Community action

Keynsham

Community rubbish pick is this Sunday, 10 February from 11 to 1pm meeting at the gravel car park by the Lock Keeper pub.  B&NES are lending us some equipment, but do bring your own if you have it.

Keynsham Wombles is a Transition Keynsham Project aiming to reduce the amount of litter on our streets.  If you feel able to help pick up litter in a small area near your home or work in Keynsham please email womble@transitionkeynsham.org and we will love you for ever!!

Bath City Farm

9th  Feb Community litter pick Take in the beautiful surroundings and do something for a
good cause!  The farm needs volunteers to help clean up the site – go on, it will be fun!
All equipment will  be provided. Meet outside the Farm shop. Everyone welcome.
Booking not required (10.30 – 12.30pm).
16th Feb Community tree planting day Have a great day out and help the farm by
planting trees  in our sheep field. All tools and tuition will be provided. Everyone welcome.
Booking not required (10.30 – 3.00pm).

Bath and NE Somerset to start webcasting

Many Councils already offer residents the opportunity to see what is going on in their Council live on the web. B&NES has been slow to adopt this technology but now we have decided to pilot the idea and see if it represents good value for money. It will certainly enable far more people to watch and hear what is happening in the Guildhall and from the comfort of their own home.

The first webcast will be the Cabinet meeting of February 13 and residents will be able to see it live and exclusively via  www.bathnes.gov.uk from 6.30pm. There are also options to find out more about who the Cabinet are and contact them about the issues being raised for response after the meeting.

Councillor Paul Crossley (Lib-Dem, Southdown), Leader of Council, said, “The Cabinet wants to make democracy more accessible to all, including giving the opportunity for residents across Bath and North East Somerset to participate from the comfort of their own homes. Key issues effecting local communities are debated regularly by the Cabinet and we want to engage them in the decisions which are made. The system on our website is very easy to use and anyone with a PC, Mac, Tablet, or Smart Phone can access footage twenty-four hours a day.”

This story was reported on BBC online . Click to read more HERE

Bath and NE Somerset Budget proposal 2013

Council press release on the budget propsal from the Liberal Democrat administration which I lead and reported in the Chronicle – click to read HERE

 

Council Tax freeze for 2013/14 – budget proposal published

A budget proposal for 2013/14 which freezes Council Tax, protects many frontline services, and invests in homes and jobs for local people will be discussed by Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Cabinet on Wednesday 13th February 2013.

Listening to local people

Councillor Paul Crossley (Lib-Dem, Southdown), Leader of Council, said, “Our proposal puts people first and communities at the heart of everything we do whilst ensuring our most vulnerable residents are given the support that they need.

“Because the Council has made back office savings of more than £25 million over recent years, delivered balanced budgets, and maintained a strong level of reserves, we are one of the few town halls in the region to propose freezing Council Tax whilst making sensible investment into our local communities. Our £147 million investment programme includes projects for Keynsham town centre’s regeneration, the creation the Bath ‘City of Ideas’ Enterprise Area, and the upgrade of the area’s public transport network.

“The Cabinet is listening to feedback from local people about their priorities. As a result, our proposal keeps free parking at sites where there is currently no charge outside Bath, maintains Recycling Centre opening times as they are, and preserved virtually all of our supported bus services.”

An initial plan for the budget was unveiled in November with more detailed plans for adult social care, education, place, resources and regeneration, skills and major projects debated by councillors. Three Budget Fairs and a public consultation were also held.

Protecting frontline services

One of the Cabinet’s key priorities is protecting frontline services despite a tough national economic situation, demographic change, and rising costs. This means that difficult decisions about the funding to some services and to whom they are provided in the future will need to be made.

Steps are being taken to reduce this impact, such as a voluntary Tourism Levy, and making further back office savings to become one of the most efficient councils in the country. However, to make the budget balance, annual reductions are planned of around £3 million for each of the next three years, which is equivalent to about 1.3% of our total budget.

Councillor David Bellotti (Lib-Dem, Lyncombe), Cabinet Member for Resources, said, “Because of our financial track record, the Council is in a better position than many other councils to reduce the impact on frontline services, particularly for elderly and vulnerable people. The challenges that we face mean that the Council must look at how to make further back office savings and provide services differently in the future.

