Agenda and minutes

Venue: Virtual Meeting

Contact: Sue Efford 

Note: https://youtu.be/6kB_-ZYGfDM 

Items
No. Item

COU1

Chairman's Welcome

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed everyone to this virtual Annual Council meeting and referred to the procedure to be followed. 

COU2

Minute's Silence for HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

Minutes:

Before moving to the formal business of the meeting, Council observed a minute’s silence in remembrance of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. 

 

Following the minute’s silence, and at the invitation of the Chairman, the Assistant Director Governance and Monitoring Officer took a roll call of members to confirm attendance at the start of the meeting.  Additional members joined the meeting after the roll call.

COU3

Election of the Chairman of the Council for the Municipal Year 2021/22 (Agenda Item 2)

Minutes:

Motion:  Moved by Councillor Gibbons, seconded by Councillor Cato and

 

Resolved:  that Councillor Richard Westwood be elected Chairman of the Council for the 2021/22 Municipal Year.

 

Councillor Westwood in the Chair

 

Councillor Westwood addressed the Council, thanking councillors for the honour of electing him as Chairman.  He looked forward to returning to some form of normality with the ongoing lifting of Covid restrictions, and looking back over the past year was proud of the way in which councillors, staff and the community had worked together to get through the pandemic.

 

He reported that he was intending to hold a Civic Service in September and had appointed the Rev Fran Binding, vicar of All Saints, Kingston Seymour as his chaplain.  He also hoped to arrange a Christmas event in early December.

 

On behalf of the Council, Councillor Westwood expressed his thanks and appreciation to Councillor Shopland as outgoing Chairman for his service to the Council.

 

Councillor Shopland addressed the Council, expressing his thanks and appreciation to those who had helped and supported him during his extended two-year term of office. He was encouraged by the way the council and its members had worked together as a united body and achieved a great deal for the community over what had been a difficult year.  It had been an honour to serve as Chairman and he congratulated Councillor Westwood on his election and extended his best wishes to him for his term of office.  These sentiments were echoed by other councillors throughout the meeting.

COU4

Appointment of the Vice-Chairman of the Council for the Municipal Year 2021/22 (Agenda Item 3)

Minutes:

Motion: Moved by Councillor Petty, seconded by Councillor Crosby and

 

Resolved: that Councillor Karin Haverson be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Council for the 2021/22 Municipal Year.

 

The Chairman congratulated Councillor Haverson on her appointment.

 

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor Haverson thanked councillors for appointing her and stated she would endeavour to serve the council to the best of her ability.

COU5

Public Participation, petitions, and deputations (Standing Orders 2(vi) and 17, as amended by new Standing Order 5A) (Agenda Item 4) pdf icon PDF 99 KB

The Council will receive written statements from any person who wishes to make a submission in accordance with the above Standing Orders. The Chairman will select the order of the submissions. Each submission must comply with the usual time limits of five minutes for public participation and deputations and three minutes for petitions.  This section of the meeting must not exceed 30 minutes and matters must not refer to a current planning application. 

 

The Council will also receive questions from the public and provide answers thereto, subject to the Chairman being satisfied that the questions are relevant to the business of the meeting.

 

Requests and full statements must be submitted in writing to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, or to the officer mentioned at the top of this agenda letter, by noon on the day before the meeting and the request must detail the subject matter of the address.  Statements received will be published on the Meetings App and on the Council website in advance of the meeting.

Minutes:

The Chairman drew members’ attention to the four submissions received that had been published with the supplementary papers for the meeting, as follows:

 

1.  20mph Speed Limits: Stephen Kinsella, Clevedon Resident

 

2.  20mph Zones: Dr John Simmons, Winscombe Resident

 

3.  Active Travel Fund funding and implementation of 20 mph speed limits in North Somerset: Cresten Boase, Sandford Resident

 

4. Test and Trace System: Dr Martin Hime, Clevedon Resident

 

The Chairman thanked the members of the public for their submissions and proposed that they be noted and addressed under the relevant agenda item later in the meeting or referred to the relevant Executive Member as appropriate.

