Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and invited the Democratic Services Manager to conduct a roll call.

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.

The Monitoring officer issued a general dispensation to all Councillors who pay Council Tax or were School Governors and therefore had an interest in these items, to enable them to take part in the debate and vote.

The following further declarations had been made, for which the Monitoring Officer issued a dispensation, to enable them to take part in the debate and vote;

·  Tim Ball - Family member in receipt of social services support & EHCP

·  Colin Blackburn - Family business is a recipient of a covid relief grant

·  Sue Craig - Family member in receipt of social services support

·  Kevin Guy - Family business is a recipient of a covid relief grant

·  Shaun Hughes  - Family business is a recipient of a covid relief grant

·  Lisa O’Brien - Family member in receipt of social services support

·  Karen Walker – holder of office at Peasedown Community library

·  Sarah Warren - Family member in receipt of an EHCP

A further declaration was made by Councillor Alan Hale as both daughters are in receipt of benefits.

To be confirmed as a correct record and recommended for approval to Council on 16^th February 2022.

The minutes were noted for approval at Council on 16^th February.

The Chair made the following announcement;

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 16^th February 2022.

The Chair drew the meeting’s attention to the budget documents that had been circulated following the main agenda despatch; a revised recommendation referring to a revised Annex 2(i), plus Annex 11.

The Chair then asked Councillors to hold a minute’s silence to mark the recent death of former B&NES Councillor, Chairman and Mayor of Bath – Ian Gilchrist.

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.

The Chair made the following statement;

Councillors will be aware that a note was sent out earlier with a revised link to the amended Local Council Tax Support scheme, highlighting that some minor changes to the scheme were necessary to reflect that the recently announced £150 Energy Bills Rebate payments are not to be taken into account when determining eligibility for council tax reductions under the scheme.

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;

Paul Stansall made a statement expressing concern about the prospect of office services being introduced to the Podium library.  A full copy of Mr Stansall’s statement has been placed on the Council’s Minute book and website. Councillor Dine Romero enquired if Mr Stansall would consider correcting his statement, as no services had been re-located to the library and she had done a recent visit to double check this.  Mr Stansall declined to do so, replying that when he last visited, they were there.  Councillor Karen Walker asked if Mr Stansall considered that the unique nature of the Podium library was being compromised; to which he referred Councillor Walker back to his statement.  Clarification was sought by Councillor Dine Romero about the legitimacy of unsubstantiated facts going on record, to which the Monitoring Officer replied that the meeting was not a court of law so there was no requirement to establish fact.

Mary English made a statement also expressing concern about the prospect of Council services being located in the Podium library and asked that library users be consulted about any such plans.  A full copy of Ms English’s statement has been placed on the Council’s Minute book and website.  Councillor Dine Romero asked if Ms English was aware that there were no plans in place.  Any proposal was a starting point to be considered and consulted on with residents and user groups.  Ms English welcomed the idea if that was the case.

David Redgewell made a statement about various transport elements of the budget; bus shelter repair and maintenance funding, public toilets, adequate tourist information and expressing ongoing concern about the Bus Back Better funding from April.  Councillor Vic Pritchard noted the comments about bus shelters but wondered if Mr Redgewell did not consider that it would be better to concentrate on transport services for areas such as the Chew Valley where there was a clear deficit.  Mr Redgewell responded that it was important to maintain bus shelters but agreed that it was necessary to work with the Metro Mayor and other relevant parties to improve the services into the Chew Valley.

Andy Halliday made a statement about the Podium library, expressing concern about any proposed cuts in library spending. A full copy of Mr Halliday’s statement has been placed on the Council’s Minute book and website.  Councillor Dine Romero reiterated earlier comments that there were no plans to cut library services, and asked if Mr Halliday would be willing to discuss proposals to help shape services.  Mr Halliday replied that he would welcome that, but that he remained nervous about the prospect of cuts.

The Chair thanked all the members of the public for their statements, which would be referred to the relevant Cabinet Member.

This report presents the revenue and capital budgets together with proposals for increases in Council Tax and the Adult Social Care Precept for 2022/23.

The Council considered a report presenting the revenue and capital budgets together with proposals for Council Tax and Adult Social Care Precept for 2022/23.

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

RESOLVED that, in accordance with rule 16 (Suspension of Rules), 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 Resources, the Conservative, Independent and Labour Group Leaders or their nominated Spokespersons, and the Chair of the Corporate Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel.

On a motion from Councillor Richard Samuel, seconded by Councillor Kevin Guy, it was

RESOLVED to recommend to Council on 16^th December that

The Council approves-

a)  The General Fund net revenue budget for 2022/23 of £126.74m and the individual service cash limits for 2022/23 as outlined in Annex 1.

b)  The savings and income plans outlined in the revised Annex 2(i) that had been circulated following agreement at Cabinet, funding requirements 2(ii), in conjunction with the Equalities Impact Assessment Report in Annex 3.

c)  An increase in Council Tax of 1.99% in 2022/23 (an increase of £30.44 per Band D property or 59p per week).

