Agenda and draft minutes

Stef Brammar

The Chair welcomed attendees to the meeting and invited everyone to introduce themselves.

Apologies were received from Cllr Charlie Bolton & Donald Branch

To note any declarations of interest from the Councillors.  They are asked to indicate the relevant agenda item, the nature of the interest and in particular whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest.

Any declarations of interest made at the meeting which is not on the register of interests should be notified to the Monitoring Officer for inclusion.

(Stef Brammar)

There were no declarations of interest from the Councillors, aside from community involvement as part of their roles.

Dan Lewin, Linkage

Bristol Ageing Better (BAB) Update

• A project update was given by Dan Lewin of Linkage. This provided an overview on the work in the community as part of tender won from BAB (Bristol Ageing Better)  to work with older people in Greater Bedminster  and demonstrated how this  relates to the strategic objectives of GBCP to become first age friendly Neighbourhood  in Bristol and to reduce isolation and loneliness.
• Just completed first year of project and overview was given for information including work to involve older people in decision making, representing the diversity of the community, initiatives to bring different ages together, joint activities with other partners and training older people for leadership roles.

• Various outputs on the back of small amount of funding bolstering existing work and increasing capacity – hired admin to free up time for comm development. A three year project now entering its second year 2 – lots of work still to be done consolidating various projects including linking in with other BAB strands.

Achievements and key events have included:

• Developing stakeholder network in the community with great success so far, including Cllrs, GPs, BCC, Older People’s Forums, Police. Focussing on how to reach isolated groups and building contacts and databases.

• Developed “what’s on guide” to help older people find out what’s going on locally the largest ever.
• Annual wellbeing day proved to be a successful engagement event last year (June 23^rd)  with good attendance and range of local organisations which also helped inform new activities and classes for older people. 
• Work to reduce barriers to participation for older people – for example disability – working to deliver audio guide with action for blind people.
• Bristol LGBT – work ongoing to reduce barriers for this demographic and how to make offer more attractive for LGBT older people.
• Dementia navigators and supporting new Alzheimer’s café
• Macmiilan engagement for cancer patients/survivors providing information and opportunities to get involved.
• Greater Bedminster Older People’s Forum – Offered help with marketing and other comms work.

The future:

• Communications strategy with partners and strengthening network and advisory group as well as increasing engagement and rolling out more activities.
• Volunteer transport pilot to ascertain viability and need as well as continuing work on reducing barriers.

The following remarks were received:

1.      One member raised the issue of an elderly neighbour of 94 had to pay large sums of money for a taxi to the hospital – is there any help for transport costs or assistance? The volunteer transport scheme could help tackle these problems – with database of lifts for older people to access. Linking in with people in neighbourhood. Being looked at through BAB and UWE for ideas could be coming online in the future.

2.      It was noted lots more going on beside what there was time for in the update. Despite this there are still older people who are isolated and the cohort is becoming larger, there was a need to be aware that the money will come to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

Stef Brammar

One item was received and presented by Stef Brammar (Appended to public document pack).

·         The campaign to get a playground in Ashton Vale (AV) had been an ongoing since pre 2009.

·         “Ashton Vale Together” was set up to get playground running and they scoped out suitable sites to this end. The situation was outlined in the statement from Tom Penn on why suggested sites are not feasible.

·         All agreed that AV needs a play area of some sort and felt this was a disappointing outcome. The forum resolved to continue looking for ways around this as well as being open minded on the nature of the provision e.g.  Could be simple and low maintenance.

·         Fencing issues also needed to be considered.

·         Resolution had been raised as groups in Ashton Vale had put in lots of work and didn’t want it to slip off the agenda.

·         Other options raised by AM after discussion with Tom Mclean including CAT.

·         Decision: Seconded and will be forwarded to environment group next week.

·         It was noted that there are other areas not within 400m of play equipment, as per green spaces strategy, within Southville and Bedminster. This could be a wider area for environment sub-group to consider.

·         CIL and Section 106 process is still uncertain post April 1^st but it was confirmed that the CP will have control up until then.

Stef Brammar

A Summary of workshop from last Friday was given and the committee received an overview of the minutes.

• Cllr Asher Craig (Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods) had attended first hour and outlined the huge financial challenge facing the City Council.
• There will be no support to NPs post April and the wellbeing fund is to be cut by £100k.It will focus on areas of deprivation and there will be an impetus to make clear the real needs of Bedminster.
• CIL and S106 may still be devolved but no clarity was given on how this will be done. There is a proposed role for VOSCUR in supporting Community Asset Transfers and community management of facilities.
• GBC representation was called for at the upcoming meeting called by Penny Germon
• Action: details to be recirculated.
• Action: Youth representation to be addressed.

