the report;

(5)  Agree the proposed changes to the following Core Strategy Policies as set out in Annex 2 of the report, as modified at (5) a) and c) below;

a)  B1(8): The Recreation Ground, Bath – adjoining the Central Area, at the Recreation Ground, and subject to the resolution of any unique legal issues and constraints, enable the development of a sporting, cultural and leisure stadium;

b)  CP.4: District Heating (unanimous);

c)  CP.9: Affordable Housing – with the proviso that the map designations are subservient to the site specific policies;

d)  CP.11: Accommodation needs of Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling showpeople  (1 abstention);

(6)  Agree the Schedule of Proposed Changes to the Submitted Core Strategy in Annex 3, as varied  ...  view the full minutes text for item 89.

At a hearing on 17^th January 2013, the Standards Committee considered a complaint concerning Councillor X.  The Committee resolved;

With regard to the issue of the house which is owned by a relative of Councillor X, the Committee found that Councillor X had failed to comply with the Code of Conduct.  At the Development Control Committee on 26^th September 2012, at which a planning application for development on land adjacent to the house was considered, Councillor X should have declared a non-disclosable pecuniary or other interest in the light of his family connection and should not have spoken or voted on the application.

The Committee therefore recommends to Council that Councillor X be censured.

Council is asked to CONSIDER the Committee’s recommendation.

[Councillor X will be identified at the meeting].

The Council considered a referral from the Standards Committee.  The Chairman identified Councillor Les Kew as the Councillor concerned.

Cllr Kew apologised for his error in failing to declare an interest to the Development Control Committee in relation to the Maynard’s Terrace, Clutton application; following which Council censured him as per the recommendation of the Standards Committee.

On a motion from Councillor Sally Davis, seconded by Councillor Nigel Roberts, it was

RESOLVED that Councillor Les Kew be censured by Council.