More work needed on land-use paper

B&NES Council has adopted a land-use policy paper setting out options for distribution of land for housing and jobs from 2011-2026.

Liberal Democrat Councillors voted to abstain on the paper citing concerns over the lack of preparation of the document. The Lib Dems have previously opposed the increased housing targets imposed by central government.

“We believe that our community should set housing needs targets, not the RDA or central government in London”, stated Councillor Paul Crossley (Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and Councillor for Southdown).

“Whilst points in the recommendation before us tonight were in line with our policies on housing and land-use, we did not feel that the ‘spatial options’ paper was ready for publication.

“The Conservative administration of the Council has not allocated enough resources to the planning department to properly prepare the proposals – for example, we have been told that insufficient funds were available to carry out infrastructure modelling.

“However, we recognise that the Government requires this work to be done, even though the targets are undeliverable, so we did not vote against the proposals to ensure that local people would have their say and would be able to object once again to these unreasonable, centrally-imposed targets.

“A real consultation will show changes when the strategy comes back next year.“

Open Bath park & ride on Sundays

Earlier this year Don Foster met with local business owners and discussed plans to boost the Bath economy during the recession. After this meeting Don formed his “8-point plan”, which included opening park & ride sites on Sundays.

Don has since met with Justin Davies, Chief Exec of First Group, who said they would be interested in running the park and ride buses on Sundays. Bath & North East Somerset Council indicated in May’s ‘Recession Action Plan’ that they would look to offer this service, but haven’t announced any further information.

Don said,

“Sunday is now a full trading day in Bath and opening our park & ride sites on Sundays will help to encourage shoppers into the city.

“It’s such an obvious thing to do, and would show our local businesses that we are serious about helping the city economy.

“The Council should at the very least be looking to implement this for a properly advertised trial period.”

You can support Don’s campaign by signing the petition at http://ourcampaign.org.uk/bathparkandride

Keep safe this winter

From September 29 – October 2 Bath & North East Somerset Council will be carrying out free electric blanket testing across the area.

Appointments at Midsomer Norton, Keynsham, Bath and Chew Magna are available to all local residents but booking an appointment is essential.

Councillor Charles Gerrish, Cabinet Member for Customer Services, (Conservative, Keynsham North) said:

“Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Public Protection team organises this testing every year with the aim of helping to reduce accidents in the home. In previous years at least 20% of electric blankets brought in were unsafe so it’s an important initiative.”

If you use an electric blanket, or know friends, relatives or neighbours who use one, book in for a test at the following venues, which will be open from 10am – 4pm every day:

September 29: Baptist Church, High Street, Keynsham

September 30: Council Chamber, Midsomer Norton

October 1: Bath Fire Station

October 2: – Chew Magna Fire Station

To book an appointment call Kellie on 01225 396759.

Other local organisations that offer services to local residents to help them keep safe, healthy and active will also be at the sessions.

These include Avon Fire and Rescue Service, who will promote free home fire safety checks and smoke alarms, Age Concern, Wiltshire Farm Foods and Care and Repair. Staff from the Council’s Sport and Active Leisure and Community Development teams will also be there with information about activities in local areas.

B&NES endorses Transition movement

A Councillor led motion supporting the principles and ethos of the Transition movement has been unanimously endorsed by B&NES Council.

The motion, tabled by Councillor Ian Gilchrist (B&NES Member Champion for Energy and Climate Change and Liberal Democrat Councillor for Widcombe), sought to set up a principle whereby Transition teams in B&NES can take their suggestions and requests to the Council and get a sympathetic hearing. The motion does not set up a budget which the Transition teams can use but does at least open a door to enable ideas for funding to be heard.

Councillor Gilchrist said:

“I was delighted at the level of support for my motion, and absolutely thrilled that it received the unanimous support of Council.

“By adopting this I think it shows that B&NES is ready to face the environmental challenges which the coming years will throw at us.”

Representatives of Transition Keynsham, Transition Bath and Transition Bathford spoke at the meeting to welcome the motion.

Peter Andrews, Chair of Transition Bath, said:

“We are enormously pleased by BANES’ adoption of the LibDem motion that the council recognises Transition principles. It shows that at last our elected representatives are taking both Climate Change and Peak Oil seriously. We at Transition Bath can now continue to create positive futures for our city heartened that we have the support of the Council”

B&NES Council rejects Bristol airport expansion

Bath and North East Somerset Council’s planning committee has opposed the expansion of Bristol International Airport at its meeting this week. This follows the similar position adopted by Bristol Council last month. The application is to be determined by North Somerset Council, but B&NES has is a consultee on the application.

Councillor Nicholas Coombes (Liberal Democrat, Bathwick) tabled the following wording which was adopted by 8 votes to 4:

That Bath and North East Somerset Council considers that the causes and effects of climate change should be the principal considerations in a development of this nature and therefore recommends that the airport expansion application should be refused on these grounds.

Councillor Coombes welcomed the vote and said:

“The expansion of airports is incompatible with attempts to cut carbon emissions. Indeed, it goes against common sense to imagine that Bristol International Airport can double its emissions over the next 10 years but that carbon emissions overall can be reduced in line with government targets.

“Only this week the Climate Change Committee that the UK will have to cut emissions by 90% by 2050 for the aviation industry to continue to grow.

“I am glad that none of the Liberal Democrat Councillors voted for airport expansion, but it is very worrying that most of the Conservatives put questionable economic gain ahead of protecting the environment.”

