Calling all couples – tie the knot in Bath

Pick the perfect time to get hitched!

Couples may now have their marriage or civil partnership ceremony carried out by Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Register Office at any time of the day or night.

A recent change in legislation means that ceremonies can be carried out 24 hours a day, across Bath and North East Somerset.  In the past, couples who have wanted to get married or create civil partnerships in the district have only been able to do so between the hours of 8am and 6pm.  The new legislation will allow more venues in the area to become licensed for marriages and civil partnerships, and museums will potentially be able to stay open outside of their normal working hours in order to host ceremonies. Furthermore the change has created an opportunity for more business in the local wedding industry.

As the Liberal Democrat Leader of the Council I am challenging all areas of the Council to take opportunities to earn the Council extra revenue and thus help us provide more services. Allowing couple to get hitched at a time of their choosing is yet another example of our commitment to service.

In 2012, Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Register Office conducted 1,010 marriage and civil partnership ceremonies within the district. The Council hopes that this number will increase considerably over the course of 2013, as more venues get involved, and help to boost the local economy. In addition to several attractive venues that the Council operates a number of other companies offer these services in our area.

Liberal Democrats tackling congestion in Bath

 

A4 Morrisons junction improvements set for start

Measures to help tackle traffic congestion and improve air quality at the Morrisons junction on London Road will be carried out by Bath & North East Somerset Council from 24 February 2013 for up to six weeks.

The works are part of the £27 million Bath Transportation Package which is upgrading the city’s transport system to tackle congestion and provide the infrastructure necessary to support new homes and jobs.

Signals at the Morrisons junction will be improved, traffic islands reorganised, and existing road crossing points consolidated to one central point across the A4. The pedestrian controls will be better synchronised with the main signals, increasing the duration of ‘green man’ time for people on foot.

As the Liberal Democrat Leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council it is important to tackle traffic issues and congestion which cause pollution and inconvenience.  The London Road is a hot spot for queues and delays and the section at the Morrisons junction as a particular problem which is why action is being taken to help tackle congestion and give people on foot more time to cross the junction.  The changes will help us manage traffic more effectively and reduce idling times. Steps are being taken to ensure any disruption caused by the work is kept to a minimum. For example, work needing traffic management will be carried out after evening peak times so that vehicle flows are not affected during the day. We thank people for their patience whilst the work takes place.

More information on our transport plans can be seen by CLICK HERE

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.

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.

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.

Rogue Landlords

My letter being sent to people following the Shelter Campaign.

Re:      Shelter Campaign – Evict Rogue Landlords

Thank you for your letter dated xxx regarding the above campaign by Shelter.

Bath and North East Somerset Council are very supportive of this campaign by Shelter and we take the matter of rogue landlords in our area very seriously.  We are committed to acting on concerns you have regarding poor housing and encourage good landlords and tenants to speak out and report unsafe or unhealthy properties to us so we can investigate them under the legislation.

Our approach for tackling poor housing conditions in the rented sector has two strands.  The first is reactive, where we investigate housing complaints.  Where tenants advise us they are having problems with their housing we investigate their concerns, carryout inspections where necessary and engage landlords to work with us to improve the property in line with current legislation.  In the financial year 2010-2011 we carried out 223 inspections following complaints and made a further 387 revisits to ensure works were completed.

The second strand is a more proactive approach where we identify higher risk properties and programme in inspections.  This strategy includes licensing certain higher risk houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and making regular inspection of properties we may have concerns about.  We currently have over 350 Licensed HMOs and last year carried out 128 proactive inspections.

In both cases we always follow our enforcement policy and where landlords fail to work with us and take our advice we will take formal action to ensure compliance.  This may include serving formal notices requiring work to be completed and prohibiting areas from use where they can not be adequately improved.  In the financial year 2010-2011 we served 37 notices on landlords and property owners.

In the majority of cases is a successful way to ensure works are carried out.   However, where this fails to ensure compliance we may be able to prosecute landlords and even undertake the work ourselves at the landlord’s expense.  So far this financial year we have successfully prosecuted 2 landlords for 4 offences under the Housing Act and they each received significant financial penalties.