COU6

Petitions to be presented by Members (Standing Order No. 16) (Agenda Item 5) pdf icon PDF 359 KB

As this is a virtual meeting, members are asked to provide petitions to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services by 12.00 noon on the day before the meeting. Details of any petition received will be published on the Meetings App and on the Council website in advance of the meeting. 

Minutes:

The Chairman drew members’ attention to the two petitions published with the supplementary papers for the meeting and invited Councillor Keating and Councillor Gibbons to present them.

 

1.  Changes to the A368 in Churchill

 

Councillor Keating presented a petition signed by 63 residents of Dinghurst Lane requesting the council to make alterations to the A368 in Churchill to make it a safer road for residents and pedestrians.

 

The Chairman thanked Councillor Keating for the petition and proposed that it be noted and referred to the relevant Executive Member.

 

2. Rainbow Crossing for the High Street, Weston-super-Mare

 

Councillor Gibbons presented a petition with 379 signatories calling on North Somerset Council to not only agree but to fund the painting in the colours of the Pride flag of a crossing on the High Street to brighten up the town centre and champion the commitment to the LGBTQ+ community.

 

The Chairman thanked Councillor Gibbons for the petition and proposed that it be noted and referred to the relevant Executive Member.

COU7

Declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (Standing Order 37) (Agenda Item6)

A Member must declare any disclosable pecuniary interest where it relates to any matter being considered at the meeting. A declaration of a disclosable pecuniary interest should indicate the interest and the agenda item to which it relates. A Member is not permitted to participate in this agenda item by law and should immediately leave the meeting before the start of any debate.

 

If the Member leaves the meeting in respect of a declaration, he or she should ensure that the Chairman is aware of this before he or she leaves to enable their exit from the meeting to be recorded in the minutes in accordance with Standing Order 37.

Minutes:

None.

COU8

Minutes 23 February 2021 (Agenda Item 7) pdf icon PDF 238 KB

23 February 2021, to approve as a correct record (attached)

Minutes:

Resolved: that the minutes of the meeting be approved as a correct record.

COU9

Motions by Members (Standing Order No. 14) Local Authorities Mental Health Challenge (Councillor Charles) (Agenda Item 8 (1)) pdf icon PDF 70 KB

(1)      Local authorities’ mental health challenge

Councillor Charles (attached)

 

(2)      Test and Trace System

Councillor Haverson (attached)

 

(3)      Tackling Disability Stigma and Discrimination

Councillor Codling (attached)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

In introducing his Motion, Councillor Charles referred to the current mental health emergency arising from the impact of the pandemic, outlining recent research findings and stressing the crucial role of the council in improving the mental health of everyone in the local community and tackling some of the widest and most entrenched inequalities in health. 

 

Motion: Moved by Councillor Charles and seconded by Councillor Holland

 

“This council notes:

 

·       1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem in any given year.

·       The World Health Organisation has highlighted the adequate provision of mental health services one of its key priorities for 2021.

·       Mental ill health costs some £105 billion each year in England alone.

·       People with a severe mental illness die up to 20 years younger than their peers in the UK.

·       There is often a circular relationship between mental health and issues such as housing, employment, family problems or debt.

·       Just over three out of 4 suicides (76%) are by men and suicide is the biggest cause of death for men under 35.

 

This council further notes:

 

·       The Pandemic has caused an unprecedented rise in issues around collective and individual mental health in the last 12 months.

·       The Centre for Mental Health forecasts a rise in those in poor mental health to 8.5 million this includes an additional 3.2 million who have never previously reported mental health concerns.

·       The centre also predicts that over 200k of NHS workers may need support including nearly 37 k for PTSD.

·       A recent survey by the charity Young Minds found that 67% of the young people they surveyed (aged 13-25) believed the Pandemic will have a long-term effect on their mental health.

