Agenda and minutes

The Chairman will draw attention to the emergency evacuation procedure as set out under Note 8.

The Chairman drew attention to the emergency evacution 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 Officeror a member of his staff before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

Councillor Paul Myers declared an ‘other’ interest in item 8 – Budget & Council Tax 2017/18 and Financial Outlook 2017/18 to 2019/20 as set out below;

·  as Chair/Mayor of Midsomer Norton Town Council – ref: the Community Empowerment Fund.

·  as Chair of the Midsomer Norton Town Trust - ref: Midsomer Norton Town Hall Transformation Project - sum noted in the budget subject to business plan - in relation to negotiations for the Asset Transfer to the Town Council and then onto the Town Trust.

·  as Secretary of the Sarah Ann Trust - ref: Midsomer Norton Town Hall Transformation Project - sum noted in the budget subject to business plan - in relation to the fact that the Sarah Ann Trust currently hold the rolling on lease for the Town Hall in Midsomer Norton from B&NES.

Councillor Michael Evans declared an ‘other’ interest in item 8 - Budget & Council Tax 2017/18 and Financial Outlook 2017/18 to 2019/20 as set out below;

·  as a Midsomer Norton Town Councillor – ref: the Community Empowerment fund;

·  as a member of the Town Council and trustee of the Town Trust – ref: the Midsomer Norton Town Hall Transformation Project.

Councillor Eleanor Jackson declared an ‘other’ interest in item 8 - Budget & Council Tax 2017/18 and Financial Outlook 2017/18 to 2019/20 as a frequent user of Hope House Surgery.

Councillor Robin Moss declared an ‘other’ interest in item 8 - Budget & Council Tax 2017/18 and Financial Outlook 2017/18 to 2019/20 as Chair of Radstock and Westfield Big Local.

Councillor Robin Moss declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in item 8 - Budget & Council Tax 2017/18 and Financial Outlook 2017/18 to 2019/20 as a Senior paid employee of One Community Trust Keynsham.  The Monitoring Officer granted a dispensation for this item.

Councillor Joe Rayment declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in item 8 - Budget & Council Tax 2017/18 and Financial Outlook 2017/18 to 2019/20 as an employee of DHI with reference to proposed substance misuse cuts.  The Monitoring Officer granted a dispensation for this item.

To be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

On a motion from Councillor Eleanor Jackson, seconded by Councillor Tim Warren, it was

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of 10^th November 2016 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman, subject to the correction of an error in minute number 63 to reflect that the motion moved was a Labour group motion, not one from the Liberal Democrat group.

The Vice Chairman, Councillor Cherry Beath, explained that the Council Chairman was unable to attend the meeting due to illness so she would be chairing the meeting.  She made the customary announcements regarding mobile phones, webcasting, Councillors accessing meeting papers via their ipads and a comfort break.

She welcomed new Councillor Lizzie Gladwyn who had been elected in the Abbey ward.

She congratulated the Roman Baths on being named best large visitor attraction at the South West Tourism Awards on 6th February. The Roman Baths won two awards: a Gold in the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year category and Silver for International Visitor Experience.

She further congratulated all those who had received honours in the Queen’s New Year’s list.

She then asked Council to stand in silence as a mark of respect for former Bath Mayor and Honorary Alderman Carol Paradise who had passed away late last year.

Councillor Beath then checked that everyone had received all the necessary supplementary information for the budget consideration and reminded Councillors that all votes on budget items (item 8) were required to be a recorded vote.

There were no items of urgent business.

The Democratic Services Manager will announce any submissions received. The Council will be invited to decide what action it wishes to take, if any, on the matters raised in these submissions. As the questions received and the answers given 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 Chairman referred to the questions from the public, and responses provided, which had been circulated to the meeting and attached to the online minutes.

