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 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 Officeror a member of his staff before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

Councillors Liz Hardman, Eleanor Jackson, Robin Moss and Joe Rayment all declared an ‘other’ interest in item 13 on EU Nationals due to family or personal reasons of non-British status.

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

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of 14^th February 2017 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Earlier in the meeting, following the announcement of the emergency evacuation procedure, the Chairman had made a statement about the tragic incident in London the previous day, expressing support for all those affected and praising the work of the emergency services. He invited the Council to stand for a minute’s silence.

The Chairman then made the customary announcements regarding mobile phones, webcasting, Councillors accessing their meeting papers via iPads and a comfort break.  At the Chairman’s request, the Council’s Monitoring Officer made a brief statement reminding Councillors that the Council was currently in the pre-election period for the Walcot ward and, for that reason, item 15, and several speakers, had been deferred to the July meeting.

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.

Statements were made by the following people;

John Branston made a statement concerning the impact of HMOs in Oldfield Park.  He explained the threat to the social balance and detrimental impact on the community and commented that the Article 4 Direction of 2013 had been too little too late.  He cited examples from other areas of the country where measures had been taken to address this, and reminded Councillors of their Corporate Strategy priority of putting residents first in everything the Council does. The Chairman thanked John for his statement which was referred to the relevant Cabinet Member.

David Redgewell made a statement regarding transport issues in the South West.  He welcomed more subsidy for bus services as a result of the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) but also urged the Council to work with Wiltshire, Gloucester and North Somerset. Further details can be read in the statement which has been placed on the Council’s Minute book and attached to the online minutes.  Councillor Shaun Stephenson-McGall asked for David’s view of the effect of not implementing the half hourly service he recommended through Oldfield Park; to which David responded that he thought there could be severe overcrowding for passengers coming in from West Wiltshire and Frome, and also difficultly moving students into Bristol and Bath.  Councillor Liz Hardman asked David if, as he was aware that there was no bus service from the Paulton area to Bristol on a Sunday, whether David felt this could be remedied, to which David responded that he hoped that the WECA transport review would enable working with the constituent authorities to restore some of the links. Councillor Sarah Bevan sought clarity from David about his reference to the 179 bus service. The Chairman thanked David for his statement which was referred to the relevant Cabinet Member.

Graham Thomas Widger, Chair of Broadmoor Lane Residents Association Weston, made a statement seeking the Council’s support to secure the future of their open space and playground, which was currently uncertain. 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, Graham confirmed that the current owner of the land was Redcliffe Homes. Councillor Dine Romero asked Graham if he knew why this open space had not been adopted by the Council, to which Graham responded that recently they had been told there were financial reasons, but added that they had been trying to secure this for 10-12 years which was why they were bringing it to Council now.  Councillor Eleanor Jackson asked if the Group were in a position to form an Association to lease and maintain the land, to which Graham responded that they probably could, but at this stage they were just trying to achieve clarity over the status of the land and a response to their proposals. The Chairman thanked Graham for his statement which was referred to the relevant  ...  view the full minutes text for item 81.

The Council had earlier agreed to hold a 10 minute debate arising from the issues raised by the Taxi drivers who had made statements to the meeting.

On a motion from Councillor Caroline Roberts, seconded by Councillor Paul Crossley, it was

RESOLVED unanimously that, in view of;

•  the widespread concerns about the lack of transparency over the awarding of a Taxi Operating License to Uber; and

•  the impact on taxi and private hire services in our area

Council asks the Cabinet Member for Transport to produce a report for July Council on the issues and options for a way forward on this matter.

The Council is requested to appoint representatives to sit on the West of England Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny and Audit Committees and must also appoint a named individual to the role of Local Returning Officer and Electoral Returning Officer for the West of England Combined Authority mayoral election in May 2017.

The Council considered a report seeking representatives for the West of England Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny and Audit Committees.  The Council was also asked to appoint the Local Returning Officer for the West of England Combined Authority Mayoral Election.

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

RESOLVED

1.  To give effect to the Combined Authorities (Overview and Scrutiny Committees, Access to Information and Audit Committees) Order 2017 (the Order) and provide nominations to the West of England Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny and Audit Committees;

2.  To agree to the establishment of a voluntary joint scrutiny committee between the Overview and Scrutiny Committee established under the Order referred to in resolution 1 and North Somerset Council; and

3.  To appoint the current Returning Officer, Maria Lucas as Local Returning Officer for the Mayoral election in May 2017.

[Notes;

1.  During debate, an unsuccessful amendment was moved by Councillor Joe Rayment and seconded by Councillor Robin Moss which proposed an alternative proportionality calculation based upon population rather than Councillor numbers.  This was lost, with 7 Councillors voting in favour, 44 Councillors voting against and 9 Councillors abstaining.

2.  The substantive motion was carried with 47 Councillors voting in favour, 8 Councillors voting against and 5 Councillors abstaining.]

This report presents the Independent Panel’s review of Members’ allowances.

The Council considered the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel on Members Allowances.

Councillor Tim Warren thanked the Independent Panel for their work.

On a motion from Councillor Tim Warren, seconded by Councillor Patrick Anketell-Jones, it was unanimously

RESOLVED to note the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel on Members Allowances and to agree the following recommendations from the report:

1.  That Members use the HMRC-approved Travel and Subsistence rates on the B&NES on-line claims system, bringing Members Travel and Subsistence in line with those of officers and representing a slight reduction against the current rates; and

2.  That any uplifts or changes to Members’ Allowances be implemented on the same date and by the same amount as officers’ salaries are adjusted, and in line with National Joint Conditions.

