Agenda and minutes

The Chair led the welcome and introductions.

Apologies were received from Cllr Jackson.  Cllr Goggin attended in substitute.

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.

There were no declarations of interest.

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

The Committee Resolved:

That the Minutes of the Public Rights of Way and Greens Committee AGM held on 12 December 2016, 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 5pm on Tuesday, 7^th March 2017.

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, 10^th March 2017.

The Committee noted the public forum statement received from Cllr Sergeant in respect of Stoke Lodge Playing Fields.

Committee to note the report for information on the present position with regard to

claims under Section 53 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

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 Committee Resolved to note the report.

Committee to note the report for information on 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.

The Committee Resolved to note the report.

Recommendation - that under Section.100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of schedule 12A of the Act (as amended).

Bristol City Council is fully committed to openness.  The Council will not withhold information unless there are good reasons for doing so. The following reports are not available to members of the public because they contain information which is about individuals, labour relations or is commercially or legally sensitive. The particular reasons are given in each case.

The Committee Resolved that under Section.100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of schedule 12A of the Act (as amended), under Category 5  – Information in respect of which a claim for legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.

To discuss privileged legal advice.

Committee to note the guidance and briefing on decision making.

Exempt under category 5

5 – Information in respect of which a claim for legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings

Report to follow.

The Committee received and considered a confidential legal briefing paper in respect of the PROWG decision to Register Stoke Lodge.

RESOLVED (4 members voting, with 2 against, and with 1 abstention):

That the Committee approves the recommendation:Agree to reconsider the decision, this involves the following:

1. To take the decision in principle to reconsider the application to register Stoke Lodge as a Town and Village green
2. To hold an Extraordinary meeting of the Committee to enable that to happen
3. As the first item of the Extraordinary meeting, to ratify the in principle decision to rescind the previous decision and reconsider it, allowing the public to participate in this decision.