Agenda and draft minutes

The Democratic Services Officer started the meeting and welcomed all parties. He oultined the emergency evacuation procedure.

To note apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor George Calascione.

Councillor Jerome Thomas moved, seconded by Councillor Paula O’Rourke that Councillor Patrick McAllister be appointed as chair for the meeting during 2024/25 Municipal Year.

In accordance with the correct procedure, further nominations were sought for the meeting.

Councillor Serena Ralston moved, seconded by Councillor Mohamed Makawi that Councillor Guy Poultney be moved as chair for the meeting during 2024/25 Municipal Year.

Following the proper procedure, the Committee voted on the first nomination – Councillor Patrick McAllister received three votes which was not a majority of the Committee who were attending.

Prior to the vote for the second nomination, both Councillors nominated for Chair explained their reasons for seeking this role.

There then followed further discussion about who should be selected between the Committee.

Members discussed the possible option of someone being elected for the duration of the meeting only and of the need for a permanent Chair to be in place before the next scheduled formal meeting in May 2025 due to the input this person would have into the discussions for the Corporate Model Working Group.

Officers advised that all key issues discussed at the Committee Model Working Group for each Area Committee would be referred to Area Committee members. It was also noted that there would be regular informal discussions of Committee members prior to the next formal meeting in May 2025.

Following this, the second nomination was withdrawn and there was a third nomination – Councillor Guy Poultney moved, it was duly seconded and

RESOLVED (unanimously) - that Councillor Patrick McAllister be appointed as Chair for the meeting during 2024/25 Municipal Year.              

To note the terms of reference approved at Full Council on 9th January 2024.

The Committee noted the Terms of Reference for all Area Committee meetings.

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 declaration 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.

Up to 30 minutes is allowed for this item.

Members of the press and public who plan to attend a public meeting at City Hall

are advised that you will be required to sign in when you arrive and you will be

issued with a visitor pass which you will need to display at all times.

Public forum items may be submitted about matters that relate to items that are on the agenda for the meeting or any matter within the terms of reference of the Area Committee provided the deadlines are adhered to.

Further information can be found in the Public Information Sheet attached to this agenda or within the Area Committees Terms of Reference.

Public Forum items should be emailed to democratic.services@bristol.gov.uk.

Please note that the following deadlines will apply in relation to this meeting:-

Public Questions – Written questions must be received no later than 5pm on the 27^th November 2024.

A maximum of three questions per member of the public is permitted.

Petitions and Statements - Petitions and written statements must be received no later than 12 noon on the 29^th November 2024. 

One written statement per member of the public is permitted.

There were no Public Forum items for the meeting.

To note the previous decisions brought forward to the new area committee boundaries.

The Committee noted that no relevant decisions were taken in the previous Area Committee meetings in February 2024 which relate to Area Committee 3, as the previous Area committee 1 which covered these wards did not allocate any funding to the wards within the new Area Committee 3.

To consider the community resources update.

Ellie Stevens (Community Resources Manager) introduced this report and drew members’ attention to the complete picture of Section 106 funding provided in it.

The Committee noted that £42080.60 of Section 106 funding was available specifically for tree planting.

To consider and make decisions on tree planting proposals.

John Atkinson(Tree Officer)introduced thisreport. Heexplained thatit wasproposed forthe Committee to agree to some funds to be spent outside of their own Area Committee area, in Area Committee 2. This would be to plant trees on the border with Area Committee 3 (StokeBishop andRedland Hill), since therewere limitedtree plotscurrently availablefor thecurrent tree planting season within Area 3. He stated that the committee also had the option of deferring a decision on this matter pending scoping work on tree planting sites next year.

Inresponse tomembers’ questions, JohnAtkinson madethe following comments:

·       Thefunding couldbe usedto amendthe TreePreservation Orderand directlyfor treesbut could not be spent on mitigation

·       S106 funding could be used for other purposes,such asremoving hedgerowsand vegetationin thegulleys usedby the goats on the Downs, provided it met the criteria for contribution (eg. Was in the right geographic position)

·       Somerelevant forumshad beenconsulted aboutthe allocation of funding.However, therewas limitedfunding available. Therefore, contact was usually made directly to him or via a formal application rather than open community engagement taking place.

·       Workfor theBaltic Wharfdevelopment withsupport fromthe parksdepartment wouldinvolve several thousand street tree sites. There would be a mixture of soft surface planting, survey and scoping work

·       Theproposal touse somefunds forschemes inArea Committee2 butright onthe borderof Area Committee 3 was to address concerns in previous years about not using all funds for some planting seasons

·       Oneoption wasto approvetree plantingusing theSt Mary’sHospital funding (within AC3) and deferthe other proposed planting sites pending the identification of other locations within AC3

·       TheCommittee’s thankswas noted forremoving atree onCollege Greenfollowing StormBurt

·       Whilstno specificsites hadyet beenidentified fortrees followingthe blockingof thezoo carpark, this could be considered as it was very close to the border of AC3

The Committeeconsidered whichof thesites toapprove fortree planting,taking intoaccount the request for planting on two sites outside AC3 but very close to the border and requests to ensure all wards within the area received some planting. Officers noted requests for funding for future tree planting in sites not yet identified for the Metrobus scheme and Avon Crescent.

CouncillorGuy Poultneymoved, itwas dulyseconded andupon beingput tothe vote,it was

RESOLVED(unanimously) –that, fromthe totalof £37,651.25 thatArea Committee3 hadbeen requested to consider whether or not to approve for future tree planting schemes, all the £14,

735.73funding fromthe StMary’s HospitalScheme beallocated totrees withinArea Committee

3 as proposed,with adecision onthe remainingunallocated funds(totalling£22,915.52) beingdeferred toa future meeting.

Action:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.