We are always keen to speak to landlords and tenants, offer advice where we can and signpost people in the right direction if we are unable to assist straight away.  This informal way of dealing with landlords and tenants is evident in our voluntary property Accreditation scheme where we work with and encourage landlords to join the scheme and engage in our services.  The scheme currently includes around 1,500 inspected properties which have housed thousands of tenants over the years in safe and healthy properties.

The Accreditation scheme has allowed us to form good relationships with property owners and managers in the private rented sector as well as with The University of Bath, Bath Spa University, Avon Fire and Rescue Service, Avon and Somerset Police and local businesses.  Through these contacts we actively seek out poor landlords and encourage information sharing to allow us to promote and improve the private and social rented sectors.

If you would like to discuss any of these issues further then please feel free to contact the Housing Standards Team on 01225 396444 or housing@bathnes.gov.uk.  If you would like any more information please go to www.bathnes.gov.uk/housing.

Yours sincerely

Radio Interviews

With Radio Bristol, Somerset and Breeze Fm  22/09/11

on economic corridor, Sustainability, transport

Interview Notes – Economic Corridor/ Bath Riverside

  • We want to connect Bath, Keynsham, and Bristol together to progress economic regeneration for the benefit of local people;
  • Bath is internationally recognised as a centre of academic excellent and a world leader in a range of sectors, including digital and creative industries, as well as science and technological innovation;
  • The Council wants to build upon this strong foundation to create a destination at the Bath City Riverside Enterprise Area where this type of business can locate and expand creating up to 2,000 jobs for local people;
  • To do this, we need to establish the right environment for business to start here, through improving infrastructure – like access to broadband and better transport, increasing the supply of homes and modern office space, and providing a strong voice into Government to attract further investment.
  • The starting point is Bath Riverside where the first homes are starting to go on the market over the weekend. There will be eventually 2,000 on the site – many of these will be affordable homes, both for rent and shared ownership;
  • This will help address the city’s housing shortage and tackle the problem we have of our children and University graduates who are educated here having to move away to find home and work;
  • With the developments the Council, private sector, and public sector are bring forward, Bath’s business credentials are on the up and the main beneficiaries will be local people.

Sustainability Network

  • The Council has launched a new, free online forum to connect people across the area to take lead in cutting their carbon footprint and reduce household costs on energy bills;
  • More than 100 people have already joined the forum and are already discussing environmental news, events, ideas, and projects;
  • In moments, you can find out about the latest money saving green ideas, activities happening locally, and local information about climate change;

£500,000 extra in public transport

  • Through the planning process for the Sainsbury’s store at Odd Down, the Council secured £500,000 of funding from Sainsbury’s to improve Bath’s public transport that otherwise would not be taking place;
  • He 146,000 bus passengers who use the 20A/C service will notice an improvement with three new low, floor buses serving the route and more frequent services for the next three years at least;
  • Despite the Council having limited powers to control the commercial bus sector, we are always looking for opportunities to boost the appeal to local people of sustainable methods of transport, like using the planning system to support infrastructure improvements when needed.

Hundreds of extra hotel beds – No thankyou say BIGHA

The Council recently spent a large amount on getting consultants to advise us on our visitor accomodation strategy. It came up with some clear goals and targets and aspirations for the next decade and more. However since then the ruling Conservative administration have totally ignored their own commissioned study and seem intent on getting as many budget hotel chains into the city as possible.

The Liberal Democrats think that the strategy should be incorporated into our planning guidelines and the rush of budget hotels resisted. The Conservatives simply have not thought of the traffic implications or more importantly the impact on Baths vital independent guest house and hotel sector (BIGHA).

The association has just sent the following email to its membership

Below is the latest announcement from the Bigha website. You can view the announcements in the forum on the site at any time, just go to http://stayinbath.org/forums/announcements-and-news

Hotels Expansion in Bath – lobbying and support update.

