Agenda and minutes

The Chairman will draw attention to the emergency evacuation procedure as set out under Note 5.

The Chair 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.

Councillor Charles Gerrish declared an ‘other’ interest in item 8, Budget and Council Tax, as Chairman of ADL.

Councillor Les Kew declared an ‘other’ interest in item 8, Budget and Council Tax, as Director of ADL.

Councillor Robin Moss declared an ‘other’ interest in item 8, Budget and Council Tax, as Chair of Radstock & Westfield Big Local.

The Monitoring Officer issued a general dispensation to all Councillors in respect of their payment of Council Tax.

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

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of 8^th November 2018 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

In addition to the customary announcements regarding meeting arrangements, the Chair made the following announcements;

·  Congratulations to the Roman Baths & Pump Room who triumphed at the South West Tourism Excellence Awards, winning three awards: Gold for Large Attraction of the Year, Gold for International Visitor Experience, and Silver for Bath’s Historic Venues in the Business Tourism and Venue category.

·  Congratulations to Bath’s Fashion Museum for being honoured for its work in celebrating the rich history of glove making in the UK and promoting the wearing of gloves.

·  The Chair invited Councillors to attend 2 events to support the Chairman’s charities;

o  Charity Music Evening in the Guildhall on Saturday 16th March at 7.30pm

o  Elegance in the Afternoon Fashion Show on Saturday 13th April in the Banqueting room at 2.30pm.

·  The Chair noted that Members had received a copy of the final approved BTP accounts for information, which were not available when the Council Company Annual Accounts report was considered at the September meeting.

·  The Chair reminded Councillors that all votes on the budget (item 8) were required to be a recorded vote.

Following representations by various Councillors and advice from the Chief Executive, the Chair agreed that the public gallery should be opened and the public admitted to the Council Chamber.

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 Council noted the question from Sarah Warren, and response from the Leader, which had been circulated to Councillors and is attached to the online minutes and placed on the Minute book.

Statements were made by the following members of the public;

Andrew Dickens made a statement concerning the Lower Common East Allotment Association, calling upon the Council to recognise certain rights for the Association.  In response to a question from Councillor Sue Craig who asked if Mr Dickens had met with the Cabinet Member about this issue, he responded that the Leader had offered to meet following his last statement to Council but that, after seeking advice, Mr Dickens had not felt it was appropriate for him to meet the Leader on behalf of the Association and so he had set this out in a letter to Group Leaders.  Councillor Dine Romero asked Mr Dickens to please re-send this to them.  The Chair thanked Mr Dickens for his statement which would be referred to the relevant Cabinet Member and placed on the Council’s Minute book.

Paul Mallon made a statement regarding speeding traffic through Wellow village.  Paul explained how the village was used as a rat run and outlined the community’s extensive efforts to have a smiley face speed warning sign installed, which he hopes have resulted in a sign being installed soon.  He thanked Councillor Neil Butters for his support.  Councillor Butters asked Paul if he was aware that the Council had agreed budget funding for strips to measure traffic speed into and out of the village, to which Paul replied that he was now aware.  Councillor Sarah Bevan asked if the 20mph limit had resulted in any prosecutions, to which Paul responded that in the 2015/16 speed watch exercise, more than 10% of cars were found to be speeding.  The Chair thanked Paul for his statement which would be referred to the relevant Cabinet.

Lydia Halcrow made a statement calling on the Council to take immediate action regarding climate change and commit to being carbon neutral by 2030.  Councillor Tim Warren asked if Lydia was aware that the Council were supportive of this and planning to bring a motion to the next Council meeting in March, to which she responded that she was.  Councillor Richard Samuel asked Lydia to outline the implications of achieving this by 2050 not 2030 to which she responded by urging Councillors to read the full IPCC report, which set out very clearly why 2050 would be too late.  The Chair thanked Lydia for her statement which would be referred to the relevant Cabinet Member and placed on the Council’s Minute book.

Martin Blewett, Rector of Timsbury, Camerton, Priston & Dunkerton presented a petition from villagers of Timsbury, Farmborough, High Littleton, Hallatrow and Tunley, signed by over 1,000 local people, requesting that funding be provided to re-instate the weekend First Bus 179 service to these villages, to prevent the potential withdrawal of the whole service in the summer of this year and thirdly to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 69.