 

This council believes:

 

·       As a local authority we have a crucial role to play in improving the mental health of everyone in our community and tackling some of the widest and most entrenched inequalities in health.

·       Mental health should be a priority across all the local authority’s areas of responsibility, including housing, community safety and planning.

·       All councillors, whether members of the Executive or Scrutiny and in our community and casework roles, can play a positive role in championing mental health on an individual and strategic basis.

 

This council resolves:

 

·       To sign the Local Authorities’ Mental Health Challenge run by Centre for Mental Health, Mental Health Foundation, Mental Health Providers Forum, Mind, Rethink Mental Illness, Royal College of Psychiatrists and YoungMinds.

·       We commit to appoint an elected member as ‘mental health champion’ across the council.

·       We will seek to identify a member of staff within the council to act as ‘lead officer’ for mental health

·       Consider mental health impact within our COVID recovery plans across all aspects of our work.

 

·       The council will also:

 

1.     Support positive mental health in our community, including in local schools, neighbourhoods and workplaces

2.     Work to reduce inequalities in mental health in our community

3.     Work with local partners to offer effective support for people with mental health needs

4.     Tackle discrimination on the  ...  view the full minutes text for item COU9

COU10

Motions by Members (Standing Order No. 14) Test and Trace System (Councillor Haverson) (Agenda Item 8 (2))

Minutes:

In introducing her Motion, Councillor Haverson referred to the limited impact of the government’s test and trace system at huge cost to the tax payer and stressed an effective test and trace system was still vital in stopping the spread of the virus over coming months and years.  She referred to the submission made earlier in the meeting by Dr Hime and confirmed she was happy to take on board his proposals as part of her Motion.

 

Councillor Willis stated she had a number of friends who were employed as part of the current test and trace system and confirmed she would take no part in the debate or the vote on this item.

 

Motion: Moved by Cllr Haverson and seconded by Councillor Gibbons

 

“A recent cross-party government advisory committee has stated that during the current pandemic, the Test and Trace system has only made a marginal impact in the UK. This system is run by private companies at huge expense to the tax payer.

 

It is now apparent that local authorities are much more successful in tracing contacts, they also have the local knowledge for backwards tracing, ie tracing the source of an outbreak.  North Somerset like many other local councils have run a supplementary service since January, contacting local residents who could not be contacted by the existing service. Some other LAs such as Sandwell (West Midlands) and others have taken all of contact tracing on as early as last summer, Lambeth Borough Council have recently done so.

 

A functioning Test and Trace system is still absolutely vital to stopping this virus spreading over the coming months and year, as Independent SAGE members led by Sir David King, the WHO and public health experts like Prof. Devi Sridhar have asserted time and time again. Scientists also expect future pandemics.

 

I therefore move that North Somerset Council expresses concern about the poor performance of the existing Test and Trace system and ask our Chief Executive and our Leader to write to the Secretary of State for Health Matt Hancock and to Robert Jenrick. Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government as well as our local MPs, to ask for meaningful dialogue with local authorities on co-designing our future health protection rather than receiving a national policy decision. This should include considering the Contact Tracing system to be devolved to Local Government, with rapid data transfer from the testing service and appropriate funding support. This may be both more cost effective and more successful in encouraging compliance, as local authorities know their communities and are trusted. However, this will have to be clearly dependent on adequate funding both for staff and data systems. 

 

I also move to explore the possibility of expanding our current follow up system by involving volunteers such as retired GPs and nurses, analogous to our successful North Somerset Together scheme. This could be brought forward in time for the next ‘wave’ expected by many scientists for the autumn.

 

In addition, the letter to  ...  view the full minutes text for item COU10

COU11

Motions by Members (Standing Order No. 14) Tackling Disability Stigma and Discrimination (Councillor Codling) (Agenda Item 8 (3))

Minutes:

In introducing her Motion, Councillor Codling referred to the many people struggling with unseen disabilities and to the importance of taking action to ensure maximum accessibility for all who live in, work in or visit North Somerset.