Added: Wed 13 Apr, 2011 15:50:50

Hi All, hope all going well. As you are all aware members of your committee have been lobbying hard on your behalf to ensure the growth of hotels in the city centre is in line with the BANES Visitor Accommodation Study, and that they also have some form of parking and infrastructure improvements  provided. Your committee have spent many hours lobbying various organisations and key individuals over the last few years on this issue, in order to gain as much support as possible for our aims and objectives for the city and it’s tourism sector.

We are represented on the Bath Tourism Plus board, on the Chamber of Commerce and on the Business Improvement District. We have made presentations to all of these organisations to encourage them to lobby for the VAS to be adopted into current planning policy, which would help to provide some structure to the current unrestrained growth in the market. We have also presented the same to key BANES cabinet Councillors, and to the Future Bath Plus board, with the aim of raising awareness of the problems of overcapacity and lack of parking and infrastructure improvements with these developments.

We have also made representations to the BANES planning Core Strategy on this issue, which will be the future for planning decisions in the city.

We have also been trying to widen the support for BIGHA across the residents and business organisations across the city , and have formed an affiliation with FOBRA, and have gained support from the Bath Small Business Federation and the Bath FSB.

Whilst we are not a political organisation, it must be noted for members information  that we have received a large amount of support from the Lib Dem party in Bath , in terms of direct objections to planning applications and in terms of representations in our favour at various council consultations and committees. The Lib Dem leader recently spoke at a FOBRA meeting on our behalf, calling for the VAS to be adopted into planning policy , and the Green Park area local Lib Dem councillor, Andy Furse , has directly supported us numerous times over the hotel planning applications in his ward.   MP Don Foster also called for the VAS to be adopted at the recent BTP members forum and has raised this issue several times with key BANES cabinet members , whilst BTP itself remains quiet on this issue. Whilst trying to remain non political , it must be stated for members information that no such support  of this kind has been received from councillors of other parties. We feel it is only fair that you are provided with this information, given the local elections on 5th May. Also below is a letter supporting us from Douglas Nicol, which is due to be published in this weeks Chronicle.

We will shortly be issuing a letter of concern to BTP and FBP about the future accommodation situation in Bath , and we will be hoping for some support from these organisations, as more and more proposed hotel developments come forward. There are another 3 major proposals in the pipeline, on top of the current planning applications.

We would again ask members to register an objection to the proposed Kingsmead House and Premier Inn  developments, and to contact their local councillors with the same concerns of overexpansion of accommodation in the city, with no infrastructure improvements.

Should you have any comments on this , please contact Les Redwood at enquiries@appletreeguesthouse.co.uk

DOUGLAS NICOL- Chronicle letter

Dear Editor

Hotel application for 4 James Street West (the old fruitiers site).

I question the value of yet another budget hotel in the city centre, potentially catering for 1 or 2 night weekend drunken stag or hen parties contributing to the already concerning anti -social behaviour in the city centre late at night.

As an ex-hotelier and restaurateur myself I do believe that what we need in the city is to develop 2 and 3 night stays mid-week so that the Bed and Breakfasts become more sustainable. If we are over burdened with budget hotel rooms it is my view we will destroy the businesses already here. The Bed and Breakfasts bring huge benefits, add to the citys offer as a destination and give incredibly good service. Take away that weekend business and they may become unsustainable and that would be catastrophic to the city of Bath .

The application has no parking and encourages circulating traffic in the city. The idea that the Tories allow another low budget hotel with no parking is incomprehensible. If a budget hotel can be proven to be required then why not investigate development at Park and Rides, enabling guests to come into the city by bus and giving business to the taxi drivers, who have been hard hit in this recession. It would also create local employment for the people in areas such as Odd Down, Twerton and Lansdown.

Both Cllr Andy Furse and I agree that the site should be used for badly needed social housing in the city to ensure it’s continued diversity and meet huge housing demand. There is already one budget hotel planned for Green Park . Little consideration was given to the residents of Green Park and the surrounding area when that planning permission was granted. On past record I am confident that a Conservative Council will not listen to city residents concerns and steam-roller through this planning application, which if elected I will support residents in their opposition.

Douglas Nicol
Lib Dem Candidate
Kingsmead

For members information only – BIGHA is a non political organisation.