Agenda and minutes

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Items
No. Item

33.

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and made the following statement:

 

Due to the ongoing Covid situation and a desire to retain a level of social distancing at Council meetings at this time, we are holding this meeting virtually.  We will review this approach for any future meetings, in line with government and health guidance at that time.

 

 

34.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS

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Minutes:

Councillor Karen Walker sent her apologies for the meeting.

35.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were none.

36.

TO ANNOUNCE ANY URGENT BUSINESS AGREED BY THE CHAIRMAN

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Minutes:

There was none.

37.

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.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Guy Hodgson made a statement regarding improvements to two pedestrian crossing points in Weston Village (the statement and link to the petition are attached to these minutes)

 

The Panel noted that the petition will be forwarded to Councillor Manda Rigby, Cabinet Member for Transport and relevant officer.

 

David Redgewell, South West Transport Network and Railfuture Severnside, made a statement on Transport Issues.

 

 

38.

MINUTES - 22ND NOVEMBER 2021 pdf icon PDF 236 KB

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Minutes:

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting be confirmed as a true record.

39.

2022/23 DRAFT BUDGET ASSUMPTIONS

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Minutes:

Sophie Broadfield, Director of Sustainable Communities, introduced the report and referred to slides which covered the following:

 

·  2021 Budget Performance – Quarter 2 Forecast on Budget

·  The Budget Context

·  Core Spending Power – The annual funding from Council Tax and Government Grant Income

·  The 2022/23 Budget Headlines

·  2022/23 Budget Proposals

·  The five year forward view

·  Appendix 1: Draft Savings and Income Proposals

·  Appendix 2: Draft Funding Requirement Proposals

·  Appendix 3: Draft Emerging Capital Proposals for Climate Emergency and Sustainability PDS Panel Portfolios

 

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

 

Councillor Grant Johnson commented that this was an unrealistic budget with further costs being put on to residents. He stated that he would like more transparency in the budget papers. Councillor Johnson asked the following questions (Officer or Cabinet Member response shown in italics):

 

·  How can the Council raise the cost of the Garden Waste Service as this service is not always delivered? Councillor Dave Wood, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services, explained that there is extra investment going into curb side recycling to help build resilience after years of underinvestment in this area. There have been some recent staffing issues due to Covid – this was only for a couple of weeks whereas other areas have had to stand down this service for longer so I am proud of our service. He added that more residents had signed up for the service.

·  Introducing Car Parking Charges in Midsomer Norton and Radstock will have a catastrophic effect on the high street, do you know how much damage that will do? Councillor Richard Samuel, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Resources, responded that the savings proposed are realistic, they have been through a very rigorous process. Regarding car parking charges, this is one of the areas of income for the Council. Parking is currently free in the Somer Vally and Midsomer Norton and we have had feedback that this leads to people block parking all day. High Streets want a high turn over in car parks. He added that you cannot just remove something from budget proposals, it must balance. He rejected Councillor Grant’s reference to Bath parking being a ‘mess’. He explained that free parking has been removed on single yellow lines on Sundays in Bath. He explained that the yellow notices on cars shown in pictures in the local press were not fines but warnings. This charge encourages use of Park and Rides and Car Parks.

 

Councillor Lisa O Brien asked the following questions (Officer or Cabinet Member response shown in italics):

 

·  I am concerned to see a potential saving regarding street lighting – the Council unanimously agreed to a motion on women’s safety and one of the issues was bad lighting. Councillor Dave Wood, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services, explained that there would be no reduction in the service and that there was a rolling programme.

·  I would also like reassurance in terms of the Climate Emergency staffing budget savings. Sophie Broadfield, Director of Sustainable  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

40.

COUNCIL HOUSE BUILDING PROGRAMME pdf icon PDF 319 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Graham Sabourn, Head of Housing, and Councillor Tom Davies, Cabinet Member for Adults and Council House Building, introduced the report.

 

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

 

The officer addressed the queries sent in advance by Councillor O Brien on:

 

·  The specifics of sites

·  Financing

·  Right to buy receipts.

 

Regarding sites, he explained that this had been exempt information but as the planning stage is reached, some site details can be released – he gave details of two sites, 117 Newbridge (7 units) and Argyle Works, Lower Bristol Road (8 units). There are six other sites which any Councillor can view by contacting Mr Sabourn directly. Secondly, in terms of revenue costs, the building programme is revenue neutral, the rent pays for management costs. He further explained that there are development “on costs” which will be, in part, filled by council employees. There will also be some consultancy costs. The Cabinet Report shows that the on costs are wrapped up in the Capital cost (one off costs). The ongoing revenue costs are included in the rents. He went on to address the last point explaining that right to buy receipts carry forward is £2.5million. This year is not confirmed but likely to be in the order of £1.2/1.3 million.

 

 

 

Councillor Grant Johnson asked the following questions (Officer or Cabinet Member response shown in italics):

 

·  I welcome this paper, it is an important step but the scale of our ambition is not enough. There are currently 600 properties available each year but 6,000 households on the waiting list for social housing. Councillor Tom Davies, Cabinet Member for Adults and Council House Building, stated that he concurs around the sense of need, we are introducing a work stream, a service and we are in phase 1 of becoming a registered provider. We are working on a medium/long term strategy, the scale of ambition is there.

·  There is no ongoing revenue impact – what is the further context of our plan? Graham Sabourn, Head of Housing explained that this is a journey, the first time we have done this as Bath & North East Somerset Council, we have a plan but not a decision yet.

 

Councillor Shelley Bromley asked the following questions (Officer or Cabinet Member response shown in italics):

 

·  How long, on average, do people, especially families, stay on the waiting list? Graham Sabourn, Head of Housing explained that there are 6,000 households on the waiting list and 600 properties become available each year. Those with an urgent need to move can wait 6 months -1 year on average and those who would like to move (but have no urgent need) can wait up to 10 years.

·  Are the 593 affordable housing units just in Bath or across the authority? Graham Sabourn, Head of Housing stated that he did not know this information.

 

Councillor Joel Hirst commented that his initial feeling would be to try to develop expertise for this new service in house. He also asked when a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.

41.

PANEL WORKPLAN pdf icon PDF 190 KB

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.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel noted the future workplan and made the following points:

 

Councillor Grant Johnson asked when the item on Waste Centres would be brought to a meeting of the Panel. Councillor Wood, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods stated that he would look into this.