Agenda item

Councillors and members of the public may register their intention to make a statement if they notify the subject matter of their statement before the deadline.  Statements are limited to 3 minutes each.  The speaker may then be asked by Cabinet members to answer factual questions arising out of their statement.

Before moving to the statements from public and councillors, the Leader permitted Councillor Richard Samuel to make the following statement;

Councillor Samuel said that it had been stated publicly by Councillor Pritchard in a Conservative news release that public and councillors having to submit their speeches in advance so they can be vetted by Cabinet Members was an affront to democracy.  He then asked the Monitoring Officer to confirm that Cabinet Members have no involvement in vetting speeches.  The Monitoring Officer responded that he was happy to confirm that was the case.  He added that speeches are reviewed by officers to see if they pass a threshold test and that this is purely an officer function, and Cabinet Members do not censure or vet statements.

David Redgewell made a statement about transport and planning [a copy of which is attached to the Minutes on the Council's website].  Councillor Sarah Warren asked if David considered that the current round of bus cuts threatens its recovery as part of the modal shift needed in response to the climate emergency.  Mr Redgewell responded that he was extremely concerned.  He added that we need to act with the 4 Leaders and hold them to account.  When the £150 million is removed from the network in October, things will become seriously difficult.  The numbers do not show anywhere near 90% of passengers going back onto public transport.  It needs some proper work to protect the bus network.

Ms Tay McLean made a statement about Bathampton Meadows [a copy of which is attached to the Minutes on the Council's website].  Councillor Richard Samuel asked Ms McLean if she was aware that her statement contained some inaccuracies.  He explained that the acquisition by the National Trust of Bathampton Meadows and New Leaf farm were not linked purchases.  The transfer of Bathampton Meadows as a community asset transfer to the National Trust was completed before the National Trust concluded negotiations to acquire the land at New Leaf farm, and were funded in different ways by the National Trust.  He enquired if Ms McLean would be happy to receive a correction via email.  Councillor Samuel further asked if Ms McLean was aware that this issue could have been called in by councillors as part of the scrutiny review process at the time, if they were unhappy with the decision, but that had not taken place.  Ms McLean responded that she had not been aware of that.

Councillor Yukteshwar Kumar made a statement entitled “Are we listening enough?” [a copy of which is attached to the Minutes on the Council's website].

Councillor Vic Pritchard made a statement about Bathampton Meadows [a copy of which is attached to the Minutes on the Council's website].  Councillor Samuel asked if Councillor Pritchard was aware that Mr Graham Pristo had made a complaint to the Council on this subject on 1^st March 2020 raising 7 questions.  He added that both Mr Pristo and the Leader had given consent for the publication of this complaint which sets out the situation clearly, concluding that there was adherence to policy, procedure and process and therefore it was not recommended that the complaint be upheld [a copy of which is attached to the Minutes on the Council's website].  He referred to some of the inconsistencies covered in the response to Ms McLean.  He also added that, at the time of the decision, Councillor Romero had been the Leader, and Councillor Guy had taken no part in the decision-making process.

Councillor Karen Warrington made a statement about the Cleveland Bridge [a copy of which is attached to the Minutes on the Council's website].  Councillor Manda Rigby agreed with some aspects of the statement, particularly to keep HGVs from coming back and urged Councillor Warrington to talk to colleagues in Wiltshire to help make that happen.  She asked Councillor Warrington how she could reconcile the B&NES newsroom statement with her own statement,  and further whether Councillor Warrington would acknowledge that it has been publicly stated that this is a complex project, needing bespoke solutions.  Councillor Warrington confirmed she had read the Council statement and wondered if the organisers were therefore not telling the truth, and clarified that it was not a criticism of officers, but of the way the Cabinet had handled the communication on this issue.