Agenda and minutes

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

The Democratic Services Manager 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.

Item 8 – Budget & Council Tax; - The Monitoring Officer issued a general dispensation to all Councillors in respect of their payment of Council Tax and any school governorships.  She also granted a general dispensation for any Councillors in relation to specific items mentioned in the budget or in receipt of a specific service.

Declarations of interest were made by the following Councillors (all relating to item 8 – Budget & Council Tax);

Councillor Tim Ball – a disclosable pecuniary interest being in receipt of a care package.

Councillor Andy Wait – an ‘other’ interest, as chair of FAHLAG, a woodland reserve in Keynsham.

Councillor Sarah Warren – an ‘other’ interest in relation to the schools and music service budgets.

Councillor Robin Moss – an ‘other’ interest as Director of Radstock and Westfield Big Local CIC.

Councillor Paul Myers – an ‘other’ interest as Secretary of the Midsomer North Town Trust (Town Hall repairs being undertaken).

Councillor Liz Hardman – an ‘other’ interest as a Governor at Aspire Academy.

Councillor Karen Walker – an ‘other’ interest as Special Services Operational Manager at the Community Library (in receipt of funds).

Councillor June Player – an ‘other’ interest as a member of a Voluntary group.

Councillor Tom Davies – an ‘other’ interest as a Governor at Oldfield school.

Councillor Michelle O’Doherty – an ‘other’ interest as a Governor at Oldfield school.

Councillor Paul May – an ‘other’ interest as a non-executive Director on the Sirona Board.  [This declaration was made during item 8, when Sirona was mentioned during debate.]

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

The following minutes were approved and signed by the Chair.

14^th November 2019 – moved by Councillor Paul Myers and seconded by Councillor Dine Romero.

16^th December 2019 (S151) – moved by Councillor Brian Simmons and seconded by Councillor Dine Romero.

16^th December 2019 (IRP) – moved by Councillor Dine Romero and seconded by Councillor Paul Myers.

16^th January 2020 – moved by Councillor Dine Romero and seconded by Councillor Andy Wait.

The Chair informed Councillors that, with agreement from the Chair of the Children, Adults, Health & Wellbeing Policy Development & Scrutiny Panel Chair (Councillor Vic Pritchard) and Group Leaders, item 12  on this agenda (Maternity Services referral from the Panel) has been deferred to the March 26^th 2020 Council meeting.

The Chair made the customary announcements regarding mobile phones, webcasting and microphone use.

She thanked members for attending the Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony, which was a memorable occasion. She added that it had been good to see so many Councillors at the Mayor of Bath’s inter-faith event on the theme of ‘water’.  These events are so important when community harmony is needed more than ever.

The Chair made Members aware of the VE Day celebrations in Bath and NE Somerset on 8^th May 2020, and the Abbey service of Thanksgiving on 10^th May 2020 and asked Councillors to support events in their local communities too.

The Chair requested that the Council’s good wishes for a speedy recovery be conveyed to David Redgewell, who was unable to speak on JTP4.

The Chair informed Members of the sad news that former B&NES Councillor for Paulton (1995 – 2003), Pat Hogg, had died.  She is remembered as a doughty champion for equalities issues.  The Chair asked Members to stand for a minute’s silence.

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;

Elizabeth Hallam made a statement and presented a petition of 1060 signatures calling for Entry Hill Golf course to be saved.  Elizabeth explained her view that the golf course was being neglected, as responsibility for it was split between Greenwich Leisure Limited and the Council’s Parks department.  A full copy of the statement is available on the Council’s Minute book and attached to the online minutes.  In response to a question from Councillor Paul Crossley about how many other Pay & Play courses there were within a 20-mile radius of the Entry Hill course, Ms Hallam responded that she was not aware of any that weren’t an actual Golf club.  Councillor Liz Hardman asked about affordability and if Entry Hill was cheaper than nearby clubs.  Ms Hallam responded that it was £12.80 to play, which was considerably cheaper than the £30 - £40 rates at various nearby clubs that she listed.

