Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The Chair drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure.

Councillor Roger Symonds had sent his apologies to the Panel. Councillor Will Sandry was present as a substitute for Councillor Symonds for the duration of the meeting.

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 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 Officer before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

The Chair announced that several members of the public wished to make a statement to the Panel and that they would do so directly before their specific item was debated.

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

The Cabinet Member(s) will update the Panel on any relevant issues. Panel members may ask questions.

The Cabinet Member for Homes & Planning, Councillor Tim Ball addressed the Panel. He informed them that a planning application was due before the Development Control Committee in October for a 10 pitch Gypsy & Traveller Site on the Lower Bristol Road. He added that the site would be for 5 transit and 5 permanent pitches.

He said that the Inspector relating to the Core Strategy would be holding a hearing on September 17^th to discuss the questions he had recently asked of the Council regarding its housing need. He added that he expected a full hearing to take place in either November or December.

Councillor Les Kew asked what criteria he was going to use to gain permission to use the land on the Lower Bristol Road as it is within the Green Belt.

Councillor Tim Ball replied that he would be citing ‘exceptional use’ as the land is close to an array of local amenities. He added that no other site had come forward as a possibility and that only one objection had been received for the proposal.

Councillor Will Sandry asked what site management arrangements would be put in place as currently there appeared to be more vehicles on site than equated to 10 pitches.

Councillor Tim Ball replied that there were only two true travelling families on the site and that the others present would not be eligible to remain on the site.

The Divisional Director for Planning and Transport added for clarification that a pitch could contain a number of vehicles / caravans.

Councillor Liz Richardson asked why the number of sites had reduced from 15 to 10.

Councillor Tim Ball replied that a survey of the site had been carried out and to give adequate space for each pitch and room for vehicles to turn it was determined that 10 was a more feasible number. He added that the permanent pitches are larger than the transit ones.

Councillor Douglas Nicol asked if the Council was discriminating against different types of travellers.

Councillor Tim Ball replied that the definitions were defined by law and the Council was working within its agreed allocation policy / criteria. He added that he would send around the criteria to the Panel.

The Cabinet Member for Transport, Councillor Caroline Roberts addressed the Panel. She informed them that the Dorchester Street TRO had been advertised and that work was expected to start on the project in July 2014.

She said that the bus stops element of the Bath Package was almost complete and that the next phase would involve the provision of shelters.

She announced that a new footway had been provided through Chew Stoke and that the winter maintenance provision was to be increased.

Councillor Liz Richardson thanked her for the work she had done toward the new footway and asked if drain clearance would be carried out in preparation for winter to avoid flooding.

Councillor Caroline Roberts replied that work was on-going to prevent flooding.

Councillor Lisa Brett asked if  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

The Cabinet agreed at its meeting in April that a new Transport Strategy be prepared for the City of Bath.  This report provides an update for the Panel on the work undertaken to take this decision forward.

The Group Manager for Planning Policy & Transport introduced this item to the Panel. He informed them that a master plan is being prepared for co-ordinated growth within the Bath City Riverside Enterprise Area and will be informed partly by the Bath Transport Strategy. He added that key to supporting this growth agenda was the need for a new, clear, innovative transport strategy to ensure that the City can compete in the 21st Century whilst respecting its World Heritage Status.

He said that in order to help develop a new transport strategy for Bath a tender was currently underway. He highlighted some of the areas of work that would be undertaken.

·  Assess the cumulative impact of developments with the Enterprise Area on the City’s transport network to 2029.

·  Identify key priority cycling routes and other aspects that will benefit the cyclist.

·  Identify key priorities for those on foot and any constraints for those who with mobility difficulties using the shop mobility services.

·  Review the Council’s emerging Parking Strategy and confirming whether or not the principles are sound within the context of the existing transport provision in the city and of the growth now promoted by the Core Strategy.  In particular advice on the size of any public car parking that might be retained in Avon Street following its redevelopment.

·  Review the previous work which assessed the demand for an east of Bath Park & Ride and review the conclusions of that work in the light of the proposed new development sites referred to above and the current commercial bus network.  This work should assess what capacity is required for current and future demand including the need for further expansion of existing P&R sites.

·  Assess the implications and opportunities that may arise from the electrification of GWR mainline.

David Redgewell, South West Transport Network addressed the Panel. He stated clearly his belief that the rural connectivity of public transport must not be cut and called for some areas of the Council to have access to public transport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

He also called for extra security regarding public transport, especially in the evenings, including CCTV cameras at smaller train stations.

He said that more low floor buses were required across the Council and that also there was not enough bus lane provision.

He asked for the Council to look further into the use of Hybrid / Electric buses and questioned whether the management of the Bath Bus Station could be streamlined.

Henry Brown, Chairman of the Federation of Bath Residents Association addressed the Panel. A copy of the statement can be found on the Panel’s Minute Book.

The Chair asked if the Panel would be able to see the draft detail of the strategy prior to publication and consultation.

The Group Manager for Planning Policy & Transport replied that he would welcome that.

Councillor David Martin commented that he felt the brief within the report was not explanatory enough regarding the work the consultants will have to carry  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

This paper is an update of the paper submitted to the Scrutiny Panel in September 2011 and sets out the Council’s approach to parking issues in Bath, providing a framework for managing car parking spaces for the period 2013 to 2026. The plan will be developed as part of the Bath Transport Strategy and covers all aspects of car parking.

