Agenda and minutes

Nominations received – Cllr Abraham.

Councillor Abraham was duly elected as Chair of Public Rights of Way and Greens Committee for 2016/17.

Nominations received – Cllr Kent.

Councillor Kent was duly elected as Vice- Chair of Public Rights of Way and Greens Committee for 2016/17.

The Chair led the welcome and introductions.

To note the committee membership for 2016/17.

The membership of the Committee for the 2016/17 municipal year was noted as follows:-

None received.

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.

Cllr. Kent referred to a previous interest in relation to Colston’s School Playing fields (file number JD5.587) under Item 12. Current applications for registration of land as town or village greens; and confirmed that there was no longer an interest.

To note the committee’s terms of reference, as determined at the Annual Council meeting on 31 May 2016.

Resolved that the terms of reference of the Public Rights of Way and Greens Committee, as determined at the Annual Council meeting held on 31 May, 2016 be noted.

To note / agree the following meeting dates for 2015/16:

•          2.00 pm Monday 12 December 2016

•          2.00 pm Monday 13 March 2017

That the meeting dates for the 2016/17 Municipal Year be noted as follows:-

·         Monday 12 December 2016, 2.00pm

·         Monday 12 March 2017, 2.00pm

Councillors requested that quarterly meetings to monitor the progress of applications be scheduled for the next municipal year commencing in June 2017 after the Annual Full Council.

Actions:

        i.            Officers to diarise June 2017 AGM date and provisional quarterly meeting dates for 2017/18.

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

Resolved that the Minutes of the Public Rights of Way and Greens Committee AGM held on 21 September 2015, be confirmed as a correct record.

Up to 30 minutes is allowed for this item

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:-

Questions - Written questions must be received 3 clear working days prior to the meeting.  For this meeting, this means that your question(s) must be received in this office at the latest by 5 pm on Tuesday 13^th September 2016.

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 Friday 16^th September 2016.

None received.

To note the report for information on the present position with regard to claims under Section 53 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; public inquiries; and miscellaneous rights of way orders, agreements and legal proceedings.

The Committee considered an information report of the Service Director for Transport, which outlined the present position with regard to claims under Section 53 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; public inquiries; and miscellaneous rights of way orders, agreements and legal proceedings, presented by the Network Operations Manager.

The following points were raised in discussion:

a.      Members raised concern regarding claims ‘awaiting investigation’ from 2006.

b.      Delays in starting investigations were due to the requirement to prioritise claims as a result of development proposals.

c.       Potential changes in circumstances of any applicants, during this timeframe could make claims redundant or add additional layers of complexity.

d.      Additional resource has been recruited which should assist with progressing claims. 

e.      Claims investigation varied in complexity, and could take investigators anything from 6 months to a year to complete. There may be specialist companies that could carry out this work at costs to the Council.

f.        Claim ID3.685 had been awaiting direction from DEFRA since 2008.  Cllrs asked that this be chased for decision.

Actions:

                                i.            Officers to contact all outstanding applicants to confirm current circumstances and commitment/eligibility to pursue the original claims.

                              ii.            Officers to include a map to identify outstanding claim sites

                            iii.            Officers to confirm the legal position regarding obligations to investigate should an applicant become deceased.

                            iv.            Officers to write to DEFRA to request a decision on claim ID3.685

                              v.            Officers to report outcomes of actions to the December meeting.

To note the report for information of the present position with regards Town or Village Green applications duly made under the Commons Act 2006.

The Committee considered an information report of the Commons Registration Authority, which outlined the present position with regard to Town or Village Green (TVG) applications duly made under the Commons Act 2006 and the annual external spend for TVG applications.

Stoke Lodge Playing Fields (JD5.450)

a.      Noted that the majority of the external spend circa £34k had been generated by activity on the Stoke Lodge application.

b.      It was anticipated that the Independent Inspector’s Report will be available by the end of September 2016.  The Chair requested that this was circulated to members when available.

Actions:

                                i.            Officers to circulate the Inspectors Report to Members when available

                              ii.            Officers to provide an update report to the December meeting.