Council’s secret meetings with University

Student body called to maek meetings public

Council leaders have insisted that their Partnership meetings with Bath and Bath Spa Universities be kept secret, despite repeated requests from a local councillor. Conservative Leader of the Council, Francine Haeberling, says “The Student Community Partnership meetings are held in private. The terms of reference provide for an annual public meeting”

Bathwick ward councillor, Nicholas Coombes, thinks that he has a lot to offer the talks though: “Armand Edwards and I are very visible ward councillors; we know what the problems are, both for local residents and the students, who we also represent. It doesn’t make sense not to include local people in these meetings; this is a typical example of the retreat to the Guildhall we have seen in this administration.”

Both Cllrs Coombes and Edwards are also students at the University of Bath, which is within their Bathwick ward. Cllr Haeberling represents Saltford, near Keynsham, with a minimal student population.

The new Conservative council provoked anger from the universities, colleges and students when they closed the successful Student Liaison Committee without warning on their opening night in power. Its replacement, the Student Community Partnership includes only two members of the council, the other being Chris Watt, failed parliamentary candidate for Wansdyke. To the annoyance of many mature students, university issues are covered in his ‘Childrens’ Services’ portfolio.

Cllr Coombes (Lib Dem, Bathwick) will be sending written questions to both conservative cabinet members about the secret meetings this week. “Firstly, I want to know why these meetings are held in private; what is there to hide? More importantly, I want to know if the Student Community Partnership is functioning at all. I have heard that transport was discussed at the last meeting; with the new term about to start have they made any clear plans to tackle the problems? Students and locals have complained to me about the quality of the bus service; I use it myself, so I know that it’s unreliable, overcrowded and expensive. However, with these meetings in secret, I don’t even know if the council is taking it seriously.”

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The answer to my question was that the meetings will be in secret, but there haven’t yet been any. That’s nine months since the old SLC was scrapped without a single meeting between the council leadership and university executive.

Back to PaCT

Sydney Gardens 

The second Police and Communities Together meeting will take place in Bathwick St Mary’s Primary School on Wednesday 30th February from 7pm. Like the first public meeting, residents are invited to voice their concerns (or celebrations) about local matters related to the Police or BathNES Council. Cllr Nicholas Coombes and representative from the Police and council will attempt to find solutions or explanations.

In October the PaCT meeting agreed that their top priorities were the incomplete Sydney Road traffic scheme and anti-social behaviour in Sydney Gardens. This is your chance to vote for another set to be tackled.

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I met with our local policeman, PC Parker, to run through expected issues today. It’s rather odd reporting to a police station for a meeting; although I did once attend the Corporate Audit Committee (more exciting than you think) in a church crypt. Like me, he hopes that a representative from our new Tesco can explain their public safety plans to the audience.

Review of 2007

Election win

In May 2007 Armand Edwards and I became the first Liberal Democrat councillors for Bathwick and the youngest members of BathNES council. May 3rd was a very long day for us, starting with leaflet delivering from 6am and ending the next morning after the results were announced just before midnight. However, election day activity is a very minority interest so here are some of the more interesting events of the year:

Pulteney Road crossing – this actually started in 2006 with our petition in August for a safer crossing over the A36 by the Bathwick roundabout. In January I sent a written question to the council requesting the crossing. The traffic lights were eventually installed after our election, the delay blamed on a “hold up at the traffic light factory”! Although there is still controversy over their positioning I think that the council traffic team got it right, they are in the right place to be useful and I have not noticed any unusual traffic delays on the roundabout – some drivers have even said that the box junction helps their progress! Success all round then.

Tesco win planning appeal – this doesn’t rank as a success, as Armand went to the public enquiry to argue against the shop opening, but it has certainly taken up a lot of our time. Planning permission for the shop was denied twice by the local council as the location thought to be too dangerous for cars to stop off and pedestrians cross. Indeed, a local man died crossing the road over the canal in September 2006. However, Tesco won their appeal to the government inspector despite local concerns. In the time since my attempts to contact and work with Tesco have been very difficult but we are still doing our best to mitigate the worst effects on the local community.

Madiera Walk resurfaced – not the most exciting piece of news, but this sort of work is very important to people. The footpath at the back of Bathwick Hill from the Youth Hostel leading over the canal is a typically rural muddy path, but the top part was particularly muddy, steep and dangerous. We worked with the National Trust to get this resurfaced and they did a very good job. I also managed to get the broken bench at the top replaced too, although that took a lot longer!

Bathwick Hill closure – for a week over the Summer, Bathwick Hill was closed and the 18 bus diverted as almost a complete surprise. Following my complaint to the council department the officer in charge admitted failures notifying passengers and residents and promised to rewrite the procedures.

PaCT begins – Police and Communities Together was set up to help the police target their local resources. Residents are invited to put their questions and complaints to a panel of the police, council representatives and me. It’s quite a scary process for the person sat at the front (remember, councillors are the only democratically accountable part of this set up!) but fortunately Armand and I have worked on enough of the issues already to have progress to report to the crowd.

University footbridge – again this is not so much an achievement as a long slog. Even the university management recognise that this missing bridge is a disproportionate stain on their reputation (I told them). Plans are advancing slowly and I have been putting pressure on the university at every possible stage, from the Regulatory & Access (footpaths) committee to my own meetings with the Vice-Chancellor; even the council Chief Executive has written to complain to them.

Minster Way – the residents’ parking scheme three years in the making has finally arrived. Following another burst of consultation the scheme was put to the council executive with our strong recommendation for speedy implementation. It should now be fully active from 1st March 2008 with no more stuck lorries.