Questions from Green Party Councillors and Members to BANES Cabinet 8 February 2024

https://democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=6415

Question from Cllr Joanna Wright

As the sole shareholder at B&NES Council for Aequus can you explain why it has cost £3.02 million to buy 22 family homes but will cost £3.2 million to build 5 two bedroom and 3 one bedroom council flats on a level site on Lower Bristol Road?

Answer from Cllr Kevin Guy

The full purchase costs of the Ukrainian/Afghan LAHF properties is yet to be finalised but will be around £6m, depending upon final properties purchased.  This will be funded by £3.04m of Government funding with the remainder being funded by rent supported borrowing and Council funding.  The site on Lower Bristol Road, known as Argyle Works, is being used to construct 8 highly energy efficient new homes for social rent as part of the B&NES Homes Programme.  To ensure value for money, the works contract was procured in compliance with contract standing orders via a tender process.  The cost of the scheme has been influenced by a number of factors, including that the land requires decontamination and that the site was historically a gravel pit and therefore requires a very complex foundation design.  The £3.2m scheme will be funded by £1m of Government grant with the remainder being funded by rent supported borrowing and Council funding.

Question from Cllr Joanna Wright

As the sole shareholder at B&NES Council for Aequus can you explain the £1.6 million paid in administration fees to Aequus?

The Council’s Quarter 3 budget monitoring report has a forecast of £1.6m loan allocation to Aequus for 2023/24. The Council has successfully secured £3.04m of Government funding to help fund the purchase of 22 homes for Ukrainian/Afghan residents which is being undertaken in partnership with Aequus.  This funding is being supplemented by a Council loan to Aequus to enable the purchase of the 22 homes, the Council loan element will be repaid using rental income.  It will take time to complete all 22 purchases hence it is expected that a proportion of the Council loan will only be spent in 2024/25.

Question from Cllr Joanna Wright

In the November 2023 questions to Cabinet, a question was asked about the length of time councillors are given to read papers to ask Cabinet questions on, which was approx. 30 hours.  You answered the question with the following statement: “The time limits are set in the Constitution and the Cabinet is not responsible for the determining the Constitution. The Constitution is determined by the Council.”  

As the Leader of Council who is committed to collaborative and transparent working and wants to make sure that there is a wide representation of councillors on the council working full-time, who and/or may have caring responsibilities. Do you think the time frame should be amended or a committee system put in place so that questions and due diligence on how the council is run using tax money is properly scrutinised?

Answer from Cllr Kevin Guy

The deadlines set out in the Constitution are those agreed by the full Council.  The scheme is not necessarily intended only for questions related to the agenda items (except for a Special meeting) and more often they will touch on all aspects of the Cabinet’s programme.  The B&NES scheme enables detailed and informative responses to questions.  The option of shortening the time between the deadline and the meeting is not a realistic option, as significant officer resource is usually needed to research and formulate answers for the Cabinet Member’s consideration and approval.  As you’ll be aware, the number of questions received is high, and the complexity and detail of those questions usually requires significant officer time.  This is done on top of officers’ and Cabinet Members’ busy workloads.   Giving officers and members even less time to prepare complex responses would possibly result in more responses not being ready in time for the meeting and provided within 5 working days of the meeting (thereby removing the option of a supplementary question at the meeting.)  

B&NES is not out of step with practice across nearby Councils regarding deadlines, which mostly vary between 4 and 2 days, or some with no notice; however, it’s worth pointing out that, for those that accept questions at the meeting with no advance notice, the response will by nature be a lot less detailed without the benefit of research and officer input.  This is not the arrangement that B&NES has adopted within its Constitution.

I do not share your view that a committee system would increase scrutiny or have any particular bearing on this process, as detailed responses will always need time for preparation, regardless of the forum in which they are raised.

Question from Cllr Saskia Heijltjes

Are all officers within the Placement Management and Highways teams trained in government statutory LTN 1/20 (Local Transport Note Cycle Infrastructure Design)?