Statements were made by the following people;

Paul Stansall made a statement opposing the proposed changes to the Library service and calling for a full business case to be prepared before any decisions were made.  Further details can be read in the statement which has been placed on the Council’s Minute book and attached to the online minutes.  In response to a question from Councillor Tim Warren about whether Paul was aware that the final decision had not been made and was still subject to consultation before coming to Cabinet, Paul confirmed that he was aware but that key detail needed to be identified early in the process.  Councillor Sarah Bevan asked Paul if, in his professional opinion, there were aspects of the proposals that concerned him, to which he responded that there were and he considered they contravened building regulations. The Chairman thanked Paul for his statement.

Yue Rao made a statement about her use of Bath Central Library and expressing her reasons to oppose any plans to relocate or reduce the library service.  As a taxpayer, Yue felt that her taxes should go towards funding public services such as libraries, which in her experience were very well used.  She felt the location of Bath Central Library was ideal and was concerned that there wouldn’t be enough space to accommodate the current number of library users in Lewis House.  In response to a question from Councillor Dine Romero about Yue’s needs being adequately accommodated in the new space, Yue reiterated her view that there would not be enough space for students and professionals.  Councillor John Bull asked Yue where she had heard that the relocated library would be closed on Sundays, to which she responded that she had surmised that it would be the same arrangement as with the One Stop Shop. The Chairman thanked Yue for her statement.

Alex Lea, a Year 7 pupil at Ralph Allen school, made a statement opposing any change to Bath Central Library and explaining why he considered libraries and reading to be so important to young people.  Further details can be read in Alex’s statement which has been placed on the Council’s Minute book and attached to the online minutes. Alex also presented  a petition  ‘Save Bath Library’ with over 5000 signatures.  Councillor Tim Warren asked Alex if he was aware that plans were for the library to be open 7 days a week to which he replied that he was.  In response to a question from Councillor Joe Rayment about whether Alex would ever forgive the Council if Bath Central Library was moved, he replied that he would not.  The Chairman thanked Alex for his statement.

Professor David Almond made a statement in support of the valuable role libraries had played in his life and how they continued to do so in the lives of children  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

This report presents the Cabinet's revenue and capital budgets for the 2017/18 financial year together with a proposal for a Council Tax level for 2017/18.

The Council considered a report presenting the Cabinet’s revenue and capital budgets for the 2017/18 financial year together with a proposal for a Council Tax level for 2017/18.

In addition to the reports circulated with the agenda, all Councillors had received a copy of the draft minute of the Resources Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 30^th January 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 Tim Warren, seconded by Councillor Dine Romero, 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 Finance and Efficiency, the Liberal Democrat, Labour and Independent Group Leaders and the Chair of the Resources Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel.

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

RESOLVED

1.  To approve:

a)  The General Fund net revenue budget for 2017/18 of £112.889m and the associated Council Tax increase of 1.50% plus a further 2% precept for Adult Social Care, as set out in Appendix 2.

b)  That no Special Expenses be charged other than Town and Parish Council precepts for 2017/18.

c) The adequacy of reserves at Appendix 2 Table 10 with a risk-assessed level of £13.5m.

d)  The individual service cash limits for 2017/18 summarised at Appendix 2 Table 6 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 Finance & Efficiency and the Chief Executive.

2.  To include in its Council Tax setting, the precepts set and approved by other bodies including the local precepts of Town Councils, Parish Councils and the Charter Trustees of the City of Bath, and those of the Fire and Police Authorities.

3.  To note the Section 151 officer's report on the robustness of the proposed budget and the adequacy of the Council's reserves (Appendix 2, Annex 2) and approves the conditions upon which the recommendations are made as set out throughout Appendix 2.

4.  That in relation to the capital budget the Council:

a)  approves a capital programme of £56.083m for 2017/18 and notes items for provisional approval in 2017/18 and the programme for 2018/19 to 2021/22 (including invest to earn) as shown at Appendix 2, Annex 3 including the planned sources of funding .

b)  delegates implementation, subject to consultation where appropriate, of the capital programmes set out in Annex 3i to Annex 3iii to the relevant Strategic Director in Consultation with the appropriate Cabinet Member.

c)  approves the CIL allocations as set out in Appendix 2 and the proposed arrangements for agreeing the use of CIL for the unparished area of Bath.

d)  approves all other  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71.

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 in approving a Treasury Management Strategy and an Investment Strategy before the start of each financial year.

