Agenda and minutes

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 personal and prejudicial or personal.

Any Member who needs to clarify any matters relating to the declaration of interests is recommended to seek advice from the Council’s Monitoring Officer before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

Councillor Lisa Brett declared a personal, non-prejudicial interest in item on Gypsy and Traveller site provision as her son attends Snapdragon’s nursery.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and reminded people to turn off their phones.  He sought and received the agreement of Council for BBC Points West to film a part of the meeting.

The Chairman announced the process that would be followed with regard to questions to be put to the Speakers.  Each Group will have a maximum of 13 questions of Speakers which they may address to one or more of the Speakers as they see fit.

The Chairman welcomed Olwen Dutton, partner from Bevan Britton solicitors, who was present to advise the Council.

There were no items of urgent business.

The Democratic Services Manager will announce any submissions received under the arrangements set out in Note 5 above. 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 to the meeting were made by the following people (when provided, copies will be added to the Minute book);

·  Andy Saxton addressed the Council regarding the negative impact the proposals had had on his family life due to their house sale falling through and the consequences of that.  He urged the Council to put a stop to the consultation and remove the sites that had no chance of going ahead.

·  Peter Duppa-Miller, Secretary of the Local Council’s Association, called for a rigorous review of the Assessment of Need.  A full copy of Peter’s statement is available on the Council’s Minute book and attached to the minutes.

·  Giles Foster spoke as the owner of a property adjoining the Radstock site.  He acknowledged the rights of temporary itinerant residents but felt little regard had been given to long standing residents who had contributed to the life of the community over generations.  The Radstock site was too small, with poor access and in the middle of a conservation area.  He called for the ‘ill-conceived proposals’ to be re-thought.  In response to a question from Councillor Jackson, Giles clarified the nature of the access difficulties from Bath Old road.

·  Catherine Whybrow addressed the meeting and called for the momentum to be maintained.  Whilst acknowledging the difficulties with the Radstock site, she urged the Cabinet to identify some official sites soon and pointed out that the cost of official sites would be less than moving Travellers on from unofficial sites.  She referenced some statistics regarding reduced life expectancy and raised infant mortality rates within the travelling community in support of her case for pressing ahead.

·  Joe Evans from the Campaign to Protect Rural England made a statement calling for a pause in the consultation process pending a new Needs Assessment.  In response to a question from Councillor Tim Ball regarding the Duchy of Cornwall and Diocese of Bath and Wells and their ability to offer up land, Joe responded that it was not something they could comment on.  A full copy of Joe’s statement is available on the Council’s Minute book and attached to the minutes.

·  Rosemary Collard, Director of Snapdragons Nursery, made a statement outlining her concerns regarding the Ellsbridge House site and the impact that it had already had on her new business.  In response to a question from Councillor Hanney regarding whether they would have expected to have been consulted about the preferred site status before 9^th May, Rosemary responded that they would have hoped to have been, especially as Children’s Services knew of their plans. Councillor Bull queried whether Rosemary had intended to say “considered for designation” rather than “designated”, to which Rosemary responded that she was merely a lay person.  A full copy of Rosemary’s statement is available on the Council’s Minute book and attached to the minutes.

·  Clive Fricker, Chairman of Keynsham Town Council Planning and Development Committee, raised the concerns of the Committee and called for the plans to be withdrawn pending further needs assessment  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

To consider the issues relating to gypsy and traveller site provision raised by five Members of Council.

The Chairman introduced this item and invited Olwen Dutton from Bevan Britton to advise the meeting.

Olwen noted the comments that had been made thus far in the meeting but explained that this did not change the process that the Council had to follow which was governed by legislation.  She stated that, whilst Council Members had called this meeting in accordance with provisions within the Constitution, the definitive view on the matter rested with Cabinet.  Councillor Hanney asked whether Olwen believed that the draft officer report provided to her and/or the officer report now before Council provide sufficient necessary information and advice to Council as to the implications and risks of the decisions by Cabinet on 9^th May 2012 (including but not limited to decision 7 as referred to in his motion) on the DPD and Core Strategy process and as regards potential legal challenges by one or more of the Action groups.  Olwen responded that she considered they did.

Councillor Hanney then introduced the item and set out the reasons for calling the meeting and moved a motion (note 3), seconded by Councillor Haeberling.

An amendment (note 2) was then moved by Councillor Sandry, seconded by Councillor Bevan which, following a recorded vote became the substantive motion, (note 1) which was then

RESOLVED

1.  To note that Cabinet agreed at its meeting on 9th May 2012 to take forward a list of 6 'preferred' sites for public consultation in a Preferred Options paper;

2.  To note that the consultation remains open until 5:00 pm on 18th July 2012;

3.  To thank all residents and Councillors for their contributions to the debate surrounding the preferred options consultation including at the meetings of the Cabinet on 9th May 2012 and the Planning, Transport and Environment Policy Development & Scrutiny Panel on 15th May 2012;

4.  To ask the Cabinet, when it meets on 12 September 2012, to discuss the B&NES Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople sites allocation plan, to consider the views expressed at this meeting and previous meetings, in order to decide whether to take forward specific proposals for consultation.

[Notes -

1.  The above resolution was carried by a named vote with 30 for, 23 against, 1 abstention For: Councillors Allen, Appleyard, Tim Ball, Beath, Bevan, Brett, Bull, Butters, Coombes, Crossley, Curran, Deacon, Dixon, Fox, Hall, Hardman, Hartley, Jackson, Laming, Lees, Martin, Moss, Nicol, Player, Rigby, Roberts, Romero, Sandry, Stevens and Symonds; Against: Anketell-Jones, Batt, Blankley, Chalker, Clarke, Davis, Edwards, Evans, Gerrish, Haeberling, Hanney, Longstaff, Myers, Organ, Pritchard, Brian Simmons, Kate Simmons, Veal, Veale, Ward, Warren, Watt and Webber; Abstention: Sparks.

2.  The amendment moved on behalf of the Liberal Democrat group (which subsequently became the substantive motion) was carried by a named vote with 30 for, 23 against, 1 abstention For: Councillors Allen, Appleyard, Tim Ball, Beath, Bevan, Brett, Bull, Butters, Coombes, Crossley, Curran, Deacon, Dixon, Fox, Hall, Hardman, Hartley, Jackson, Laming, Lees, Martin, Moss, Nicol, Player, Rigby, Roberts,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

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 or questions from Councillors.