The new East of Bath Park and Ride scheme has moved a step forward after a review, or ‘call-in’ of the decision was dismissed in a meeting last Thursday. The Cabinet’s original decision made on 25th January to progress with the scheme, was reviewed by the Communities Transport and Environment Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel at a public meeting. The Council will now need to have in-depth discussions over the land it wants to use, partly owned by a local farmer who is also running a holiday let business, previously on record as not wanting to sell.

Thirteen Councillors formally asked for the Cabinet Member’s decision to be

reviewed, or ‘Called-In’. Some of the reasons for the call-in included concerns with how residents were engaged during the consultation process,

insufficient consideration of the conclusions from the Policy Development and Scrutiny

Inquiry day into alternative integrated transport solutions; too much weight placed on the report from the Local Development Framework Recommendations and that the Cabinet report was misleading, incomplete and inaccurate.

The call-in process means that an Executive decision, which has been made but not yet implemented, can be scrutinised to check that it was made following the correct

evidence and procedures.

The original decision resolved to note that both sites F and B (on Bathampton Meadows) could deliver the required outcomes for a Park and Ride site to the East of Bath.

It authorised site B, with 800 spaces, to be promoted as the preferred site based on the advice in the report, but subject to satisfactory arrangements for the purchase of the site and agreement from Highways England on access. If site B is not deliverable for those reasons within a reasonable timescale, then site F (800 or 1,200 spaces) should be progressed.

The Council also authorised to delegate authority to the Strategic Director (Place), in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport, to make all necessary arrangements to implement the decision, including, as necessary, the appropriation of land and to approve all necessary expenditure to enable the site to be secured, requesting the development of a full business plan for appropriate executive approval.

To assist in their deliberations at last week’s call-in, the Panel received a range of written and verbal evidence, interviewed the Cabinet Member for Transport, senior Council officers, and a representative Councillor, Alison Millar, on behalf of those Councillors who signed the request to review the decision. There was also written evidence from members of the public. Having considered the evidence, the Panel voted to dismiss the call-in and allow the decision to be implemented as set out.

Cllr John Bull, the Panel Chair, said: “The call-in meeting was very constructive, with a very comprehensive submission by Cllr Millar for the call-in signatories and answers from the cabinet member. Several members of the public gave their views which were welcomed by the panel.

“Whilst some members of the Panel were disappointed that the call-in was dismissed, the majority view of the Panel was that the decision needs to be implemented.”

Speaking about the verdict, Councillor Anthony Clarke (Conservative, Lansdown), Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “The Cabinet welcomes the fact the Scrutiny Panel decided to dismiss the call-in, meaning we can now move forward with the project. We understand the sensitivities of the issue and so were pleased that the Scrutiny Panel took an in-depth look into the matter. We can now continue to progress the project towards the planning phase.”