Agenda item

The Democratic Services Manager will announce any submissions received. The Council will be invited to decide what action it wishes to take, if any, on the matters raised in these submissions. As the questions received and the answers given will be circulated in written form there is no requirement for them to be read out at the meeting. The questions and answers will be published with the draft minutes.

Statements were made by the following people;

Donna Smith presented a petition of over 500 signatures calling for Special Guardians to be treated the same as Foster Carers.  She explained that they faced the same issues but without the necessary support or funding to assist. In response to a question from Councillor Tim Ball about what the Local Authority could do better to support Special Guardians, Mrs Smith said it would be useful if more support groups could be arranged so Guardians could help one another.  Councillor Robin Moss asked if it would be helpful if he raised this at the next meeting of the Fostering Panel to which Mrs Smith agreed it would.  Councillor Sarah Bevan asked whether they had been offered training to undertake this role, Mrs Smith replied that they had had not anything, although she understood that training was now being offered.  She added her view that it should be compulsory.  Councillor Lin Patterson asked for clarification of SGO – Special Guardianship Order – and whether she could access more information about this online.  The Chairman thanked Mrs Smith for her statement and explained that a copy of her petition would be passed to the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services.

William Gaskell made a statement about wellbeing in Bath.  [A full copy of the statement has been placed on the Council’s Minute book and attached to the online minutes.]  In response to a question from Councillor Sarah Bevan enquiring whether Mr Gaskell had been the victim of violence, he responded that he had, both here and in London.  The Chairman thanked Mr Gaskell for his statement which was referred to the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health.

Christina Biggs from the Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways made a statement urging Councillors to carefully consider the devolution deal and transport opportunities it could offer, and to negotiate for what the area needed.  [A full copy of the statement and railway map has been placed on the Council’s Minute book and attached to the online minutes.]  In response to a question from Councillor Joe Rayment about whether Ms Biggs was aware that a majority decision under devolution had to include the vote of the Mayor, Ms Biggs referred to Section 5 of the deal which she didn’t see as presenting a problem.  Councillor Jonathan Carr referred to the railway map and asked about potential stations in rural B&NES; to which Ms Biggs responded that a service from Weston Super Mare to Chippenham could stop at all stations in between.  The Chairman thanked Ms Biggs for her statement which would be referred to the relevant Cabinet Members.

Colin Skellett made a statement on the business perspective of the devolution deal, urging Councillors to recognise the significant challenges the Authority faced and the opportunity the deal would bring with investment and additional powers.  [A full copy of the statement can be accessed via the online minutes and on the Council’s Minute book.]  In response to a question from Councillor Tim Ball about whether an offer from Government that a chairing arrangement for the Combined Authority via the Leaders Board and West of England Partnership would be a better deal, Mr Skellett replied that unfortunately that wasn’t an option.  It was written into the legislation and if you want the powers, you need to have a Mayor.  The deal that was being negotiated did have safeguards, plus the four Authorities had a history of working well together.  Councillor Robin Moss asked whether Mr Skellett thought it was right for the Council and partners to ask Government to think again on the Metro Mayor; he responded that this wasn’t an option.  He added that Cornwall have a deal without a Mayor, but also without the investment.  In response to a question from Councillor Sarah Bevan about the potential improvement to rural broadband that the devolution deal might offer, Mr Skellett responded that the extra power and money would enable broadband to be improved and that currently some rural businesses were unable to use it.  Councillor Jonathan Carr asked whether Mr Skellett was not concerned that a Metro Mayor would have veto over the other Authorities, and also that further executive powers could be devolved to the Metro Mayor without the agreement of the other Authorities; Mr Skellett responded that he had seen the four Authorities working well together so this would just be building on that, and that any further devolution of powers would need to be agreed by all parties.  The Chairman thanked Mr Skellett for his statement which would be referred to the Leader and relevant Cabinet Member.

Matt Atkinson, Principal of Bath College, made a statement in support of the devolution of the adult education budget to the West of England, which would create a unique opportunity for an adult education system which would better meet local needs.  He explained the current position that, as money is directed to meet national priorities, some local money has to be spent in other areas of the country as those priorities are not relevant in this area.  Councillor Tim Warren clarified that money had to be given away and Mr Atkinson confirmed that was the case.  Councillor Tim Ball asked for Mr Atkinson’s view of the democratic implications of having a Metro Mayor, after the area had turned down an elected Mayor; however, Mr Atkinson felt it was not his place to respond to a political question.  In response to a question from Councillor Liz Hardman about whether money devolved through the deal could create more apprenticeships, Mr Atkinson said that it definitely would.  Councillor Sarah Bevan asked about the impact on the new North East Somerset campus of the deal, to which Mr Atkinson responded that more flexibility over spending would enable them to better meet the specific needs of the Somer Valley.  The Chairman thanked Mr Atkinson for his statement.

David Redgewell, from South West Transport Network and speaking on behalf of the four transport unions, made a statement regarding the public transport implications of the devolution deal and urging Councillors to take up this once in a lifetime deal.  He outlined the benefits of devolved transport powers for the sub-region and concluded by calling on the Council to encourage North Somerset Council to vote for the deal on 7^th June.  In response to a question from Councillor Robin Moss about whether the devolved money would stretch to meet the business, education and transport needs outlined, Mr Redgewell responded that, once a Combined Authority was established, it then had a negotiating position for further investment opportunities.  Councillor Jonathan Carr asked how the Council could influence North Somerset to vote for the deal, to which Mr Redgewell responded that they could be reminded that if they wanted electrification to extend to Weston-super-Mare, they would need the devolution deal.  The Chairman thanked Mr Redgewell for his statement.