The Council considered a report seeking approval for the Treasury Management Strategy and the Investment Strategy.

On a motion from Councillor Charles Gerrish, seconded by Councillor Brian Simmons, it was

RESOLVED

1.  To approve the actions proposed within the Treasury Management Strategy statement (Appendix 1 of the report);

2.  To approve the Investment Strategy as detailed in Appendix 2 of the report; and

3.  That decisions to borrow from the Local Government Association (LGA) Bond Agency, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report, are delegated to the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Efficiency.

[Notes;

1.  The above resolution was carried with one abstention from Councillor Lin Patterson and all other Councillors voting in favour.]

Government policy, now brought into effect by recent Regulations effective 1 November 2016, requires the Avon Pension Fund to pool its investment assets.  To meet this requirement, the Avon Pension Fund is participating in Brunel Pension Partnership (BPP).

The Council considered a report about the Council’s participation in Brunel Pension Partnership.

On a motion from Councillor David Veale, seconded by Councillor Charles Gerrish, it was

RESOLVED

1.  That, in its capacity as the Administering Authority for the Avon Pension Fund, and having received and reviewed the Full Business Case relating to the proposed Brunel Pension Partnership, the Council hereby resolves to enter into investment pooling with respect to the Avon Pension Fund.

Such resolution is made on and subject to the following terms and conditions:

  i.  That the Brunel Pension Partnership investment pool is developed, funded and implemented substantially in accordance with provisions in the Full Business Case and more particularly that:

·  A FCA regulated company to be named Brunel Pension Partnership Limited be established and operated substantially in accordance with provisions in the Full Business Case as to its ownership, structure, governance and services capability;

·  A new supervisory body be established comprising the Council and all other Administering Authority participants in the Brunel Pension Partnership to act to ensure effective oversight of the Council’s investment and participation in the Brunel Pension Partnership.

  ii.  Delegate to the Leader of the Council the exercising of all Council functions as shareholder of the company, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer.

  iii.  The Avon Pension Fund Committee be authorised and granted delegated powers to undertake such tasks as it thinks appropriate to progress implementation of investment pooling, and to take such decisions and do all other things deemed necessary in order to promote the interests of the Council with respect to pooling, which without limitation shall include participation in the development of  Terms of Reference and the role of the supervisory board and agreeing and authorising financial expenditure or investment that may be required consequential upon the Council’s participation in the Brunel Pension Partnership.

  iv.  That the Chief Finance Officer, Chief Legal Officer and Head of Business Finance and Pensions be authorised and granted delegated powers to undertake such tasks as they think appropriate to progress implementation of investment pooling, and to take such decisions and do all other things deemed necessary in order to support the Avon Pension Fund Committee with respect to pooling, which without limitation shall include agreeing and authorising documentation and contracts, and informing and advising the Committee on the continued viability and suitability of investment pooling in light of any developments, financial or otherwise, in the period up to the establishment of the Brunel Pension Partnership.

  v.  That subject to the above, all such matters be carried out with the aim of achieving a target date for investment pooling of 1 April 2018, and otherwise subject to such intermediate steps and timescales as may be considered appropriate and necessary by the Avon Pension Fund Committee.

[Notes;

1.  The above resolution was carried with one abstention from Councillor Lin Patterson and all other Councillors voting in favour.]

This report seeks approval to the designation of the Strategic Director - People & Communities (CM Bowden) as the Council’s statutory Director of Adult Social Services and Director of Children’s Services with immediate effect.

The Council considered a report seeking approval to the designation of the Strategic Director - People & Communities (CM Bowden) as the Council’s statutory Director of Adult Social Services and Director of Children’s Services with immediate effect.

On a motion from Councillor Tim Warren, seconded by Councillor Dine Romero, it was

RESOLVED unanimously to designate Charles Michael Bowden, Strategic Director – People & Communities, as its ‘Director of Adult Social Services’ and ‘Director of Children’s Services’ in accordance with section 6 of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 and section 18 of the Children’s Act 2004 respectively, with immediate effect.

There were no items from Councillors.