Local News
Budget proposals reveal Lib Dems’ ‘skewed priorities’ for B&NES
Council should rethink ‘draconian’ anti-motoring plans following reduction in terror threat level
Lib Dems make ‘catastrophic mistake’ by selling public building at knock-down price
Liveable Neighbourhoods plan will leave parts of Bath unliveable, Tories claim
Lib Dems accused of using terrorism threat to further anti-motoring agenda
Labour ‘scaremongering’ over free school meals
Work to reopen Batheaston river path
Lib Dems accused of trying to conceal plans for bigger Council Tax rise
Lib Dems and Labour offer ‘no solutions’ to Council’s budget challenge – only higher taxes on residents
Councillors back new funding formula that will see B&NES schools gain £3.7 million
Next steps for Modern Libraries programme – Scrutiny panel endorses Bath Library plans, Cabinet to consider response to Community Libraries
Lib Dems slated over ‘financial illiteracy’
B&NES to consider Council Tax discounts for foster carers
Lib Dems slammed for ‘reckless and irresponsible’ Bath Library stance
New Cabinet Member sets out transport vision for Bath
‘No blanket CPOs at Foxhill’ – Council Leader pledges
Council responds to residents’ concerns over Somerdale site access
Lib Dems and Labour offer ‘no solutions’ to Council’s budget challenge
Conservative leadership respond to call-in of East of Bath Park & Ride decision
Council calls for greater funding to cover lost Council Tax from student accommodation
Lizzie Gladwyn elected as new councillor for Abbey Ward
Council agrees action against FGM and modern slavery
Conservatives call for action to end FGM and modern slavery
Upper Bristol Road student flats turned down
Extended free parking to be introduced at Bath’s Royal Victoria Park
Lib Dems risk £1 billion investment in West of England
Campaign success as new defibrillator installed in Keynsham
Keynsham Councillors hail £7 million Leisure Centre revamp
Councillors hail major investment in A37 improvements
Councillors call on government to drop mayor requirement from devolution deal
75 new residents’ parking spaces to be created in central Bath
Council to consider additional controls on student accommodation
Conservatives welcome overwhelming ‘no’ vote in B&NES Mayoral referendum
Councillor welcomes new ‘Foxhill Charter’
Additional funds allocated to welfare support scheme
B&NES approves budget to increase efficiency and protect front-line services
B&NES awarded transitional relief funding by Government
Major investment secured for Riverside Youth Hub
Fresh calls for south Keynsham relief road
Petition launched against student accommodation plans
Councillors calls for considerate parking
B&NES mayor would be ‘more costly and less accountable’
Councillors hail new Somer Valley Enterprise Zone
Evening parking charges to be reduced in Bath
Council acts to secure access to Duke of Edinburgh Award
Council votes to back East of Bath Park & Ride
Conservatives to propose cross-party review of eastern Park & Ride sites
Councillor sent to Jail! – but all for charity
Councillor backs calls to look again at Radstock one-way system
Council to take ‘fresh look’ at A367 Odd Down bus lane
Council sets to work on Gull Strategy
Firs Field set to be awarded official ‘Centenary Field’ designation
B&NES rules-out reintroduction of Dorchester Street Bus Gate
B&NES launches East of Bath Park & Ride consultation – local Councillors comment
Success as layby secured following four-year long campaign
B&NES votes to back ‘British Bill of Rights’
New ‘City Forum’ proposed for Bath
Keynsham Councillors welcome town’s new Transport Strategy
The £38 million challenge – Conservatives launch ‘Comprehensive Review’ of all Council spending
Conservatives to press ahead with consultation on new Bath Park & Ride
Work starts on protecting historic stone bridge in Keynsham
Cllr Tim Warren pays tribute to former Councillor David Bellotti
Conservatives launch major External Review of the way B&NES manages major projects
‘Putting residents first’ – Conservatives spell out priorities for new administration on B&NES Council
B&NES backs down over Keynsham town centre traffic proposals
Bath traveller site costs – Conservative comment
Conservatives welcome reintroduction of free admission to Bath’s Victoria Art Gallery
Victory as bus services saved in Somer Valley
Conservatives propose solution to RUH parking problems
Conservatives secure funding for transport strategies
Conservatives call for release of £3 million Affordable Housing fund
B&NES under fire over £1.7 million ‘black hole’ in budget plans
Anger over badly-painted pavement markings
B&NES blasted over £41 million of delayed projects
B&NES Council set for £1.7 million budget surplus
‘Getting B&NES Moving’ – Conservatives publish far-reaching Transport Manifesto for B&NES
Conservatives welcome new and improved bus services
Concerns mount over town centre road safety
Councillors back calls for St Saviour’s Pedestrian crossing
B&NES rejects cheaper parking pleas
‘Mixed reaction’ to town centre pedestrian crossing plans
New handrails to be installed at Keynsham Civic Centre steps
Concerns raised over lack of Sunday pharmacy provision in Keynsham

Fresh confusion over ‘Park & Rail’ viability 15 homes to be built at station site
Concerns raised over pedestrian safety in Temple Street
Outcry over plans to axe two Saturday bus services
Keynsham Councillor voices concerns over town centre pedestrian safety
MetroWest project takes step forward
Fears over loss of car parking spaces
Bath Transport Strategy – ‘Council needs to deliver’
‘Five more months of misery’ as transport projects fall behind schedule
Councillors to review Business Rates for student accommodation
B&NES recycling rates fall – ‘Council must do better’ say Conservatives
Bath Transport Strategy – ‘Disappointing lack of detail but step in right direction’
Funding secured for Weston Christmas lights
B&NES Council to purchase Keynsham’s Abbots Wood
Tunley Fork junction improvements start
