Agenda and minutes

Venue: Community Space, Keynsham - Market Walk, Keynsham. View directions

Contact: Mark Hayward 01225 396975  Email: mark_hayward@bathnes.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

B&NES Budget Fair including Question and Answer session

The Keynsham Area Forum is hosting one of the Council’s Budget Fairs.  This year there will be five meetings which are open to the public and are each being hosted by the Connecting Communities Area Forums.  The Budget Fairs provide an opportunity to hear about the Council’s financial plans for the next four years.  There will be an opportunity to ask questions and feed into the discussions on the budget proposals.

Minutes:

 

Question 1 –The Metro West rail project does not appear in the budget figures.  This project would help with the implementation of a station in Saltford.  Also there is no

Mention of Saltford primary school expansion.  Does this mean this will not happen?

Answer – There are over 120 projects within the capital programme and the presentation includes a snapshot of some of the projects planned.  Saltford primary school expansion is included in the 2016/17 financial year.  Feasibility work is required.

Question 2 – Does the river corridor fund extend to Keynsham?  Will you be liaising with South Glos as the river goes into the authority area?

Answer – The fund is specifically identified for river safety improvements in the City.  The River Corridor Group does look at the Avon and will take account of the impact on South Glos.

Question 3 – As Bath Community Academy share the sports facilities on their site will they be making a contribution towards the £200k improvements works?

Answer – The Academy does contribute revenue funds towards the use of the facilities.  The Council will take this up further with them.

Question 4 – As part of the new property company, will the Council offer some affordable houses?

Answer – The initial aim will be to ensure the 60 units above the shops in Bath will be available for private renting as soon as possible.  The Council will consider a business case that addresses a range housing needs.

Question 5 – Currently the Council provides a weekly recycling collection.  Will the protection of front line services include protection of this weekly service?

Answer – Government funding has allowed the Council to offer weekly collections.  This funding expires in 2017.  There is political support to continue to offer this service however a review will need to be carried out.

A further comment was made that if recycling collections are reduced to fortnightly collections, there will be an increase in fly tipping in the villages.

Question 6 – Is there still a commitment to ensure Somerdale delivers the employment opportunities?

Answer – Yes, the Council is still committed to deliver the economic growth and jobs.

Comment 7 – I welcome the proposals in the budget to improve junctions across the area.  The recent traffic improvements to Bath Hill in Keynsham are poor.  The road has been narrowed which causes traffic congestion.  Please stop narrowing the roads we need the traffic to flow freely. 

 

Question 8 – The area will see significant housing growth, what improvements have been planned for to increase school numbers?

Answer – There will be improvements to Castle Primary and a new school build on the Somerdale site as part of the development.

Question 9 – Will the Council have more autonym on its spending once the government grant has been withdrawn?

Answer – No, the grant is not ring-fenced, however more funding can be raised locally.

Question 10 – Bath does not have an additional precept, but Keynsham does, how did  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

2.

West of England Joint Spatial Plan including Question and Answer session

The West of England’s Joint Spatial Plan and Transport Study will set out a prospectus for sustainable growth that will help the area meet its housing and transport needs for the next 20 years.  Estimates state that to maintain its current prosperity, the area needs at least 85,000 new homes by 2036, nearly 30,000 more than the number already planned, as well as the transport and other infrastructure needed to support this level of growth.  Officers from Planning Services will give a presentation to the Forum and update them on Placemaking.

Minutes:

Question 1 - Why are we talking about voluntary input from B&NES?

Answer - 85,000 is the total amount across the four local authority areas, 56,000 is already committed within the existing housing allocations, 17,000 will need to be accommodated and B&NES will be required to take a proportion of these homes 

Question 2 – What proportion will be affordable housing?

Answer – Approximately 35%.

Question 3 – How many houses will actually be built, is there a way we can force them to build the homes?

Answer – The Government is paying close attention to the Joint Spatial Plan.  The Council will go back and ask how much affordable housing can be delivered across the region.

A further comment was made - we need to ensure we have sufficient social housing that is new and affordable.  The current part-owned housing scheme is not acceptable.

Question 4 – (Reference to the slides showing the different options) What are the white areas shown on the options map?

Answer – These areas are not so restricted, however they are away from employment growth.

Comment 5 – One of the options looks like Keynsham be developed into Bristol.

Answer – All the options presented show theoretical scenarios that could be implemented.  The consultation is aiming to seek the views from the community.

Question 6 – (Reference to the slides showing the different options) The white areas could be quite sustainable in relation to transport and possibly to create a new town.

Answer – The consultation is seeking these ideas particularly for areas that can support housing and employment growth.

Question 8 – The conservation area for Keynsham does not include Manor Road Woodland and Abbots Wood.  Can these areas be incorporated?

Answer – Richard Daone to provide more details.

Question 9 – Four years ago the public were consulted on a number of sites in Keynsham.  They weren’t listened to regarding their concerns about the traffic flow and increased traffic from the new houses, impacting on the road network.  Keynsham has seen a lot of development but no infrastructure improvements have been made.

Answer – The JSP is bringing together housing, employment and transport to ensure a more holistic approach is taken and the right investment for infrastructure is made.

Question 10 – Once the final outcome of the democratic process is completed will the JSP have to be approved by each council and can B&NES vito the plan?

Answer – The Adoption of the plan will have to agreed by each council.

Question 11 – Will the Hicks Gate urban extension include a new road?

Answer – These are just indicative options, nothing has been decided.

Question 12 – Keynsham needs more parking for businesses and people to travel to work.  A customer survey was carried out by TESCOs which highlighted that customers came from Shepton Mallet.  Do we know where people are coming from and where they travel to?

Answer – Along with the Keynsham Transport Strategy, the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.