Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The Chair will draw attention to the emergency evacuation procedure as set out under Note 6.

The Democratic Services Officer read out the emergency evacuation procedure.

Councillors Manda Rigby and Michael Evans had sent their apologies to the Panel.  Councillor David Martin was a substitute for Councillor Rigby.  Councillor Cherry Beath (Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development) also sent her apology to the Panel.

Members who have an interest to declare are asked to:

  a)  State the Item Number in which they have the interest

  b)  The nature of the interest

  c)  Whether the interest is personal, or personal and prejudicial

Any Member who is unsure about the above should seek advice from the Monitoring Officer prior to the meeting in order to expedite matters at the meeting itself. 

Councillor Brian Simmons declared non-prejudicial interest on item 7 of the agenda (Proposed analysis of Bath & North East Somerset Council’s funding of the third sector) as the Chairman of the ‘Keynsham and District Dial-A-Ride’ which receives funding from the Council.  Councillor Lisa Brett declared non-prejudicial interest on item 9 of the agenda (Economic Development – Overview) as the treasurer of the London Road and Snow Hill Partnership.

There was none.

David Redgewell wishes to address the Panel about the Community Safety on public transport.

.

Rae Harris suggested that the Panel should look into the economic aspect of the Riverside Footpath in the Walcot Street area as a suitable agenda Item for one of the future meetings.  The Chairman responded that the panel would debate the proposal under the agenda item 10 (Panel Workplan).

David Redgewell addressed the Panel with his concerns about the community safety on public transport and also about the issues raised at the PACT meeting in Bath on 1^st March.  The Chairman responded that he is aware that David Redgewell addressed the Cabinet with these and other relevant issues and that the relevant Cabinet Member, along with the relevant officers, took these issues on board.

This report requests the Panel to agree that an analysis of Bath & North East Somerset Council’s funding for the “third sector” (broadly comprising voluntary, community and not-for-profit organisations) be undertaken. This will aim to establish the current level of the Council’s investment, any additional funding levered into the area as a result, and highlight potential opportunities for additional inward investment.

The Economic and Community Development Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel is asked to agree that:

·  The proposed Brief attached as an Appendix be commented on and used as the basis for this work; and

• That a report containing the data and analysis be brought to the Panel’s meeting in November 2011.

The Chairman invited David Trethewey (Divisional Director for Policy and Partnerships) to introduce the report.

The Chairman said it would be useful to have some sort of database of funding for the 3^rd and voluntary sector.  The database would not only show what funding had been provided by the Council on commissioning services to the 3^rd and voluntary sector but also to show areas where the funding could come from other sources (eg National Lottery) and which areas within 3^rd and voluntary sector had been missed out.  This would fit within the Big Society agenda and is an ongoing piece of work.  The final recommendations would be submitted to the relevant Cabinet Member for consideration as a part of the budget.

The Panel debated the issue and highlighted the following points:

The funding of the 3^rd/voluntary sector could be seen as the ‘invest to save’ opportunity.  ‘Dial-A-Ride’ is one example where organisation helps people to live independently and provides financial savings for the Council.

The analysis of the Council’s funding should include specific objectives for each project.

The Council is quite proactive with the support of our non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in attracting European and national funding.

The Panel suggested that the other organisations, such as the RUH, should also be involved in funding 3^rd/voluntary or providing service/s identified by the community needs.  One such example could be for the RUH to consider provision of the community transport in the area, once they become Foundation Trust.

David Trethewey informed the Panel that the Council would need to identify what are the priorities for the area and what 3^rd/voluntary sector fit the community needs.  He also said that the 3^rd/voluntary sector should have the necessary skils to provide services and that the Council could consider promoting required skills if necessary.

The Chairman thanked everyone who participated in the debate. 

It was RESOLVED to note the objectives, scope and deliverables of the brief and for the officers to take on board comments made by the Panel for the ongoing work.  It was also RESOLVED that the report containing the data and analysis be brought to the Panel’s meeting in November 2011.

This report invites the Panel to hear about Home Fire Safety and how Bath and North East Somerset Fire and Rescue services manage community risk. This will highlight the work they do in providing safety in the home, which will generate an open question and answer session.

The Economic and Community Development Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel is asked to agree that:

·  The presentation be commented on and used as the basis to identify the progress of this work with the local communities and key partners involved.

·  The Panel to consider a phased approach to interventions, joint working and mutually supportive agendas.

·  To identify a range of examples that illustrates the interrelationship and interdependencies of many seemingly unrelated community issues.

The Chairman invited Denis McCann (Unitary Manager for Bath & North East Somerset Avon Fire & Rescue Service) to read a brief on Fire & Rescue Service approach in managing community risk.