Urgent answers sought over roadworks stoppage
Traffic fears over A4 roadworks
Keynsham Transport Strategy – ‘Lack of detail means more work needed’
Petition demands reinstatement of School Crossing Patrol
Questions raised over Council’s £0.5 million loan to Solar Farm
No Eastern Park & Ride ‘for at least another year’
Appeal for Weston Christmas lights funding
Councillors back review of public toilet cutbacks
Conservatives demand rethink on toilet cutbacks
Hundreds sign Weston toilets petition
Toilet cuts protest hailed ‘great success’
Repairs success for ancient bridge
Dismay as Keynsham town centre name concerns dismissed
Petition launched against Saltford toilet cuts
£1 million budget black-hole as B&NES abandons ‘Tourism Levy’ for Bath
Keynsham development street naming call-in upheld
Petition demands reopening of Weston toilets
Councillors’ delight at green-light for Silver Street pedestrian crossing
Councillor ‘fuming’ as Council ‘powerless’ to stop early-morning lorries to K2 development
Anger as B&NES pushes ahead with Keynsham park toilet cuts
Anger at ‘sudden’ toilet closures
Councillors call for cut in parking charges
Council ‘won’t keep rent’ from traveller site B&NES confirms £2.55m price tag
‘Damning report’ pours scorn on Lib Dem ‘Park & Rail’ idea
B&NES urged to ‘go further’ in protecting Greenbelt sites in housing plan
Action taken on early-morning construction lorries in Keynsham
‘More questions’ over cost of Bath traveller site
Anger at Council’s rejection of temporary road for Kelston
Calls for cross-party committee on transport
Hundreds sign petition against Keynsham public toilet reduction
Conservatives demand answers over Kelston Road delays
Terry Gazzard elected for Bathavon North
B&NES ‘open minded’ about return of Dorchester Bus Gate
Conservatives demand consultation over public toilet changes
Conservatives back low-price ‘flat fare’ for Bath buses
Council launches review into strengthening Civic Governance in Bath
Dorchester Street Bus Gate – Conservatives call for clarity over its future
‘Big gaps and huge questions’ remain over Bath Transport Strategy
Councillors launch petition against Keynsham pubic toilet changes
Dorchester Street Bus Gate farce latest – Conservatives welcome latest Council U-turn
‘Halt trial and cancel fines’ – Conservatives call for end to Dorchester Street Bus Gate farce
Kelston Road closure – solution needed ‘by start of May’
Success as historic Keynsham stone wall restored
Tributes paid to Cllr Gabriel Batt
B&NES urged to bid for pothole cash
Victory for Keynsham residents as new street lights installed
‘Partial victory’ as B&NES climbs down on Victoria Park parking charges
Second Greenbelt victory for North East Somerset as Whitchurch housing plans rejected
Victory as Manor Road housing plans rejected
Conservatives demand answers over delay to Bath Transport Strategy
‘Shock and anger’ at attempt to derail plans to bring carnival to Midsomer Norton
Lib Dem and Independent councillors block funding to tackle gull menace
B&NES agrees extra £100,000 for bus services
Conservatives secure protection for children and vulnerable in B&NES budget
Traveller site cost escalates to £2.5 million
Conservatives to press for extra support for local bus services
‘Belated’ roads investment welcomed
Anger over delay to review of Victoria Park parking charges
Conservatives set out budget priorities
Date set for Saltford station consultation
Residents asked to name favourite part of the Chew Valley
Dorchester Street bus gate trial slated as ‘farce’
B&NES announces climb-down on CAB cuts
B&NES Council expecting £1.9 million surplus Conservatives seek residents’ views on budget windfall
Councillors vote for 6-month limit on Dorchester Street bus gate
Conservatives secure further protection for Children’s Centres
Conservatives press for six month limit on Dorchester Street Bus Gate trial
Taxi satnav ban rejected
Council urged to grasp ‘golden opportunity’ to address Children’s Centre concerns
Christmas travel plan needed for Bath
Councillors pledge to fight Greenbelt threat
South Road redevelopment plans – local councillors comment
Conservatives welcome U-turn on public toilet closures
Conservatives renew calls for 2-hours’ free parking at Victoria Park
Campaigners celebrate victory as Stowey Quarry appeal rejected
Councillors uphold challenge of Children’s Centre cuts
‘Better late than never’ for Newbridge Park & Ride expansion
Conservatives challenge Children’s Centre cuts
B&NES ban on satnavs in taxis branded ‘bizarre’
Reprieve for B&NES Advice Services
B&NES presses ahead with Children’s Centre cuts
Advice service cuts – Vic Pritchard:
Conservatives press for rethink on Advice Service cuts
Tesco agrees to host Weston public toilets
Councillors press for rethink on Children’s Centre cuts
Beechen Cliff National Trust plan falls through
B&NES broadband improvements – more clarity needed on delivery
Councillors vow to continue fight for Somerdale traffic improvements
Dismay as Bishop Sutton housing appeal granted permission
Councillors press for second Somerdale access route
Dorchester Street bus gate in force from November
Council gives hope for Keynsham Transport Plan
Greenbelt housing application to be decided by Minister
Saltford station consultation set for October
Councillors vote to halt public toilet closures
Conservatives welcome rethink over Keynsham art project
Conservatives to press for rethink over public toilet closures
Conservatives press for Keynsham Transport Plan
B&NES urged to ‘end confusion’ over future of public toilets
Calls for ‘complete rethink’ of Keynsham town centre art project
Pressure mounts for free short-stay parking at Victoria Park
Victory welcomed over Stanton Wick traveller site application
Recent Posts
Budget proposals reveal Lib Dems’ ‘skewed priorities’ for B&NES
The Liberal Democrats’ ‘skewed priorities’ will see some of the most vulnerable communities hit hard by the Budget proposals for the coming financial year.
