Agenda item

To receive updates from Cabinet Members.

(30 minutes)

The following Cabinet Members gave updates on their portfolios:

(a)  Cllr David Wood – Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services

·  Proposals for a new recycling centre in Keynsham will be considered by the Cabinet and the Planning Committee in July.

·  There will be additional investment in a number of areas within the neighbourhood services portfolio.  This will cover services such as littering on main roads, fly tipping, dog fouling, road repairs, street signs and gully clearing.  Proposals to improve customer service are also being considered and this may include the provision of area officers who would be named contacts.

·  There is a national shortage of delivery drivers which is affecting all local authorities and is making it difficult to recruit staff to the waste and recycling service.  Additional loaders have been recruited and Cllr Wood thanked the crews for their hard work.

·  Arrangements are in place whereby Parishes can obtain, via Purchase Order to Daniel Connett (Daniel.Connett@volkerhighways.co.uk), both reactive maintenance and planned maintenance works.  All of the Parishes who have used this service to date are very happy with the prompt and effective service received and with the costs involved.  However, this is an informal arrangement brought about by the present circumstances.

·  There are no plans to introduce charges for recycling.

·  The Highways Team cut rural verges (those outside of restricted speed limits) and permissive cycleways by a 1m swathe twice a year.  The verges in urban areas are maintained by the Parks Team and frequency of cuts are different and more amenity related.  The cut is arranged through Volker Highways using a local farmer under sub-contract and involves cutting wider areas as visibility splays at high-risk junctions.  From start to finish the cut takes up to eight weeks.  Cuts are usually timed during May/June and September/October, depending on growth rates.  Cutting this year has continued into July.  If any Parish is concerned about any particular stretch of road or junction, they should report any issues to Fix My Street using the “Report It” page on the B&NES website.

·  Some verges are cut less often, where safe to do so, and an assessment is made on both ecological benefit and safety.

(b) Cllr Sarah Warren – Cabinet Member for Climate and Sustainable Travel

·  A Climate and Biodiversity Festival will take place in Bath from 13-26 September 2021.

·  The Council’s internal performance monitoring framework will now be required to take climate change into account.

·  Sustainable transport will be a priority, including active travel schemes, cycle routes and pedestrian improvements.

·  The proposed closure of North Road in Bath has now been put on hold and further investigations will take place to find out whether this is the appropriate route for such a scheme.

·  Liveable Neighbourhood Schemes will shortly be introduced.  These neighbourhoods will be less dominated by cars, for example, there will be residents’ parking, pedestrian infrastructure improvements and the ability to close some roads.  The neighbourhoods will be co-designed with the local community.  15 schemes have been approved so far.  Another round of applications will be considered shortly and if anyone has an area or scheme which they would like to be considered they should contact their local ward councillor who can submit an application.

·  The following consultations will be taking place:

o  Bath Transport Delivery Plan – from August to September.

o  WECA Bristol to Bath Strategic Corridor “Metrobus Bristol to Bath” – from late July to early September.

o  WECA A37/A367 Bus, Walking and Cycling – to take place in the Autumn.

o  WECA West of England Mass Transit – from September to December.

·  The Highways Team has ordered a number of ‘Collision Route’ signs that will be erected on the A367 between Odd Down Park & Ride roundabout and Skinner’s Hill junction to highlight the hazards generally caused by irresponsible driving behaviours.  These should be in place by early September 2021.

·  A37/A367 Bus, Walking and Cycling Study – In April 2021, WECA, in partnership with B&NES, commissioned AECOM consultants to undertake transport option development work for the A37 and A367 corridors.  The study aims to identify potential improvement for buses, pedestrians and cycles along the corridors and links to adjacent villages.  If schemes with significant benefits are identified, the Council will be in a good position to access considerable levels of funding from WECA.  To date, the consultants have undertaken a site, policy and data review and identified potential options.  This work has been informed by liveable neighbourhood applications submitted by ward councillors on and adjacent to both routes, plus information from officers.  A full public consultation supported by suitable documents and maps is planned in the Autumn the team will be in contact with the Parish Councils as part of the consultation process. 

(c)  Cllr Manda Rigby – Cabinet Member for Transport

·  Cleveland Bridge in Bath is currently closed for repair, and this has impacted on traffic flows throughout the local area.  This work is expected to take 12 weeks.

·  The Cabinet will consider reports on Bath City Centre Security and on-street parking permits and charges, at its meeting on 20 July.  There are proposals to move residents’ parking charges to a more emissions-based system.

·  From 19 July social distancing requirements will no longer be in force.  A number of barriers were put in place to assist with social distancing and these will be removed.  However, some areas wish these to remain and the Council will work with the community on this.  The Council will publish a list of which barriers are to be removed.

(d)  Cllr Tim Ball – Cabinet Member for Planning and Licensing

·  The Council has two key consultations planned for late summer/early autumn.  These are the Local Plan Update and the Transport Delivery Plan.  In addition, there are a number of transport projects that are being led by WECA working in partnership with B&NES.

·  B&NES Local Plan Partial Update – this will be a formal 7-week consultation on planning documents, including the Local Plan review and supplementary planning documents (SPDs) for transport and green construction.  The consultation will take place in August and September 2021.

Kathy Thomas from ALCA expressed concern that B&NES Council appear to be directing a lot of the communication and consultations through the local ward councillor rather than directly contacting Parish Councils.  She pointed out that the Parish Charter specifically mentions working directly with Parish Councils.

Cllr Manda Rigby explained that all the consultations mentioned are public consultations and confirmed that any design details will be discussed with local communities.

Cllr Sally Davis stated that it is important to ensure that both local Ward Councillors and Parish/Town Councils are kept informed.