To: All Members of the Council

Dear Member,

Council Meeting: Thursday 11th September 2008

You are invited to attend a meeting of the Council to be held on Thursday 11th September 2008 at 6.30pm in the Council Chamber, Guildhall, High Street, Bath.

The agenda is set out overleaf.

Sandwiches and fruit and tea/coffee/cold drinks will be available for Councillors from 5pm in the Aix-en-Provence Room (next to the Banqueting Room) on Floor 1.

Yours sincerely

Tom Dunne

Democratic Services Manager (Council and Member Services)

for Chief Executive

Please note the following arrangements for pre-group meetings:

Conservative

Brunswick Room, Ground Floor

Liberal Democrat

Kaposvar Room, Floor 1

Labour

Small Meeting Room, Floor 2

Independent

Performance and Improvement Team

Office, Floor 1

NOTES:

1. Inspection of Papers: Any person wishing to inspect minutes, reports, or a list of the background papers relating to any item on this Agenda should contact Tom Dunne who is available by telephoning Bath (01225) 394360 or by calling at the Guildhall, Bath (during normal office hours).

2. Details of Decisions taken at this meeting can be found in the minutes which will be circulated with the agenda for the next meeting. In the meantime details can be obtained by contacting as above. Papers are available for inspection as follows:-

Public Access points - Guildhall - Bath, Riverside - Keynsham, Hollies - Midsomer Norton, and Bath Central, Keynsham and Midsomer Norton public libraries.

For Councillors and officers papers may be inspected via Political Group Research Assistants and Group Rooms/Members' Libraries

3. Spokespersons: The Political Group Spokespersons for the Council are the Group Leaders who are Councillors Francine Haeberling (Conservative Group), Paul Crossley (Liberal Democrat Group), Adrian Inker (Labour Group) and Chris Cray (Independent Group).

4. Attendance Register: Members should sign the Register which will be circulated at the meeting.

5. Public Speaking at Meetings

The Council has a scheme to encourage the public to make their views known at meetings. They may make a statement relevant to what the meeting has power to do. They may also present a petition or a deputation on behalf of a group. They may also ask a question to which a written answer will be given. If an answer cannot be prepared in time for the meeting it will normally be sent out within five working days afterwards. Advance notice of all public submissions is required not less than two full working days before the meeting (this means that for the meeting on Thursday 11 September notice must be received by Democratic Services no later than 5.00pm on Monday 8 September). Further details of the scheme can be obtained by contacting Tom Dunne as above.

6. THE APPENDED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ARE IDENTIFIED BY AGENDA ITEM NUMBER.

7. Emergency Evacuation Procedure

When the continuous alarm sounds, you must evacuate the building by one of the designated exits and proceed to the named assembly point. The designated exits are sign-posted.

Arrangements are in place for the safe evacuation of disabled people

8. Presentation of reports Officers of the Council will not normally introduce their reports unless requested by the meeting to do so. Officers may need to advise the meeting of new information arising since the agenda was sent out.

If you need to access this agenda or any of the supporting reports in an alternative accessible format please contact Democrat Services or the relevant report author whose details are listed at the end of each report.

 

COUNCIL - THURSDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER 2008

AT 6.30PM IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, GUILDHALL, HIGH STREET, BATH

A G E N D A

1. EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURE

The Chair will draw attention to the emergency evacuation procedure as set out under Note 7.

2. MINUTES

Minutes of previous meeting held on Thursday 8th May 2008.

3. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

4. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

At this point in the meeting declarations of interest are received from Members in any of the agenda items under consideration at the meeting. Members are asked to complete the green interest forms circulated to groups in their pre-meetings (which will be announced at the Council Meeting) to indicate:

(a) The agenda item number in which they have an interest to declare.

(b) The nature of their interest.

(c) Whether their interest is personal and prejudicial or personal.

Any Member who needs to clarify any matters relating to the declaration of interests is recommended to seek advice from the Solicitor to the Council and Monitoring Officer before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

5. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL OR FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

These are matters of information for Members of the Council. No decisions will be required arising from the announcements.

6. TO ANNOUNCE ANY URGENT BUSINESS AGREED BY THE CHAIR

If there is any urgent business arising since the formal agenda was published, the Chair will announce this and give reasons why he has agreed to consider it at this meeting. In making his decision, the Chair will, where practicable, have consulted with the Leaders of the Political Groups. Any documentation on urgent business will be circulated at the meeting, if not made available previously.

Note: Agendas for Council meetings are structured so as to identify those matters on which the Council may make a decision and those where its powers are limited to comment or recommendation to the Cabinet or other bodies.

The order of agenda business is prescribed in the Council`s Constitution. The Chair or the meeting may vary this.

PUBLIC QUESTIONS, STATEMENTS, PETITIONS AND DEPUTATIONS

Explanation: A member of the public who has given prior notice may make his/her views known at a Council meeting by making a statement, presenting a petition or a deputation on behalf of a group or asking a question (see note 5 above).