 

 Motion: Moved by Councillor Codling and seconded by Councillor Willis

 

“A ‘hidden disability’ is a disability that may not be immediately obvious. Hidden disabilities don’t have physical signs and include learning difficulties, mental health conditions as well as mobility, speech, visual or hearing impairments. It is regrettable that there have been instances where people with hidden disabilities which require urgent visits to toilet facilities, have faced abuse from the public and even accusations by staff members of being ineligible to use accessible toilets.

 

Crohn’s and Colitis UK is encouraging venues providing accessible toilets to install new signage.  This is to help stop stigma and discrimination towards people with Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis and other invisible conditions.  The signage has two standing figures and a wheelchair user with the words ‘Accessible Toilet’ and the logo ‘Not every disability is visible’.

 

It is encouraging that the Council are currently exploring becoming a ‘Sunflower Friendly Council’ to promote that the authority is Hidden Disability-friendly. Choosing to wear a lanyard bearing a sunflower logo enables people to discreetly indicate to others that they have a Hidden Disability and may need additional support, time or help. By adopting the scheme, the Council will be able to offer residents with a hidden disability the recognition, understanding and help they may need when out and about across North Somerset.

 

In terms of wider disability issues, changes to statutory guidance came into effect from January 2021 requiring the provision of ‘Changing Places’ toilets in certain new buildings. These are larger accessible toilets for people who cannot use standard disabled toilets, with equipment such as hoists, curtains, adult-sized changing benches and space for carers. Campaigners declared that the provision of these toilets will open up a whole new world for the hundreds of thousands of people who rely on them. The Government has announced a new £30 million fund to increase the number of facilities across England. Councils are invited to “opt in” to bid for a proportion of the funding in order to install such facilities in their communities.

In view of its duties under the Equality Act 2010 and as a demonstrable indication that it supports the dignity of all its residents, whilst aiming to do all it can to prevent and challenge instances of abuse and discrimination, this Council resolves to:

 

1.     Ensure that all Council accessible toilets bear the Accessible Toilet signage;

2.     Encourage town and district centre retailers and leisure outlets to do likewise with their accessible toilets;

3.     Seek advice from disability charities on the information and training that could be provided for Council staff, to further their understanding of these conditions and to prevent potential embarrassment for those who have them;

4.     Complete exploratory work required to become a ‘Sunflower Friendly Council’;

5.     Opt in  ...  view the full minutes text for item COU11

COU12

Chairman's Announcements (Agenda Item 10)

Minutes:

None.

COU13

Leader's Announcements (Agenda Item 11)

Minutes:

None.

COU14

Chief Executive's Announcements (Agenda Item 12)

Minutes:

None.

COU15

Political Balance and Leaders and Deputy Leaders of the Political Groups for the Municipal Year 2021/22 (Agenda Item 13)

The Assistant Director, Governance & Monitoring Officer will report orally.

Minutes:

The Assistant Director Governance & Monitoring Officer reported on the current political balance as follows -

 

Independent 16: Conservative 13: Liberal Democrat 11: Labour 6: Green 3

 

He reported that he would update members at the next Council meeting following the by-election on 6 May 2021.

 

The Assistant Director, Governance & Monitoring Officer confirmed there were no changes to the leaders and deputy leaders of the political groups.

 

Resolved: that the political balance, as reported, be noted and approved as required by the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

COU16

The Council's Constitution 2021 (Agenda Item 14) pdf icon PDF 149 KB

Report of the Assistant Director, Governance & Monitoring Officer (attached)

Minutes:

The Assistant Director Governance & Monitoring Officer presented the report.  He outlined the changes proposed in relation to policy and scrutiny panels, the staffing establishment, authorisations of persons other than officers to discharge functions and to the Planning and Regulatory Committee arising from the planning peer review.