“This could mean working more closely with community groups and local people when they are in the best position to make a difference to the place where they live, such as through our Community Library Programme or taking over the running of particular public toilets.

“We are also taking steps to ensure that the impact on people affected by the Government’s changes to welfare benefit is reduced through initiatives such as our social fund.”

Key highlights of the budget

Supporting the most vulnerable people and families

 

  • The £260 million over the next three years that we will spend on adult social care must be focused on the most vulnerable people, promoting their independence through improved community services to ensure that residents, where possible, stay at home;
  • An extra £3.25 million has been set aside for people with the highest care needs over the next three years;
  • £4 million to fund school expansion in response to increases in the local birth rate and population growth;

New places to live and work

  •   Progressing the Bath ‘City of Ideas’ Enterprise Area through a combined total of over £27 million to regenerate key sites along the River Avon with employment space and places to live, including affordable homes;

 A better quality of life in our communities

  • Retaining weekly bins collections, freezing most car parking charges, and protecting the street cleaning budget;
  • Completing the £32 million Bath Transportation Package;
  • Investing £500,000 in cycle routes and £500,000 to continue rolling out 20 mph zones;
  • £4.9 million in 2013/14 on a combination of road surface improvements and safety schemes;
  • £2 million for Odd Down playing fields and cycle track;
  • £225,000 in 2013/14 to improve the equipment in our playgrounds with further investment proposed over coming years.

What are the challenges and opportunities facing town halls?

 In addition to central cuts from Government, there are also a wide range of other factors influencing the Council’s budget.

 

  • Demographic change; Over three years, the local increase in the number of over-65s is projected to be 6.7% and the over-85s the figure is 7.7%. This will result in extra demand for local services resulting in huge financial pressures that must be planned for now. There is also a growing number of younger people who need more places for their education;

 

  • New legislation; Government is passing a substantial range of legislation which has a direct impact on local government, for example the new Universal Credit system and reductions in funding for Council Tax Benefit;

 

  • Incentives for growth; Although business rates will be set nationally, around a third of the growth from new businesses from April 2013 will be kept by the Council. This provides an extra incentive for the Council to invest in projects that create new private sector businesses, like the Bath City of Ideas Enterprise Area. The New Homes Bonus will also provide an opportunity for additional finance from central Government as well as the extra Council Tax raised from those homes to maintain services.

What happens next?

Following the Cabinet meeting on February 13th 2013, the proposal will be put forward for approval to all councillors for public debate on February 19th 2013.

Primary Schools for Bath and NE Somerset set for expansion

Liberal Democrat cabinet to consider proposals to expand six primary schools in Keynsham, Bath, Peasedown St. John and Paulton

With the population of young children growing in Bath and NE Somerset there is a need for additional places at several primary schools. Councils have a legal duty to provide sufficient numbers of school places for the children in its area. The Liberal Democrat Cabinet of the Council will consider the needs and consultation at its meeting on 13 February concerning proposals to create additional pupil places at Bathampton Primary, Castle Primary, Paulton Infant, Paulton Junior, Peasedown St. John Primary and Weston All Saints C of E Primary schools.  These extra places will ensure that local families can send their children to local schools.

As the Liberal Democrat Leader of the Council it is important to me that young children can attend primary schools in their own communities wherever and whenever possible.  We are fortunate in B&NES that all our schools are good and it is important that we continue our excellent record in education whilst meeting the growing demand for places at our schools. In looking at schools to expand we have consulted widely with parents, teacher, governors and residents. We are providing the capital to expand 6 schools subject to further consultation and revenue funding will be provided by the Government through the Dedicated Schools Grant on a per pupil basis. My administration is investing in the future of our young people across the district and all this whilst at the same time proposing for the second year a 0% Council Tax increase.

Liberal Democrats making a better Bath

Circus and George Street traffic plans announced

Proposals to improve traffic flows, make Bath city centre a more pleasant place to walk around, and improve air quality on a congested route are being consulted on by Bath & North East Somerset Council.

The plan is to divert traffic away from The Circus and allow traffic to move more freely on George Street. This was one of the campaigns that helped get Manda Rigby elected in 2011 and now the Liberal Democrat administration is delivering.