Answer from Cllr Manda Rigby and Cllr Sarah Warren

Place Management undertakes a wide range of Services from bereavement management to cleansing.  Highways are part of the Place Directorate they maintain and deliver schemes for all highway assets such as Street Lighting and Public Rights of Way. Officers designing walking and cycling infrastructure are competent in LTN 1/20 (Local Transport Note Cycle Infrastructure Design) and associated staff members have the right level competence commensurate with their roles.

Question from Cllr Saskia Heijltjes

In the Transport Improvement Programme, a ‘school street or pedestrian improvements’ is planned for Swainswick Primary School for next year’s budget. Officers stated that a school street would cost around £200,000 to implement. Is the budgeted £40,000 of funding for a School Street? Why is there a mention of a School Street in the Transport Improvement Programme?

Answer from Cllr Manda Rigby and Cllr Sarah Warren

The Draft Local Highway Improvement Programme for 2024/25 includes £40,000.00 for Swainswick Primary School, which would be used for pedestrian improvements. The concept of a School Street will be reviewed as part of the project. Any potential School Street would be delivered as a separated programme of works

Question from Cllr Saskia Heijltjes

At the Climate Emergency and Sustainability Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel meeting on 9 November 2023, a ‘trial a series of school streets’ was listed in the Journey To Net Zero Update report. Which schools have been identified to have a School Street implemented in 2024/25? The only mention of a School Street in the budget papers is the ‘school street or pedestrian improvements’ for Swainswick Primary School in the Transport Improvement Programme for 2024/25. Where is the rest of the trial?

Answer from Cllr Manda Rigby and Cllr Sarah Warren

We are currently undertaking a prioritisation process to help inform a programme of trial School Streets across B&NES, to be delivered during the 2024/25 financial year and beyond. As this process is ongoing it is not yet possible to provide a list of schools that have been selected for a scheme.

Question from Liam Kirby

Recent changes have been made to Weston High Street; the new road layout was instigated with the aim to make the high street safer “for all users”. However, this new layout has not improved the situation for cyclists. Why is BANES prioritising the safety of people parking their cars and not of people cycling?

Answer from Cllr Manda Rigby

The echelon parking bays have been modified to discourage motorists from parking with their vehicles partly on the footway adjacent to the shops.  To achieve this, the centre line in the High Street was moved over slightly, and a hatched area was introduced behind the echelon parking bays so that motorists are given a greater degree of comfort that the rear of their vehicles will not be damaged by passing vehicles if they park correctly.  The benefit for cyclists using the High Street is two-fold.  Firstly, north-west bound cyclists have a hatched ‘buffer zone’ between the rear of parked vehicles and the carriageway running lane and, secondly, the south-west bound traffic lane is now narrower (3m), which discourages motorists from attempting to overtake cyclists.  The previous lane was of a width (between 3.2m and 3.9m) where motorists may have been tempted to overtake a cyclist when there was insufficient room to do so.    

Question from Liam Kirby

The percentage of households with no cars or vans has decreased from 22% in 2011 to 19.9% in 2022. However, households who own or have availability to use 2, 3 or more cars or vans has increased from 35.7% to 38.4%. What are BANES doing to stop this growth which impacts the health and wellbeing of residents?  (See page 76 of Strategic Evidence Base Nov 2023).

Answer from Cllr Sarah Warren

The latest Census for 2021 for B&NES indicates that levels of car ownership have increased since the previous Census undertaken in 2011. This trend is in line with national data that has seen a 17% increase in the number of households in England with access to 2, 3 or more cars and a drop of 3% in households that don’t have access to a car between 2011 and 2021. The growth in households having access to 2 or more cars in B&NES is less than the national figure at 16% between 2011 and 2021, growing from 26,284 to 30,460. Equally the decline in the number of households with no access to a car in B&NES is less than the national figure at -2.2%. Whilst this overall growth in car ownership is a continuation of a previous trend, the rate of car ownership has accelerated in large part due to the effects of the Covid pandemic. During the pandemic people were unable to use public transport and consequently many families who didn’t own a car were forced to purchase one in order to make journeys that they otherwise previously would have undertaken on bus or rail.

