Agenda item

QUESTIONS, STATEMENTS, PETITIONS AND DEPUTATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC

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.

Minutes:

Statements were made by the following members of public;

 

Andrew Dickens from the Lower Common East Allotment Association made a statement regarding the Association’s rights, a full copy of which is available on the Council’s Minute book and attached to the online minutes.  Councillor Dine Romero asked if Andrew would like to meet with a view to resolving this ongoing issue, to which Andrew responded that he wanted to be co-operative.  Councillor Sarah Bevan asked if Andrew had received a letter from the previous Leader to which he replied that he had not.

 

Luke Emmett made a statement regarding public engagement with the Council, a full copy of which is available on the Council’s Minute book and attached to the online minutes.  Councillor Dine Romero asked Luke how their offer of more inclusive decision making had been received; to which he replied that it had been received very well and was considered a very positive first step.

 

Vishaka Robinson made a statement regarding plans for Parkside Children’s Centre, a full copy of which is available on the Council’s Minute book and attached to the online minutes.  Councillor Kevin Guy noted Vishaka’s questions and asked if she would like to meet with him and the relevant officer, to which she replied that she would.  Councillor Paul May asked if Vishaka was aware that the Centre was being re-located due to repair problems, to which she responded that was aware but that it was being moved to a smaller location with less outdoor space.  Councillor Liz Hardman asked if Vishaka considered that moving it to a smaller site would result in fewer parents accessing its services, to which she responded that there were definitely concerns as the current centre was so well used, and some current users live in flats so outdoor space was very important.

 

Jane Middleton made a statement calling on Councillors to make a Food Poverty Action plan, a full copy of which is available on the Council’s Minute book and attached to the online minutes.  Councillor Richard Samuel asked Jane what else she considered the Council could do to add to the excellent work already being undertaken by the voluntary sector.  Jane replied that there was already a heavy burden on the voluntary sector and it was not right to leave this all to charity which was a patchwork solution. She suggested the Council could get in touch with other Councils who have already adopted a Food Poverty Action plan.  Councillor Alan Hale asked if Jane was aware that meetings had been taking place for the last 3-4 years between the Welfare team and Bath, Somer Valley and Keynsham foodbanks.  Jane replied that she had not been aware, but that it should not just be left to charity.  Councillor Colin Blackburn made reference to the 4500 emergency parcels and asked if Jane was aware of how many children were affected by food poverty across B&NES.  Jane replied that she didn’t have the exact number as there was no measurement of food poverty but that 1300 parcels were issued to families with children.  It was vital though to establish the scale of the problem.  Councillor Liz Hardman thanked Jane for her suggestions and asked if Jane considered they should be concentrating on poverty in general, rather than just food poverty. Jane agreed that all poverty should be addressed but that food poverty was the extreme manifestation of poverty and needed a separate strategy.

 

Dave Searby made a statement as a member of the Bath Extinction Rebellion group, a full copy of which is available on the Council’s Minute book and attached to the online minutes.  Councillor Sarah Warren referred to the Liberal Democrat intention to establish a Citizen’s Panel on this issue and asked what Dave anticipated would be the advantages to B&NES of this approach.  Dave responded that he considered this would move the issue from being a special interest topic to giving ownership to the public, enabling it to be taken forward.

 

The Chair thanked all the speakers and referred their statements to the relevant Cabinet Members.