This report presents the revenue and capital budgets for 2019/20 together with proposals for Council Tax and Adult Social Care Precept for 2019/20.

The Council considered a report presenting the Cabinet’s revenue and capital budgets for the 2019/20 financial year together with proposals for Council Tax and Adult Social Care Precept for 2019/20.

In addition to the reports circulated with the agenda, all Councillors had received a summary document of Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel comments on the budget proposals.  Councillors also received Annex 12 – 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 or their nominated Spokespersons, 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.  that Council approves;

a)  The General Fund net revenue budget for 2019/20 of £113.10m and the individual service cash limits for 2019/20 as outlined in Annex 1 of the report.

b)  The savings and income generation plans outlined in Annex 2 of the report in conjunction with the Equalities Impact Assessment Report in Annex 3 of the report and thereby agrees to implement the Council’s draft Organisational Plan which has been presented to each of the relevant PDS Panels.

c)  To help protect front line services and meet additional pressures in Children’s Services, the budget includes a recommendation that Council Tax is increased by 2.95% in 2019/20 (an increase of £39.76 per Band D).

d)  An increase of 1% to Council Tax for the Adult Social Care Precept is approved in recognition of the current demands and financial pressures on this service. This is equivalent to an increase of £13.47 on a Band D property.

e)  The adequacy of Un-earmarked Reserves at £12.2m within a risk assessed range requirement of £11.9m - £13.1m.

f)  The Efficiency Strategy attached at Annex 4 of the report.

g)  The Capital Programme for 2019/20 of £78.591m including new and emerging capital bids outlined in Annex 5(i), planned sources of funding in 5.7.2, and notes the programme for 2020/21 to 2023/24 and that any wholly funded projects coming forward during the year will be added to the Capital Programme in line with the Budget Management Scheme.

h)  The delegation of implementation, subject to consultation where appropriate, of the capital programmes set out in Annex 5(ii) to Annex 5(iv) of the report to the relevant Director in Consultation with the appropriate Portfolio Holder.

i)  The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) allocations and amendments outlined in Annex 5(v) of the report and the addition of Alternative Education Provision to the Regulation 123 list.

j)  The Capital & Investment Strategy at Annex 6 to the report.

k)   The MRP Policy at Annex 7 to the report.

l)  The Capital Prudential Indicators  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

Treasury risk management at the Authority is conducted within the framework of the CIPFA Code which requires the Authority to approve a treasury management strategy before the start of each financial year.

The Council considered a report seeking approval for the Treasury Management strategy and Investment strategy for 2019/20.  On a motion from Councillor Charles Gerrish, seconded by Councillor Paul May, it was

RESOLVED (unanimously) to agree;

1.  To approve the actions proposed within the Treasury Management Strategy Statement, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report; and

2.  To approve the Treasury Investment Strategy as set out in Appendix 2 of the report.

The Council is asked to approve the appointment of Mr Axel Palmer as an Independent Member of the Standards Committee, following the resignation of Ms Susan Toland as Chair and Independent Member, and confirm the appointment of the existing members.

The Council considered a report concerning the Independent members on the Standards Committee.

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

RESOLVED (unanimously) to

1.  Note the resignation of Ms Toland and record the thanks of the Council for her contribution to maintaining high standards of behaviour during her 15 years as an independent member and Chair of the Standards Committee;

2.  Confirm the appointment as independent members of the Standards Committee for a period of four years of Dr Palmer and the current independent members, Mr Cyril Davies and Ms Deborah Russell.

There were no items from Councillors.

The Committee is asked to consider passing the following resolution;

“that having been satisfied that the public interest would be better served by not disclosing relevant information, in accordance with the provisions of Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business and the reporting of the meeting be prevented under Section 100A(5A) because of the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended.

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

RESOLVED that, having been satisfied that the public interest would be better served by not disclosing relevant information, in accordance with the provisions of Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business and the reporting of the meeting be prevented under Section 100A(5A) because of the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended.

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

RESOLVED (unanimously) as set out in the report.