 

In discussing the recommendations of the planning peer review, reference was made to the working group set up to consider these recommendations and it was proposed the working group be allowed the opportunity to address these matters first before Council reached a decision.  During the debate concerns were raised at the implications of reducing the size of the committee to 13 members on a permanent basis, and to the benefits of providing for local input and a broader spectrum of views. Members noted the difficulties around managing a larger committee whilst Covid restrictions were still in place, particularly in the event of a return to physical meetings, but generally agreed that a decision on the appropriate size of the committee would be premature at this stage.  Members were encouraged to submit their views to the working group which would consider these alongside the planning peer review recommendations and report back with recommendations to the next Council meeting in July.

 

Motion: Moved by Councillor Davies, seconded by Councillor Bell and

 

Resolved:

 

(1)  that Council approves the changes to the Constitution in relation to the policy and scrutiny panels, the staffing establishment and authorisations of persons other than officers to discharge functions as referenced in the report, and authorises the Assistant Director Governance & Monitoring Officer to implement them; and

 

(2) that the recommendations from the planning peer review be referred to the Review Working Group for further discussion and the Working Group recommendations be brought back to Council in July for determination.

COU17

Constitutional appointments etc. (Agenda Item 15)

The Leader to appoint up to eight Members of the Council to form the Executive, including their portfolios.

 

The Council to approve arrangements for the Policy/Overview and Scrutiny Panels, the Committees and the Scheme of Delegation in accordance with the Constitution.

Minutes:

The Leader reported some changes to the Executive.  He announced the Executive would comprise the following members, with indicative portfolios as below:

 

Donald Davies                  Leader of the Council

 

Mike Bell                           Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing

 

Steve Bridger                    Executive Member for Assets and Capital Delivery

 

Mark Canniford                 Executive Member for Placemaking and Economy

 

Ashley Cartman                Executive Member for Corporate Services

 

Catherine Gibbons            Executive Member for Children’s Services and Lifelong Learning

 

Bridget Petty                    Executive Member for Climate Emergency and Engagement

                   

Mike Solomon                   Executive Member for Neighbourhoods and Community Services

 

Nicola Holland                   Assistant Executive Member for Post Covid Education and Skills Recovery

                                        (working with Catherine Gibbons)

Robert Payne                    Assistant Executive Member for Parking Strategy (working with Mark Canniford)

 

The Leader welcomed Councillor Bridger and Councillor Payne to the Executive and thanked Councillor Tonkin and Councillor Richardson for their work and support.

 

Motion:  Moved by Councillor Davies, seconded by Councillor Bell and

 

Resolved: 

 

(1)  that subject to the changes to panels referred to and approved under the previous item, existing arrangements for the policy/overview and scrutiny panels and the committees be approved, and the following Chairmen be appointed for the 2021/22 municipal year, these changes to take effect in a week’s time (from 27 April 2021) -

 

Adult Services and Housing Policy and Scrutiny Panel

 

Chairman:     Councillor Crosby

 

Children and Young People’s Services Policy and Scrutiny Panel

 

Chairman:     Councillor Griggs

 

Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel

 

Chairman:     Councillor Cronnelly

 

Partnerships, Corporate Organisation Policy and Overview Management Policy and Scrutiny Panel

 

Chairman:     Councillor Richardson

 

Place Policy and Scrutiny Panel

 

Chairman:     Councillor Crockford-Hawley

 

Audit Committee

 

Chairman:     Councillor Cato

 

Licensing Committee

 

Chairman:     Councillor Cole;

 

Planning and Regulatory Committee

 

Chairman:     Councillor Tonkin;

 

Public Rights of Way Sub-Committee

 

Chairman:     Councillor Harley; and

 

(2)  that Vice-Chairmen be appointed by each of the above committees/panels at their first meetings, and any remaining committees/bodies not dealt with above appoint their own Chairman and Vice-Chairman at their first meetings.  

COU18

Municipal Calendar 2021/22 (Agenda Item 16) pdf icon PDF 88 KB

Report of the Assistant Director, Governance & Monitoring Officer (attached)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Assistant Director Governance & Monitoring Officer presented the report.  He reminded members that the May Council meeting had since been cancelled.