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 £15.29 on a Band D property (29p per week).

e)  The movement in reserves outlined in section 5.6 and the adequacy of Un-earmarked Reserves at £12.58m within a risk assessed range requirement of £11.9m - £13.2m.

f)  The Efficiency Strategy attached at Annex 4.

g)  The Capital Programme for 2022/23 of £96.064m including new and emerging capital bids outlined in Annex 5(i), planned sources of funding in 5.8.2, and notes the programme for 2022/23 to 2026/27 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(i) to Annex 5(iv) 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).

j)  The Capital & Investment Strategy attached at Annex 6.

k)   The MRP Policy attached at Annex 7.

l)  The Establishment and funding of a Business Change Hub outlined in 5.2.6.

m)  The Capital Prudential Indicators outlined in 5.8.7.

n)  The Annual Pay Policy Statement at Annex 8.

o)  The Community Contribution Fund pilot 12-month extension outlined section 5.5.

p)  The Council Tax Support Scheme for 2022/23 shown in the below link, and referred to in 5.3.4

https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2022-02/Bath%20%26%20NE%20Someset%20S13A%20202223%20FINAL1.0.pdf

2.2  That the Council approves the technical resolutions that are derived from the budget report, and all the figures in that report, including the precepts for towns,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 91.

The Authority is required to approve a treasury management strategy before the start of each financial year.

The Council considered a report requiring approval of a treasury management strategy before the start of each financial year, fulfilling the Authority’s legal obligation under the Local Government Act 2003 to have regard to the CIPFA Code.

On a motion from Councillor Richard Samuel, seconded by Councillor Mark Elliott, it was unanimously

RESOLVED to recommend to Council on 16^th December to approve the actions proposed within the Treasury Management Strategy Statement.

Officers are seeking delegated authority to take the decision making powers from Mendip District Council for a planning application for approx. 35 houses and new access from the A362 which is located within the Mendip area on the edge of the B&NES district. B&NES currently have an associated planning application for approx. 220 dwelling adjoining the site and utilising the same access.

The Council considered a report seeking delegated authority to take the decision-making powers from Mendip District Council for a planning application for approximately 35 houses and new access from the A362 which is located within the Mendip area on the edge of the B&NES district.

On a motion from Councillor Tim Ball, seconded by Councillor Bruce Shearn, it was

RESOLVED unanimously to recommend to Council on 16^th December;

1.  to accept devolved decision-making powers for planning application 21/04509/OUT from Mendip District Council (Mendip ref. 2021/2268/OTS).

The Corporate Audit Committee is required to report back annually on its work to Council under its Terms of Reference. Appendix 1 details the work carried out by the Committee for the period July 2020 to December 2021.

As part of its work. the Corporate Audit Committee resolved at its meeting on the 15^th December 2021, to recommend to Full Council that they approve the use of Public Sector Audit Appointments Ltd to carry out the re-procurement of External Auditors to be appointed to B&NES Council for the 5-year period commencing 1^st April 2023.

The Council considered the annual report of the Corporate Audit Committee for the period July 2020 to December 2021. As part of its work, the Corporate Audit Committee resolved at its meeting on the 15th December 2021, to recommend to Full Council that they approve the use of Public Sector Audit Appointments Ltd to carry out the re-procurement of External Auditors to be appointed to B&NES Council for the 5-year period commencing 1^st April 2023.

On a motion from Councillor Mark Elliott, seconded by Councillor Brian Simmons, it was

RESOLVED unanimously to recommend to Council on 16^th December that

1.  The Annual Report of the Corporate Audit Committee is noted; and

2.  The Council approve the use of Public Sector Audit Appointments Ltd (PSAA) to carry out the re-procurement of External Auditors to be appointed to B&NES Council for the 5-year period commencing 1st April 2023 and that the Council’s Chief Financial Officer (S151) writes to PSAA to formally accept the invitation to opt into the national scheme before the deadline of Friday 11th March 2022.

The Constitution is a single point of reference which contains the principal governance structures and procedures of the authority. The proportionality table currently sits within part 5 of the Constitution and, following a change in political group membership, needs amendment by Council.

The Council considered a report requesting agreement to an amended proportionality table within the Constitution following a change in political group membership.

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

RESOLVED unanimously to recommend to Council on 16^th February 2022 to

1.  Agree the revised political proportionality table, offering a place on the Climate Emergency & Sustainability Panel to the non-aligned Councillor, Cllr Dr Kumar.

Two questions from Councillor Joanna Wright had been received, and responses circulated.  These are available on the website and added to the Minute book.

Councillor Dr Kumar made a statement entitled ‘Building Communities, Shared Dreams’ – a copy of which has been added to the website and the Minute book.