As part of our commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030, B&NES has a target to achieve a 25% reduction in kilometres travelled per person by car each year. Reducing levels of car ownership is key to delivering this target through the provision of more sustainable travel options for those living and working across the district. We plan to do this through large scale investment in active travel and public transport schemes in order to make walking, wheeling, cycling as well as travel by bus and train much more attractive and a viable travel choice for more people.

Question from Liam Kirby

Last mile delivery by cycle is thriving in many cities, including neighbouring Bristol with Freight Consolidation centres being put in place to enable this transition. What is B&NES doing to progress Freight Consolidation centres in this authority?

Answer from Cllr Sarah Warren

As part of a wider package of transport measures, B&NES has put in place a number of last mile transport service improvements. Last mile delivery refers to the very last step of the delivery process when a parcel is moved from a transportation hub to its final destination. 

B&NES future plans for freight consolidation are included in the Journey to Net Zero Transport Plan that was adopted in May 2022. Further Journey to Net Zero Plans are in the process of being developed for many of our other towns and communities across B&NES. These will include references to any further freight consolidation schemes planned across the district.

Question from Erica Davies

In a recent email from a Senior Case Officer in the B&NES Planning team, they stated that the legal obligations were fulfilled regarding the application, whilst also stating “I agree the drawings do not show the full impact on your property”. 

Please can you explain why the council can accept and approve planning applications without mandatory documents?

Answer from Cllr Matt McCabe

The Council as local planning authority requires submitted applications to be accompanied by information (plans, drawings, accompanying reports) that meets both national and local standards. Applications that do not meet these standards do not get validated and so the statutory time period for deciding the application would not even begin until these standards are met.

The standards are published on the planning pages of the Council’s website, along with best practice guidance for plans and drawings. When assessing the application, it is for the planning case officer to satisfy themselves that the submitted information is adequate, along with information gathered during any site visit. The quote provided is not accompanied by any information about the application that it refers to and the context of the quote is also not known. I cannot, therefore, speculate as to what is meant by the quote, however I wish to provide reassurance that applications are not decided without the required information being submitted and are often supplemented by information gathered from a visit to the application site.

Question from Erica Davies

In the November 2023 questions to Cabinet, a question was asked about costs of the Kate Raworth event. The answer given stated that:

The total cost of the event was £2,362.25. This includes both the costs of preparing and delivering the event itself and follow up work to collate and analyse workshop outputs, including an independent report and collation of mapping to produce a legacy resource for wider community.”

When will this wider resource for the community be put in place?

Answer from Cllr Sarah Warren

The independent report from the workshop has been shared directly with participants and will be published on the Council’s website shortly so that key insights can be viewed more widely. Mapping of local organisations actively working on social and environmental challenges is available on request, and we are looking for a partner organisation that can host and manage this resource in future. We will be using this mapping as an input for our own future conversations with communities across the district.

Question from Erica Davies

The Milsom Quarter Masterplan proposes reversing the entrance/exit of the Waitrose car park. (See https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/sites/default/files/5MQMP_85_100_Movement_Strategy.pdf from https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/milsom-quarter/view-masterplan-documents)

On a regular basis, frequent disruptions occur on Walcot Street, causing significant delays and issues for passengers commuting to and from the city centre, leading to substantial congestion in the east of Bath. Will you take prompt action and implement necessary measures to ensure smooth bus operations in the east of Bath?

Answer from Cllr Paul Roper and Cllr Manda Rigby

As part of a Milsom Quarter public realm design project, further work is being done to look at options to improve this area together with the area in front of St Michael’s Church, Green Street and New Bond Street. All designs will be consulted on publicly before being progressed for funding bids.

It should be noted that the Podium car park is privately owned land. While it is not possible for the Council to deliver all elements of the Masterplan, as they are not in our direct control, we have sought to identify areas for improvement beyond our landownership across the area. Our Highways team have advised there are unfortunately no quick measures that can be brought in to ease the congestion in Walcot Street. 

Question from Barbara Gordon

The Report as recommended in Citizens Panel presented to Cabinet in November 2022 stated that the Council ‘revisit all options for through traffic reduction on the route from the valley floor to Claverton Down’ and ‘recommence the Transport Improvement Programme in the Claverton down Area’.  As a new Liveable neighbourhood/road closure in New Sydney Place/Sydney Road by the side of the Holburne has recently been proposed by the Cabinet Member and Ward Member for Bathwick, how will the “Revisit” of a safe active travel route connecting many residents from the city of Bath to Claverton Down be taken forward?

