1. City of Bath Governance Note for the Working Group 22 January 2015 Van DuBose van@fedubose.com 1

2. City of Bath Purpose Why does Bath need a governance focus? Clarity of Purpose is the starting point and leads to the right Solution ✔ Address collective City of Bath matters ✘ Address the Bath democratic deficit ✘ Address local government services in Bath  Largest English city without legal existence  Distinctly urban matters need attention: Transport | Public Realm| Spatial Planning Worker Prosperity | Cultural Vibrancy Civic Cohesion | Heritage Care  These are collective city, not ward, matters  These are Bath, not NES, matters and require ‘urban’ expertise  ‘Attention’ means assigning specific responsibility and accountability to someone for delivering results  Bath needs a form of governance to provide this urban focus and accountability  Bath has no democratic deficit  Every Bath resident has ward councillors…  Bath ward councillors are directly elected,…  …have a duty to represent ward interests…  …have same powers as NES councillors…  …can organise ward responses to consultations  City governance does not address ward councillor performance issues, if any  Delivery of services is no different in Bath compared with NES  Residents in Bath have the same redress as NES residents for complaints about services  There is no evidence that NES parishes deliver services better than B&NES  Scope for City of Bath to deliver services is limited  City governance does not address local government service issues, if any 2

3. City of Bath The Job What actually needs to be done? Urban Focus, Ambition and Confidence to be the Leading Small City Transport Develop and Deliver the Bath Transport Strategy Public Realm Expand and Deliver the Public Realm and Movement Strategy Spatial Planning Give City of Bath a big place in the Placemaking Plan Worker Prosperity Transform productivity of our economic engine, the City of Bath Cultural Vibrancy Strengthen and broaden City of Bath’s reach as cultural leader Civic Cohesion Foster pride of place, social cohesion and civic responsibility Heritage Care Do our duty as stewards of Bath’s natural and built environment 3

4. Consensus on decision criteria is essential for the right result Purpose Would it be fit for Purpose: Addressing collective City of Bath matters? Powers Would it have appropriate powers to meet its responsibilities? Democracy Would the public accept it as democratically legitimate? Leadership Could it secure strong leadership to complete its tasks? Expertise Could it bring relevant special expertise to its tasks? Cost Would the set up and operating costs return good value for money? Timing How soon could it begin to operate? 4

5. Criteria Purpose Can address collective City of Bath matters Can address collective City of Bath matters Powers No formal powers needed Specific delegated duties ✗ Specified and limited by statute ✗ Powers unsuited for our Purpose Democratic Legitimacy Bath ward cllr majority Subordinate to B&NES Directly elected parish cllrs Leadership Co-opted members Add to Cllr leadership skills ✗ Relies upon parish cllr leadership Expertise Co-opted members Selected for expertise ✗ Relies upon parish cllr expertise Cost Minimal set up cost Winchester Town Forum: No staff ✗ CGR and approval process ✗ Parish council elections ✗ Councillor expenses and allowances ✗ Weston S’Mare: 9 admin staff Timing Immediate ✗ Several years CGR approval process 5

6. Accountable for delivery of Bath as the Leading Small City NameBath Senate? Bath Committee? Bath City Board? Bath City Forum? Bath City Commission? Legal Form Area committee of B&NES Council with delegated responsibilities Formal consultee status equivalent to NES parish councils Policy Leadership Responsible for initiating long term policy for each Portfolio and for delivery of policy objectives for each Portfolio PortfoliosTransport | Public Realm | Spatial Planning | Worker Prosperity Cultural Vibrancy | Civic Cohesion | Heritage Care SubcommitteesWork conducted through Portfolio subcommittees, each with 2-4 cllrs and 1-3 co-opted members FinanceNo direct revenue raising or spending power but recommends Bath precept and Portfolio budgets to B&NES Membership 16 cllrs- 1 from each Bath ward | Up to 10 co-opted members Co-opts competitively selected based on Portfolio credentials Co-opts serve in personal capacity, not as interest group rep 6