Agenda item

Cabinet Member Update

The Cabinet Member(s) will update the Panel on any relevant issues. Panel members may ask questions on the update(s) provided.

 

Minutes:

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

 

Local Plan Options – He stated that this was to be a very important document and that a significant amount of work had been undertaken with the Universities to address areas such as Student Accommodation. He added that the document would encompass the whole of the Authority.

 

Joint Spatial Plan – The examination in public was still due to take place after the Local Elections in May 2019.

 

Westfield Neighbourhood Plan – At its meeting on October 31st the Cabinet agreed to make and bring into force the Westfield Neighbourhood Development Plan as part of the Development Plan for the Westfield Neighbourhood Area.

 

Councillor Barry Macrae stated that he would like to see the Local Plan deliver what B&NES needs / deserves and to not bough to the pressure of any external influences.

 

Councillor Goodman replied that he would always look to fight for the best outcomes for the Authority.

 

Councillor Paul Myers, Cabinet Member for Economic and Community Regeneration addressed the Panel, a summary of his update is set out below.

 

He informed the Panel that he had circulated a statement from Gigaclear CEO Mike Surrey regarding the Devon and Somerset full fibre rollout.

 

The statement said that he would like to apologise for the delays in delivering a full fibre network across rural Devon and Somerset. He acknowledged that the project is running significantly behind schedule and accepted that their performance to date had fallen short of the high standards they set themselves.

 

He added that under new ownership and with a new management team now in place they have been able to review every aspect of the project in detail. He said that he would like to assure all stakeholders that Gigaclear will absorb any additional costs incurred and commit that there will not be any increases to the level of public subsidy.

 

He stated that Gigaclear will present a new plan to Connecting Devon and Somerset to re-energise the rollout programme and that they remain committed to delivering fast broadband services to the region.

 

The Director for Economy & Growth added that he would update the Panel further in the coming weeks if information becomes available or at the their next meeting.

 

Councillor Barry Macrae asked if this affected the wards of Midsomer Norton, Radstock and Westfield.

 

The Director for Economy & Growth replied that a number of schemes were in existence and that Gigaclear’s role is to supply where the general market will not. He added that B&NES was one of the leading Local Authorities in using Gigabit Vouchers.

 

The Chairman asked what the orange sections of the attached map represented.

 

The Director for Economy & Growth replied that these were the areas that had been identified that were not due to be covered by the general market.

 

Councillor Colin Blackburn asked if an Authority wide map could be produced to show which supplier is doing what and where.

 

The Director for Economy & Growth replied that he did not think that would be possible.  He added that for example a company such as TrueSpeed operate a demand driven model whereby 30% of a community agree to a pre-contract agreement.

 

Councillor Myers suggested that Councillors share any specific areas of concern with him and officers and then they could look to facilitate some options towards a solution.

 

Councillor Liz Richardson commented that the issue is raised at every Parish Council meeting. She said that it was important to distinguish the difference between standard packages, fibre cabinets and fibre to the home.

 

Councillor David Veale asked how many homes have been supplied with broadband through the schemes that have been mentioned.

 

The Director for Economy & Growth replied that he could supply to the Panel figures in relation to homes under the Connecting Devon and Somerset project.

 

The Chairman asked what effect the proposed 5G trial would have locally. He commented that he had also heard that BT were proposing to supply 4G wireless hubs to homes should home broadband fail to work.

 

The Director for Economy & Growth replied that he could provide a 5G briefing note to the Panel.

 

Economy & Culture

 

·  The Business Growth Team have successively secured funding from WECA to deliver a free open Wi Fi network for Bath City Centre and the town centres of Keynsham, Midsomer Norton and Radstock.

 

·  The 5th Bath Digital Festival started on the 23rd October and will see over 85 workshops and events across the city covering everything from programming to robot wars, the Business Growth team have provided funding and support to make sure the event is a success.

 

·  As of 1 October 2018 the Business Growth Team has taken over the management and day-to-day running of the Wansdyke Business Centre from GWE Business West. The focus to date has been in ensuring a smooth handover of operations to ensure “business as usual” for the centre’s commercial tenants.

 

·  The Arts Development service will close at the end of January 2019. 

 

·  WW1 Centenary – A souvenir magazine ‘How We Remembered’ looks back on the WW1 Centenary locally and highlights some of the fantastic events and projects that have happened 2014-2018, almost all of them led by volunteers.  The publication will be available (free) to residents in Libraries and other outlets during November.

