Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed the attendees. The meeting was conducted via video conference.

No apologies were received.

To note any declarations of interest from the Councillors.  They are asked to indicate the relevant agenda item, the nature of the interest and in particular whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest.

Any declarations of interest made at the meeting which is not on the register of interests should be notified to the Monitoring Officer for inclusion.

No declarations were made.

Minutes of the previous meetings on the 5^th October and the 2^nd November.

The minutes of the previous meetings held on 5^th October 2020 and 2^nd November 2020 were approved as a correct record.

It was noted that action points from the previous meeting were not brought forward on the agenda. This was noted by the Commission and agreed to be reviewed.

RESOLVED; That the minutes of 5^th October 2020 be approved as a correct record; and

That the minutes of 2^nd November 2020 be approved as a correct record; and

That previous OSMB actions be reviewed.

To note any announcements from the Chair

It was noted that the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board and Resources Scrutiny Commission were scheduled successively with shortened running times.

Members expressed concern around the Mayor’s Forward Plan as several items had continued to appear at short notice. This had been discussed with the Head of the Executive Office who had confirmed the willingness to improve this.

The Chair noted three items scheduled for the Cabinet meeting on 1^st December 2020 that had not appeared on the Forward Plan; items 19, 20 and 21. The Chair prepared comments on these items and had spoken to the Monitoring Officer regarding these.

RESOLVED; That OSMB submit the Chair’s comments on the Forward Plan items in relation to APR15 to Cabinet for 1^st December 2020.

Up to 30 minutes is allowed for this item

Any member of the public or Councillor may participate in Public Forum.  The detailed arrangements for so doing are set out in the Public Information Sheet at the back of this agenda.  Public Forum items should be emailed to democratic.services@bristol.gov.uk and please note that the following deadlines will apply in relation to this meeting:-

Questions - Written questions must be received 3 clear working days prior to the meeting.  For this meeting, this means that your question(s) must be received in this office at the latest by 5 pm on Tuesday 24^th November.

Petitions and Statements - Petitions and statements must be received on the working day prior to the meeting.  For this meeting this means that your submission must be received in this office at the latest by 12.00 noon on Friday 27^th November.

Register to speak - If you would like to attend the meeting to speak to your statement or ask your questions, your intention to attend must be received no later than 2 clear working days in advance.  For this meeting this means that your intention to attend must be received in this office at the latest by 2.30pm on Thursday 26^th November.

Public Forum questions and statements were published prior to the meeting and can be viewed here.

David Redgewell presented two public forum statements in support of North Somerset joining the West of England Combined Authority and the subsequent impact on local the local transport network.

Councillor Negus presented two Public Forum questions on the Mayor’s Forward Plan and received written responses.

Councillor Negus’ first supplementary question was to ask which Officer was responsible for deciding the information that can be viewed by Scrutiny in advance. The Chief Executive responded that this would be context dependent, but Officers and Members had worked together in setting a Work Programme in advance; urgent or matters arising were dealt with on a case by case basis.

Councillor Negus’ second supplementary question was in reference to the written response to question 2 which stated that Elected Members were represented on City-wide Boards.  The Chief Executive clarified that this demonstrated Bristol City Council representation on those Boards, and did not suggest that they would have been present in a Scrutiny capacity.

RESOLVED; That the Public Forum be noted.

That Councillor Negus raise the issue of decision making on items for Scrutiny with the Chief Executive separately.

The West of England Combined Authority consideration of expanded membership was added to the agenda as it had been raised as a potential item for Scrutiny. The Chair of the Growth and Regeneration Scrutiny Commission (G&RSC) suggested that as a large proportion of the items considered by West of England Combined Authority fall under the remit of the Growth and Regeneration Scrutiny Commission that it would be appropriate to schedule an Extra-ordinary commission meeting for December 2020 on this issue.

It was noted that as the deadline for the consultation around changes to the West of England Combined Authority had elapsed (27th November 2020), the planned meeting in December would not influence any decision.

RESOLVED; That ‘WECA Membership’ be added to the G&RSC work programme with an extra-ordinary meeting focusing on Mayoral engagement (not potential changes in legislation) to be scheduled.

The Head of Strategic City Transport presented a paper that provided an update on the delivery of the proposed Clean Air Zone scheme.

