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 members of the public;

Bob Hollingdale, Chair of Bath Taxis Association, made a statement about Uber.  He explained that they had not kept promises from a few years ago about mainly using locally licensed cars and were not abiding by other regulations and insurance requirements, thereby making little contribution to the city.  Restrictions resulting from the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) could have a major positive impact.  Councillor Paul Crossley asked Mr Hollingdale if he was aware of any other cities having introduced restrictions being subject to legal challenge.  Mr Hollingdale responded that he was not aware of that, and had information where this had been introduced in Southampton, Cardiff, and Swindon.  He would be able to supply a list, which was welcomed.

Paul Roles made a statement presenting photographic and press evidence of problems caused by Uber drivers and the impact this had on the city’s licensed taxi trade.  Councillor Manda Rigby, Chair of the Licensing Committee, asked if Mr Roles and Mr Hollingdale would like to meet with her and officers to discuss these issues; to which they replied that they would.

Andrew Pattie made a statement regarding the Clean Air Zone, a full copy of which is available on the Council’s Minute book and attached to the online minutes.  Councillor Richard Samuel asked if Mr Pattie agreed that the CAZ as approved would result in traffic displacement into Landsdown ward which was undesirable, to which Mr Pattie agreed.  Councillor Paul Myers asked if vague statements from the Liberal Democrat administration about the CAZ had caused undue anxiety, to which Mr Pattie agreed that they had.  Councillor Karen Walker asked if Mr Pattie was aware that the Climate Emergency & Sustainability Policy Development & Scrutiny Panel would be looking at this at their meeting on 22^nd July 2019, to which he replied that he had not been aware, but now was.

Martin Grixoni made a statement calling for clarity from the new Administration on their direction for the CAZ and traffic management issues.  Councillor Dine Romero asked if Mr Grixoni was aware that they had never planned to charge private cars in Bath. Mr Grixoni responded that he was aware but was concerned by the Administration’s comments that the proposals ‘do not go far enough’ and wondered what else was proposed.  Councillor Paul Myers asked if Mr Grixoni agreed that this had been an important lesson in the merit of providing information sooner rather than later, to which Mr Grixoni agreed that it was, and they were just seeking clarity.  Councillor Robin Moss asked Mr Grixoni if he welcomed that there was now clarity over the issue of charging private cars in Bath, to which he confirmed that he did.

Mark MacDonnell made a statement regarding the Clean Air Zone, a full copy of which is available on the Council’s Minute book and attached to the online minutes.  Councillor Dine Romero asked Mr MacDonnell if he was aware that the independent review that the Administration are requesting is not intended to introduce a charge for private cars, to which he replied that he had not been aware.  Councillor Paul Myers asked whether Mr MacDonnell considered spending £100K on the independent review was an effective use of public money, to which he responded that he did not.

Gemma Killick made a statement regarding the Clean Air Zone on behalf of Moorland & Oldfield Clean Air group and specifically the effect on Junction Road (B3111) which is a narrow road and unsuitable for the volume and heavy traffic currently using it, now further exacerbated by the effect of nearby residents’ parking zones.  She set out a range of requests which would help address the situation. Councillor Shaun Stephenson McGall referred to a recent meeting Ms Killick had had with the Cabinet Member and asked if she was reassured that this issue would be investigated, with a report back in September 2019.  Ms Gillick replied that she was. Councillor Paul Myers asked if any Traffic Highways Engineers had been to visit and offer any solutions.  Ms Killick replied that she wasn’t aware that they had.

Jane Middleton made a statement regarding food poverty, a full copy of which is available on the Council’s Minute book and attached to the online minutes.  Councillor Richard Samuel asked Ms Middleton if she agreed that the most appropriate route for formulating a food poverty action plan was to take this to the Children, Health & Wellbeing Policy Development & Scrutiny Panel prior to coming to Cabinet and Council for adoption.  Ms Middleton agreed and added that it needed to be in co-operation with local organisations and experts.  Councillor Liz Hardman asked Ms Middleton if she had seen a copy of the Labour amendment proposed for the later item on the agenda, and if so, whether she considered this would achieve the aspirations contained within this and her last statement to Council.  Ms Middleton agreed that it would, and added that the Council had a responsibility to accept this if they were serious about addressing this issue.

Celia McCarthy made a statement regarding the roll out of 5G, a full copy of which is available on the Council’s Minute book and attached to the online minutes.  Councillor Dine Romero asked that, as this was an issue covered by national planning, was Ms McCarthy aware of any campaigns or actions challenging this at government level.  Ms McCarthy replied that she was not, although she was aware of various petitions on this subject.  Councillor Grant Johnson asked if there was any concrete evidence about physical harm, to which Ms McCarthy responded that was part of the problem as the research was being conducted by mobile networks and therefore not independent.

Emma Shaw made a statement regarding 5G, a full copy of which is available on the Council’s Minute book and attached to the online minutes.  Councillor Dine Romero asked Emma if she agreed that, when proposals do come to the Council, advice should be sought from the relevant regulatory and advisory services to ensure the safety of residents and visitors.  Ms Shaw agreed.

Jamie Hughes made a statement regarding pollution levels in Bath and proposing car free sundays, a full copy of which is available on the Council’s Minute book and attached to the online minutes.  Councillor Sarah Warren asked whether Mr Hughes was aware that the new Cabinet was hoping to put in place additional more forward looking and practical alternatives to the car.  Mr Hughes replied that he wasn’t sure extra traffic lights would be sufficient.  Councillor Paul Myers asked whether charging cars would have a disproportionate effect on the less well off.  Mr Hughes replied that his point was not that all cars should be charged but that it was for the Council to decide how to tackle this issue.  Councillor Colin Blackburn asked Mr Hughes if he was aware of an apparent change of position of Councillor Richard Samuel from October 2018 to now, regarding the inclusion of high polluting cars in CAZ proposals.  Mr Hughes replied that, going forward, the public would be monitoring progress.

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