Answer from Cllrs Manda Rigby and Sarah Warren

The proposed through traffic restriction on Sydney Place is as part of the Council’s Liveable Neighbourhood programme. It will provide improved links throughout the local area and support more people to travel by active modes of transport. As part of the Active Travel Masterplan, which is currently in development, it is the Council’s ambition to improve walking and cycling links between all major educational and employment destinations within the district.

Question from Barbara Gordon

The stepped access from the canal towpath into Sydney Gardens was planned to be improved by creating a step-free accessible ramp into the park as part of the £3.4 million Heritage Lottery Funded major refurbishment. The ramp was scrapped from the project due to lack of budget. What are the current plans to put this accessible entrance in place to allow for everyone to access the park, including people with walking aids, in wheelchairs and with pushchairs?

Answer from Cllrs Sarah Warren and Manda Rigby

Step free access to the canal towpath from Sydney Gardens is available from Beckford Road.  Further access improvements may be considered in future if a suitable funding source becomes available.

Question from Barbara Gordon

The exit from the canal towpath at Beckford Road is a well-used entry and exit connecting to Sydney Gardens. As active travel is one of the main priorities in the Council’s strategic plans to enable residents to have healthier lives, when will a formal crossing be put in place on what is now a 20mph road to ensure that everyone is safe on a major A road? 

Answer from Cllr Sarah Warren

Work is underway to obtain funding for and design for a crossing at this location. 

Question from John Christian

At a recent public meeting on Housing Development and the Local Plan held by Councillors in Saltford Cllr Matt McCabe said that “although the West Of England Combined Authority under the Metro Mayor should have been responsible for developing the Local Plan together with the Local Transport strategy, the Metro Mayor had stepped back from this responsibility and handed the Local Plan back to B&NES and other unitary authorities and now the West of England Mayor is only handling local transport including the A4 consultation.”

When and how did the Metro Mayor notify B&NES that they were handing back responsibility for the Local Plan?

Answer from Cllr Matt McCabe

The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) was preparing a Mayoral Spatial Development Strategy (SDS) that would have addressed strategic planning issues across the WECA area. The WECA Mayor wrote to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in May 2022 to advise that work on the Spatial Development Strategy had been halted. The three unitary authorities’ Local Plans therefore, will address both strategic and non-strategic issues. This position was confirmed on the B&NES Council website in summer 2022.
The Metro Mayor is responsible for producing and delivering the sub regional Transport Plan (Joint Local Transport Plan), details of the current JLTP4 can be found here.  WECA has started work on JLTP5.

Question from John Christian

Are B&NES happy with the local transport proposals being advocated by Metro Mayor and do they see any problems of coordination between the Local Plan and Transport Plan proposals?

Answer from Cllr Matt McCabe

B&NES are part of the project team for all transport projects being led by WECA.  On behalf of our residents and businesses we seek to steer, influence and advocate for the best outcomes.  We are listening closely to representations on the recent consultations, this will inform any decisions we make.

Question from John Christian

Can the Cabinet Member for Built Environment and Sustainable Development guarantee residents that there is a regular dialogue between the Metro Mayor and B&NES to ensure that public money is well spent?

Answer from Cllr Matt McCabe

Ensuring that public money is spent in the most effective way possible is of paramount importance to B&NES and the Combined Authority.  Close working between the officers of the Combined Authority and B&NES officers is fundamental in bringing forward significant investment for our district that aligns with our Corporate Priorities.  All the projects are subject to assessment ensuring value for money, with opportunities for public scrutiny through the WECA Committee system.

Question from Christopher Wright

In the Transport Improvement Programme, a ‘school street or pedestrian improvements’ is planned for Swainswick Primary School for next year’s budget. Officers stated that a school street would cost around £200,000 to implement. Is the budgeted £40,000 of funding for a School Street? Why is there a mention of a School Street in the Transport Improvement Programme?

