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.

Councillor Will Sandry declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in item 12 on Tobacco Control as an employee of Imperial Tobacco Limited.

Councillor Lorraine Morgan-Brinkhurst MBE declared an ‘other’ interest in item 10 – “Apprenticeships, Work placements, Work experience, Internships and Volunteering policy” as a non-executive Director on Sirona Care and Health.

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

RESOLVED that the minutes of 11^th July 2013 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Chairman made the customary announcements regarding mobile phones and a comfort break.  He also announced that item 11 had been withdrawn from the agenda.  At his invitation, the Council’s Monitoring Officer explained how the petition for debate item would be conducted.

There were no items of urgent business.

Statements were made by the following people;

·  Pat Ryan made a statement regarding the impact of the Council Tax Support scheme and the bedroom tax.  In response to a question from Councillor John Bull asking if Mrs Ryan was aware that Members of the Labour and Independent groups, and some Members of the Conservative group had attempted last November to get Cabinet to consider other sources of revenue to restore the loss of benefit but that this had not been taken up by the Cabinet, Mrs Ryan responded that she had not been aware of that and was sorry to hear it.  The statement was referred to the Cabinet Member for Community Resources.  A copy of the statement has been placed on the Council’s Minute book and linked to the electronic record.

·  David Metcalfe, Co-Chair of the Cultural Forum for the Bath Area made a statement regarding the arts sector.  In response to a query from Councillor Dave Laming about the role of the river in future arts planning, Mr Metcalfe responded that he would love to develop this as much as possible and was aware of the future event to which Councillor Laming had made reference.  The statement was referred to the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development.  A copy of the statement has been placed on the Council’s Minute book and linked to the electronic record.

·  Belinda Kidd, Chief Executive of Bath Festivals made a statement outlining the benefits the arts bring to Bath & North East Somerset.  In response to a question from Councillor Tim Warren about whether the collaborative partnership approach she was seeking from the Council meant money or help, Ms Kidd responded that it was a bit of both.  She understood the tough times the Council faced but believed that a sense of partnership would act as a catalyst for facilitating creativity.  In response to a question from Councillor Eleanor Jackson enquiring whether the programme of festivals would be extended to the Somer valley, Ms Kidd responded that they hoped to do so, and had already been working with libraries and youth centres in that area.  In response to a question from Councillor Dave Laming whether there were any plans for a river festival this year, Belinda Kidd responded that they would love to hold such an event which would need considerable funds raised to cover the health and safety aspects of it.  The statement was referred to the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development.  A copy of the statement has been placed on the Council’s Minute book and linked to the electronic record.

·  Nicolette Boater made a statement regarding statutory officer roles.  The statement was referred to the Leader.  A copy of the statement has been placed on the Council’s Minute book and linked to the electronic record.

·  David Redgewell made a statement about bus service alterations and progress on MetroWest.  In response to a question from the Leader enquiring whether Mr Redgewell was aware of the forthcoming major transport consultation that was being planned,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

An electronic petition has been received – “Save Bath’s Public Toilets” - containing 2298 signatures.  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, it triggers a debate at Council.

The Council had received a petition entitled ‘Save Bath’s Public Toilets’ with sufficient signatures to trigger a debate at Council.

Lin Patterson, lead petitioner, spoke in support of the petition.  A copy of the statement is attached to the Minute book and attached electronically to the minutes.

It was moved by Councillor David Dixon, seconded by Councillor Paul Crossley, and

RESOLVED (unanimously) as set out below;

Council wishes to provide public conveniences which:

• Are modern and well maintained and which meet the needs of both the residents and visitors to the district.
• Meet acceptable standards of cleanliness and hygiene.
• Are located strategically across the district.
• Are accessible and safe to all users.
• Address night time economy issues.

Council notes:

• That access to toilets is very important for many people who live in, work in and visit our area.
• That toilets in public buildings are now publicly accessible.
• That the budget set by Council expects a saving of £120k on public convenience provision to be delivered in the 2014/15 financial year.
• That the equalities issues arising from this budget proposal have been analysed and a statement prepared in September 2012, which is available at; http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/sites/default/files/siteimages/equality_public_toilets_sept_2012.docx
• The increase in toilets in the private sector over recent years, some of which the Council has enabled through planning and development grants at no cost to the tax payer. These include Bath Bus Station, Southgate, Waitrose and the new one that will be delivered through the Keynsham redevelopment.

• And recognises the serious concerns of residents over the planned closure of a number of the Council’s public toilets.
• And recognises the importance of easily accessible public toilets and the value placed upon them by the general public, particularly in the case of elderly and disabled residents, and those with certain health problems.
• And supports plans to upgrade and improve the Council’s public toilet provision, where appropriate and needed.
• And is concerned by the continued lack of certainty over the future of those toilets earmarked for closure if no suitable alternative can be found.

Council resolves:

1.  To ask that Officers continue to work with local ward Members on seeking alternative public toilet provision, or identifying alternative funding arrangements, in areas where public toilets are earmarked for closure.

