Agenda and minutes

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

The Chair invited the Democratic Services Manager to announce the emergency evacuation procedure.

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 interests made.

The Chair reminded Councillors of the Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony on the 27^th January at 5.30pm in the Guildhall and encouraged Members to attend.

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;

Sue Grimes, a resident and Parish Councillor on Publow with Pensford Parish Council, made a statement about the potential detrimental effect of further housing and transport infrastructure on the village of Pensford and the already busy A37.  The statement can be read in full in the attachment to the minutes.  In response to a question from Councillor Sarah Bevan about particular issues in her area, Ms Grimes responded that Pensford was a gateway into Bristol and a new Park and Ride would destroy the green belt in that area.  Councillor Tim Ball explained that further work would be done on these issues over the coming months and asked if Ms Grimes would be prepared to meet the relevant Cabinet members to discuss this.  Ms Grimes responded that she would.

Kim Hicks, a resident of Whitchurch and member of the South Bristol Wrong Road Group, also spoke about her concerns of more housing in and around Whitchurch village.  She queried the future of the Joint Local Transport Plan 4 and called for better cooperation for any future planning.  The statement can be read in full in the attachment to the minutes.  In response to the offer to meet with Cabinet Members already extended by Councillor Tim Ball, Ms Hicks responded that she would be happy to do so.

A statement from Jill Britten, a member of the Whitchurch Village Neighbourhood Plan and Whitchurch Village Action Group, was read by Ms Walsh as Ms Britten was unwell.  In it, Ms Britten called for protection of the green belt and listed the reasons this area was not suitable for further large housing projects.  She called for any future such plans to be discussed with the communities concerned.  The statement can be read in full in the attachment to the minutes.  Councillor Tim Ball extended the same invitation to meet to be passed to Ms Britten.

Mary Walsh, one of the founder members of the Whitchurch Village Action Group, made a statement calling for measures to make their village a safer place to live without fear of added pollution and more destruction of the precious Green Belt.  She proposed smaller housing developments shared out more equally amongst villages.  The statement can be read in full in the attachment to the minutes.  Councillor Tim Ball extended the same invitation to meet, which was accepted by Ms Walsh.

Faye Dicker, founder of the South Bristol Wrong Road Group, addressed the Council about the housing proposals and the South Bristol Ring road.  She expressed concern that those plans remained on the table.  She highlighted positive cooperative work that had taken place with Bristol City Council and called on B&NES to engage in the same positive dialogue.  The statement can be read in full in the attachment to the minutes.  Councillor Tim Ball extended the same invitation to meet, which was accepted by Ms Dicker.

Alyson Lampard, a member of the Whitchurch Village Neighbourhood Planning team, welcomed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 91.

The Council considered a report seeking authorisation to withdraw the West of England Joint Spatial Plan (JSP) from examination.

On a motion from Councillor Tim Ball, seconded by Councillor Sally Davis, it was unanimously

RESOLVED to agree that;

1.  The West of England Joint Spatial Plan (JSP), as submitted to the Secretary of State for examination in April 2018, should be withdrawn under regulation 27 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 and in accordance with section 22(1) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

There were no items.