AGENDA ITEM 3
WEST OF ENGLAND PARTNERSHIP
PLANNING, TRANSPORT & ENVIRONMENT GROUP
NOTES OF THE MEETING ON 1st MARCH 2007
TOWN HALL, KEYNSHAM
PRESENT:
UA Members:
Cllr Brian Barrett / Bath & North East Somerset CouncilCllr Gerry Curran / Bath & North East Somerset Council
Cllr Sir Elgar Jenkins
Cllr Rosemary Todd / Bath & North East Somerset Council
Bath & North East Somerset Council
Cllr Charles Price / Bristol City Council
Cllr Helen Holland / Bristol City Council
Cllr B Lewis (sub) / Bristol City Council
Cllr Peter Burden / North Somerset Council
Cllr D Jolley (sub) / North Somerset Council
Cllr Pat Hockey / South Gloucestershire Council
Cllr Bill Bowrey / South Gloucestershire Council
Cllr Mike Thomas / South Gloucestershire Council
Partners:
Robert Marshall (sub) / CPREAlan Pinder / Friends of the Earth
David Redgewell / Transport 2000
Nigel Hutchings
Steve Tyler
Dick Whittington / Business West
South West TUC
Community Action
Observers:
Hilary Severn / CPREJulia Sherwen
Sarah Morris / CPRE
CBI
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:
Cllr Anne WhiteCllr Dennis Brown / Bristol City Council
Bristol City Council
Cllr Brian Allinson
Cllr Ian Smith / South Gloucestershire Council
South Gloucestershire Council
Cllr Richard Eddy / Bristol City Council
Cllr John Crockford-Hawley
Cllr Elfan ap Rees / North Somerset Council
North Somerset Council
Cllr Tony Cox / Bath & North East Somerset Council
Dick Whittington / Community Action
Georgie Bigg
David Rapley / CPRE
Wiltshire County Council
2. MINUTES OF THE MEETING 29TH NOVEMBER 2006 / MATTERS ARISING
Minutes agreed. As a refinement of the new timetable (where PTEG precedes the Partnership meetings by approximately one week) the Group requested that the agenda for the Partnership is circulated so that an input on relevant matters can readily be made by the Group.
Resolved:
The minutes of the Group’s meeting on 29th November 2006 were agreed as an accurate record.
3. FUTURE APPROACH TO ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
The Chief Executive introduced his report that identified environment as a topic which had been neglected by the Partnership but which fell clearly within the remit of PTEG. The report identified possible areas for sub regional work and proposed that a more detailed report be submitted to the next meeting of the Group.
Alan Pinder, Friends of the Earth, gave a presentation that identified key concerns such as climate change, biodiversity, pollution and resources. He suggested measures to mitigate climate change and identified travel and density as important factors. Finally he submitted a list of possible topics for consideration by PTEG – climate change, energy, flooding, pollution, and green spaces.
The Group had a lively debate on the presentation and on the paper, identifying several key points:
o General agreement that environment is a key issue meriting further work by the Group.
o A great deal of work is already being undertaken by UAs.
o The waste and transport groups have an important part to play.
o The Group could usefully look at the national and regional policy frameworks to identify possible tools and policies.
o The rural impact was important to consider.
o There is a strong business appetite for tackling environmental issues, especially relating to energy conservation.
Resolved:
That a comprehensive report concerning environmental issues be submitted to the next meeting of the Group.
4. REGIONAL SPATIAL STRATEGY
An update report was considered with respect to preparations for the Examination in Public for the RSS that starts in Exeter on 17th April 2007.
Resolved:
That the report be noted.
5. MAJOR TRANSPORT SCHEMES
An update report was considered which provided a comprehensive review of progress with the Major Transport Schemes. The Group raised questions regarding the relationship of South Bristol Ring Road and bus rapid transit.
Resolved:
That the report be noted.
This meeting of PTEG was followed by the “Rail Summit” which members also attended.
http://www.westofengland.org/downloads/Item3.Minutes_of_meeting_01.03.07.DOC 3