Agenda and draft minutes

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

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

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 of interest made.

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

The minutes were noted for approval at Council on 18^th November 2021.

The Chair made the following statement;

“Due to a desire to retain a level of social distancing after restrictions have lifted, we are holding this ‘informal’ virtual Council meeting to enable all Councillors to take part.  The comments and indicative decisions from this meeting will help to inform the physically reduced, quorate decision-making meeting tomorrow on 18^th November 2021.

We will review this approach for any future Council meetings, in line with government and health guidance at that time.”

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.

Statements were made by the following members of the public;

Ellie Maher made a statement to Council in support of the Carbon tax motion on the agenda.  A full copy of the statement is available linked to the online minutes.

Adam Reynolds made a statement calling upon the Council to set up a cross-party Climate Emergency Transport Board.  A full copy of the statement is available linked to the online minutes. Councillor Grant Johnson asked Mr Reynolds why he considered that a cross-party group would succeed when the Council had taken action with the Liveable Neighbourhoods initiative.  Mr Reynolds responded that the group proposed, being cross-party, would not be held up by the effect of election cycle.

Saskia Heijltjes made a statement to Council about cycling in Bath and welcoming the Liveable Neighbourhoods initiative. A full copy of the statement is available linked to the online minutes.  In response to a query from Councillor Sarah Warren about meeting her to engage on mutual goals, Ms Heijltjes explained that she had politely declined that meeting, as she preferred to engage through democratic fora such as the Active Travel and Accessibility forum.

Barbara Gordon made a statement to Council in support of the Carbon tax motion on the agenda.  A full copy of the statement is available linked to the online minutes.  In response to a query from Councillor Robin Moss about whether Ms Gordon considered carbon pricing to be an adequate substitute for carbon tax, Ms Gordon replied that she did not.

David Redgewell made a statement to Council about transport issues.  He remained concerned about accessing funds through WECA, but that was the necessary route.  He called for action on bringing the current bus consultation to more residents’ attention and for it to be extended until 20^th.  He highlighted the upcoming South Western Railway conference and consideration for how young people who don’t have access to blue badges can get into Bath.  There were no questions but Councillor Kevin Guy confirmed that he would ask for the consultation extension.

Vipul Patel made a statement to Council about the Administration’s approach to the climate emergency.  He praised the approach that had been taken for the first two years, for its clarity of thought, leadership and action but considered that, following the Administration change in June 2021, events had taken a negative turn.   He called on those who shared his view to hold the Administration to account and ask for the cross-party climate group to be established.  Councillor Kevin Guy referenced a mention that Mr Patel had made to Citizen’s Juries and asked him whether he considered these undemocratic, to which Mr Patel replied that he did.

The Chair thanked all the speakers for their statements.

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 to recommend to Council on 18th November 2021

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 recommend to Council on 18th November 2021 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 Shaun Stephenson Mc-Gall, it was unanimously

RESOLVED to recommend to Council on 18^th November 2021 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 Sally Davis, it was

RESOLVED unanimously to recommend to Council on 18^th November 2021 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 Mark Elliott, it was

RESOLVED unanimously to recommend to Council on 18^th November 2021 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 30^th 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 Liz Hardman, it was

RESOLVED unanimously to recommend to Council on 18^th November 2021 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 to recommend to Council on 18^th November 2021 to

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 Yukteshwar Kumar, it was

RESOLVED unanimously to recommend to Council on 18^th November 2021 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 Sarah Warren, seconded by Councillor Alastair Singleton, it was

RESOLVEDto recommend to Council on 18^th November 2021 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  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.

This item was not moved.

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

RESOLVED to recommend to Council on 18^th November 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 Alan Hale, seconded by Councillor Paul May it was

RESOLVED to recommend to Council on 18^th November 2021 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.

[Notes;

1.  Councillor Hale had moved two further recommendations calling for reports back on progress and completion of actions to May and September 2022 Council meetings.  A minor variation to wording to remove these extra recommendations was proposed by Councillor Richard Samuel, supported by Councillor Manda Rigby, and accepted by Councillor Hale, following assurances given during debate that the actions at resolutions 5 – 8 would be fulfilled.]

A statement was made by Councillor Eleanor Jackson endorsing the work of SACRE (Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education).   A copy of the statement is linked to the online minutes.