These measures will improve people’s quality of life. Residents and visitors should be able to walk and cycle around the city centre in a pleasant environment. These plans have significant benefits. Busy traffic will be reduced in The Circus area and loading restrictions on George Street will allow vehicles and public transport, particularly the Lansdown Park & Ride service, to move more freely on a key route into the city centre.

This is the next step in making Bath into a more walkable city.

To achieve this, the following measures are being proposed for an 18 month trial period:

·        No vehicles will be allowed into the northern part of Gay Street at its junction with George Street. Cyclists will be allowed;

·        On Bennett Street, coaches will be prohibited. Local buses will be allowed;

·        Along most of George Street, ‘No Loading/ Unloading’ will apply Monday to Saturday between 7am – 11am and during the afternoon between 3pm and 7pm. A short length of George Street on the north side of the road between Bartlett Street and Lansdown Road will be ‘No Loading/ Unloading at any time’.

The scheme will remove over 300 through traffic movements at peak times from the upper part of Gay Street, the Circus and the Bennett Street and also coaches travelling through the Circus.

Odd Down cycling success for Lib Dem Council

Odd Down Community Hub secures £141,403 from sporting legacy fund
The Odd Down Community Hub, being developed by Bath & North East Somerset Council, has secured Olympic legacy funding from Sport England’s Inspired Facilities Fund.
The Inspired Facilities fund is part of the £150million Places People Play legacy programme that is bringing the magic of a home Olympic and Paralympic Games into communities across the country. Every sports facility that receives funding will carry the London 2012 Inspire mark – celebrating the link to the Games.

Bath & North East Somerset Council is receiving £141,403 of National Lottery funding to upgrade the facilities at Odd Down playing fields including a new 1.5km “closed road” cycling circuit, a full size floodlit 3G Astro Pitch, improved grass pitches and new changing and social facilities. Work is already underway on the new cycling circuit, funded by British Cycling.

As Leader of the Liberal Democrat Controlled Council in Bath and NE Somerset it is important to me that we do create a legacy from the hugely successful Olympic Year of 2012. We are extremely grateful to the National Lottery and Sport England for their support for the Odd Down Community Hub. Bath & North East Somerset Council is keen to ensure that anyone inspired by last year’s summer of sporting success has the chance to participate in sports and enjoy a healthy lifestyle. The new site will be for everybody, from children and families to the more competitive sports enthusiast, and as a Council we are pleased to be working with local people on this project.

The Odd Down Community Hub is one of hundreds of projects across England benefitting from lottery investment through the third round of the Inspired Facilities fund. Many more communities will also be able to benefit from the fund, with a further two rounds remaining. Bids will be accepted for the fourth round of Inspired Facilities Funding from 4 March 2013. You can find out more at http://www.sportengland.org/inspiredfacilities

Places People Play is being delivered by Sport England, working in partnership with the British Olympic Association and the British Paralympic Association with the backing of The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and the London 2012 Inspire mark.

Good news at Radstock Children’s Centre

Young parents are invited to fun, free sessions at Radstock Children’s Centre, run by Bath & North East Somerset Council.
Parents and parents-to-be who are aged 21 and under are welcome to attend the weekly sessions where practical advice, information and support is available. During the sessions you can also discover how babies and children develop and learn through play.
The group meets at Radstock Children’s Centre every Wednesday between 1.30pm and 3pm, and parents are welcome to drop in anytime to benefit from a wide range of services at the centre.
The first sessions of 2013 have already proved popular with parents coming from Midsomer Norton, Peasedown, Paulton, Radstock and surrounding areas, but there are still spaces in the group.

There is also an antenatal programme for young parents which meets between 11.30am and 2pm on Wednesdays at the Children’s Centre.
Radstock Children’s Centre, which is part of Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Somer Valley Children’s Centre cluster, is open Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 4.30pm and Friday, 8.30am to 4pm.
Somer Valley Children’s Centres offer a range of groups and services including Job Centre Plus, Citizens Advice Bureau drop-in sessions, baby clinics, breastfeeding support group and messy play sessions.

