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.

There were none.

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.

There were no declarations made.

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

On a motion from Councillor Karen Walker, seconded by Councillor Karen Warrington, it was

RESOLVED that the minutes of 16^th September 2021 are approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

There were none.

If there is any urgent business arising since the formal agenda was published, the Chair will announce this and give reasons why it has been agreed for consideration at this meeting. In making this decision, the Chair will, where practicable, have consulted with the Leaders of the Political Groups. Any documentation on urgent business will be circulated at the meeting, if not made available previously.

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.

There were no statements from the public made at this meeting, although Members noted the statements made at the virtual meeting on 17^th November 2021;

https://democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/documents/g6059/Public%20minutes%2017th-Nov-2021%2018.30%20Council.pdf?T=11

The Monitoring Officer has been tasked to refresh the Council’s Constitution.

On a motion from Councillor Kevin Guy, seconded by Councillor Karen Walker, it was unanimously

RESOLVED

1  To approve the formation of the Constitution Working group with the Terms of Reference, as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report;

2  To note the timeline for providing an updated Constitution, in accordance with Appendix 2 to the report; and

3  To approve the interim recommended Constitutional changes detailed in Appendix 3 of the report.

This report invites Council to agree a revised political proportionality table - offering a committee/panel place to each of the non-aligned Councillors following a change in political group membership.

On a motion from Councillor Kevin Guy, seconded by Councillor Vic Pritchard, it was unanimously

RESOLVED to

1.  Agree a revised political proportionality table, noting that the Liberal Democrat group have relinquished one place on the Children Adults, Health & Wellbeing Policy Development & Scrutiny Panel, and the Conservative group have relinquished a place on the Corporate Audit Committee; and

2.  Instruct Democratic Services to make the necessary arrangements for those places to be filled.

The Avon Pension Fund Committee reports annually to Council on the work it has undertaken in the previous twelve months and reference is also made in the report to the future work programme.  This report is for the 12 months to 31 March 2021.

On a motion from Councillor Paul Crossley, seconded by Councillor Richard Samuel, it was unanimously

RESOLVED to

1.  Approve the Committee’s revised Terms of Reference;

2.  Note the Committee’s Annual Report to Council; and

3.  Note the Pension Board’s Annual Report.

To consider the annual report of the Standards Committee.

On a motion from Councillor Duncan Hounsell, seconded by Councillor Paul Crossley, it was

RESOLVED unanimously to note the Annual report of the Standards Committee for 2020/21.

This report gives details of performance against the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy for 2021/22 for the first six months of 2021/22.

On a motion from Councillor Richard Samuel, seconded by Councillor Andy Furse, it was

RESOLVED unanimously to note

1.  The Treasury Management Report to 30^th September 2021, prepared in accordance with the CIPFA Treasury Code of Practice; and

2.  The Treasury Management Indicators to 30th September 2021.

The Children, Adults, Health & Wellbeing Policy Development & Scrutiny Panel received a report on this in June 2021.  A request was made for Full Council to also receive this report which provides updated information for Elected Members.  As stated, the report outlines the effectiveness of the Local Authority in meeting its safeguarding responsibilities and progress of children in care and care leavers.

On a motion from Councillor Vic Pritchard, seconded by Councillor Dine Romero, it was

RESOLVED unanimously to

1.  Note the progress made to date in these duties; and

2.  Note that this work will continue to be a priority within the Local Authority.

This report provides an update, following the cross party motion agreed at Council on 21st July 2021.

On a motion from Councillor Dine Romero, seconded by Councillor Karen Walker, it was

RESOLVED unanimously

1.  To note the progress being made on the implementation of the Council motion regarding safety for women and girls in public places; and

2.  Request that the Chief Executive be asked to bring forward a report to the Cabinet on the most effective corporate response to this report.

The B&NES Race Panel was set up by Council in July 2020 following the murder of George Floyd in the USA.  The short report is to provide an update on the panel and the work undertaken over the past sixteen months.

On a motion from Councillor Dine Romero, seconded by Councillor Vic Pritchard, it was

RESOLVED to

1.  Note the update report;

2.  Agree that the panel should continue to run for a further period to 30 April 2023; and

3.  Note the panel’s purpose and terms of reference.

On a motion from Councillor Alastair Singleton, seconded by Councillor Richard Samuel, it was

RESOLVED that

This Council believes:

Man-made climate change is widespread, rapid, and intensifying, affecting every part of the globe. Since the second half of the 19th century, the release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from human activities has warmed the planet by 1.1C. Rapid reductions in GHGs are needed immediately otherwise limiting global warming to 1.5C or even 2C will be impossible. These are the stark conclusions from the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, released in August 2021[1]. The report presents the findings from years of in-depth work from over 200 scientists in 66 countries. It provided key evidence for the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), which was hosted by the UK Government in Glasgow from October 31st to November 13th 2021.

