Agenda item

An update will be provided on the Neighbourhood CiL for Bath Panel who met on 3 September 2018.

Councillor Rob Appleyard provided an update from the CIL for Bath Panel.

Youth Service Provision for Bath: Youth Connect attended the last panel meeting to provide an update on their plans. This will see them to move to a new model that will see them operate as a staff mutual. Once operating under the new model an application will be submitted for funding from Neighbourhood ClL for Bath.

The panel advised that information about the specific plans for delivering the Bath service will need to be provided, and any application will need to show how development in Bath is impacting on the need for youth services.

Bath Neighbourhood CIL Funding Summary: The panel has now made recommendations of £280K to fourteen projects between December 2017 and September 2018.

Bathwick St Mary School - Road Safety Application:  This application asked for funding of £2,450 to provide additional school crossing signage on Warminster Road, Sydney Road and Beckford Road and installation of safety bollards on Beckford Road

The panel were in agreement in the allocation of funding to this project but have asked that B&NES Highways confirm that this scheme is considered to be above a medium priority before funds are awarded.

Bath City Farm – Application: This application was received from Bath City Farm with a request for the sum of £125,000 a contribution towards the building of a multi-purpose café at the health and wellbeing facility in the South of Bath. The overall costs that were set out for providing the new facilities estimated to be £550,000.

The panel felt that the work that is carried out at Bath City Farm is worthy of support.

The overall scheme will need to be successful in raising the funds that have been applied for before a final figure from CIL is agreed upon.

It was felt that a greater amount of detail will be required around final costings, as the estimated numbers laid out in the application appear rather high. Once the panel are satisfied with the final costings it is anticipated that up to 25% of the project costs could be made as a recommendation to be funded by Bath CIL.

Sydney Gardens Improvements – Application: This application was received from the Sydney Gardens Project with a request for the sum of £41,076 for the provision of a fully accessible changing places facility.

The facility is part of the overall project which is presently awaiting the outcome of their bid to the Heritage Lottery Funding which is due 13 December 2018.

The panel felt that supporting this facility will make a great difference to a lot of people that visit the park. Bath presently only has one similar facility which is situated in Southgate.

The panel recommended that funding be given to this project subject to a successful outcome from the Heritage Lottery Fund bid.

The panel also asked that Bath City Forum is recognised as the provider of funding for the facility and a plaque shows this on completion of the project.

Student Community Partnership Application: The application received from the Student Community Partnership (SCP) for £2,500 for support to their door knocking campaign. The panel felt concerned about the awarding funds to a scheme that would have potentially reoccurring costs on an annual basis, this is a role that could be filled by student volunteers.

The panel therefore declined this application for funding.

Questions and Comments

Nicolette Boater asked how the 85% strategic CIL that the Council receives differs to the 15% which is allocated by Bath City Forum.

Councillor Blackburn asked if this could be addressed outside the meeting by contacting Mark Hayward.

Information can be found on the website through these links:

http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/planning-and-building-control/planning-policy/community-infrastructure-levy

http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/neighbourhoods-and-community-safety/connecting-communities/bath-city-forum/neighbourhood

Councillor Andrew Furse asked how the Youth Service and SCP applications differed regarding ongoing funding commitments.

Councillor Appleyard explained that the Youth Service had not yet applied for funding at this stage and would need make a specific request for a set figure that would seed fund the start of an ongoing project on or be for an identified capital spend. The SCP application had not made clear how they would sustain the campaigns if they received funds for the present year.

Councillor Joe Rayment asked if the Bathwick traffic scheme would need to meet a medium or high level priority.

Cllr Appleyard explained that the B&NES highways team are to be asked for advice on where this scheme sits in terms of priority.

Jeremy Boss felt that the level of funding that is being sought by Bath City Farm project would need to see it return to the forum before a final recommendation is put forward.

Cllr Appleyard explained that the panel has agreed in principle with the scheme but will look at the financial proposition before recommending and will bring it back to a later meeting of the forum before it proceeds.

Cllr Blackburn asked the forum to vote on the recommendations for the allocation of funding for the Bathwick traffic scheme and the Sydney Gardens accessible facilities. The seventeen voting members present all were in favour of these allocations.