Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Guildhall, Bath. View directions

Contact: Michaela Gay  01225 394411

Items
No. Item

13.

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

 

14.

EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURE

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

 

Minutes:

The Chairman drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure.

 

15.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS

Minutes:

Councillors Hale and Gilchrist had sent their apologies to the Panel. Councillors Richardson and Romero were their respective substitutes.

16.

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.

Minutes:

There were none.

17.

TO ANNOUNCE ANY URGENT BUSINESS AGREED BY THE CHAIRMAN

Minutes:

There was none.

18.

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.

 

Minutes:

There were none.

19.

MINUTES - 21st May 2018 pdf icon PDF 94 KB

Minutes:

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

20.

Cabinet Member update

The Cabinet Members will update the Panel on any relevant issues. Panel members may ask questions on the updates provided.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Karen Warrington, Cabinet Member for Transformation and Customer Services addressed the Panel, a summary of her update is set out below.

 

Libraries

 

She said that she had received positive feedback on the proposals for Midsomer Norton Library.

 

She explained that an Engagement Panel had been established to look at the plans associated with the future of Bath Library. She said that she would look to share them with the Panel as soon as it was possible.

 

She stated that with regard to Community Libraries 11 initial contacts were made in respect of running them, this was followed by 7 expressions of interest and has resulted in 3 full applications.

 

She said that she was pleased to announce that Saltford Community Library Hub transferred to community ownership today (Monday 16th July) and will open to the public on Tuesday 17th July.

 

She informed the Panel that Stowey Sutton Community Library was planned to commence in September 2018 and Weston Community Library was planned to commence in October 2018.

 

She explained that discussions were still ongoing regarding the Mobile Library vehicle and availability of drivers for the service.

 

Councillor Richard Samuel asked for timescales concerning the Bath Library and whether the proposals would be subject to the Planning Application process and subsequent debate at a meeting of the Development Management Committee.

 

Councillor Warrington replied that the Engagement Panel had concluded its work in July and that she intended to bring the plans to the September meeting of the Panel. She added that Planning officers have been involved throughout the process and would await their decision on what process was required next.

 

Councillor Patrick Anketell-Jones asked if the consultation showed clearly the library offer that was wanted by the public.

 

Councillor Warrington replied that it had and the intention is for the site to be a Library and Information Service that will include study space with a range of technology available and space for 1-2-1 interviews to be carried out.

 

Councillor Bob Goodman, Cabinet Member for Development and Neighbourhoods addressed the Panel, a summary of his update is set out below.

 

Joint Community Safety Plan

 

He wished to commend the Plan and the remarkable work carried out by Samantha Jones, Inclusive Communities Manager in producing it.

 

Waste

 

He informed the Panel that he was working on vision for Waste and would to look to bring that to them when it was ready.

 

Littering

 

He stated that he had made a decision to increase the maximum fine for littering to £150 and that this would come into effect from 17th July 2018.

 

Air Quality

 

He said that modelling was taking place almost constantly and that a Business Plan was due by the end of the year. He said that this would be presented to the Panel prior to a decision being made, possibly their September meeting.

 

Leisure Centres

 

The refurbishment of Keynsham Leisure Centre has begun.

 

The new swimming pool at Bath Leisure Centre looks great and will reopen on July 23  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

21.

Joint Community Safety Plan pdf icon PDF 62 KB

This joint Community Safety Plan sets out the Partnership’s Community Safety work for the next three years with emphasis on the recent Bath & North East Somerset Council Scrutiny Inquiry Day on Community Safety, which identified the benefits of partnership working.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Sgt Jon Bagnowiec and Victoria Jeffries (ASB Co-ordinator) briefed the Panel on recent Antisocial Behaviour in Keynsham.

 

Victoria Jeffries explained that there are three main categories for antisocial behaviour, depending on how many people are affected:

 

  • Personal antisocial behaviour is when a person targets a specific individual or group.

 

  • Nuisance antisocial behaviour is when a person causes trouble, annoyance or suffering to a community.

 

  • Environmental antisocial behaviour is when a person’s actions affect the wider environment, such as public spaces or buildings.

