Agenda and minutes

To elect the Chair of the Area Committee for the 2020-2021 municipal year.

RESOLVED – that Councillor Ruth Pickersgill be elected Chair for the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor English.

To consider the minutes of the last meeting held on the 3^rd October 2019

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the previous Meeting held on 3^rd October 2019 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To hear any declaration of interests from Councillors on the Area Committee.

There were no declarations of interest.

Please see the public information sheet attached to the agenda for information and detail about public forum processes.  For this specific meeting, the deadlines are:

·       The deadline for Public Forum Questions is 5pm on Tuesday 21^st July.

·       The deadline for Public Forum Statements is 12 noon on Friday 24^th July.

·       The deadline for registration to speak at the meeting is 12 noon on Thursday 23^rd July.

Please email to democratic.services@bristol.gov.uk

Members considered the public forum question and statement submitted in advance of the meeting.

Ms Booth had been sent an answer to her question which had also been circulated to members of the Committee and published on the website.  Mark Ashdown was in attendance and presented his statement.

Members noted the question and statement submitted.

The Community Resources Manager introduced the report and drew attention to the following:

·       Members would receive an update by the end of August on progress on previously approved Section 106 (S106) and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) transport, parks and community projects;

·       A decision had been taken to pause 2020 CIL and S106 decisions with the exception of S106 monies specified for tree planting and replacement so works could start in the 20/21 planting season;

The Community Resources Manager continued to present the report and drew attention to the following:

·       There was currently a CIL fund total of £368,329.05, which was broken down as a deficit of -£5,557.10 for general expenditure and a surplus from the Old Market ND Plan area;

·       There was a total of £447,301.94 uncommitted Section 106 agreement monies of which £257,534.58 was specifically assigned to tree planting or replacement as outlined in the report to the meeting;

·       Members were asked to consider the proposed tree planting and replacement scheme using the £81,877.47 available to plant 94 trees across the wards of Area Committee 4 and, if approved, to further consider if the residue of £292.13 should be added to the maintenance budget or keep in the existing S106 tree planting budget;

·       There were a further six planting locations proposed which were within the boundary of Area Committee 3 and seven planting locations within the boundary of Area Committee 5;

·       There were two time-limited S106 allocations (Nelson Street and Bridewell Street) at risk if not allocated;

In response to questions from Councillors, the Tree Bristol Officer clarified the following points:

·       Future proposals would include a map and the common, rather than Latin, names of the trees;

·       A new tree plot required a consultation process, service checks, equality requirements for pavement widths, highways quality assurances and installation; 

·       Planters were suited to specific trees often with a shorter life and there was often significantly more maintenance required;

·       Current post-Covid work in the City Centre presented an opportunity to engineer more new pits however the process continued to be lengthy and costly;

·       There had been difficulties identifying known and safe tree pit sites for the City Centre area around the developments in Nelson Street and Bridewell Street;

·       It was clarified that use of S106 Tree Planting contributions did not include general ‘greening’ measures, ‘commemorative plaques’ attached to existing trees or ‘Smart Trees’ (although the legal definition of that could be checked) but did include Tree Planters;

·       Officers continued to work on a resolution for issues with the three large trees causing issues for residents off Fernwood/ Dundridge Park.  The seven new trees proposed were suitable for their location;

·       The Urban Tree Challenge Fund had awarded a grant for trees in the Area Committee area and plans would be shared with Ward Councillors.

The following comments were made by Councillors:

·       The pedestrianisation of the Old City could be an opportunity to use planters within the City Centre where new tree pits were difficult to establish.  Officers and Councillors would set up  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.