Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting, including Councillors Manda Rigby and Joel Hirst who were joining the meeting remotely (the Chair thanked officers for making this possible).

The Chair drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure.

Councillor Player gave her apologies, she was subtituted by Councillor Hughes.

Councillor Box gave her apologies

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 4.4 Appendix 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 Officeror a member of his staff before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

Mike Earle made a statement regarding ‘The three initial trial Liveable Neighbourhood Schemes (LTNs) and the public availability of relevant data’.

A copy is attached to the minutes.

Cllr Duncan Hounsell - B&NES ward councillor (Saltford ward) made a statement on Liveable Neighbourhoods with reference to Queen Charlton.

A copy is attached to the minutes.

Adam Reynolds made a statement regarding ‘Low Traffic Neighbourhoods’. A copy is attached to the minutes.

Ceris Humphreys made a statement regarding ‘My experience of the area in which the New Sydney Place and Sydney Road Liveable Neighbourhood is proposed’.

Racheal Hushon regarding ‘Liveable Neighbourhoods’. A copy is attached to the minutes.

Professor Christine Harrington made a statement regarding ‘Liveable Neighbourhoods’ - Lead Person of the New Sydney Place and Sydney Road Action Group, and author of the submission of the New Sydney Place LTN Proposal in February 2021. A copy is attached to the minutes.

Robert Hardman made a statement regarding  ‘Liveable Neighbourhoods - the one way system in Lyme gardens’

Malcolm Baldwin, Chair - Circus Area Residents Association made a statement regarding ‘The importance and context of the Circus Area/Catharine Place Liveable Neighbourhood implementation’. A copy is attached to the minutes.

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

The Cabinet Member will update the Panel on any relevant issues if needed. Panel members may ask questions on the update provided.

Councillor Sarah Warren, Deputy Council Leader (statutory) and Cabinet She explained that the Cabinet have been working on the Budget proposals; Economic Strategy; Local Plan and SVEZ (Somer Valley Enterprise Zone) along with the following:

·  Sustainable Transport – consultation on schemes

·  Bid to WECA regarding EV (Electric Vehicle) charging

·  Transport Plan

·  Social prescribing – Active Way Project Somer Valley

·  Renewable Energy – 2 care homes have solar panels which makes 5 buildings this year and 12 on the Council Estate.

·  Retro fit – ‘Green Homes’ event was run in November

·  Heritage retrofit

·  WECA rural funding – applications have just opened.

Panel member questions:

Councillor Heijltjes asked if EV (Electric Vehicle) charging would be on roads rather than pavements. The Executive Director - Sustainable Communities explained that this would be explored with the provider – it will be a partnership and will depend on the location. There will be engagement with ward members.

Councillor Johnson asked about the capacity regarding EV charging – will people have to leave cars charging overnight, potentially in a different street. The Executive Director stated that this was a useful consideration.

Councillor Heijltjes asked for an update regrading on street parking for E bikes and E scooters. The Cabinet Member confirmed that an officer will be visiting her ward as introducing E bikes has changed the parking arrangement.

Councillor Johnson asked for an update regarding solar panels on maintained schools. The Executive Director stated that she would update the panel on the pipeline for this.

Councillor Wait updated the Panel regarding solar panels in Keynsham – there is a meeting next week on this.

Councillor Heijltjes asked if the Transport Action Plan could be added to the workplan for the Panel. She also asked if there could be a School Streets audit. The Cabinet Member stated that work is currently being carried out on School Streets. She agreed to the Transport Action Plan update for the Panel.

The Cabinet Member for Highways - Councillor Manda Rigby and Cabinet Project Lead for Highways: Councillor Joel Hirst gave a presentation which covered the following:

·  Liveable Neighbourhoods programme

·  Liveable Neighbourhoods programme funding

·  Existing Liveable Neighbourhood trial schemes

·  Existing Liveable Neighbourhood trial schemes – key outcomes from surveys and monitoring

·  Existing Liveable Neighbourhood trial schemes – some public comments

·  Proposed Liveable Neighbourhood trial schemes for Spring 2024

·  Development of the Full Business Case

·  Future development of the Liveable Neighbourhoods programme

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

Councillor Leach stated that Liveable Neighbourhood schemes must be well designed so that they do not have to be reversed. He asked how the preliminary designs are put together after the co-design workshops with residents. The Cabinet Member explained that the original suggestions come from the community which is then put through Highways Engineers and our consultants.

Councillor Heijltjes asked what the point of the scrutiny session is if the Single Member Decision will be made tomorrow. She asked that the decisions go to the Cabinet and that the business case be shared with the Panel. The Cabinet Member stated that the Panel are scrutinising whether the Cabinet are doing things in line with what was laid out, individual decisions on separate schemes were not planned to come to the Panel.

Councillor Johnson (Paulton ward) stated that he did not know Bath as well as some others so it would have been useful to see some more detail (maps) showing before and after data from the current trials. The Cabinet Member stated that the Panel are checking that plans are in line with policies that have already been decided and stated that all information will be available on the website regarding the Single Member Decisions.