Answer from Cllrs Manda Rigby and Sarah Warren

The Draft Local Highway Improvement Programme for 2024/25 includes £40,000.00 for Swainswick Primary School, which would be used for pedestrian improvements. The concept of a School Street will be reviewed as part of the project. Any potential School Street would be delivered as a separated programme of works.

Question from Christopher Wright

At the Climate Emergency and Sustainability Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel meeting on 9 November 2023, a ‘trial series of school streets’ was listed in the Journey To Net Zero Update report. Which schools have been identified to have a School Street implemented in 2024/25? The only mention of a School Street in the budget papers is the ‘school street or pedestrian improvements’ for Swainswick Primary School in the Transport Improvement Programme for 2024/25. Where are the rest of the School Streets being trialled?

Answer from Cllrs Manda Rigby and Sarah Warren

We are currently undertaking a prioritisation process to help inform a programme of School Streets to be delivered from the next financial year onwards. Therefore, it is not yet possible to provide details of which school(s) have been selected as initial trials.

Question from Anne Coghlan

The important active travel link between North East Somerset and Bath, the Devonshire Tunnel, one of the Two Tunnels, has been shut since the flooding mid-January 2024 and it is suggested this tunnel could be closed for months. Sustrans has passed the work to repair this tunnel to B&NES.  As it is not possible to get around the tunnel unless you can push your bike over muddy paths, when will the blocked pipe be fixed? Will a diversion route be signposted? 

Answer from Cllrs Manda Rigby and Sarah Warren

Sustrans are responsible for the management of Devonshire Tunnel and have not passed this across to the Council. However, Officers have engaged with Sustrans throughout the recent flooding issues and have provided assistance where this has been possible, but we are unable to provide a timeframe in which the tunnel will be reopened. There is currently no appropriate signed diversion that can safely be put in place. However, utilising funding from Active Travel England’s Capability and Ambition Fund, we are working on the feasibility and design of a permanent improved active travel link between Lyncombe Vale and the Two Tunnels.

Question from Anne Coghlan

A recent BBC investigation found councils which have a statutory responsibility for footpaths had 4,000 more access issues on public rights of way in 2023 than in 2022.  What is the number of public rights of way that are blocked in B&NES? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-67937253

Answer from Cllr Manda Rigby

At the time we received the FOI request (which is presumably the source for the original story), there were 283 obstructions on the rights of way network in B&NES. However, it’s important to note that only a very small number of these obstructions actually prevent the public from using a path and many of those obstructions, while still requiring resolution, are far more minor. For example, included within this number would be paths where something such as maybe a planter or a log pile has been placed within the legal width of the right of way but not on the section of path which the public regularly use.

Overall, there was a 6% reduction in the number of obstructions in B&NES compared with the same period in 2022.

Question from Anne Coghlan

Cabinet Project Lead for Highways mentioned there was no time to implement a school street in Lyme Rd/Charmouth Rd area, Bath. A key piece of the co-design in Lyme Rd is the school street element, but this could not be brought forward into the ETRO because as stated by the Cabinet Project Lead for Highways, the necessary time required to work that part of the proposal was not in place. When will the necessary time be put in place for this key co-design element and what is in the budget for school streets?

Answer from Cllr Manda Rigby and Cllr Sarah Warren

While a School Street was not included in the forthcoming trial Liveable Neighbourhood for the Lyme Road/Charmouth Road area, further interventions in all of the current and forthcoming trial Liveable Neighbourhoods will be considered for inclusion in the Full Business Case that will be submitted to the Combined Authority. If a School Street is not included in the Full Business Case, the school would still be considered for such a scheme as part of the separate School Streets programme which is currently under development.

Question from Grace Wiltshire

B&NES Council has hired a local company, Cool Ventures, to run a workshop on how to sell on Etsy for business owners and charities. The date of this workshop was 22 November 2023. Please explain how this is a good use of taxpayer’s money in the present climate when funding to vital services is being cut?

Answer from Cllr Paul Roper

The workshop delivered by Cool Ventures is part of our Universal Business Support Project, which is 100% funded by the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Investment Fund. No local council spending was incurred on this workshop, or any aspect of the project. 