This year has already seen record extreme heat in both North America and Europe, the hottest July globally since records began, catastrophic floods in Europe and China, and raging wildfires in Siberia, Europe, and California. And this is with only 1.1C warming. It will get worse, but how much worse depends on how quickly GHG emissions are reduced.

It is estimated that the UK will be responsible for ~800 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2021[2]. We need mechanisms to reduce GHG use quickly. One potentially ‘game changing’ mechanism is carbon pricing, which could cover either carbon tax or an enhanced emissions trading scheme (ETS), covering all GHGs emitted in the provision of goods and services. The current UK ETS arrangement covers only around a third of industrial emissions and so falls some way short of an effective carbon pricing mechanism.

The moral and economic case for comprehensive carbon pricing lies in the ‘polluter pays’ principle:

·  Currently the costs of climate breakdown are not borne by the industries and activities that are causing the damage, but by people and communities coming under increasing pressure and danger.

·  Outdoor air pollution from fossil fuels causes 3 million deaths globally each year and up to 36,000 in the UK. [4]

·  Carbon pricing, set at the right level, will drive fossil fuel consumption out of the economy and promote investment in clean alternatives.

This year’s COP26 meeting in Glasgow failed to address an international carbon pricing framework, so the UK should introduce its own mechanism, including a carbon ‘border adjustment mechanism’ applied to goods imported into the UK to ensure that the GHGs emitted in their production are also subject to the pricing mechanism. A border adjustment mechanism would protect more cleanly produced UK made goods and incentivise other economies to lower emissions.

Carbon pricing would have a regressive effect in the UK, impacting the cost of transport fuel, electricity, heating, and food. Low-income households in the UK spend a greater proportion of their income on these carbon intensive goods. So, to ensure the fairness and equitability of a carbon pricing framework any inequality needs to be offset by a progressive mechanism of returning  ...  view the full minutes text for item 80.

This motion was not moved.

On a motion from Councillor Karen Warrington, seconded by Councillor Karen Walker, it was unanimously

RESOLVED that

1.  This Council notes that the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee will take place in 2022.

2.  This Council notes that the 2022 May Bank Holiday Weekend will be moved to Thursday 2 June and an additional Bank Holiday on Friday 3 June will see a four-day weekend to celebrate the Jubilee - the first time any British monarch has reached this historic milestone.

3.  This Council recognises the esteem in which the Queen is held by the British public and considers it highly likely that residents in B&NES would wish to see the authority mark the Jubilee in a significant way.

Council therefore:

4.  Requests that the Leader of the Council takes steps to explore the feasibility of renaming a road, property asset or landmark in B&NES after Queen Elizabeth II to mark the Platinum Jubilee.

On a motion from Councillor Karen Warrington, seconded by Councillor Vic Pritchard, it was

RESOLVED that

Council recognises:

1.  The unpredictable, loud and high intensity noises that many fireworks make can cause fear and distress to animals.

2.  That debris produced by fireworks, if found on the ground, can pose a hazard to animals such as horses and farm livestock.

3.  That noise from fireworks can make it difficult for the police or local authority officers to pinpoint locations and take actions.

4.  That the RSPCA believes there is a real need to raise awareness among owners of animals about phobia of fireworks.

Council therefore resolves:

5.  To recommend that all public firework displays within the local authority boundaries be advertised in advance of the event, allowing residents to take precautions for their animals and vulnerable people.

6.  Actively to promote a public awareness campaign about the impact of fireworks on animal welfare and vulnerable people in the lead up to relevant celebrations and cultural events through existing council communication channels.

7.  To write to the Local Government Association to lobby for a limit to the maximum noise level of fireworks to 90dB for those sold to the public for private displays.

8.  To encourage local suppliers of fireworks to stock quieter fireworks for public display.

There were no statements made at this meeting, but it was noted that a statement had been made by Councillor Eleanor Jackson at the meeting on 17^th November 2021;

https://democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/documents/g6059/Public%20minutes%2017th-Nov-2021%2018.30%20Council.pdf?T=11