Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The Chair drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure.

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.

There were none.

There was none.

Adam Reynolds made a statement to the Panel. A copy of the statement is attached to these minutes.

Nicolette Boater submitted a question to the Panel, an answer was circulated. A copy of the question and answer is attached to these minutes.

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

Note: The Cabinet Project Lead, Councillor Oli Henman agreed to arrange a meeting with Councillor Wait to update on Keynsham Community Energy Group.

The Cabinet Member for Highways will update the Panel on any relevant issues.

Councillor Manda Rigby, Cabinet Member for Highways, gave an update on matters within her portfolio. A report and presentation slides are attached. The presentation covered the following:

·  City Centre Security

·  Residents Parking Zones (RPZs)

·  Cleveland Bridge

·  Emission Based Parking Charges

·  Transport Improvement Programme

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

Councillor Box asked about Park and Ride parking charge changes, she also stated that parish members had commented on the times of services (especially in the evenings). The Cabinet Member agreed on the comment on rural bus services. She further explained that Park and Ride Services were brought back in house last year which had been an expensive project. She explained that we want to overachieve – all ringfenced funds will be invested back in the service. She asked that parish representatives write in with ideas.

Councillor Leach asked about the numbers of overweight lorries travelling over Cleveland Bridge. The Cabinet Member reported that it was 0.09%, on a monthly basis this is approximately 482 vehicles who have all had warning notices sent.

Councillor Heijltjes asked about the effects of the vacancies in parking services. The Cabinet Member explained that the Civil Enforcement Officer Service is running with 4 vacancies out of a staff of around 30. The main aim of the service is to educate people around the restrictions.

Councillor Beaumont asked to meet with the Cabinet Member regarding 20mph zones in Keynsham (school routes). The Cabinet Member stated that she would be delighted to meet and had plans to bunch together all of the areas that are requesting 20mph zones.

Councillor Heijltjes stated that she would like the free parking permits for Bath Councillors reviewed as a way of showcasing leadership. The Cabinet Member explained that everything is reviewed in the budgeting process, the budget will be considered by Council in February 2024.

Councillor David stated that there was an overspill issue in Oldfield with regard to RPZs and thanked officers for helping with this issue. She asked what monitoring was happening outside of the zones. The Cabinet Member confirmed that monitoring is being done and mitigations will be considered where necessary. She added that it was difficult to get to the cause of the issues and data can be affected by people parking a second car outside of the zone or HMOs.

Councillor Player asked about the state of roads and how, when potholes are repaired, they soon return to a bad state. She asked if cheaper materials are being used to patch up the roads. The Cabinet Member stated that it was not that cheaper materials are used. She explained that there has been ongoing underfunding but that there had been investment in a machine that fills the roads differently which means pot hole repairs will last longer. She stated that the weather in the past year had been a large factor with regard to pot holes (almost double the damage last year).

The Cabinet Member, Councillor Rigby stated that she would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

The report and slide pack are attached.

Councillor Sarah Warren - DeputyCouncil Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency and Sustainable Travel – introduced a presentation which covered the following:

·  Journey to Net Zero

·  Vision

·  Objectives

·  Project Highlights

·  Bath Clean Air Zone

·  City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement

·  Car Clubs: Launch Spring 24

·  Working in Partnerships: Anchor Institutions

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

Councillor Heijltjes asked for an update on pavement parking with regard to Tier vehicles (E scooters and bikes). The Cabinet Member explained that she was looking into creating a process for on-street parking and asked for ideas to be put forward. With regard to connecting on-street parking with cycle hangers, the officer stated that work was being done on this and she would be happy to be sent any suggested locations.

Councillor Auton asked about car clubs and stated that he would be happy to look at locations in Midsomer Norton. He asked about the railway line. The Cabinet Member explained that the bid for funding had been unsuccessful regarding that site. She stated that she would check the details and agreed to a meeting.

Councillor David asked the following questions.  The Cabinet Member response is shown in italics:

·  Are there any public engagement plans. The Cabinet Member explained that she recognised the importance of public engagement and the first job of the new communications officer is a communication strategy regarding each of the strands.

·  What is the Council’s ambition regarding school streets. The Cabinet Member explained that ‘school streets’ refers to a timed temporary closure of a road at pick up and drop off times. She further explained that work has started on this with schools who have expressed an interest. The criteria will include the enthusiasm of the school and the type of road etc.

Councillor Player asked if there were any plans to expand the CAZ (Clean Air Zone). The Cabinet Member stated that a physical expansion would be an expensive option so this has not been considered in great detail. Regarding air quality data, the Cabinet Member explained that there is monitoring information/graphs on the website.

Councillor Player asked if there would be more cars available to car clubs as one person’s use can dominate. The Cabinet Member stated that work is being done on the type of formula but welcomed the thoughts of residents on this.

Councillor Leach asked about the plan for development work at the Rec in terms of the potential increase in car journeys. The Cabinet Member stated that officers will work with developers on this.

