Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Guildhall, Bath. View directions

Contact: Michaela Gay  01225 394411

Media

Items
No. Item

51.

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

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Minutes:

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

 

52.

EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURE

The Chair will draw attention to the emergency evacuation procedure as set out under Note 6.

 

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Minutes:

The Chair drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure.

 

53.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS

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Minutes:

Councillor Lisa O Brien sent her apologies and was substituted by Councillor Karen Warrington.

 

Councillor Grant Johnson sent his apologies.

54.

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.

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Minutes:

There were none.

55.

TO ANNOUNCE ANY URGENT BUSINESS AGREED BY THE CHAIRMAN

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Minutes:

There was none.

56.

ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC OR COUNCILLORS - TO RECEIVE DEPUTATIONS, STATEMENTS, PETITIONS OR QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE BUSINESS OF THIS MEETING

David Regdewell, Transport South West.

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Minutes:

Panel members noted that David Redgewell had registered to make a statement but was unable to attend. The statement has been circulated to Panel members.

57.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 329 KB

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Minutes:

The Panel confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting as a true record..

58.

Neighbourhood Cleansing pdf icon PDF 290 KB

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Minutes:

Councillor Dave Wood, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services, and Carol Maclellan, Assistant Director Environmental Services, introduced the report. Councillor Wood explained that all Council’s had seen a squeeze on front line services and his aim had been to get investment in these areas and had been working with officers to target the areas that need most intervention. Carol Maclellan outlined the 11 priority areas of investment.

 

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

 

Councillor Joel Hirst welcomed the report and investment. He asked the following questions – officer/Cabinet Member response shown in italics.

 

·  What are the logistics around the ‘clean and green days’? Councillor Wood explained that a post had been created to organise these days to get the community (Residents Associations, Parish and Town Councillors and Ward Councillors) and Council teams together and focus on an area.

 

·  How will we raise awareness of the opportunities for support? The officer explained that there was definitely a communications aspect and once everything is in place, there would be a public launch.

 

Councillor Shelley Bromley welcomed the investment in the mechanical weed remover as she has had comments from her residents about the weeds looking untidy. She asked how best to tackle graffiti on utility boxes. Councillor Wood explained that if you let the company know, they will usually remove the graffiti. The officer added that Council vans will remove small bits of graffiti from these boxes. Councillor Karen Walker asked for a list of contact details for utility companies be provided for ward Councillors.

 

Councillor Ruth Malloy stated that if graffiti on telecoms cabinets is reported to ‘Fix my Street’ it will be forwarded to the correct place.

 

Councillor Ruth Malloy asked about road and pavement repairs and what the process is if utility companies do not clear up properly after works.

Councillor Wood explained that companies do have a legal obligation to return the area to a certain standard. He stated that he was not sure the legal level is high enough, but the Council can check up.

 

Councillor Karen Warrington asked how gully emptying and dog fouling enforcement was prioritised. Councillor Wood stated that there is usually a small amount of dog owners that are responsible, it is about the community coming together with intelligence that will inform the enforcement officer. In terms of gully emptying there are different issues such as verges not being cleared. This investment should see a 50% increase in gulley’s cleared.

 

 

Councillor Ryan Wills asked the following questions, officer/Cabinet Member responses are in italics:

·  How will road repairs be prioritized? Councillor Wood stated that the highways budget has shrunk and this investment is needed to bring the road network back to a ‘steady state’ which is where the network is maintained gradually and no area is left to deteriorate which is what happens when there is under investment. The ranking of the priorities is done by the Highways Department – they do take into account the future cost and level  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58.

59.

City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement pdf icon PDF 436 KB

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Minutes:

Councillor Sarah Warren, Cabinet Member for Climate and Sustainable Travel and Sophie Broadfield, Director of Sustainable Communities, introduced the report and gave a presentation which covered the following:

 

·  CRSTS Programme (1) – Transport Corridors

·  CRSTS Programme (2) – Walking and Cycling

·  Liveable Neighbourhoods

·  Residents Parking Zones

 

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

 

Councillor Warrington asked about the money for rural areas which includes the Somer Valley and Midsomer Norton but not Chew Valley. Councillor Warren stated that there is money for specific initiatives in rural communities and confirmed that a pilot study is being considered for Chew Valley.