The Transportation Planning Manager introduced this item to the Panel. He explained that the report was an update of the paper submitted to the Panel in September 2011 and sets out the Council’s approach to parking issues in Bath, providing a framework for managing car parking spaces for the period 2013 to 2026. He added that the plan will be developed as part of the Bath Transport Strategy and covers all aspects of car parking including:

·  On and off-street parking;

·  Park and Ride;

·  Future parking demand;

·  Residential parking standards and enforcement;

·  Management issues.

He spoke of how the aim of the strategy is to help improve the quality of life of the people of Bath by establishing a balance between the social, economic, cultural and environmental needs of the whole community.

He stated that a central objective was to reduce the need for drivers to travel to and from the city centre reflecting concerns about the impact of traffic congestion and carbon emissions on the environment and the historic fabric of the World Heritage city, while providing parking provisions that meet a sustainable demand.

He said that the strategy would complement policies to reduce traffic in the central area of Bath by controlling the availability of parking spaces, both on and off street, and by managing the overall supply to meet priority uses.

The objectives of the policy are to:

·  Manage travel demand by introducing restraint-based car parking standards to avoid the over provision of car parking spaces and provide disabled ‘blue badge’ parking spaces

·  Sustain and enhance the vitality and viability of Bath by the introduction of transport policies which support the prosperity of the city and provide a balance of good public transport and short stay parking;

·  Effectively manage the total parking supply which include all types of parking and consider short stay priorities, regulation, charges and enforcement.

Sally Rothwell, Circus Area Residents' Association and Vineyards Residents' Association addressed the Panel. A copy of the statement can be found on the Panel’s Minute Book.

Councillor Lisa Brett asked if it would be possible to link the North Central Zone with areas 7 & 16.

Sally Rothwell replied that she felt residents were prepared to be flexible on this matter.

The Chair asked if that proposal could be taken on board.

The Transportation Planning Manager replied that he would consult with the Cabinet Member for Transport on that matter through the review process.

The Chair asked if the consultants will be asked to review residents parking.

The Transportation Planning Manager replied that they would and added that the results of that would not necessarily have to wait for the draft strategy work to be completed. He said he would again consult the Cabinet Member for Transport for her view.

Henry Brown, Chairman of the Federation of Bath Residents Association addressed the Panel. A copy of the statement can be found on the Panel’s Minute Book.

Councillor Les Kew commented that he felt the report was disappointing and showed no  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

A Supplementary Planning Document for Sustainable Construction and Retrofitting was adopted by the Cabinet on 13 February 2013. The Cabinet agreed to support the future adoption of local Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Guidance for listed buildings in the next 6 months, following a review of the draft document.  The Guidance is now being brought forward to the Cabinet for final adoption, and the Cabinet member with responsibility for Homes and Planning has requested that the document be considered by the Panel.

The Cabinet Member for Homes & Planning, Councillor Tim Ball introduced the item to the Panel. He explained that he was seeking their advice on the matter prior to the Cabinet making a decision on 11^th September. He also placed before them two additional recommendations;

(i)  To test the balance between sustainability and the conservation agenda by looking at pilot projects especially in the Council’s property portfolio and in association with Curo and other partnerships to prove the capacity of Bath and North East Somerset to demonstrate exemplar projects in a World Heritage Site.

(ii)  A further report to come to the Cabinet and this Panel in one years’ time to report on progress.

The Historic Environment Team Leader added that conservation lies at the heart of sustainability and that he felt that the additional recommendations were very positive. He also said that significant discussions had been held in the past with Curo and that he would be happy to work with them on future projects.

Councillor Will Sandry commented that he did not think it was too far-fetched to suggest that Listed Buildings should be allowed to have double glazing.

Councillor David Martin, the Member Champion for Climate Change asked the Cabinet to look carefully at the measures that can be implemented and called for them to be as wide reaching as possible. He added that he would like to seek a change in national guidance through work with the National Trust and English Heritage. He stated that he welcomed both of the additional recommendations.

Councillor Lisa Brett asked if anybody could confirm if York had given permission for its Listed Buildings with timber framed windows to be replaced with double glazing.

The Historic Environment Team Leader replied that he would find it difficult to believe that they would have made a block decision on such a matter. He added that historic buildings needed to breathe. He also reminded the Panel of the work carried out at St. John’s Hospital which involved the replacing of around 147 windows following incorrect mouldings and proportions from work carried out in the 1980s.

Councillor Douglas Nicol commented that he had met with Curo recently and was confident that they would like to be involved in this work area.

Councillor Liz Richardson suggested that if the guidance was to be modified in the future then conservation areas should become included.

Peter Andrews, Transition Bath addressed the Panel. He said that he had been asked to be part of a similar project several years ago and had thought that an SPD had been agreed but when the documentation was finally produced it had been heavily edited. He stated that felt around 400 – 500 jobs could be created through retro-fitting.

He said that he applauded the existence of the current document as the buildings concerned should be considered as places to live and work, not museums.

He agreed strongly with the part of the Cabinet recommendation that states to ‘Progress the work through the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

This report presents the latest workplan for the Panel.

The Chair introduced this item to the Panel.

Councillor Lisa Brett suggested that the Panel at some stage looked at the outcomes of the upcoming Alcohol Harm Scrutiny Inquiry Day.

The Chair reminded the Panel of their wish to see the draft detail of the Transport Strategy and suggested that was placed on the workplan for November.

Councillor Liz Richardson asked if the Flood & Drainage Management item scheduled for November could contain details of the current flood reports.

The Panel RESOLVED to agree with all of the above proposals.