Agenda and minutes

Cllr Rayment declared an interest as an employee of the University of Bath

Cllr Darey declared an interest as a tutor at the University of Bath

(As this is not a decision-making body, Cllrs Darey and Rayment were not required to withdraw and therefore could take part in the debate)

Chief Inspector Kevin Thatcher from Avon and Somerset Police will report and take public questions on local policing matters.

The Chair of the Forum, Cllr Goodman, welcomed everyone to the meeting and invited Chief Inspector Kevin Thatcher to update the Forum on local policing matters.

Chief Inspector Thatcher updated as follows:

• The “face- to-face” police enquiry desk in the city centre has relocated from Manvers Street to the B&NES Council One Stop Shop, from the end of January 2016. Operational duties have now been relocated to offices at Redbridge House on the Lower Bristol Road. It is important to get the message out to people in the city so people are aware of the new arrangements.
• Bath is a safe place to live and crime numbers are low. There have however been a small number of recent crimes that  have been of particular concern, including:
  • Two sexual assaults in the city and reports of indecent exposure.
  • A pattern of dwelling burglaries in the Twerton area. An individual has been arrested.

Chief Inspector Kevin Thatcher then responded to questions as follows:

Question 1 - Cllr Norton - What have been the challenges in moving away from the Police Station based in the city centre?

Response - There have been adjustments but operationally things are working well. It is important to remain an active and visible presence in the city centre.

Question 2 - Cllr McGall - Where there have been pressures on the Police budget, what is the current position with regard to PCSOs on the ground.

Response - There is a commitment to maintain neighbourhood policing and daily prioritisation of officer deployments takes place depending on circumstances and demands.

Question 3 - Cllr Patterson - Can problems associated with multiple use of the canal towpath to the east of Bath could be addressed, in particular the conflict between cyclists and pedestrians. Would be possible to patrol the towpath?

Response - Working relationships are now well established in this area and regular patrols are carried out. There are times when other operational requirements will mean patrols do not occur every day.

Question 4 - Cllr Rayment - Why are we seeing a reduction of 17% in police numbers in Avon and Somerset when London has seen the reduction at 5-6%?

Response - Staffing across the force area has reduced by 600 people and there have been a number of Police officers leaving within that number. There has been a recent drive from the force in recruiting new officers.

Question 5 - Cllr Darey - What support is given to the victims of crime, particularly the types of crime with the Chief Inspector had highlighted earlier?

Response - The Lighthouse Team provides dedicated support to victims of crime and is located at the Keynsham Police site. This is an innovative service which provides a wide range of help and support including access to specialist services for victims of serious crime.

Question 6 - Cllr Player - What is your definition of a “regular patrol” in the outer wards in Bath as well as the city centre?

Response –The Police  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

The Forum is requested to agree the accuracy of the minutes

The minutes from the meeting on 13 October 2015 were agreed subject to the following amendments:

The numbering contained two points numbered 5.5. This section will be renumbered.

Correction to the wording in 5.15 to read: “Patrick Rotheram from FOBRA asked to speak. He felt that the number of students in Bath is a hot topic: the Forum’s observations were welcome and the Forum should take a position”.

Correction to the wording in 6.5 to read: “Cllr McGall asked about personal budgets being moved to individual patients. This could see them having to make their own choices for their care. Jane Shayler explained that whatever model is used it will have to meet statutory responsibilities in adult social care; we do not have the option to say how the money is spent out.”

Cllr Goodman welcomed the co-opted members to their first Forum meeting. He explained that the applications received had been of a high quality and the selection that has been made represents a wide group of knowledge, skills and experience from across the City. 

Robin Kerr suggested that a dedicated website was required for the Forum as he had found it difficult to find the relevant pages on the Council website. Cllr Goodman noted that the pages had been recently updated with a photograph and all of the relevant paperwork.

Cllr McGall requested that at future meetings the Forum considers inviting representatives from youth groups such as the Youth Parliament. Cllr Goodman noted that later on the agenda consideration would be given to establishing a Task and Finish group to examine the overall working of the Forum including representation.

The Forum is requested to consider the issue and identify actions and recommendations

Background information- links to

Report to Planning, Housing and Economic Development Policy Development & Scrutiny Panel

Data on students in Bath

Bath Chronicle report

Follow up Bath Chronicle report

Draft Placemaking Plan

Historic and Future Student Numbers and Accommodation Requirements in Bath

A presentation on the Placemaking Plan was given by Simon De Beer, Policy & Environment Manager. Following the presentation the Forum were invited to put questions, as below

Question 1 – Cllr Goodman - How are HMOs managed through the Article 4 direction?

Response - The Council sets out thresholds in the specific area and when HMO concentration rises above this permitted development rights are lifted for HMOs and planning permission must be sought.

Question 2 - Cllr Rayment asked what further restrictions can we expect to see on HMOs in Bath?

Response - There is an understanding of where there is high HMO concentration in Bath; the Council will work to prevent HMO’s in areas that have a high concentration.

Question 3 - Robin Kerr - Why does B&NES Council not look to have a stand-alone Student Accommodation Policy? There are clear examples of other authorities such as Leeds and Loughborough where plans are working and other examples where no planning has allowed greater problems with student numbers.

Response - The Council is open to an improved approach and it is suggested that this be submitted as part of the consultation.

Question 4 - Jeremy Boss - What powers does the Local Authority have over the numbers for

student HMOs: is it just the Placemaking Plan?