 

Councillor Crossley asked if the timescale was realistic regarding Liveable Neighbourhoods. The Director explained that almost all ward Councillors had now been approached.

 

Councillor Hirst stated that it was great – regarding Liveable Neighbourhoods – that responses were fairly positive. He asked when the time was to go beyond the 15 areas. Councillor Warren explained that co-design with the 15 communities begins imminently, it will become clear where public consensus emerges. Our hands are fairly full with the 15 areas at present. The Director added that it is hoped that a 5 year programme can be developed.

 

Councillor Walker asked how trade and service vehicles will access these areas. Councillor Warren stated that the areas will not necessarily be car free, it is about having only the vehicles that need to be there such as residents and tradespeople rather than through traffic. The Director confirmed that a road can be accessed and then the vehicle can drive back the way they came rather than drive through which will stop rat running.

 

Councillor Dr Kumar asked what would happen if an LTN did not succeed. Councillor Warren stressed that co-design was the approach and that if agreement cannot be reached, then that LTN may not be able to go forward. There will need to be a reasonable level of consensus. There will also be monitoring of unintended consequences.

 

Councillor Dr Kumar asked about the timescales. The Director explained that the next stage was co-design ward by ward. The aim was to have designs around September.

 

The Panel RESOLVED:

 

·  To note the elements of the West of England CRSTS that relate to activity in Bath and North East Somerset for inclusion in the submission to DfT and

·  Note the progress with the Liveable Neighbourhoods/RPZ proposals

 

 

60.

Journey to Net Zero: Reducing the Environmental Impact of Transport in Bath pdf icon PDF 340 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Sarah Warren, Cabinet Member for Climate and Sustainable Travel and Sophie Broadfield, Director of Sustainable Communities, introduced the report and gave a presentation which covered the following:

 

·  Introduction

·  Vision

·  Objectives

·  How we have consulted so far

·  Consultation findings

·  Better public transport options

·  Providing for Travel by bike or on foot

·  Creating improved places to live and work

·  Cleaner, greener school travel

·  Supporting future mobility

·  Connecting Bath to rural communities and market towns

·  Next steps

·  Have your say

·  The Plan identifies: current projects/Developming projects/Future projects

 

 

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

 

Councillor Karen Warrington stated that the programme is centred around Bath. Rural communities have had public transport cuts recently – residents welcome transport improvements into the City. Also, will you be working with Bristol City Council regarding transport into Bristol. Councillor Warren explained that the document evolved from previous documents about Bath. Bath and access to it is central to the document. CRST rural fund and innovation fund will help. Chew Valley has been suggested for a pilot regarding decarbonisation. Regarding Bristol routes, there will be focus on the A37.

 

Councillor Hirst stated that it was an exciting document, but the challenge is how we deliver. He asked the following questions, officer/Cabinet Member responses are shown in italics.

 

·  The table shows that twice the amount of people use public transport in Oxford – how can we learn from them? Councillor Warren stated that she had spoken to her counterpart in Oxford Council. The Director stated that visiting other cities will help with improvements. Councillor Walker stated that while the population is similar in the two cities, Bath has a lot more hills.

·  Can we take the issues such as air pollution and transport out of the political sphere? There could be a cross party advisory board which would mean there would be no stall due to a change in administration. Councillor Warren stated that she would think about this suggestion.

 

Councillor Dr Kumar stated that this was a grandiose wish list. He asked how cleaner, greener schools would be achieved and what the plan is to encourage independent and healthy travel. He asked if schools would be funded to help them improve their environment. Councillor Warren gave the example of Amsterdam in the 1970’s which was choked with cars. She explained that this situation was addressed by someone first having a vision. She explained that step one is the vision from which the business case can be put together which is how local government funding works. She further explained that the basis of the plan is putting in safe and segregated cycle routes so that parents would feel safe allowing children to cycle to school. We want to show more residents the potential of e-bikes. She explained that the document contains a bold vision but has been broken down in current/futures plans.

 

Councillor Dr Kumar stated that cycle lanes are 1.5metres and roads in Bath are too narrow and a lot of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.

61.

Panel Workplan pdf icon PDF 186 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:

Panel members noted the future workplan.