Agenda item

Councillors and members of the public may register their intention to make a statement if they notify the subject matter of their statement before the deadline.  Statements are limited to 3 minutes each.  The speaker may then be asked by Cabinet members to answer factual questions arising out of their statement.

Nigel Sherwen made a statement [a copy of which is attached to these Minutes as Appendix 2 and on the Council’s website] about the impact of the Gateway project on the safety of cyclists. Councillor Crossley responded that the scheme was still in the consultation phase, and that Mr Sherwen’s comments would be fed into that consultation.

David Redgewell made a statement on the Greater Bristol Bus Network. He emphasised that the Network includes most of Bath and North East Somerset and comprises the longer-distance services jointly supported by neighbouring unitary authorities. He urged the maintenance and ringfencing of funding for rural transport links in the Council’s budget.  He was worried about the future of buses to Radstock and Frome.  He pointed out that residents of Radstock and Midsomer Norton need access to the Mendips for health care, among other things. He urged co-operation with Mendip District Council and Somerset County Council. He also said that there should be greater investment in bus vehicles, as many of those in Bath were below standard. He also made a statement on local rail issues. He referred to the disruptions to the rail service caused by the recent flooding, which highlighted the need to improve the resilience of the rail network. He said this was an issue that should be taken up by South West Councils. He feared that that all the funding for local rail would be used up in repairing weather damage. He was concerned that MetroWest was not listed as a recipient of capital funding in the Council’s budget, as the Minister had clearly stated that it was a local authority scheme, not a Department for Transport scheme. Provision for Phase 1 of the scheme was included in North Somerset’s budget. Councillor Crossley assured Mr Redgewell that the issues he had raised would be taken into account when the proposals on the City Deal project were considered.

Jay Risbridger (Director, Oliver Currency c.i.c.) made a statement [a copy of which is attached to these Minutes as Appendix 3 and on the Council’s website]on the Bath Pound, submitting that its wider use would result in more of the money spent in Bath being retained in Bath, and urging the Council to support the Bath Pound in the same way that Bristol City Council had supported the Bristol Pound. Councillor Crossley said that he would ask Councillor Stevens to speak to the Council’s Economic Development Service and arrange a meeting with Mr Risbridger about this issue.

Dawn Milsom (Chairman, Clandown Residents Association) made a statement on the Scrap Metal Dealers Act Policy (agenda item 19). She said that the Act gave the Council an opportunity to regulate a sector of business that had hitherto been difficult to control. She was concerned that though the Act had come into force in October 2013, Bath and North East Somerset was agreeing its policy only now. She hoped that robust vetting procedure would be established in accordance with section 3(2) of the Act and that information about applicants would be sought from Planning Enforcement, Highways, the Environment Agency and the Police. There should also be consultation with the public. Site operators should be strictly monitored and be aware that if they did not comply with the law and regulations, they would be shut down. Councillor Crossley said that her statement would be considered when the relevant agenda item was reached.