Denis McCann read a brief (attached as Appendix 1 to these minutes) and highlighted the following areas:

• Introduction and working in a partnership with Council’s Community Safety Team
• Home Safety visits
• Working in the partnership with other organisations and community groups
• Fire Safety Awareness
• Emerging Risks; and
• Engagement with the public

The Panel debated the issue and highlighted the following points:

The Panel expressed their concern that there were 91 accidental dwelling fires in Bath and North East Somerset during 2010/11 and pleased to find out that the rate of the accidental dwelling fires for this year was on decrease in comparison to 2009/10 as a result of the Home Safety Visits.

The Panel were impressed with the range of activities used to engage the public in raising the fire safety awareness.  They were also impressed that the other agencies had been working in the partnership and supported by the Fire and Rescue Services.

Some Panel Members questioned the fire safety around the single entry/exit buildings.  Denis McCann informed the Panel that such premises had been designed to contain the fire longer inside and those premises were assessed by the technical fire safety services.  Denis McCann also offered to be contacted outside the meeting on queries/questions for the specific premises.

The Panel asked about the home safety visits to student accommodations and how fire safety information had been provided to the occupants of those premises.  Denis McCann responded that the Council has a programme called Student Watch that amongst other issues includes fire safety awareness.

It was RESOLVED to note the brief and to thank Denis McCann for the information provided.

This report provides the Panel with an overview of current Economic, Development activities being carried out by the Economic Enterprise & Business Development Service, within the Development & Major Projects Directorate.

The Panel is asked to:

·  Review the attached update report;

·  Receive a verbal update from service officers who will be in attendance at the meeting to discuss any matters arising; and

• Consider what form of update report the Panel would like to receive at future meetings.

Amanda Leon (Radstock Action Group) made a statement (full copy of the statement is available in the Minute Book at Democratic Services) about the proposals for the redesign of the roads around Radstock Town Centre.  She said that new roads would be wide enough for emergency services to turn around and that the new scheme would bring everything to the halt.  She also presented two signed petitions to be forwarded to the relevant Cabinet Member. 

Petition number 1 stated: ‘We, the undersigned, support the repositioning of the electricity sub-station and the conversion of the two mini-roundabouts into one larger one at the junction of the Frome Road (A362) and the A 367’.  Petition number 2 stated: ‘We, the undersigned, are totally opposed to the proposals to create a new road by diverting the Frome Road (A362) through the middle of Radstock’.

The Chairman received the petitions and informed the meeting that both petitions will be given to Councillor Cherry Beath (Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development) who will provide the response.

Councillor Eleanor Jackson read her statement (full copy of the statement is available in the Minute Book at Democratic Services) where she said that she was here to ‘because of a manifesto pledge to do something about the constipation from which central Radstock suffers with regard to economic development as a result of the master planning failure.‘ 

Councillor Jackson asked the Panel to set up a Task and Finish Group to discover whether in the areas outside Bath, there is any effective work being done by the Council to encourage economic development; and that the Task and Finish Group explore nobody took the post of the tourism officer based at The Hollies whether on seconded or on a temporary basis.

Councillor Jackson also produced the ‘Work Plan Suggestion Form’ with the request for Panel to set up the Task and Finish Group (as above).

The Chairman thanked Councillor Jackson for her statement and also for her workplan suggestion and informed the meeting that the request would be considered under agenda item 10 (Panel Workplan).

The Chairman invited John Wilkinson (Economic Enterprise & Business Development Manager) to introduce the report.

The Panel debated the issue and highlighted the following points:

The tour of Development and Major Projects’ sites will be happening on Thursday 28^th July.

There is a huge economic opportunity for the low carbon sector, and the Economic Enterprise & Business Development team were keen to focus on that area together with the Corporate Sustainability Manager.

The Chairman commented that, subject to Panel’s agreement, every future meeting of the Panel should have an item from the Economic Enterprise and Business Development team.  The report today gives a broad view on the work that the team does and the Panel could choose which areas to explore further at their future meetings.

It was RESOLVED to note the update and discuss under Panel’s Workplan future reporting format.

This report presents the latest workplan for the Panel.  The Panel is required to set out its initial thoughts/plans for their future workload, in order to feed into cross-Panel discussions between Chairs and Vice-chairs - to ensure there is no duplication, and to share resources appropriately where required.

The Chairman informed the Panel that the agenda for this meeting had been created as a result of the meeting/s between the Chairman, vice-Chair and officers.  He felt that the remit of the Panel is quite broad and covers wide range of Council services and statutory duties.  Therefore, the Chairman suggested that the Panel Members (only) have the informal meeting beginning of September 2011 and discuss the workplan for the next year and so.

The Panel RESOLVED to accept the proposal from the Chairman and instructed the Democratic Services Officer to set the informal meeting for the Panel (Members only) first week in September 2011.