Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillor Steve Pearce, Richard Curtis, Church Road Action Group, Jo Curtis, Friends of St George Park, Gill Calloway, Neighbourhood Officer, Linda Callazo, Susan Acton-Campbell, Champion of Wellbeing sub-group, Tamsin Harcourt, resident St George Central ward, Chris Deane resident, St George Troopers Hill ward.

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.

None declared.

·       To agree the minutes of the previous meeting as a correct record

·       Action tracker

RESOLVED -

That the Minutes of the meeting of the St George NP held on 12 October 2016 be confirmed as a correct record.

The NP noted the action tracker.

5(a) Budget Freeze

The Neighbourhood Partnership was informed that Bristol City Council had announced a total freeze on non-essential spending to enable it to balance its annual budget for 2016/17 and to prepare for a five-year £92m financial budget reduction from next April to include non-essential maintenance, recruitment and new or renewed contracts for goods and services.

The voluntary spending freeze would remain in place until the Council had firm plans for a balanced budget this year and next, along with a more developed five-year plan.  Section106 money and CIL, however, was not currently constrained under this arrangement.

The spending freeze would have serious implications for the Neighbourhood Partnership’s Wellbeing general budget as all council spending had been suspended.

This had a direct effect on the proposed spending as set out in the Wellbeing report for this meeting. After discussion it was agreed to defer all spend decisions until the next meeting on 29 March 2017 when it was hoped that the situation would be clearer. In the meantime applicants to be advised of the situation so that they could seek funding from another source if this was possible. The St George NP website would be updated to reflect this. It was noted that Wellbeing Applications would have exceeded the current budget if all had been approved.

The NP was informed that there is a Locality event, which would be held in January/February to consider future options of NPs. NP members along with wider community organisations would be invited to take part and share ideas.

The Chair circulated a note of a NP Development Plan Working Group meeting on 12 December 2016 (facilitated by VOSCUR) which considered the current role of the NP and agreed actions to establish options for its future role and structure. All ideas and suggestions would be welcome, the Chair asked that members feedback via the Neighbourhood Partnership Coordinator.

(Report of Neighbourhood Officer, Gill Calloway)

The NP was advised that the purpose of the engagement plan was to set out the strategy for the Neighbourhood Officer (with support from colleagues and NP Communication sub group) to increase resident involvementin the St George Neighbourhood Partnership (NP). The focus was on activities that linked to priorities already identified in the St George NP Plan.

Jessica Tulit Bristol Waste Company circulated an information leaflet about recycling and ways of improving the service. The NP noted that there had been significant interest in street cleaners with a number of volunteers for litter picking. Noted that dumping of rubbish (bottom of Speedwell Road), was a continuing problem.  Also noted, that there was no pedestrian access to recycling sites.

(Report of Champions and NP Co-ordinator, Abdulrazak Dahir)

NC & NP decision and discuss:

i.          NP Budget

ii.         Section 106 money funding

iii.        Wellbeing Grants

iv.        Other NP Business

Transformers Fund

The NP agreed to accept the Transformer Fund offer. Discussion included need for NP to connect with Youth Mayors. After consideration on how to administer the fund it was suggested that the money could go direct to the Creative Youth Network (CYN) rather than via the Wellbeing Panel. This was agreed, with one objection, subject to a caveat that all the money must go toward young people projects. The Neighbourhood Partnership Coordinator was to monitor the process.

Memorial options for the late Councillor Ron Stone

Options considered by the NP included naming the existing avenue of trees, a band stand and a photographic competition. Grenville Johnson had been in touch with members of Ron’s family and reported their preferences. The NP was mindful that there was no budget provision for this. It was suggested that crowd funding could be the answer. The NP agreed that installation of plaques naming the avenue of trees was its preferred option, while noting that this did not prevent other options being pursued. Grenville Johnson agreed to lead the project on behalf of the NP, find out costings and update the NP at its next meeting on 29 March 2017.

Meadow Vale – Additional Funding

This item could not be considered due to the Council’s spending freeze.

St George Park – Lake

The NP was updated on work to the walls to the lake at St George Park, noted that the work would have to be delayed until after next summer to protect wildlife, if the current spending freeze prevented work starting this winter.

Dundridge Park Path

Geoff Reeson noted that in view of the concerns raised about the proposed path, the group was to consider other options.

Wellbeing Applications

Due to the funding freeze no payments could be agreed and therefore the current applications were not considered.

Meadow Vale – Community Asset Transfer

The NP supported this proposal in principle. It was noted that the planning application for extending the Community Centre was now open to comments on the Council’s website.

Resolved -

(1) That the Transformer’s Youth Fund be accepted and that it be delegated to the Creative Youth Network (CYN) for spend in line with the conditions as set out in the report;

(2) (a) That the NP note progress to date and find out costings for the options considered and that Grenville Johnson (resident) lead the project and update the NP at its next meeting on 29 March 2017;

(2) (b) That the approved subgroup recommendation to support Meadowvale Steering Group be deferred pending outcome of Bristol City Council’s spending freeze;

(3) Environment: that progress be noted and the request from Friends of Dundridge Park

Group for the release of S106 money be deferred;

(4) Traffic and Transport: that progress be noted and the Subgroup’s recommendation to encourage

action against anti-social parking be considered further in the new year;

(5) Wellbeing: that the Wellbeing subgroup recommendation for grant applications

received since October 2016 be deferred due to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

(Report of the NP Co-ordinator, Abdulrazak Dahir)

Report was noted, Police were thanked for their input in respect of the Crime and Community Safety aspects.

Any member of the public or Councillor may participate in Public Forum.  The detailed arrangements for so doing are set out in the Public Information Sheet at the back of this agenda.  Public Forum items should be emailed to democratic.services@bristol.gov.uk and please note that the following deadlines will apply in relation to this meeting:-

Petitions and Statements - Petitions and statements must be received on the working day prior to the meeting.  For this meeting this means that your submission must be received in this office at the latest by 12.00 noon on Tuesday 13^th December

None received.

The meeting ended at 8.55 pm

CHAIR  __________________