Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Riverside, Keynsham BS31 1LA. View directions

Contact: Michaela Gay  01225 394411

Items
No. Item

24.

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

 

25.

EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURE

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

 

Minutes:

The Chairman drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure.

 

26.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS

Councillor Watt sent his apologies and will be substituted by Councillor Myers.

Minutes:

There were none.

27.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST UNDER THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972

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. 

 

Minutes:

There were none.

28.

TO ANNOUNCE ANY URGENT BUSINESS AGREED BY THE CHAIRMAN

To announce any urgent business as agreed by the Chairman.

Minutes:

There was none.

29.

ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC OR COUNCILLORS - TO RECEIVE DEPUTATIONS, STATEMENTS, PETITIONS OR QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE BUSINESS OF THIS MEETING

At the time of publication no notifications had been received.

 

Minutes:

Raj Lalla - Bath Racial Equality Council, made a statement to the Panel asking for continued support [a copy of the statement can be found on the Panel’s Minute Book].

30.

MINUTES - 12 SEPTEMBER 2011 pdf icon PDF 50 KB

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

Minutes:

The Panel confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting as a true record and they were duly signed by the Chairman.

31.

KEYNSHAM TOWN CENTRE REGENERATION AND WORKPLACES PROJECT UPDATE pdf icon PDF 13 MB

There is no report attached. There will be a presentation at the meeting. Copies of the presentation will be available there.

 

The presentation will update the Panel about general progress but concentrate on the proposed financing arrangements for Keynsham Town Centre Regeneration and Workplaces Project as well as the results of the consultation exercise which are attached.

Minutes:

The Panel received a presentation from Tom McBain Divisional Director - Property and Derek Quilter Divisional Director - Major Projects. The presentation covered the following:

 

Workplaces Programme Update - Progress to Date

Keynsham Regeneration Project - Public Consultation Feedback

Project Response

Keynsham Regeneration Project - Review of Funding Options

Issues/Next Steps

(A full copy of the presentation is held on the minute book for this Panel)

 

Panel members raised the following points and asked the following questions:

 

The Strategic Director and the Finance Divisional Director explained the capital receipt and internal borrowing (option 5 in the presentation) following a question from Councillor Chris Watt.

 

Councillor Nigel Roberts asked about sustainability and cycling as part of the overall plan. Derek Quilter, Major Projects explained that a new bus station, better cycle routes, cycle parks and storage facilities were being looked at. He further explained that in the long term, some work at the train station in Keynsham was being considered.

 

Councillor Gerrish stated that it was useful to see information on the rent being paid on buildings being vacated, he asked what these costs would be over sixty years and whether this would mean there would be a saving. The Strategic Director explained that the report to Cabinet would refer to this and that the whole project is designed to achieve a 10% return. He further explained that to stay in existing accommodation would incur a substantial cost.

 

Councillor Gerrish asked several questions. He asked if the Ashton Way car park could be decked; if any air quality management issues had been considered regarding the road layout and would the clock still be visible from the High Street. Derek Quilter - Major Projects explained that restricted covenants meant that decking at Ashton Way was discounted; traffic modelling is being carried out with a view to keeping the traffic moving which causes less pollution; the clock would be visible from the High Street.

 

Following a questions from Councillor Gerrish about the reflection of the brass, the Divisional Director explained that it would fade down to a matt appearance but that he would consider glare issues with regard to the material planned for the One Stop Shop.

 

Following an invitation from the Chair, there was a question and answer session with members of the public and officers:

 

Q: Will the material used mean the buildings look shabby in the future?

A: The ground floor of the building will be natural stone, the upper parts will be glass or brass. Brass will fade to a certain level and then stay the same without maintenance.

 

Q: We would like a start and end date as the High Street will continue to deteriorate while this is uncertain.

A: Subject to Cabinet approval (December 2011) and Planning approval (January 2012) the project can start in August 2012.

 

Q: Will the development plans for the fire station and Riverside hold up the start of the main project?

A: The planning application will be for the main site only  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

32.

MEDIUM TERM SERVICE AND RESOURCE PLANS (INCORPORATING CABINET MEMBER UPDATE) pdf icon PDF 45 KB

The draft Resources Medium Term Service and Resource Plan (MTSRP) is presented for consideration by the Panel.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

[Note: Councillor Robin Moss - Chair of Economic and Community Development Policy Development Panel was present and joined the debate on this item].

 

Andrew Pate Strategic Director - Resources introduced the report. He explained that members are asked to identify any issues requiring further consideration and highlighting as part of the service action plans and budget reports to be considered in January 2012 by the Panel. [Note: issues identified by the Panel as requiring further consideration are listed at the end of this minute].

 

Panel members raised the following points and asked the following questions:

 

Councillor Gerrish referred to future changes in the benefit system (page 46 of the report) and asked for reassurance on the constructive estimates. The Director explained that there were big changes ahead for this service with the Universal Credits and new Council Tax Benefit system. He explained that an internal team had been set up to look at the detail and consider possible one off resource requirements. He reminded the Panel that they had a session planned on this subject on 16th January 2012. Councillor Gerrish stated that he was concerned not to lose experienced staff in the short term. The Director explained that the service is looking to keep experienced staff.

 

Councillor Colin Barrett asked what ICT provision (page 48 of the report) the authority would have if Mouchel could no longer provide the service. The Director explained that the contract with Mouchel ends during 2013 when the authority will decide whether or not to extend the contract. He explained that assets used by Mouchel (such as servers, licenses etc) were owned by the Council. Councillor Barrett stated that there was a need to safeguard for the future given the authority's heavy reliance on ICT.

 

Councillor Robin Moss (Chair of the Economic and Community Development Policy Development Panel) asked about the risk assessment on pension predictions and the implications of a diminishing workforce due to employees transferring to Sirona Care and Health. The Director explained that the Council is the lead authority for the Avon Pension Fund and any issues on this are reported to the Pensions Committee. He further explained that the pensions issue also effects the authority as an employer and the Hutton Enquiry is looking at pressures on employers. He explained that any change in the future employer rate (for Sirona staff) would be the responsibility of Sirona. He also explained that the Avon Pension Fund scheme is closed to new employees or Sirona.

 

Councillor Chris Watt asked if any of the new academies had stopped using the Human Resources and Payroll services and if there was flexibility in the service if academies opt out in the future. William Harding - Head of Human Resources explained that one academy had stopped using People Services. He further explained that there is already a trade with schools so there is some flexibility in the workforce to adapt if necessary.

 

Councillor Charles Gerrish raised concerns on the proposed reductions in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

33.

FUTURE WORKPLAN pdf icon PDF 35 KB

For the Panel to consider their future workplan.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel noted their future workplan, adding the following items to the 'items to be scheduled' list:

 

·  Keynsham Regeneration - Progress Review

·  Carbon Reduction