Response - Planning permission powers exist where there is high saturation.

Question 5 - Cllr Patterson - Is new student accommodation following what we would expect to see in design standards and principles?

Response - The Core Strategy and The Placemaking Plan cover the agreed standards.

Question 6 - Rosie Phillips - Is there any information about the impact on equality for the groups that the HMO restrictions capture? It appears that this would impact on the poorest in society disproportionately

Response - In areas where saturation reaches 25% a judgement has to be made weather to make restrictions, although refusal for HMOs is not an automatic default position. Where we have licensing in place we should see better standards being achieved.

Question 7 - Caroline Kay - What agreements have been sought with the Universities? A “standoff” with them is an uncomfortable position.

Response - Engagement with the Universities is the preferred position, and we need to evidence any changes that are agreed and open up new conversations to find solutions

Question 8 - Cllr McGall – The Article 4 direction does not appear to be working. There has recently been a HMO that was given planning permission to expand from 4 to 6 in an area where HMO concentration is at 47%. Where concentration levels increase we are missing the point of achieving what Article 4 sets out, in building mixed and balanced communities.

Response – Simon de Beer suggested that this individual application would best discussed separately as he did not have full specific details of it to hand.

Question 9 - Cllr Player - There are plenty of examples in Bath where students have to put up with low  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The Forum is requested to identify how it wishes to respond to requests for representation as set out in the attached report in relation to:

Local Flood Representatives

‘’Our Health Your Voice’’ Representative

Natural Environmental Partnership Representative

The Chair highlighted two opportunities for involvement:

• ‘Our Health, Your Voice’ – It was agreed that Cllr Lin Patterson represent the Forum on this body.
• Local Flood Representatives – these need not be Forum members and members were asked to seek others who might be able to fulfil these roles. Those interested are encouraged to contact Mark Hayward

The Forum is requested to note the following consultations

Joint West of England Spatial Strategy (Ends: 29 January 2016)

Draft Placemaking Plan Consultation (Ends: 03 February 2016)

Bear Flat – residents’ parking

The Forum Members agreed to note the following consultations:

• The Joint West of England Spatial Strategy
• The Draft Placemaking Plan
• Bear Flat Residents Parking

The Forum’s agreed terms of reference make provision for such working parties on specific topics and allows them to

co-opt individuals or organisations to join, in an advisory capacity. These groups then report back to the main Forum. The Forum is requested to agree the establishment, Terms of reference and membership of the following Task and Finish Groups.

Use of the ‘local portion’ of Community Infrastructure Levy

Constitutional issues (including Terms of Reference and Standing Orders, Code of Conduct and Declarations of Interest) for the Bath City Forum

Draft Terms of reference are attached for these Task and Finish Groups

Forum Members considered proposals for two Task and Finish Groups, proposed Terms of Reference for which had been circulated. These were:

• Community Infrastructure Levy
• Constitution

Robin Kerr suggested a Task and Finish Group on enforcement, utilising the capacity of residents to help with this.

Cllr Rayment suggested that 6 was the right number for membership of the groups; if possible to include 3 elected members and 3 co-optees.

Cllr Rob Appleyard asked for clarity on the purpose for these groups. Cllr Bob Goodman explained that the Task and Finish groups would report back to the Forum with their recommendations: he would like to see pressure applied upwards from the Forum.

Cllr Darey suggested a Task and Finish Group on major developments and planning issues for the city.

Van DuBose set out his view that he would like to see the groups examine a range of issues specific to the city. The Forum’s Terms of Reference can be refined for this purpose. Sub- groups need to carry out some work and make recommendations that help and support the Cabinet in its role.

Caroline Kay asked that the groups find the right people who can represent professional views that area-political. The discussions can become restricted if limited to political “tramlines”.   

Cllr Norton felt that a mission statement should be produced that sits outside of the political remit. 

Cllr Goodman explained that the group that looks at the local proportion of the CIL funding will need to consider a process for how best this is spent in the city. This group may develop as the development of CIL moves forward. The Task and Finish groups may decide to co-opt additional expertise where it will be beneficial to do so. 

It was agreed that Forum members would put their names forward for the Community Infrastructure Levy and Constitution Task and Finish Groups and that the composition of the groups would be agreed by the Chair and Vice Chair of the Forum.

The Forum is requested to note future meeting dates and to consider the attached draft Agenda Plan

Future meeting date: Tuesday, 26 April 2016

A draft Agenda Plan based on suggestions received so far had been circulated.

All Forum members are invited to put forward their suggestions for future agendas, these should be submitted to: Mark Hayward- mark_hayward@bathnes.gov.uk .  Suggestions raised at the meeting were:

Robin Kerr asked for higher priority be given to the Bath Transport Strategy and Flooding when considering future agendas 

Cllr McGall suggested that Shops and Retail should be looked at for the wider Bath sector not just the city centre. Additionally the Forum needs to look at diversity and how it gets the opinions of underrepresented groups to feed into the meetings including young people. Cllr Michael Norton highlighted an example of good practice in relation to this in Basildon which he was happy to share..

Cllr Player asked for a full discussion on the impact of HMOs and Article 4. 

Cllr Patterson asked for a discussion on divestment from fossil fuels.

Cllr Norton asked for youth representation on the Forum. 

Jeremy Boss asked for a discussion on Bath as an “employment hub”.

Cllr Darey suggested the Forum looks at ‘What Bath Wants’.

The next meeting of the Bath City Forum will take place on 26^th April 2016