2.  That where no suitable nearby alternative provision can be found, or alternative arrangements identified, Cabinet halt the planned toilet closures and maintain existing public toilet facilities in these areas until the end of the current financial year.

3.  To request that officers review the arrangements for the new public toilet maintenance contract to investigate potential options for retaining a greater number of public toilets, whilst still seeking to achieve the target level of savings within the Medium Term Service and Resource Plan (MTSRP).

4.  To instruct Cabinet, as part of the 2014/15 budget and MTSRP, to bring forward revised proposals which maintain public toilet facilities in areas where no suitable alternative provision can be found or alternative funding arrangements can be identified, unless consultation with the local community  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

The Corporate Audit Committee has specific delegated powers given to it from Full Council and as such is required to report back annually to Council under its Terms of Reference.  This is the Annual Report of the Committee which details its work over the last year.

The Corporate Audit Committee has specific delegated powers given to it from Council and, as such, is required to report back annually to Council under its Terms of Reference.  This is the annual report of the Committee which details its work over the last year.

On a motion from Councillor Will Sandry, seconded by Councillor Brian Webber, it was

RESOLVED to note the annual report of the Corporate Audit Committee.

This report proposes that a coordinated approach should be followed by all Council services to ensure that any schemes apply the same broad principles, deliver the Government agenda and assist the Council to deliver an “excellent” programme of apprenticeships, work placements, work experience, internships and volunteering.

The Council considered a report describing a coordinated approach to be followed by all Council services to ensure that any schemes apply the same broad principles, deliver the Government agenda and assist the Council to deliver an “excellent” programme of apprenticeships, work placements, work experience, internships and volunteering.  The policy has already been adopted by the Cabinet on 12^th June 2013 and Council is asked to endorse it.

On a motion from Councillor Ben Stevens, seconded by Councillor Andy Furse, it was

RESOLVED (unanimously) to endorse the policy agreed by Cabinet on 12^th June 2013.

This paper puts in place arrangements to enable decisions to be taken that are not within an existing approved capital budget or relevant contingency reserve for the approval of expenditure necessary to deal with unanticipated issues that arise in an expeditious manner.

This item was withdrawn from the agenda.

To be moved by Councillor Simon Allen on behalf of the Liberal Democrat Group.

The Council considered a motion from the Liberal Democrat group.

On a motion from Councillor Simon Allen, seconded by Councillor Katie Hall, it was

RESOLVED to agree the motion as set out below;

We acknowledge that:

·  Smoking is the single greatest cause of premature death and disease in our communities;

·  Reducing smoking in our communities significantly increases household incomes and benefits the local economy;

·  Reducing smoking amongst the most disadvantaged in our communities is the single most important means of reducing health inequalities;

·  Smoking is an addiction largely taken up by children and young people, two thirds of smokers start start before the age of 18;

·  Smoking is an epidemic created and sustained by the tobacco industry, which promotes uptake of smoking to replace the 80,000 people its products kill in England every year; and

·  The illicit trade in tobacco funds the activities of organised criminal gangs and gives children access to cheap tobacco.

As local leaders in public health, we welcome the:

·  Opportunity for local government to lead local action to tackle smoking and secure the health, welfare, social, economic and environmental benefits that come from reducing smoking prevalence;

·  Commitment by the government to live up to its obligations as a party to the World Health Organisation’s framework convention on Tobacco control (FCTC) and in particular to protect the development of public health policy from the vested interests of the tobacco industry; and

·  Endorsement of this declaration by Department of Health, Public Health England and professional bodies.

We commit our Council from 12^th September 2013 to:

·  Act at a local level to reduce smoking prevalence and health inequalities and to raise the profile of the harm caused by smoking to our communities;

·  Develop plans with our partners and local communities to address the causes and impacts of tobacco use;

·  Participate in local and regional networks for support;

·  Support the government in taking action at national level to help local authorities reduce smoking prevalence and health inequalities in our communities;

·  Protect our tobacco control work from the commercial and vested interests of the tobacco industry by not accepting any partnerships, payments, gifts and services, monetary or in kind or research funding offered by the tobacco industry to officials or employees;

·  Monitor the progress of our plans against our commitments and publish the results;

·  Publicly declare our commitment to reducing smoking in our communities by joining the Smokefree Action Coalition, the alliance of organisations working to reduce the harm caused by tobacco; and

·  Write to local MPs requesting them to ask the Government to reinstate its proposed legislation requiring cigarettes to be marketed only in standard packages and without images provided by the tobacco companies.

[Notes;

1.  The underlined wording in the resolution constitutes an adjustment moved by the Labour group and accepted by the mover and seconder of the motion.

2.  The resolution was passed with Councillor Doug Nicol abstaining and Councillor Steve Hedges voting against.]

One question was submitted by Councillor Steve Hedges to Councillor Tim Ball.  A response was circulated, placed on the Minute book and has been linked to the electronic record.