In response to a question from Councillor Heijltjes regarding how progress is measured, the Cabinet Member that she will consider a formal target regarding active travel. She stated that there is a paper on the Cabinet agenda on performance management but that some areas are easier than others regarding collecting and presenting data.

Councillor Box asked about the location of car clubs – will they be in city and rural areas. The Cabinet Member  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

The Cabinet Member Project Lead will give an update on this. Please see link below:

https://newsroom.bathnes.gov.uk/news/bath-north-east-somerset-council-leading-way-climate-action

Councillor Sarah Warren - DeputyCouncil Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency and Sustainable Travel – introduced the item. She referenced the Climate Emergency UK website and explained the mapping of where Climate Emergency has been declared. In the 2022 scorecard, this authority scored well – 57% when the average is 32%.

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

Councillor Leach asked about the previous scorecard where the authority did not do so well – he asked if the assumptions had changed. The Cabinet Member stated that the scoring methods have evolved, there are more details and this Council has engaged more. She added that we had not scored so high in terms of Transport and Waste but thought this was due to some work not being picked up in the scoring.

Councillor David stated that it is good news that this Council came 7^th. She asked if waste and food issues could be picked up and helped by the Task and Finish Group. The Cabinet Member stated that this would be a great help. The officer added that the food issue is been considered.

Councillor Heijltjes referenced the low score for transport and asked if this was due to the range of great plans not having been implemented yet. The Cabinet Member agreed that the scoring had not been entirely fair on transport for example the score was 1/6 for transport schemes yet we have got the Tier partnership. Scoring is also not reflective in terms of the Clean Air Zone. There is always more to be done, our response can be shared with Panel members.

Councillor Wait congratulated the team on coming 7^th. He asked about 84% yellow star on buildings and heating and the penalty points for transport. The Cabinet Member stated that the penalty point was for air pollution, she will double check this. Regarding the 84%, this reflected many innovations such as that in the Roman Baths.

The Chair thanked the Cabinet Member and officers. 

The report and slide pack are attached. Links to two further documents are below:

Ecological Emergency action plan

Green Infrastructure & Nature Recovery prospectus

Councillor Oli Henman - Cabinet Project Lead for Climate Emergency and Sustainable Travel – gave a presentation which covered the following:

·  Nature Recovery – a new era for BANES

·  Ecological Emergency Action Plan

·  Vision and Priorities

·  The ‘How’: Action Themes

·  Priority Actions: updates

·  Progress on other actions: highlights

·  Priority actions to progress in coming year

·  What is the LNRS?

·  How will the LNRS be used?

·  Stages for preparing and LNRS

·  LNRS in the West of England

·  LNRS Governance

·  Milestones

·  How we are developing priorities

·  LNRS Stakeholder engagement

·  Key next steps

·  New extended Biodiversity Duty for Public Authorities

·  GOV.UK guidance for LPAs

·  First consideration

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

Councillor Anna Box asked the following questions, officer and Cabinet Project Lead responses shown in italics:

·  There is some confusion on ‘call for nature’ sites – what is the aim of this. The officer explained that the website is currently being updated – any landowners can submit sites regarding biodiversity net gain. We will try to link them with funding sources.

·  Is there a plan for light pollution guidance for new builds regarding compliance for bats. The Cabinet Project Lead stated that he would check these powers.

Councillor Leach asked about waterways and if there was any mapping of plastic pollution. The Cabinet Project Lead stated that the waterways comes up a lot as a theme and this could be looked at as a stand alone issue. The officer added that there are water space partnerships, volunteers do regular litter picks.

Councillor David asked about support for local level community initiatives as there is a lot going on especially regarding parks. The Cabinet Project Lead agreed that volunteers must be supported. The officer added that the aim is to have specific guidance for communities and help link them with funding streams

Councillor Heijltjes explained that performance monitoring has been postponed by the Corporate Audit Committee until 2024/25 – she asked that in the interim, will this Panel conduct the role. The officer stated that she would get information on this and pass on to the Panel.

Councillor Auton asked if the Cabinet Project Lead would meet with him and a local member who runs a forest school on Duchy of Cornwall land that has launched a new community growing space and has plans for a rewilding area. The Cabinet Project Lead stated that this sounds like a brilliant example to be explored and would like the meeting.

Councillor David asked what can be done regarding water pollution near sewage outflows. The Cabinet Project Lead stated that a national change is needed, there is a lack of funding for the Environmental Agency. He hoped for a different approach from National Government. The officer added that information can be given to the government department.

Councillor Heijltjes asked if there are resource constraints in the Nature Recovery Team. The Cabinet Project Lead stated that the emergency is real and action is needed, he stated that overall budgets are constantly  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

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.

The Panel noted the future workplan, including items for the next meetings:

January 2024:

Liveable Neighbourhoods and RPZs Update

Budget discussion

March 2024:

Local Plan Update

Housing Policy