 

She said that the Police fully understand the impact that Antisocial Behaviour (ASB) can have on communities and individuals. She added that services such as Lighthouse were available for victim support.

 

She informed the Panel of the new powers following the implementation of the Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

 

·  Criminal Behaviour Order – Issued by the courts after a person has been convicted for a criminal offence. Under the order, a person who has been convicted would be banned from certain activities or places, and would also be required to address their behaviour, for example by attending a drug treatment programme. A breach could see an adult face up to five years in prison.

 

  • Police Dispersal Power Allows the police to disperse anti-social individuals and provide short-term respite to a local community. The power is preventative and allows an officer to deal instantly with someone’s behaviour in a particular place and to confiscate related items.

 

  • Community Protection Notice - Enables local authorities and police to stop persistent environmental anti-social behaviour, like graffiti, neighbour noise or rubbish on private land.

 

  • Public Spaces Protection Order – A power which allows a local council to deal with a particular nuisance or problem that is detrimental to the local community’s quality of life by imposing universal conditions on the use of that area. This can be used to tackle issues like dog fouling and restricting the consumption of alcohol.

 

  • Closure Power – Allows the police or local council to close premises where anti-social behaviour has been committed, or was likely to be committed.
  • Absolute Ground for Possession – Will speed up the possession process in cases where anti-social behaviour or criminality has already been proven by another court.

 

Giving victims a say

The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 also includes two new measures which are designed to give victims and communities a say in the way anti-social behaviour is dealt with:

 

  • Community Trigger – Gives victims the ability to demand action, starting with a review of their case, where the locally defined threshold is met.

 

  • Community Remedy – Gives victims a say in the out-of-court punishment of perpetrators for low-level crime and anti-social behaviour.

 

She stated that warning letters can also be sent to perpetrators of antisocial behaviour prior to them agreeing to sign an Acceptable Behaviour Contract which can be in place for six months. She said that in some cases parents may also be asked to agree to certain contract conditions.

 

Councillor Dine  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

22.

Review of Taxi Policy and Conditions

There will be a presentation on this item.

Minutes:

The Team Manager for Licensing and Environmental Protection gave a presentation to the Panel, a copy of which can be found online as an appendix to these minutes or on the Panel’s Minute Book. A summary is set out below.

 

Why are we reviewing the policy and conditions?

 

  Need to align with the proposals for Bath’s Clean Air Plan

  Need to fulfil recommendation of Ofsted Report of Children’s Services in 2017

  The last review was in 2014 and there is a need for an update to ensure our policy and conditions remain fit for purpose

 

Proposal: Vehicle Specification

 

  Taxis will be included in all options of the Clean Air Zone.

  Technical modelling is currently underway which will give us a clearer picture of the types of taxi vehicles which could or could not be charged. 

  Current assessment is recommending that Euro 6 Diesel / Euro 4 Petrol vehicles, electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles would be considered as compliant.

 

Proposal: Mandatory Child Sexual Exploitation awareness training

 

  Ofsted report recommended that all drivers undergo some form of CSE awareness training

  Drivers will need to prove that they have received training for their licence to be renewed

  Proposal is for 1 hour training session to be delivered in-house at minimum cost to drivers

  This is about drivers being supported to take action if they identify a problem

 

Proposal: English speaking test for new applicants

 

  It is essential for public safety that a driver can communicate clearly with passengers and the Emergency Services in the event of an emergency situation.

  Other LA’s have introduced similar tests

  Assessment will be conducted at the taxi licensing office as part of the application process

 

Proposal: Adoption of s165-167 the Equalities Act 2010

 

  In future the Council will maintain a list of ‘designated’ vehicles suitable for use by customers using wheelchairs

  Duties are imposed for drivers to provide assistance to such customers e.g. handling luggage into and out of the vehicle

  Provides greater transparency around our commitment to disabled customers

  Requires adoption by the Licensing Committee

 

Public consultation

 

  Launched today (16th July 2018) and running until 14th September 2018 (23.59hrs) –  8 weeks

  Launch event held at Odd Down Sports Ground on 16th July 2018 between 10am-3pm to which all drivers had been invited

  Policy consultation discussed at CTE Scrutiny Panel on 16 July 2018

  Bring report to Licensing Committee in October 2018 for ratification, before referring to Cabinet for decision

 

Communications

 

  Dedicated webpage from 16 July 2018 at http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/breathetaxis 

  Online questionnaire for consultation responses

  All drivers and operators will be sent copies of proposed documents for their information, together with a summary document of changes

 

Councillor Richard Samuel commented that current fleet data must exist, so the new conditions when set should be stated to the operators and they must be informed that they must comply, otherwise they are not given a licence.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

Taxi Policy pdf icon PDF 237 KB

23.