Stef Brammar

GBCP role was highlighted as unique and in one form or another it was agreed that it needs to be preserved. How formal engagement with council will function is, as yet, undecided as well as how partnership would operate independently of BCC. 

• Comments were welcomed and the slides were to be circulated with a consultation document for the board.
•  Officer input would available over the transition period and Lorena is to be briefed to draw up commission work as a priority. It was acknowledged how difficult this transition is for all involved.
• Practical issues such as aTimetable for the final decision on what the position of the CP will be post April needs to be considered. 

• A full conversation and debate on the Urban Parish structure proposals will follow off back of the setting of future priorities and the new role of the NPs. Although it was noted this would include tax raising powers and could fundamentally alter the relationship with the community.
• The board recognised that there are a number of organisations with resources and contacts across the communities the Partnership serves that need to be enabled, it was agreed that core task of the CP is to get the best out of these and to get people working together.

• It was decided to carry on with the existing plan until a decision from the city council had clarified the role and future of the CPs/NPs formally.
• The future Neighbourhood plan is uncertain – The unanimous agreement was to keep people working together in some form. But there were questions to be answered over what the priorities will be.  It was agreed that it would likely reaffirm the 8 original priorities on a more simplified basis (these had formed the basis of the large council imposed structure).

Andrew McLean

Following questions received: 

1.       Is there money for Greville and Duckmore? AM confirmed this had been allocated pre-spending freeze but the money post restructure isn’t assured.

1a. Traffic calming and pedestrian/cyclist access were highlighted as priorities. More details were needed on designs to be widely disseminated amongst the immediate community. A plan needs to be presented on how they are planning to consult with community Action: key groups need to be involved, including the school and Duckmore Community Groups, lots of contacts from consultation and all agreed it was critical to re-engage.

2.       Street trees update – Is money still available? Action: Andrew to chase

3.       St John’s Church yard – The consultation was welcomed and it was hoped that it will lead to action and not merely further discussion. Action: Ben to brief Cllr Clarke to help take this forward.

4.       Warden Rd bin stickers have been handed out – may start taking bins in conjunction with Bristol waste. Difficulties in identifying bin ownership on complex HMO heavy Street.

For decision:

1.         Progression of Ashton Vale Drop Kerb programme 

2.         Transformers Youth Fund

For information:

3.         Ashton Vale Children’s Playground update

4.         Highways update

5.         Clean Streets Campaign

6.         To note the current levels of local S106 / CIL

7.         MetroBus update

Andrew McLean

Two decisions were required:

1.For neighbourhood committee – Cllr Clarke and Cllr Phipps- to release S106 money for drop curb work in Ashton Vale – Passed

2. Whole board – Transformers youth fund- Avon & Somerset Constabulary money to target different youth providers in the area. Is board happy for council proposal for £5k to be decided via health and wellbeing submissions via existing forms?

Timescale end of March (27^th) – suggested that submissions to be encouraged in next newsletter

Age range: 8-25 (27 if disabled) models of delivery can include small grants to individuals orgs and youth groups, scouts learning partnerships etc. Or one more targeted lump sum.

Action: Recommendations to be received back before 27^th March – awards panel process 25^th

·         Urgent need to spread the word via NP mailing list/Newsletter, The Pigeon and a multi-channel approach was agreed.

·         Action: Andrew Mclean to put together wording and circulate. Decision: Deadline 17^th March, Awards panel 20^th. AM to also circulate the CIL/106 applications template.

Community updates

• It was confirmed the Lantern Parade is going ahead this weekend after rescheduling – weather permitting.
• The event was completely volunteer run – money was largely used to pay for artists in schools and traffic management –and may be last one. Big sticking point is the heavily subsidised teaching programme for schools – unless there is another route of funding found.
• Last weekend of February Window Wonderland confirmed was going ahead.
• Winter night rough sleeper trial with churches in Bristol – Bedminster involved through Salvation Army. A four week trial of a mobile shelter with view to run throughout winter next year. Done through St Mungos on reference – more information to follow on uptake of the scheme.
• Bedminster Access Group was to identifying people with disabilities to help monitor retail streets and residential areas – only a small group that relied on networks and volunteers to help inform.
• RPS consultation results being analysed – all organsiations were welcome to talk to Cllr Clarke on this.
• Inaugural meeting of the friends of Parson Street station tomorrow.
• Chessle centre project funding update –Bond information on Monday with Triodos 6pm-730pm with Southville centre.
• Metrobus – No information available on blind corner cycle route that crosses the route, needs chasing. Bridge is finished but completing either end to enable opening of bridge.  Blind corner will go down into chicane to stop people not straight across.

To note:

4^th Feb: City Council meeting from 10-4 on future of NPs, next GBCP meeting March 27^th.