Agenda item

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and explained that the purpose of this meeting is for this panel to decide whether Cabinet should be requested to reconsider its decision of 25 January 2017 to allocate a site for an East of Bath Park and Ride. He further explained that today’s meeting will be limited to considering the Cabinet decision and the reasons for it; plus the issues set out in the Call in request (contained in appendices to the report). The Chairman asked that speakers and participants confine their remarks to those issues and that he would not allow the introduction of new issues.

The Chairman advised that the panel had three options available to it:

·  The first option was that the Panel could dismiss the Call in. This would mean that Cabinet’s decision would take effect immediately.

·  The second option was that the Panel could uphold all or part of the Call in. This would mean that Cabinet would have to re-consider its decision in light of the Panel’s comments.

·  The third option was that the Panel could decide that the Call in request should be considered by the full Council instead of by the panel, who would be fulfilling the role of the Scrutiny Panel in upholding or dismissing the Call in.  If Council upheld all or part of the Call in, this would also mean that Cabinet would have to reconsider its decision in the light of this.

The Chairman stated that whatever the outcome of the meeting, it was important to remember that the final decision on the allocation of a site for an East of Bath Park and Ride will rest with the Council’s Cabinet.

The Chairman then read the following statement; -

“The East of Bath Park and Ride is a high profile issue upon which many members of the Council have expressed opinions, including myself; and I have also put my name to the Call in notice.

However, we are not here to decide upon the merits of the Park and Ride proposal. Our job is to decide if Cabinet should re-consider its decision. Therefore, I wish to make it clear that I am entirely open minded about the outcome of this Call in application and I will be basing my decision upon the evidence and representations before me.

If any member of the panel feels that they are unable to make a decision on the Call in with an open mind, please would they say so now”.

The Chairman then went on the state that:

“Members of the panel should also be aware that, under the Council’s constitution, members have a duty to declare that they are subject to a party whip and the nature of it. I can confirm that I am not subject to a party whip in this meeting. If any members of the panel are subject to a party whip, please would they declare it now”.

(None of the Panel members declared on either of the above)

Finally the Chairman asked that no members of the public pass notes to Panel members and also explained that the camera recording the meeting had been organised by the Bathampton Meadows Alliance.