Paul Crossley

Sunday 21 just watched the BBC tv program on Global Warming. Very good program and well presented. At last there is a growing awareness about the difficulties ahead though you would not believe it to hear our PM and other world leaders speak.

In fact at the Full Council on last Thursday the Liberal Democrat Group put forward the following motion:

COUNCIL MEETING 18^TH JANUARY 2007 - MOTION FROM A MEMBER OF THE LIBERAL DEMOCRAT GROUP ABOUT RENEWABLE ENERGY

This Council notes:

1. That the Government has set a target for 10% of UK electricity to be generated from renewable sources by 2010 and 20% by 2020 as part of the drive to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and combat climate change;

2. That 2005 figures show that approximately 3% of the South West region's electricity requirements are generated from renewable sources;

3. That in recent years a number of Councils across the country have adopted planning policy provisions in line with the government's Planning Policy Statement 22 which states that "Local Planning authorities may include policies in local development documents that require a percentage of the energy to be used in new residential, commercial or industrial developments to come from on-site renewable energy developments";

4. That the draft Regional Spatial Strategy for South West England, which will strongly influence the future Local Development Framework for Bath and North East Somerset, incorporates a policy (RE.5) stipulating that larger-scale developments will be expected to incorporate "sufficient on-site renewable energy to reduce CO² emissions from energy use by users of the buildings constructed by 10%"

5. That Bath and North East Somerset has already adopted positive references to on-site renewable energy provision through Policy ES.1 of the emerging Bath and North East Somerset Local Plan, and the Supplementary Planning Guidance for the Bath Western Riverside site.

This Council therefore resolves:

1. To seek further opportunities to encourage and facilitate renewable energy projects initiated by individuals or communities and to encourage community groups to develop local carbon-reducing and energy efficiency projects;

2. To support the possible creation and adoption of a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) which should incorporate the so called "Paragraph 8" policy requiring a percentage of the energy needs of a development to be provided through onsite renewables;

3. To consider whether the requirements in such a Supplementary Planning Document should go beyond the 10% figure generally quoted under the Merton Rule (2003), where this would be appropriate and feasible;

4. That any renewable energy projects must be compatible with the unique heritage of the built and natural environment in Bath and North East Somerset;

5. To investigate the possibility of allocating staff resources in the planning policy team to focus on the issues of sustainability and renewable energy, in cooperation with the Council's Corporate Sustainability Manager.

Naturally the Tories tried to neuter the motion. This time they failed but our last motion on airports the Labour and Independents supported them in neutering that one.

It is important that we all address the issues of climate change as urgently as possible. A sensible Government would simply drive through the changes to ensure every house being built from now on was as carbon neutral as possible. 

Yesterday Bath beat Montpelier to top our pool group. Our reward a home tie against Bristol.

At the Development Control meeting in mid week the Council finally gave outline planning permission for the Bath Western Riverside developement. The chamber was packed with people to listen to the debate and put forward their views and opinions. This development will provide a very large number of our housing numbers over the next few years as well as providing new employment. This area has been largely derelict since the demise of Stothert and Pitt Cranes.

I think this decsion was good news for Bath. 

12th January

Along with many hundreds of fans from Bath we descended on Galway for this ERC match. It was a great game and Bath won against Connacht. Afterwards the pubs and restaurants of Galway were alive with the Bath fans. What a great town Galway is - expanding, vibrant, lively and a fun place to be. In the bars I was asked by several fans about the current Charity Commission strategic review on the Rec. I encouraged people to make sure their voices were heard in the review. Rugby means a lot to Bath and its spirit. I am a keen supporter of keeping Bath Rugby on the Rec. It was interesting speaking to Connacht fans and their fears of the French and English clubs retreating from European Rugby. Further fears about the Rugby Union supposed plans to create a franchise system for England to exclude Bath. What a nonsense that would be!

10th January

Bath and NE Somerset Council came 25th in this years Stonewall Equality in the workplace table. Last year we were in the mid 80s. This year the terms were tougher and the number of employers submitiing an application had grown. Therefore our position was a real achievement.

9th January

Met with the development team who will be delivering the new Southgate in partnership with Morely and the Council.

The Southgate will be a regeneration of a large chunk of Bath retail area near the station. It will include improvements to the rail station and provide a new bus interchange. The old terrible Southgate will be knocked down and replaced with new Georgian style buildings and a restored street layout. It will also have about 100 dwellings. I think it is important that city centres also contain housing and people living there.

My Car mileage 42261 from 40682 at the start of July gives 1579 miles for the half year. 

First New Years resolution - get rid of second car after the May elections. I clearly do not need it with the amount of journeys I am transferring to foot, bus, train and lift share.

My wife's car mileage 33472 from 28339 at the start of July gives 5133 miles for the half year.

Total mileage 6712 miles which on climatecare gives an offset 2,14 tonnes at a cost of £16.05

Holiday flight in August generated 5.72 tonnes of CO2 at a cost of £42.86.

Therefore my offset cheque to be sent to ClimateCare for the last 6 months = £58.91

On my zero waste drive our household continues to generate about 7lb a week. Christmas week though was 15 lbs with a total of 6 adults in the house.

Second New Years resolution - get waste down to 2lb per adult in the house per week.

Third New Years resolution - get an energy audit on the house and start reducing energy and water used by the household.

What a spectacular firework show in London to bring in the New Year. I do love fireworks

In the morning wandered along to Widcombe to watch the new tradition (2 years old) of the Widcombe Mummers. Great fun.

What a start to the New Year at Bath Rugby - Bath 30 Wasps 16

My two men of the match Joe Maddock and James Scaysbrook who made the yards and scored the tries. The Charity Commission's strategic revuiew is under way now with 3 principle options under consideration.

1. Knock everything down including the sports centre

2. Bath Rugby to rebuild a new stadium on their current footprint

3. Knock everything down and build a new community stadium and sport and leisure centre on the site of the sportscentre, carpark and Pavillion.

In my view losing the rugby and the sports centre would be a disaster for Bath and the community and a tragedy for the people who originally set up the covenant for the ground. They wanted to ensure that rugby would always be played on the Rec. But the words they used in 1956 are being interpreted by some in 2006 as a reason to get rid of them.

I am clearly in the Keep Rugby at the Rec camp.