 

Bath Enterprise Zone

 

·  Bath Quays North – Development partner procurement progresses, with Final Tender call date anticipated mid-November following confirmation of all requisite internal approvals.

 

·  Bath Quays South – Initial enabling works package nearing completion on-site. Trees and vegetation removed and archaeology concluded with no significant finds and ground works commencing. Second work package 2B activities agreed with contractor incorporating technical solution. Package being priced by contractor.

 

·  Bath Quays Bridge – BQS contractor to deliver Phase 2b work package identified - foundations to bridge substructure and river wall – work package being priced with inclusion of revised technical solution.

 

Housing

 

·  Extension of Mandatory Licensing – As the Panel maybe aware the eligibility for mandatory licensing was extended on the 1st October.  Now all HMO which house 5 people - regardless of the number of storeys – are required to be licensed.  So far the Council has received 191 applications for new HMO licences which is close to what was expected at this stage.  Further applications are expected in December when 300 licence holders transfer from the Additional to the Mandatory scheme under the new mandatory licensing definition.  The total number of HMOs licensed under the mandatory scheme is expected to be 1000.

 

·  Empty Property Week 2018 – From the 15th to 21st of October, the Council participated in National Empty Homes week.  The Council used the week to showcase the good work being done within the Council including releasing two infographics via the Councils social media platforms and website. One aimed at residents to encourage the reporting of empty properties, and the other alerting owners of the assistance available. A press release promoting the launch of the new Empty Residential Property Policy 2018, was circulated to local media.

 

Heritage Services

 

·  Business Performance: September performance was strong, with visitors exceeding budget at all three sites. YTD visitors at the Roman Baths were -1.5%, an improvement on -2.0% YTD to August. The shortfall on admission income has improved to £33k (0.3%) and retail sales are now ahead of budget by 0.5%. Overall year-end performance is forecast to be +1.15% on the 18/19 profit target of £7.78million.

 

·  Principal Archivist:  Richard Meunier has been appointed to the post to start in the New Year. Richard is currently the Archivist at Queen Mary University London, where he is responsible for the archives of Barts Hospital and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, as well as management of The Royal London Hospital Museum and its volunteers.

 

Regeneration

 

·  Housing Infrastructure Fund and Housing Deal (North Keynsham and Whitchurch) – Housing Infrastructure Fund Outline Business Case (HIF OBC) consultants due to be appointed mid-October, business case submission March 19. £250m bid joint with WECA and Bristol City Council, B&NES element likely to be circa £55m for North Keynsham link road and £5m for Whitchurch link road planning application

 

·  Landowner discussions progressing, including Avon Valley Wildlife and Country Park;

·  Consultation on vision for the sites and transport options to be co-ordinated with New Local Plan public consultation in November 2018;

·  WECA are resubmitting the Housing Deal proposal to Government, to secure additional housing enabling funding.

 

WECA Retail Proposal – Discussions are due towards the end of November regarding the possibility for schemes to bid for capital funding for retail in Town / City Centres.

 

Market Towns

·  Keynsham High Street: Outline Business Case approved subject to minor clarifications. Concept designs, further public consultation and full business case to commence once next tranche of B&NES capital funding approved by Officer Delegated Decision;

 

·  Radstock Healthy Living Centre: NHS funding and B&NES Single Member Decision confirmed enabling detailed design to commence.

 

Environment & Design Projects

 

·  Bathscape At the end of September, we heard that the Bathscape Landscape partnership has secured £1.65 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund for its ambitious scheme to restore local natural heritage and improve access to the stunning landscape surrounding Bath.

 

Councillor Lisa O’Brien asked when development of the Radstock Healthy Living Centre could be expected.

 

The Director for Economy & Growth replied that he believed that this would be due in 2020.

 

Councillor Liz Richardson asked if the funding secured for Bathscape was for the highlighted existing projects.

 

The Director for Economy & Growth replied that it would be used for new ideas as well as joining up existing projects.

 

Councillor Colin Blackburn asked if a figure could be given for the empty properties under Council control that have been brought back into use.

 

The Head of Housing replied that he would provide that information to the Panel.

 

The Chairman asked how many of the 191 applications for new HMO licences were in Bath and how many were in North East Somerset and in what condition the properties, particularly in North East Somerset were.

 

The Head of Housing replied that the applications were predominantly Bath based and that the inspections would take around two months to complete.

 

The Chairman thanked both Cabinet Members for their updates on behalf of the Panel.