Conservatives refuse to try for hostel cash

Conservative politicians on Bath and North East Somerset have refused to re-open negotiations with the Government to try to secure funding for a hostel for the homeless in Bath.

Government funding for the hostel scheme was withdrawn in May due to concerns about timetables and deliverability. However, having made direct contact with the Homes and Communities Agency, Councillor Will Sandry (Liberal Democrat co-Shadow Cabinet member for healthier communities and older people and Liberal Democrat Councillor for Oldfield), was in a position to propose re-establishing dialogue with a view to reapplying for funding.

Cllr Sandry’s amendment was rejected by the Conservative administration of B&NES Council, although a smaller, local package of funding was adopted unanimously.

Councillor Sandry commented:

“My proposal offered the Cabinet member the opportunity to review the project, re-engage with the HCA and bring in local homelessness organisations, such as Julian House and others, on to the new project team.

“The money allocated by Council tonight was welcome, but it can only provide an incomplete solution to the complex needs of homeless people in Bath.

“Even though my proposals were unsuccessful on the night, I hope that the Cabinet member will reflect on them and, for the benefit of some of those most at need in our community, implement them.”

Questions over resignation of PCT Chief Executive

Councillor Loraine Morgan-Brinkhurst, Liberal Democrat co-Shadow Cabinet member for healthier communities and older people, has put the Council Leadership on the spot over the sudden resignation of the Chief Executive of B&NES PCT, announced this week.

Cllr Morgan-Brinkhurst said:

The merger of B&NES social services with the Primary Care Trust is one of the biggest structural changes facing the Council. This is a long process which is only part way through.

I am very concerned that we have only just lost the Council’s social services Director due to the merger and then, within three months of her leaving, we hear that we will be losing the other key officer in the local health service within the next six months.

“I am concerned about the uncertainty this may cause and I am not reassured by the answer I received from the Leader of Council.

The PCT Chief Executive, Rhona McDonald, steered us through this the beginning of this merger; we’re not there yet so we need a steady hand at the tiller – who knows what icebergs are ahead?

Saving pennies by spending pounds…

A trial funded by Bath & North East Somerset Council will see whether portable toilets stationed in Bath city centre during the early hours are the answer to stopping revellers using doorways, walls, and dark alleys to foul the streets.

Bath & North East Somerset Council is working with Avon and Somerset Police and Future Bath Plus to improve the night-time economy in Bath by making it even safer and more enjoyable for people to live, work, and visit. The portable toilets will operate from October 1st on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10pm until 3am. They will be positioned near Orange Grove Taxi Stand where Taxi Marshals will supervise the facilities.

Councillor Vic Pritchard (Conservative, Chew Valley North), Cabinet Member with responsibility for community safety, said:

“Mitigating the impact of the evening economy on Bath city centre is something that local residents, businesses, Bath & North East Somerset Council and Police all want to achieve. The Council is solely funding the twelve week trial to learn whether this initiative can make a positive difference to the urban environment at night. At the end of the twelve weeks, the Council wants local organisations and businesses to consider the results and, if successful, how the facilities might be funded in the future.”

The trial will take a break during the Christmas Market when portable toilets will be available and then return during Christmas and New Year for a further four weeks. The toilets will be delivered every evening and picked up in the early hours the following morning. The Council is also increasing the number of Taxi Marshals to supervise taxi queues at Kingsmead Square. They will direct people to the 24 hour public conveniences at Seven Dials, Monmouth Street.

Inspector Steve Mildren, Avon and Somerset Police, added:

“Few people realise that urinating in the street is an offence and we can issue offenders with on the spot fines of up to £80. Add to this people having a few drinks and people often feel a call of nature is more important than property or the thoughts of other people around them. Having these toilets will provide an easy option for those on a night out in Bath and will help us having to deal with people committing an offence. We want people to enjoy their night out in our city.”

Henry Brown, chairman of the Federation of Bath Residents Associations, commented:

“Urination in the streets is an unpleasant sight, and there aren’t enough public conveniences in Bath, so we welcome this trial of portable toilets. It needs to be accompanied by publicity about the nuisance of public urination. If the trial is successful, we hope that the improvements can be made permanent.”

Threat of more rises to car parking charges

Following the summer’s car parking rises in Bath, including a 50% rise on evening charges, charges could be rising again in the near future as the Council is set to announce its three year strategy.

Liberal Democrats have discovered that rises (set to come in from 6th September) announced this summer were merely a stop gap and a short-term measure. New plans will be brought to Overview & Scrutiny later this year.

Bath MP Don Foster has twice campaigned to prevent rises in evening car parking charges and has written to Council Chief Executive John Everitt outlining his opposition to any further rises.

Don said,

“Just as prices go up in September it looks like the Council are planning to announce even more hikes.

“While public transport is available in the day, it is lacking in the evening and many people have to drive to get into the city. Raising evening car parking charges again will have a negative effect on our evening economy, as businesses suffer.

“We must also think of clubs and societies, such as some of our fabulous choirs. Members will be put off coming into town every week because they will be spending so much more over the year.”

Kingsmead ward Councillor Andy Furse (Lib Dem) also agrees enough is enough. He said,

“The Conservatives had to back down last year over their evening parking plans, but now they are trying to force them up bit by bit, presumably hoping no-one will notice.

“A recession is not the time to be using car parking as a Council cash cow.

“Increases in parking charges will just make people think twice about coming to Bath in the evening. Our restaurants, cinemas and even the Theatre Royal could suffer by increasing evening parking charges.”