The Government in its ‘Fixing our broken housing market’ White Paper published (7^th February 2017) explained that the Government will increase nationally set planning fees. Local Authorities are therefore able to increase fees by 20% from July 2017. This is on the basis that they commit to invest the additional fee income in their planning department.  This paper seeks approval to accept the 20% increase in planning application fees.

This item will follow in a supplementary despatch.

The Council considered a report regarding a Government increase in nationally set planning fees which Local Authorities can adopt, within fixed terms.  Approval was sought to accept the 20% increase in fees.

On a motion from Councillor Liz Richardson, seconded by Councillor Colin Blackburn, it was unanimously

RESOLVED

1.  To accept the increase in planning application fees by 20% from July 2017 by committing to investing this further income within the planning department; and

2.  To agree the adjustment to the planning service budget as outlined in Appendix 1 of the report.

This item presents the Standards Committee Annual report for 2016.

The Council considered the Annual Report of the Standards Committee for 2016.

On a motion from Councillor Tim Warren, seconded by Councillor Sarah Bevan, it was unanimously

RESOLVED to note the work of the Standards Committee as set out in the Annual Report.

To be moved by a member of the Labour Group.

[This item was deferred from the November 2016 Council meeting.]

The Council considered a motion from the Labour Group opposing the re-introduction of Grammar schools.  This was subsequently amended as set out below.

On a motion from Councillor Michael Evans, seconded by Councillor Fiona Darey, it was

RESOLVED that this Council:

1.  Notes the high quality and diverse range of school provision in the area which provides some parental choice; enables faith-based and non-faith-based education; single-sex and co-educational schools; and a varied curricular offer including the more vocationally-based Studio School provision.

2.  Notes that the Government’s education Green Paper ‘Schools that Work for Everyone’ contained a number of proposals to increase parental choice through the provision of more Good and Outstanding school places, including greater involvement of universities in schools, removing barriers to sponsorship by faith organisations, bringing Independent Schools and their resources to the service of state schools, and expanding the provision of selective places.

3.  Notes that there is no intention to re-create the binary system of the fifties, but a desire to expand the variety of provision to meet the needs of different children, provide greater parental choice, and raise standards.

4.  Recognises the role that selection and streaming by aptitude and ability plays in providing a good, tailored, education for all children, and notes the government’s encouragement of Secondary Schools and Multi Academy Trusts to improve provision for the most academically able pupils.

5.  Notes that the Government has stated that any proposals for new selective schools would need to demonstrate support from the community.

6.  Notes that, under the Government’s proposals, there is no provision for local authorities themselves to establish and run new schools, whether Grammar or other schools, and that all Councillors and members of the public were able to respond to the Green Paper consultation, and that further comments and submissions can be made as and when the White Paper is published.

[Notes:

1.  The original agenda motion, moved by Councillor John Bull and seconded by Councillor Lin Patterson, was replaced by a successful amendment, which was carried on a vote of 35 Councillors voting in favour, 23 Councillors voting against and 1 Councillor abstaining.

2.  The substantive motion above was carried with 35 Councillors voting in favour, 22 Councillors voting against and 1 Councillor abstaining.]

To be moved by Councillor Andy Furse.

The Council considered a motion from the Liberal Democrat Group.

On a motion from Councillor Andy Furse, seconded by Councillor Liz Hardman, it was

RESOLVED that this Council:

• Recognises the invaluable contribution made by over 6,000 nationals from other EU countries living and working in Bath and North East Somerset.

• Recognises that their legal situation is uncertain, as is that of UK nationals living in other EU countries, and wishes to see their status resolved at the earliest possible moment.

• Agrees with government that reaching an agreement on reciprocal rights should be a priority for the forthcoming negotiations with the EU.

• Calls on government to simplify the administrative process for nationals from other EU countries already resident in the UK to obtain permanent residency and to ensure that there is no financial bar.

• Requests that these resolutions should be communicated to the MPs for Bath and North East Somerset and to the government.

• Encourages all those eligible to vote, including nationals from other EU countries resident in B&NES, to register to vote in the May 2017 West of England Mayoral election.

[Notes:

1.  The above resolution was carried with 57 Councillors voting in favour and 1 Councillor abstaining.]

To be moved by Councillor Dine Romero.

The Council considered a motion from the Liberal Democrat group.

On a motion from Councillor Dine Romero, seconded by Councillor Lisa O’Brien, it was

RESOLVED unanimously to;

1.  Note the forthcoming West of England Mayoral election; and

2.  Call on the new Mayor, in cooperation with the Leaders of the three Councils of the West of England Combined Authority, to ensure that the running costs of the new combined authority are kept to a minimum and that the transparency arrangements of the new combined authority are maximised.

A petition has been received – “Save our 6/7 Bus” - containing approximately 2500 signatures.  In line with the Council’s petition scheme, if a petition containing signatures of more than 1% of the electorate who live, work and study in Bath & North East Somerset is received, it triggers a debate at Council.

This item was deferred until the July Council meeting.

For forward planning purposes, the Council is invited to indicate who is expected to take the Council Chairmanship from May 2017.

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

RESOLVED that Councillor Cherry Beath be designated as Council Chairman for the Council year 2016/17.

Council further indicated its support for the proposal from Councillor Sarah Bevan that Councillor Karen Walker be proposed as Vice-Chair at the AGM.

Councillor Caroline Roberts presented a petition (76 signatures) on behalf of residents with the following request;

“We the undersigned call on the Council to consider carrying out a further consultation regarding parking within our area of Foxcombe Road, Chelsea Road, Warwick Road, Kennington Road and Park Road.

The initial consultation in August 2016 regarding parking covered too great an area and did not take into account the unique pressures that affect our small area.”

The petition was passed to the relevant Cabinet Member.