 

Motion:  Moved by Councillor Davies, seconded by Councillor Jacobs and

 

Resolved:

 

 (1) that the municipal calendar for 2021/22 as attached to the report be approved; and

 

(2) that the Leader of the Council be authorised to approve any amendments not dealt with elsewhere.

COU19

Appointments to Outside Bodies 2021/22 (Council) (Agenda Item 17) pdf icon PDF 191 KB

Report of the Assistant Director, Governance & Monitoring Officer (attached)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Assistant Director Governance & Monitoring Officer presented the report.  He referred to the current vacancy on the Police and Crime Panel (PCP) and suggested that a decision on this appointment be delegated to the group leaders to determine in accordance with the political balance requirements of the PCP following the local elections.

 

With reference to the earlier Motion on the agenda regarding mental health it was agreed that the proposed Mental Health Champion role be added to the list, the appointment to be agreed by the group leaders in due course following consultation with the Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel.

 

Motion:  Moved by Councillor Davies, seconded by Councillor Bell and

 

Resolved:   

 

(1)  that the appointments contained in the updated schedule attached as an appendix to these minutes be approved and adopted;

 

(2) that the nomination to fill the vacancy on the Police and Crime Panel be delegated to the group leaders, having regard to the political balance requirements following the local elections; and

 

(3)  that the appointment to the newly created role of Mental Health Champion be delegated to the group leaders, following consultation with the Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel.

COU20

Forward Plan dated 1 April 2021 (Agenda Item 18) pdf icon PDF 255 KB

Forward Plan dated 1 April 2021 (attached)

Minutes:

Councillor Davies presented the Forward Plan.

 

Resolved: that the Forward Plan be noted.

COU21

Corporate Parenting Responsibilities (Agenda Item 20) pdf icon PDF 115 KB

Report of Councillor Gibbons (attached)

Minutes:

Councillor Gibbons presented the report.  She drew attention to the key issues within the report and with reference to the Corporate Parenting Panel, announced that Councillor Pilgrim would be taking over as Chairman as Councillor Snaden was stepping down temporarily for health reasons.  She thanked Councillor Snaden for his work on the Panel.  She referred to the excellent cross-party work that had been undertaken to date and encouraged members to have children, young people and families in mind in all that they did.

 

In noting concerns raised by a member in relation to the role of the Corporate Parenting Panel and the lack of scrutiny work being undertaken, Councillor Gibbons responded that the Corporate Parenting Panel was not a scrutiny panel but asked for any concerns to be referred to her in writing and she would address them accordingly.

 

Resolved: that the report be noted.

COU22

Question Time (Standing Order No. 18) (Agenda Item 21) pdf icon PDF 80 KB

Questions must relate to issues relevant to the work of the Executive. Question Time will normally last for 20 minutes.

 

As this is a virtual meeting the Chairman and the Leader of the Council have requested that members supply the Democratic Services Officer with full details of the question they wish to ask by no later than 12 noon the day before the meeting.  All questions received will be published on the Meetings App and on the Council website in advance of the meeting.  A summary note of each question will be included in an appendix to the minutes in the usual way.

Minutes:

Oral questions were directed to members concerned and the summary notes and topics involved are contained in Appendix 1.

 

The Chairman drew members’ attention to the three advance written questions received as published with the supplementary papers for the meeting as follows:

 

1.  Question from Cllr Willis to Cllr Tonkin, Executive Member for Planning, Highways and Transport, and Cllr Petty, Executive Member for Climate Emergency and Environment on the reasoning behind the TRO for Yatton moor rural lanes and vehicle access.

 

2.  Question from Cllr Ashton to Councillor Tonkin, Executive Member for Planning, Highways and Transport on the TRO proposals and the council’s policy on installing local 20 mph schemes.