With the utilisation of the Emergency Active Travel Funding available following Covid-19 it was agreed to adopt a ‘Test and Learn’ approach to test fast track measures and review if those options might mitigate the need for a charging Clean Air Zone, along with the different travel and traffic behaviours that had been experienced since the COVID-19 pandemic had occurred. A timeline was provided which outlined the aim to complete the extended consultation by 13^th December 2020. It was hoped to bring the proposal to Scrutiny by January 2021 following discussion with the Joint Air Quality Unit and a Final Business Case brought to Cabinet in February 2021. Exact dates were not known as this was dependent on the progress of discussions with the Joint Air Quality Unit and further assessments.

Members queried how continued monitoring would be achieved. More monitoring units were to be put in place and sensitivity testing made on the impact of a reduction in traffic flows to check if this would meet the required targets.

Members queried whether the funds allotted for a charging Clean Air Zone could be used for other reduction measures and long-term projects. It was clarified that the Joint Air Quality Unit would fund schemes that would be proven to bring levels to compliance, but evidence would be needed that the recommended projects would achieve this.

Members suggested that further engagement and communications work was needed to make an explicit link between the Active Travel projects and the possibility of potentially avoiding a charging Clean Air Zone. It was confirmed that the Mayor was involved in communications on this front.

Members queried the benefits of making Cumberland Basin one way. This was to support the prioritisation of public transport use and reduce traffic volumes of traffic driving into the central area. This route was selected due to the number of alternative sustainable travel options and road routes. Engagement will take place with local communities before the final scheme is implemented but this is currently envisaged as being somewhere near the end of the existing bus lane east of Gas Ferry Road.

It was clarified that the reference to a ‘non-charging CAZ’ referred to a non-charging active travel solution but would not include an actual zone as such.

RESOLVED; That arrangements be made to ensure sufficient opportunity to provide Scrutiny on Clean Air Zone proposals before the Final Business Case is brought to Cabinet.

The report will be published on Monday 23^rd November and can be accessed at the Cabinet agenda, 1^st December.  

The Head of Energy Services delivered a presentation on City Leap. The revision to the procurement process of this project was previously brought to Scrutiny in July 2020.

Three Bidders were shortlisted following the initial stage of the procurement process. This included bids from consortiums. Meetings with the shortlisted Bidders were planned from December 2020. An additional opportunity for Scrutiny input was to be scheduled in early 2021.

Members queried how risk assessments were managed, particularly regarding the cost of the revised procurement process. Officers confirmed that the project remained within the budget envelope previously approved by Cabinet and that no additional funding was required.

Members queried how bidders’ appropriate business practice was ensured. Officers confirmed that a Selection Questionnaire had been used to review appropriate business practice and economic standing to the extent permitted under the Public Contracts Regulations.

A key discussion with Bidders planned to take place during the procurement was to be in relation to the future governance and control of the City Leap joint venture.  Appropriate protections would need to be in place but balanced with enabling delivery and innovation by the joint venture.

The Overview and Scrutiny Management Board members expressed enthusiasm for the project, with some concerns over achieving social value, ultimate decisions around governance, and regulating risk. Members had an interest in further Scrutiny involvement. It was agreed to submit a statement to Cabinet.

RESOLVED; That Scrutiny submit a statement to Cabinet in support of the City Leap project and raising the queries and concerns identified.

The aim is to publish a COVID-19 Bristol statistics update twice a week; updated reports are available on the COVID-19 data section on the Council website. 

The most up-to-date report before the meeting to follow.

The Chair noted that it was appropriate to bring some of the work the Council had conducted in response to the Covid-19 pandemic to public attention through this report. The Chief Executive was asked to convey thanks to Officers.

This item was noted for information.

RESOLVED; That Members with any questions or issues regarding the Q2 Performance Report to raise with the Chair or Head of Democratic Services.

To note the work programme.

This item was noted for information. It was noted that the Wildlife Management discussion with the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Climate, Ecology and Sustainable Growth scheduled for the Communities Scrutiny Commission on 7^th December 2020 was missing.

RESOLVED; That the Wildlife Management discussion with the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Climate, Ecology and Sustainable Growth be added to the Scrutiny Work Programme.

This item was discussed under Chair’s Business. It was noted for information.

The draft minutes of the 7^th October 2020 on the previous OSMB agenda are the latest available. The next meeting of the WECA Overview & Scrutiny Committee is scheduled for 2^nd December 2020.

This item was noted for information.

This item was noted for information.