Lara Varga made a statement opposing the new Charging Framework which she maintained will bring further costs to the most vulnerable in society.  A full copy of the statement is available on the Council’s Minute book and attached to the online minutes.  In response to a question from Councillor Rob Appleyard querying if Ms Varga had had an opportunity to discuss her concerns with officers, Ms Varga replied that she had met officers on a number of occasions but was not yet satisfied with the responses she had received.

Faye Dicker, a resident of Whitchurch village and founder of the South Bristol Wrong Road Group, made a statement regarding JLTP4.  She welcomed the withdrawal from the Joint Spatial Plan but queried why the housing and ring road plans through greenbelt remained in the JLTP4 especially in the light of the climate emergency and expected ecological emergency declarations.  A full copy of the statement is available on the Council’s Minute book and attached to the online minutes.  Councillor Jo Wright queried if Ms Dicker was aware of a connectivity deficit in the Whitchurch area, to which she responded that she was not, and would not like to see a ring road around the greenbelt.

Kim Hicks made a statement to Council calling upon Councillors to not adopt the JLTP4 with the South Bristol Orbital road still included.  She urged Councillors to listen to the residents who had responded to the consultation report.  A full copy of the statement is available on the Council’s Minute book and attached to the online minutes.  Councillor Dine Romero queried if Ms Hicks considered there to be a connectivity deficit in and around Whitchurch and asked what measures she would like to see.  Ms Hicks responded that she did not see a deficit, and would like to see encouragement to use alternative transport options.

The Chair thanked all the speakers for their contributions which were referred to the relevant Cabinet Members.

This report presents the revenue and capital budgets together with proposals for Council Tax and Adult Social Care Precept for 2020/21.

The Council considered a report presenting the Cabinet’s revenue and capital budgets together with proposals for Council Tax and Adult Social Care Precept for 2020/21.

On a motion from Councillor Dine Romero, seconded by Councillor Paul Myers, it was 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 Dine Romero, it was

RESOLVED

1.  That Council approves;

a)  The General Fund net revenue budget for 2020/21 of £118.25m and the individual service cash limits for 2020/21 as outlined in Annex 1.

b)  The savings and income generation plans outlined in Annex 2(i), priorities 2(ii), one-off allocations 2(iii), pressures 2(iv) in conjunction with the Equalities Impact Assessment Report in Annex 3.

c)  An increase in Council Tax of 1.99% in 2020/21 (an increase of £27.88 per Band D property).

d)  An increase of 1.99% to Council Tax for the Adult Social Care Precept in recognition of the current demands and financial pressures on this service. This is equivalent to an increase of £27.88 on a Band D property.

e)  The movement in reserves outlined in paragraph 5.5 of the report and the adequacy of Un-earmarked Reserves at £13.5m within a risk assessed range requirement of £12.3m - £13.5m.

f)  The Efficiency Strategy attached at Annex 4.

g)  The Capital Programme for 2020/21 of £109.507m including new and emerging capital bids outlined in Annex 5(i), planned sources of funding in 5.7.2, and notes the programme for 2021/22 to 2024/25 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) 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 Capital Prudential Indicators outlined in 5.7.8

m)  The Annual Pay Policy Statement at Annex 9.

n)  The Council Tax Support Scheme for 2020/21 shown in the following link: http://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2020-01/Bath%20%26%20NE%20Someset%20S13A%20202021%20v3.pdf and referred to in 5.3.4.

o)  The Adult Social Care Charging and Financial Assessment Framework at Annex 10.

p)  The Direct Payment Policy at Annex 11.

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, parishes and other precepting bodies as set out in Annex 12.

3.  That Council notes the S151 Officer’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 100.

The Council’s Corporate Strategy will guide council activity and budget planning over the next four years.  As recommended by Cabinet following it’s meeting on 13^th February 2020, this report now invites Council to adopt the Corporate Strategy and Corporate Delivery Programme as set out in Appendix One and Appendix Three.