Radstock is one of 11 children’s centres across Bath and North East Somerset. There are also centres at Bath, Chew Valley, Keynsham, Midsomer Norton, Paulton and Peasedown St John.

As Leader of the Council it is important to me that we help parents across the authority area who need extra support. This group also offers advice on childcare, healthcare, training, getting back into work, housing benefits and much more.
There are regular visitors to the group including midwives, health visitors, Connexions and Curo Housing staff as well as Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Family Information Service. Working effectively with partners is a key aim for the Liberal Democrat administration that I lead in B&NES.

Southside Community Centre

Southside Youth Hub offers young people free gym qualification.

Young people have the chance to gain a Level 2 gym qualification for free at Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Southside Youth Hub in Bath. The sessions are open to 16 – 18 year olds and require no previous entry requirements to sign up.

The course begins on Monday 11 February and will last 15 working days. Assessments will take place the following week, between Monday 4 and Wednesday 6 March. Those who are successful will then be qualified to work in a gym environment or potentially gain a place on an apprenticeship programme.

Southside Youth Hub also provides one to one support on a range of issues to young people who need it, with evening drop in sessions every Monday and Wednesday from 7pm until 9pm.
The Youth Hub is running an introductory session to the gym qualification course at 11am on Friday 8 February, giving those who are interested a taste of what to expect. To book a place at the session, or to find out more about Southside’s other projects, contact Jenny on 01225 394482.

As the Leader of the Council this is a great initiative that we are starting here as it will help some young people to get a job and it will also provide opportunities for young people to make a difference in their lives with a range of activities from cooking to gardening.

Unemployment down again in Bath

The Liberal Democrat Cabinet in Bath and NE Somerset takes economic vitality of the area very seriously. So it is great news that again this month Bath is performing better than most of the country.
Key facts

The number of unemployed claimants in Bath constituency in December 2012 was 1,310. This represents a rate of 2.8% of the economically active population aged 16 to 64, the 513th highest of the 650 UK constituencies. (1st = highest rate of unemployment, 650th = lowest rate of unemployment.)

The number of claimants is 55 lower than in December 2011 and 62 lower than in November 2012. These data are not seasonally adjusted.

Meanwhile in North East Somerset the rate is an even lower rate of 1.7%

 

Winter Warmth

Winter Warmth Club aims to put end to suffering in the cold.

As the Liberal Democrat Council Leader it is important to me that we all appreciate that keeping warm during winter is essential for people who are vulnerable or elderly to prevent a deterioration in their quality of life or even in more severe cases a hospital admission. The Winter Warmth Club provides a wide range of help and support which Bath & North East Somerset Council is delighted to provide. It will help drastically improve the well-being of those who struggle with the cold weather. By calling the free helpline, residents can speak to a member of the Home Energy Team who will find them help from the right people. If you know someone who suffers with the cold, pass on the Club’s phone number, so that if they do need help, they can get it quickly. Again this project show how importantly my administration takes partnership working across sectors is for delivering good outcomes for our residents. It enables us to give a wide ranging support and hopefully be better enabled to answer all the questions and problems raised through the scheme.

Residents who can’t afford to keep their homes warm during the winter are invited to contact Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Winter Warmth Club, which offers practical support and advice on how to stay warm and well during the colder weather.

The Winter Warmth Club, which is particularly aimed at vulnerable and older people, offers a number of crucial services including:

·        A home visit from Red Cross staff or volunteers

·        A free Winter Warmth pack, containing essentials for winter weather and power cuts

·        Discounted heating repairs and improvements using trusted contractors

·        Supplying oil-filled radiators until heating is reinstated

·        Winter safety checks

·        A referral to get funding for energy efficiency improvements like loft insulation

·        Loft clearance in preparation for insulation

·        Draught proofing – doors, windows, chimneys, loft hatches , etc

·        Path clearance

·        Hot water tank or pipe lagging

·        Draught proofing training

·        Advice on benefits, grants and services that can help

·        Free smoke alarms and advice on fire hazards from Avon Fire and Rescue

Full details about the service are available on the Council website https://sslvpn.bathnes.gov.uk/http/www.bathnes.gov.uk/wwc or by calling the Home Energy Team free on 0800 0822234.