Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The Chair drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure.

There were none

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 no urgent business.

The Chair invited Councillor Matt McCabe, Cabinet Member for Built Environment, Housing and Sustainable Development, to update the Panel on the Local Plan which is due to be considered at the May meeting.

The following members of the public made 3 minute statements:

The Chair noted that Councillor Gourley had also circulated a statement on this issue and stated that he would be interested in the Panel being updated on this issue.

o  Victoria Wells made a statement regarding ‘Health and Environment how this impacts people's well-being on a low income’.

Councillor Box and Warren mentioned that more stringent Air Quality targets were discussed at a previous meeting of the Panel.

The Chair thanked the contributors.

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

This is a policy and development item. The Panel have an early opportunity to help shape strategy.

Councillor Sarah Warren, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Bath & North East Somerset, introduced the item. Officers showed clips from the National Emergency Briefing and outlined that the session would be structured as follows: (presentation slides are attached to the minutes):

1. Feedback on the outline Climate & Nature Strategy draft, including three questions:
   • Sources used
   • The outline structure
   • The content framework
2. Discussion on people?focused elements (communities, businesses, jobs/skills, and vulnerable groups).

Dan Green, Group Sustainability Director YTL-UK, Wessex Water, addressed the panel and covered the following points: (presentation slides are attached to the minutes):

·  Meaning of Sustainability for Wessex Water / YTL

·  Challenging Established Approaches

·  Sustainability Frameworks

·  Biodiversity & Catchment Management

·  Climate Mitigation & Adaptation

·  Social Sustainability & Vulnerable Customer Support

·  Brabazon – Sustainable New Town Development

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

Councillor Heijltjes asked how the Council and Wessex Water could work together to stop sewage pollution so that rivers become safe for nature and for recreational use (e.g., swimming). Dan Green stated that the issue is a rainwater problem, not foul sewage capacity. He stated that the Victorian combined sewer systems collect both rainwater and foul water, causing overload during storms. Managing rain “where it falls” is essential: porous surfaces, reduced hard?standing, sustainable drainage.

He further explained that Wessex Water is investing in additional capacity although integrated catchment management is needed. For ecology, the largest problem is phosphorus, not storm overflows. He referred councillors to Environment Agency’s Catchment Data Explorer for detailed breakdowns.

Councillor Leach noted past Wessex Water accounts where dividends exceeded infrastructure investment and hoped this balance would change. He also asked if foul water is treated by being diluted. Dan Green explained that treatment is a defined process at sewage treatment works with multiple stages. In-network spills may involve some settlement, but this is not classed as treatment. During prolonged rainfall, spills can pass through rapidly, but the aim is to reduce frequency via more storage.

Councillor Leach asked if Wessex Water considers current environmental harm acceptable as long as it does not increase. Dan Green stated that ecological status assessments identify reasons rivers fail to reach “good status”. Only a few sites fail primarily due to storm overflows. Nutrients (phosphorus) remain the major ecological driver, not overflows.

In response to a query from Councillor Leach, Dan Green stated that swallowing water from any river or chlorinated swimming pool is not advised. A river sterilised to swimming?pool levels would have no ecology, so some risk always exists.

Councillor Hounsell thanked Wessex Water for the Bath Hill storage tank in Saltford, which had significantly reduced historic flooding issues.

A member of the public asked if this information (for example on porous pavements) has been shared. Dan Green stated that messages are shared in customer magazines, YouTube content and social media. However, greater impact comes from working with local authorities and developers.

Councillor Wait asked what nitrates and phosphates actually do to a river and what safe levels are. Dan Green explained that both  ...  view the full minutes text for item 206.

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 workplan with the following suggestions:

• Home to School Transport (large and rising cost).
• Play Provision — following Full Council motion. The Chair agreed to discuss with the Chair of the CAHW Panel where Play Provision is best placed.