Following recommendation by Cabinet on 13^th February 2020, the Council considered a report seeking adoption of the Corporate Strategy and Corporate Delivery Programme to guide Council activity and budget planning over the next four years.

On a motion from Councillor Dine Romero, seconded by Councillor Richard Samuel, it was

RESOLVED to;

1.  Thank those who provided feedback on the draft Corporate Strategy and agree to continue to work with local communities to ensure their involvement during the strategy’s implementation and review;

2.  Note the responses and agree the recommendations and next steps following the feedback on the draft strategy, as set out in the Corporate Strategy Engagement Report in Appendix Two;

3.  Note and consider the responses from the Policy Development and Scrutiny Panels also set out in the Corporate Strategy Engagement Report in Appendix Two;

4.  Adopt the new Corporate Strategy 2020-2024, including the new Community Engagement Charter;

5.  Adopt the new Corporate Delivery Programme 2020-2020.

[Notes;

1.  The above successful resolution was carried with 42 Councillors voting in favour and 10 Councillors voting against.]

This report fulfils the Authority’s legal obligation under the Local Government Act 2003 to have regard to the CIPFA Code. Treasury management is the management of the Authority’s cash flows, borrowing and investments, and the associated risks. The Authority has borrowed and invested substantial sums of money and is therefore exposed to financial risks including the loss of invested funds and the revenue effect of changing interest rates.  The successful identification, monitoring and control of financial risk are therefore central to the Authority’s prudent financial management.

This report was scrutinised by the Corporate Audit Committee at the 6^th February 2020 meeting, and reported to Cabinet on 13^th February 2020.

The Council considered the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Treasury Investment Strategy 2020/21 which is prepared within the framework of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s Treasury Management in the Public Services: Code of Practice 2017 Edition (the CIPFA Code). This report fulfils the Authority’s legal obligation under the Local Government Act 2003 to have regard to the CIPFA Code.

The Strategy Statements were scrutinised by the Corporate Audit Committee at the 6^th February 2020 meeting, and reported to Cabinet on 13^th February 2020.

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

RESOLVED

To approve the actions proposed within the Treasury Management Strategy Statement (Appendix 1).

To approve the Joint Local Transport Plan 4 and to recommend the plan for adoption by the West of England Combined Authority Joint Committee.

The Council considered a report seeking approval for the Joint Local Transport Plan 4 and to recommend the plan for adoption by the West of England Combined Authority Joint Committee.

On a motion from Councillor Joanna Wright, seconded by Councillor Matt McCabe, it was unanimously

RESOLVED to;

1.  Approve the draft Joint Local Transport Plan 4 for adoption by the West of England Combined Authority Joint Committee; and

2.  Delegate authority to the Director of Environmental Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Transport Services, for any required drafting amendments to the Joint Local Transport Plan 4 and to advise the Leader of any recommended amendments prior to adoption by WECA Joint Committee.

[Notes;

1.  During debate, an amendment was moved by Councillor Paul May and seconded by Councillor Paul Myers seeking to add detail to the description of orbital corridor routes on page 399 of the agenda pack.  This was lost with 14 Councillor voting in favour and 38 Councillors voting against.]

This item was deferred until 26^th March 2020.

Councillor Lisa O’Brien made a statement to Council outlining a solution to rough sleeping and homelessness from the Billy Chip Foundation by purchasing a ceramic chip which can be used to exchange for food and drinks in certain food outlets.  Councillor O’Brien described how the scheme works and encouraged Councillors to give it their support.  Councillor Tim Ball asked for the details to be circulated to Members.  Councillor Liz Hardman asked if Bath had any supporting outlets, to which Councillor O’Brien responded that there were currently three, with plans for more.

The Chair thanked everyone for their attendance and closed the meeting.