Waste Collection Review

There will be a presentation on this item at the meeting.

Minutes:

The Team Manager, Strategy & Contracts gave a presentation to the Panel, a copy of which can be found online as an appendix to these minutes or on the Panel’s Minute Book. A summary is set out below.

 

What Changed?

 

  57,600 households received 140 litre bins / 3,200 households issued larger 240 litre bins

 

  10,500 received 140 litre reusable rubbish bags (fortnightly) / 6,360 received 70 litre reusable rubbish bag (weekly)

 

  1,350 properties on weekly black sack collection (city centre and small proportion bin rooms) / 5,000 households serviced by bulk communal bins

 

  Recycling Service in-house

 

Why did we make these changes?

 

  To keep our streets cleaner

  To recycle more

  To save money

 

Background – Service model

 

  Extensive benchmarking & research into recycling performance and waste collection services offered by other local authorities

 

  Financial assessments into 5 alternative collection models, narrowed down to 2 that met 3 key objectives.

 

Changes requested during planning

 

  Increase in the number of properties eligible for a weekly collection service from the original modelling

 

  Increase in the amnesty period for the collection of side waste extended from 4 weeks to 12 weeks / Increased education during extended amnesty period.

 

Implementation

 

  Letters sent with Council Tax bills in March 2017 to advise of bin/bag allocation and asking residents to get in touch if they had concerns.

 

  From May – October 2017  Waste Doctor visits  to residents who felt their property was unsuitable for wheeled bins or those requesting bigger bins.  Hundreds of visits and telephone consultations undertaken.

  The Council’s recycling service brought in-house on 9th September 2017.  85 staff were TUPE’d across from Kier to B&NES council, along with plant, equipment and offices

 

  The new service began on 6th November 2017

 

Publicity

 

  An extensive communications plan “Together we can all make a difference” was implemented including a proactive campaign to encourage people to recycle more

 

  106 Roadshow events & community group talks / Over 5000 people reached though face to face contact / 42,000 new recycling containers ordered

 

  Waste doctors visited 491 properties to discuss personal arrangements

 

Education & Enforcement

 

  Two temporary waste awareness officers employed

 

  Since stopping side waste: 539 properties visited / 181 education letters issued / 665 Breech Notices issued / 8 intent to serves issued

 

  Many of the bags being dumped were found to be commercial waste being passed off as domestic

 

  9 Business issued with warning notice / 2 FPN’s issues for business leaving black sacks by litter bins / 80 new business waste customers

 

Key Objective – Achieve Financial Savings

 

 

  End of the DCLG grant of £450K per annum to retain weekly black sack collections

 

  18/19 Budget has been reduced by £450K to reflect this

 

Key Objective – Increase Recycling

 

2016/17 tonnes  2017/18 tonnes  Difference

 

Kerbside Recycling   17,975  20,099  +2,124

Food (included above)  4,153  5,323  +1,170

Domestic waste    27,815  23,311  -4,504

collected

 

  April/May 2017  April/May 2018  Difference

 

Kerbside  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

Waste Collection pdf icon PDF 678 KB

24.

Panel Workplan pdf icon PDF 110 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.

Minutes:

The Chairman introduced this item to the Panel. He stated that the following items were scheduled for their September meeting.

 

Bathscape Project - Update on Progress

Transport Strategy - Getting from A to B

Review of Statement of Principles for the Gambling Act 2005

 

He reminded Panel members that through the course of the meeting they had agreed to add the Bath Library Integration Plan and the Air Quality Business Plan also for September. He said discussions would need to take place with officers therefore to streamline the agenda.