7. QUESTIONS, STATEMENTS, PETITIONS AND DEPUTATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC

The Democratic Services Manager will announce any submissions received under the arrangements set out in note 5 above. The Council will be invited to decide what action it wishes to take, if any, on the matters raised in these submissions. As the questions received and the answers given will be circulated in written form there is no requirement for them to be read out at the meeting. The questions and answers will be published with the draft minutes.

POLICY AND BUDGET FRAMEWORK AND CABINET ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DECISION

Explanation: the Policy and Budget Framework comprises a list of Plans and Strategies which, under the Council's Constitution, are to be decided by the Council itself. For some of these Plans and Strategies the law prescribes that they should form part of the Framework and therefore full Council only shall determine them. Others have been added to the list by Council. The Policy and Budget Framework (which includes the Council Budget) sets the overall framework within which the Cabinet must operate and matters which go beyond that must be decided by the full Council.

Policy and Budget Framework and Cabinet items for decision by Council are normally presented as a recommendation from the Cabinet or the responsible Cabinet Member.

8. SOUTH WEST REGIONAL SPATIAL STRATEGY - SECRETARY OF STATE'S PROPOSED CHANGES (REPORT 8)

This report sets out a recommended response to the changes proposed to the South West Regional Spatial Strategy by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which have been published for consultation.

Lead Cabinet Member: Councillor Charles Gerrish, Cabinet Member for Customer Services

9. YOUTH JUSTICE PLAN 2008-9 (REPORT 9)

This report sets out for approval by the Council the Youth Justice Plan which is required to be produced annually under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

Lead Cabinet Member: Councillor Chris Watt, Cabinet Member for Children`s Services

10. FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE HOLBURNE MUSEUM (REPORT 10)

This report recommends approval of a one-off capital grant of £200,000 to the Holburne Museum Trust as a contribution to the capital development that includes the museum extension subject to the conditions identified in the report.

Lead Cabinet Member: Councillor David Hawkins, Cabinet Member for Development and Major Projects

COUNCILLOR AGENDA MOTIONS

Explanation: An individual Member of the Council has the right under the Council's Constitution to place a particular proposal on the Council agenda for discussion. Where there is a need for a Cabinet decision to be made, the matter cannot be dealt with by the Council and will have to be considered by the Cabinet or an individual Cabinet Member. The full text of the agenda motion(s) from Councillors referred to below will be found in the numbered paper(s) corresponding to each item.

11. FREE CONCESSIONARY INTERNET USE IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES (REPORT 11)

The motion set out in the attached paper will be moved by Councillor David Speirs on behalf of the Labour Group. It asks the Council to give free access to all concessionary users of the People`s Network of computers in public libraries.

12. HONOUR THE MILITARY COVENANT (REPORT 12)

The motion set out in the attached paper will be moved by Councillor Cherry Beath on behalf of the Liberal Democrat Group. It asks the Council to support the Royal British Legion's `Honour the Covenant' campaign which calls for a greater commitment to the long-term care of Services and ex-Services personnel and their families.

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY BUSINESS

Explanation: The Council may consider reports on its Overview and Scrutiny functions.

13. WEST OF ENGLAND PARTNERSHIP - JOINT SCRUTINY ARRANGEMENTS (REPORT 13)

This report recommends the establishment of a single Overview and Scrutiny Panel of 3 non-executive councillors to participate in the joint scrutiny of the partnership working between the four Councils in the West of England area (including the delegated executive powers to the Joint Waste and Transport Committees).

Lead Cabinet Members: Councillor Francine Haeberling, Leader of the Council and Councillor Charles Gerrish, Cabinet Member for Customer Services

Lead O&S Members: The O&S Chairs

COUNCIL FUNCTIONS

Explanation: In addition to the Policy and Budget Framework items, the full Council is responsible for making all decisions on constitutional issues and other legally prescribed functions.

14. AVON PENSION FUND COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT (REPORT 14)

This is the annual report on the work of the Avon Pension Fund Committee.

Lead Committee Chairman: Councillor Gordon Wood, Chairman of the Avon Pension Fund Committee

15. CORPORATE AUDIT COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT (REPORT 15)

This is the annual report on the work of the Council`s Corporate Audit Committee.

Lead Committee Chairman: Councillor Brian Webber, Chairman of the Corporate Audit Committee

16. REPORT OF URGENT ACTION TAKEN UNDER DELEGATED AUTHORITY

The Council is asked to note the action taken by the Chief Executive in late May 2008, following consultation as required under the Council's Urgency Rules, to agree terms for the early retirement of the Strategic Director (Customer Services).

COUNCILLOR QUESTIONS, STATEMENTS, PETITIONS AND DEPUTATIONS

Explanation: A Member of the Council who has given prior notice may under this item make his/her views known at a Council meeting by making a statement, presenting a petition or a deputation on behalf of a group or asking a question.

17. QUESTIONS, STATEMENTS, PETITIONS AND DEPUTATIONS FROM COUNCILLORS

The Democratic Services Manager will announce any submissions received. The Council will be invited to decide what action it wishes to take, if any, on the matters raised in these submissions. As the questions received and the answers given will be circulated in written form there is no requirement for them to be read out at the meeting. The questions and answers will be published with the draft minutes.

This Agenda and all accompanying reports are printed on recycled paper