The project is targeting a minimum of 900 residents, businesses and third sector representatives through one-to-one support, mentoring, coaching and thematic workshops over the course of three years, with the target of at least 450 clients being able to demonstrate productivity gains as a result of the support received. New business starts and job creation are two other targets of the project, which along with productivity gains are key aspects of our new Economic Strategy. Economic growth and job creation in Bath & North East Somerset will help improve local government finances and help us fund vital services. Thanks to the 100% UK Government funding, the project is free at the point of delivery to ensure that income is not a barrier to anyone wishing to receive support in order to start or grow their enterprise.

The workshop in question (and in fact every workshop delivered on the project) is in response to demand. Etsy and similar sales platforms have become increasingly popular to new start-up and part-time enterprises as a route to market, hence digital skills using such platforms are very much in demand. Digital skills workshops and webinars tend to be very popular in terms of numbers attended – we are simply responding to demand. As well as requests for help with Etsy, the cost-of-living crisis is driving more and more individuals to find alternative ways to generate additional income. Etsy provides a platform for creative hobbyists and artisans to market their products in a wider setting and a cost-effective way (they don’t need a website and fees are very reasonable). So this is highly accessible for anyone regardless of their level of technical ability, and enable users to generate an additional income which may not be available to them otherwise.

The workshop is run in the evening to enable those working during the day to attend. It is highly practical and is aimed at entry level sellers / entrepreneurs and covers:

• How to set up the 1^st shop
• Advice on pricing and profitability
• How to market effectively and be visible in front of the right audience without the need for expensive equipment and investment.

The workshop is delivered by a local expert, who has successfully been selling on Etsy for 12 years and also supports Etsy sellers independently for 5 years (this is outside of the Universal Business Support Programme).

Attendees leave with a workbook and are able to access further 121 support if needed.

Attendees can attend other workshops to enhance their business knowledge.

Question from Grace Wiltshire

According to the Strategic Evidence Base from November 2023, over 600,000 kms were travelled by Council staff for business travel (decreased from over a million kms in 2015/16). Why do staff travel so many kms by car for business travel and what analysis has been undertaken to suggest that some of these journeys could be taken by public transport, scooter or cycle instead, potentially saving money and improving staff health?

Answer from Cllr Sarah Warren

The strong trend in business mileage reduction has continued from the baseline and 2019/20 (pre-covid) with consequent reduction in Co2e and cost.

2022/23 has seen an increase of 37% from 2021-22. This was predictable as both B&NES Council and the wider district recovered post Covid and returned to a significant level of increased activity and council services responded to greater in person demand across the district. The swift organisational adoption of both blended working and enhanced virtual technology has enabled this to be better managed reducing travel for internal/ partnership meetings. 

For 2022/23 75% of staff business travel was by staff delivering services in Adult Social Care, Adult Health Care & Housing, Children’s Services & Education. Demand for these services has risen and therefore staff have been required to travel to manager authorised home & school visits, children’s safeguarding visits, some of which involved significant out of district travel, and education support visits.  

For the financial year 2022/23, 72k miles were transferred from grey fleet to managed emission free or energy efficient pool cars delivering a reduction of 6.9 tonnes of CO2e. 

The council continues to promote sustainable travel to staff including salary sacrifice bikes through staff benefits, access to pool bikes and business train travel, see attached Existing Measures, and requires all mileage claims to be reviewed against the Travel Decision Guide. 
The corporate Travel Policy has been updated to reflect the Corporate Strategy Climate Emergency priority and includes maximum limits for car mileage for travel between office hubs, with incentives for using private (non-salary sacrifice) bicycles with a locally agreed rate payable at 40p per mile and council staff sharing cars as vehicle passengers on official duties at 5p per mile.

Question from Grace Wiltshire

According to the Strategic Evidence Base from November 2023, the percentage of EVs registered to a BANES address increased from 0.2% in September 2018 to 1.2% in September 2022. What is the council doing to enable more people to switch to an EV including many residents who live in terraced housing with no ability to charge electric vehicles and the only other option being to charge at the higher rate on the council’s limited EV points?