 

3.  Question from Cllr Bryant to Councillor Tonkin, Executive Member for Planning, Highways and Transport on whether the current system of starting and indeed completing a development without planning permission is legal in accordance with Planning Rules and Regulations.

 

In response to the questions raised the Leader referred to the changes in Executive portfolios as announced earlier in the meeting and stated that written responses would be provided to questions 1 and 2 above and proposed that question 3 be referred to the working group looking at the planning peer review.

 

In a supplementary question, Councillor Ashton referred to the reduction in the use of physical speed restriction methods which were causing damage to vehicles, for example speed cushions.  He suggested such measures were costly but had little impact so questioned why they would be included in the policy.  The Leader responded this would be addressed within the written response but referred to Department for Transport guidance on this issue, adding that schemes needed to be viable but not overly draconian.

 

In a supplementary question, Councillor Bryant referred to the large number of cases being reviewed in the enforcement team with limited and to the impact this may be having on the planning process, suggesting this needed to be addressed to prevent flawed practices.  In response Councillor Canniford agreed current resources were insufficient and recognised the pressures within the planning and enforcement teams, adding this would be addressed as part of the planning peer review.

COU23

Reports and matters referred from the Policy/Overview and Scrutiny Panels (Agenda Item 23): SPR 22 - SPEDR Panel Work Plan March 2021 pdf icon PDF 55 KB

SPR 22 SPEDR Panel Work Plan - March 2021 (Active Travel Strategy)

(draft minute extract attached)

Minutes:

Council received the reference from the meeting of the Strategic Planning, Economic Development and Regeneration Panel on 10 March on the Active Travel Strategy (item 26 on the agenda).

 

Resolved: that the reference be noted.

COU24

Reports on joint arrangements and external organisations and questions relating thereto (Agenda Item 25(1)) pdf icon PDF 102 KB

(1)      Avon Fire Authority

          Report from Councillor Jacobs (attached)

 

(2)      Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Panel

          None

 

(3)      West of England Combined Authority Joint Scrutiny Committee

          None

Minutes:

Avon Fire Authority

 

Councillor Jacobs presented the report.

 

Resolved: that the report be noted.

COU25

Adoption of the North Somerset Active Travel Strategy (Agenda Item 26) Withdrawn pdf icon PDF 206 KB

Report of Councillor Tonkin (attached)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman announced that in light of the decision to withdraw a recent Traffic Regulation Order to provide residents and road users with more opportunities to help shape the ‘quiet rural lanes’ proposals around Nailsea, Clevedon and Yatton, the Active Travel Strategy had been withdrawn from this agenda and would be reconsidered at a future Council meeting.

 

He confirmed that North Somerset Council was committed to growing walking and cycling to improve public health, tackle the climate emergency, support the economy and help shape future planning.  Following more engagement on the quiet rural lanes proposals, to be announced shortly, the Active Travel Strategy would be brought back to Council for full consideration.

COU26

Updating the Creating Sustainable Buildings and Places Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) (Agenda Item 27) pdf icon PDF 539 KB

Report of Councillor Tonkin (attached)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Canniford presented the report which now came within his portfolio following the changes to the Executive announced earlier in the meeting.  He referred to the principle changes to the document arising from the climate emergency and changing national guidance.

 

In discussing the report members welcomed the updated SPD and thanked officers for their work on this.  It was noted that new requirements for developers to achieve reductions in carbon emissions would be addressed as part of the Local Plan with the aim of achieving carbon negative developments.  Reference was made to the importance of developers working closely with the council to ensure new developments facilitated easy and efficient waste collection using council-supported kerbside services rather than private waste collection arrangements and welcomed inclusion of this within the SPD.  Whilst welcoming the requirement for higher quality development reference was made to importance of ensuring this wasn’t at the cost of fewer affordable housing units or reduced infrastructure provision.

 

Motion:  Moved by Councillor Canniford, seconded by Councillor Petty and

 

Resolved: that the updated Creating Sustainable Buildings and Places Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) be adopted as Council policy.