At tonight’s (23 Feb) full Council meeting, the Lib Dem Administration voted in favour of the Budget proposals for 2021/22, while the Conservative Group voted against.
The Conservative Group’s main objections to the Budget are listed here:
- Lack of support for vulnerable communities, residents and businesses
- The inclusion of proposals that run contrary to the Council’s professed Green agenda
- Absence of proposals to support economic recovery post-pandemic
- Irresponsible financial management through use of cash reserves and absence of revenue-raising proposals
- Skewed priorities by putting vanity projects above the interests of the local economy
The specific budget proposals to which the Conservatives objected, along with the reasons for their objection, are outlined here:
- Absence of revenue-raising proposals: The current Administration has used more than £13m of reserves to plug the funding gap caused by the pandemic. But we object to plans not to pay the reserves back until 2024/25 at the earliest, leaving future Administrations to foot the bill. Also, the Budget doesn’t acknowledge the need for the Council to increase revenue post-pandemic to avoid using more reserves in future
- Dissolution of Visit Bath: Tourism company Visit Bath is to be dissolved and a new, multi-authority company created called Visit West. At a time of unprecedented economic challenges, we should not be getting rid of the company responsible for managing and promoting tourism in Bath
- £3.4m saving in Adults’ Services: We understand the need for efficiency savings. But during the middle of a public health crisis that has hit vulnerable people the hardest, the Administration has not been able to demonstrate to our satisfaction that people in need of social care services will not be negatively affected by the savings
- Removal of a post within Children’s Centres: Again, the Administration has not been able to demonstrate to our satisfaction that this £43,000 saving will not negatively affect those who rely on Children’s Centres – some of whom are among our most vulnerable residents
- Charges at recycling centres: Proposals, for the first time, to charge people to recycle hardcore materials such as rubble, tyres and plasterboard will lead to an increase in fly-tipping and, again, impact poorer communities
- Removal of Pay & Display machines in car parks: The proposal is to remove P&D machines in car parks by 50%. The Administration has acknowledged that complaints could rise as a result of this policy, which suggests they are aware of the difficulty it could cause to residents, businesses and tourists. We believe the plan to remove the facility to pay by credit card at the remaining P&D machines and push all payments to MiPermit will disenfranchise people and cause a headache for residents and tourists
- Restructure of senior management team: We have serious doubts around the proposal to save £300,000 by reorganising the Council’s senior management structure. We believe this may hamper the Council’s ability to continue to deliver for residents
In the coming financial year, Council Tax for B&NES residents will increase by 4.99%. For the average Band D property, this is an increase of £72 for the year. The Conservative opposition has reminded the Council that is a large sum of money, one that will hit poor households the hardest.
Another concern for the Conservative councillors was around the Administration’s priorities for B&NES. Number one on their Areas of Strategic Priority over the next two years is the creation of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, while supporting the economy to recover from the pandemic is fourth out of five.
Cllr Paul Myers, Leader of the Conservative Group on Bath and North East Somerset Council, said: “This Budget provides further evidence, if any were needed, that the Liberal Democrats in charge of the Council are completely out of touch with the community they serve.
“The only conclusion we can draw from this irresponsible Budget is that they are completely unaware that we are in the middle of one of the biggest public health and economic crises of our lifetimes, as there is not a single proposal that will help residents and businesses recover from the pandemic. Indeed, their proposals will only hamper our recovery.
“The Council Tax increase will hit the poorest the hardest and the savings in Adult’s Services and Children’s Services could come at the cost of affecting the services users themselves, some of whom are among the most vulnerable in our community.
“It is eminently clear – B&NES deserves better.”
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