Answer from Cllr Sarah Warren

B&NES will be rolling out on-street public residential EV charge points through the central governments Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) project. LEVI is a £400 million capital project from central government with the main aim of building on-street public residential charging to address the EV charging needs of those residents who do not have off-street parking. The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) are leading a bid for LEVI funds, which includes provision for B&NES. The LEVI project will be delivered with a commercial Charge Point Operator (CPO) to benefit from sector expertise in delivering at scale. Final applications are currently being assessed by the Department for Transport and with the current schedule we could see charge points on-street from early 2025.
The council is acutely aware of the challenges facing residents with no off-street parking. Following a WECA review into on-street home charging technologies, systems providing cable channels sunk into the footway were identified as the favoured option. To this end we will be trialing cable channel products on public footways in B&NES. A public report on the cable channel trial proposal provides more details. The trial is awaiting funding confirmation from WECA, with an expected public launch July 2024.

Question from Dominic Tristram

It has been reported that Bath Rugby at the Rec in central Bath will be creating a huge balloon made up of hundreds of metres of plastic sheeting to enable hot air to be blown across the pitch for 24 hours; it is presumed that this is needed because Bath Rugby have embedded plastic filaments all over the pitch. Did Bath Rugby request consent for embedding plastic filaments and was it accompanied by a pitch management plan?

Answer from Cllr Matt McCabe and Cllr Sarah Warren

We believe that there is some confusion about this. These are two separate things.

The “plastic filaments” that have been “stitched” into the pitch is a tried-and-tested system used throughout the sporting world to improve the stability of the pitch. This was recently installed, initially to goal areas and subsequently across the rest of the pitch.  The 20cm deep artificial fibres intertwine with the grass roots to form a stable pitch that can take three times as much playing as a normal grass pitch. This did not require any additional consent. We can confirm that a pitch management plan was not required for this work.  

The “huge balloon made up of hundreds of metres of plastic sheeting to enable hot air to be blown across the pitch for 24 hours” we believe refers to the frost covers that are routinely spread over the pitch during prolonged periods of cold and icy conditions to protect the pitch to prevent freezing and allow safe use of the pitch. The use of these covers is triggered by the Premiership, when there is a televised game that may be affected by frost. These covers have been used in previous years.

Question from Dominic Tristram

In a recent B&NES Press Release on Broad Street (https://newsroom.bathnes.gov.uk/news/broad-street-place-community-garden-begins-take-shape) it states:

“Councillor Paul Roper, cabinet member for Economic and Cultural Sustainable Development, said: “Broad Street Place is an unusual example of public space in Bath that is central yet traffic-free. It has huge potential to benefit residents, visitors and businesses by being regenerated into a peaceful green space that people want to spend time in. I’m pleased that Bath Neighbourhood CIL Funding is supporting this vision to become a reality and look forward to seeing the space being enjoyed as a fantastic asset for the community.”

This space is not accessible due to steps from Walcot Streets and a step from the access point from Broad Street. What is B&NES doing to make this an inclusive space and allow access for people in wheelchairs and mobility scooters?

Answer from Cllr Paul Roper and Cllr Sarah Warren

This Neighbourhood CIL funded project will provide new seating, playable space, new planting, public art, lighting and will provide improved surface materials around the trees. 

There is currently stepped access into the site from Walcot Street and a single step on the access from Broad Street. Re-profiling the step-access from Broad Street is not in scope of the current funding, however, the Council has done design work to facilitate this in future. Subject to funding being secured to deliver it, it is anticipated this will be a future phase.

Question from Dominic Tristram

What can be done by B&NES to hold Bath Rugby to account for failures to exercise due care towards the wider public when there are flood incidents? A similar failing occurred in mid-January of last year when the river flooded.

Answer from Cllrs Matt McCabe and Tim Ball

If a flooding incident causes wider issues for the public, debriefs and enquiries are held which look into the actions of statutory bodies and organisations in respect of decisions and outcomes.

If a flooding incident causes wider issues for the public, debriefs and enquiries are held which look into the actions of statutory bodies and organisations in respect of decisions and outcomes.