Councillor David explained that she had been involved in some community work which had identified a crossing point/traffic calming/pavement widening and asked if this type of work would still be taken forward if there are funding methods available. The Cabinet Member stated that none of the community work would be wasted and it is identifying funding streams that is the key determinant. Some of the schemes score highly due to the traffic restriction criteria. She stated that maybe some unspent money could forward such schemes. The overarching policy was about health and wellbeing and making it easier to walk and cycle.

Councillor Leach asked if several designs were considered for each scheme. The Cabinet Member explained that the officers and consultants got a shopping list of potential interventions. They did not have a 2/3 year period to look at every scheme possible. With the ETRO’s – the trial is, in effect part of the consultation. We have done all we can to take in all evidence and tweaks can be made to the schemes on the ground.

Councillor Leach asked if other options were considered where modal filter location options were assessed. The Director of Place Management explained that the officers and consultants consider the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

In preparation for the Draft Budget Proposals 2024/2025 – the savings and income proposals (currently subject to public consultation) are linked below:

https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/budget-consultation-2024-2025

The Panel will be looking at the proposed savings and income proposals within its remit. The full Draft Budget Proposals 2024/2025 will be considered by the Corporate PDS Panel on 23^rd January.

The Deputy Council Leader (statutory) and Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency and Sustainable Travel - Councillor Sarah Warren and the Cabinet Member for Highways - Councillor Manda Rigby introduced the item and answered the Panel questions along with Sophie Broadfield - Executive Director of Sustainable Communities and Chris Major – Director of Place Management.

Councillor Warren stated that local government is facing challenges in managing intense pressures on budgets and recently a number of councils have issued S114 notices. In 2013 our Revenue Support Grant from central government was £31m, this year, it’s £800k.  She explained that we can bid for government grants for one-off specific purposes but this involves working up competitive bids which takes a lot of officer time, and makes it difficult to plan. The pressures on spending, particularly in social care (statutory service), accounts for a large portion of the budget.  This means discretionary areas - such as Green Transformation – have less available.

Councillor Warren stated that on Green Transformation - the proposed budget for next year we will sustain levels of funding to support the corporate priority on climate and ecological emergencies. Many of the new posts across Green Transformation and Strategic Transport teams are in place. She stated that the Council will: invest in renewable energy generating infrastructure on the Council estate, contributing to our 12MW target for Council-generated energy; work with partners to develop new renewables projects contributing to our district-level targets of an additional 300MW generating capacity by 2030; work with WECA and with local partners to support scale up of retrofit activity across the district; increase work with communities to raise awareness and support local action for climate and nature; implement biodiversity net gain through the planning system and continue to take action on sustainable transport.

(Delivery of significant improvements in public transport infrastructure through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, A4 Bristol to Bath Corridor and Somer Valley Links projects. Developing an active travel masterplan to help shape and inform future roll out of active travel infrastructure. Working with the combined authority to develop and deliver electric vehicle charging points across the district. Earmarking £2m of our CAZ reserve to commence the build out of the Scholars’ way cycle route, as well as a supplement for local highways improvement schemes aiming to improve pedestrian safety around the district in support of our recent vision zero declaration).

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

Councillor David asked if there was any more information regarding the parks teams’ operational strategy. The officer commented that the importance of open spaces is acknowledged, however these spaces cost £2.5m per year to maintain and a few options are being considered that would save money – this would be a small percentage of the overall spend. He further explained that the entirety of the model will be looked at and there may be some tough decisions regarding future development but there is a recognition of the importance of green spaces.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

This report presents the latest workplan for the Panel. Any suggestions for further items or amendments to the current programme will be logged and scheduled in consultation with the Panel’s Chair and supporting senior officers.

Local Food Growing Task Group update

Membership - Cllr Sam Ross (Chair), Cllr Michael Auton, Cllr Jess David, Cllr Eleanor Jackson, Cllr John Leach, Cllr Ruth Malloy, Cllr Lesley Mansell, Cllr June Player

The Task Group on 24 November to scope the review.  Following discussions members approved the following terms of reference:

To support the development of a new Local Food Strategy for B&NES Council through the consideration of:

·  Allotment provision current and future within Bath and North East Somerset;

·  Community approaches in local food growing

·  The impact of planning policy on local food growing

·  Community engagement and the role of the council in promoting local food growing

·  Local food insecurity and opportunities to promote food security locally.

The Task Group commenced its formal evidence gathering on 15 December, when members met with officers from Public Health and Parks Teams to discuss food insecurity and allotment provision.

The next meeting is scheduled for 19 January 2024, where the Task Group will welcome representatives from the Allotment Association.  

The Scrutiny Officer Ceri Williams updated the Panel on the progress in the Task group.

The Panel noted the future workplan with the following suggested additions:

·  Transport Action Plan

·  Circulation Plan

A site visit to Pixash Recycling site was discussed. The local Councillors group will extend the invite to Panel members.