Agenda and draft minutes

The Democratic Services Officer started the meeting and welcomed all parties. H explained the evacuation procedure in the event of an emergency.

To note apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Izzy Russell.

Councillor Barry Parsons moved, seconded by Councillor Shona Jemphrey and, upon being put to the vote, it was

RESOLVED (unanimously) – that Councillor Sibusiso Tshabalala be elected as Chair for the remainder of the 2025/26 Municipal Year.

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

The Committee noted the Terms of Reference for Area Committees.

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 3^rd December 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 5^th December 2024. 

One written statement per member of the public is permitted.

There was no Public Forum for the meeting.

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

The Committee noted the decisions that were taken in the previous Area Committee meetings in February 2024 which relate to their Area.

To consider the community resources update.

The Committee noted information about the operation of Area Committees. Members also noted Section 106 funds available for allocation to tree planting

proposals set out in agenda item 9, in addition to CIL funds available in Old Market Neighbourhood Development Plan area for allocation to request for additional funds set out in agenda item 10.

To consider and make decisions on tree planting proposals.

John Atkinson(Tree Officer)introduced thisreport anddrew members’attention tothe differentSection 106 projects and the breakdown of expenditure which was available. Members noted that, due to a lack of area within which to plant trees, there was a substantial amount of expenditure left.

The Committeewas advisedthat workwould beongoing overthe summerto findspaces fortree planting and noted that there were potential spaces available in certain spaces following the recent storm (i.e. near Primark). In addition to the expenditure through Tree Bristol, there was a great deal of private corporate sponsorship such as the “Trees for Streets” sponsor.

Inresponse tomembers’ questions,John Atkinsonmade thefollowing comments:

·       A substantial amount of scoping would be taking place to identify sites but these needed to be in accordancewith thenecessary requirementsfor highways,health andsafety andother servicesso frequently took a long time to obtain approval.

·       Certain sites such as at Debenhams and the Horsefair required large trees and were therefore moredifficult tobe approved.However, thebudget couldbe increasedto ensuremore mature trees were planted

·       Officerswere happyfor suggestionsto comedirectly fromCouncillors subjectto thesebeing within the planting season deadline

·       TheTree Forumwere acritical friendand carriedout asignificant amountof lobbying,including holding us to account in terms of planning regulations and ensuring proper consultation

·       Therewould beopportunities forplanting throughthe EastBristol LiveableNeighbourhoods Scheme

·       Anyproposals toremove diseasedtrees wouldinvolve aconsultation processwhich local Councillors would be involved in

·       Thetotal costwas calculatedrather thanestimated. Whilstapproximately 85%of treeswere sourced through the UK and mainly in the local area, the remainder came from other areas including the Netherlands

Section106 FundedProposals werenoted asfollows:

19/01583,The CrescentCentre, TempleBack, City

Centre £5,906.5923/02/28 Theprovision andmaintenance ofoff-site tree Planting

19/04841, St PhilipsMarsh Depot,Feeder Road,St Philips£23,684.89 Nolimit The provision and maintenance of off-site tree planting either on-street or in public open space within a one mile radius of Albert Crescent

23/01732,1 GeorgesSquare, BathStreet, CityCentre £8,302.75No limitThe

provision and maintenanceof off-sitetree plantingeither on-streetor inpublic openspace within a one mile radius of Bath Street

Councillor Sibusiso Tshabalalamoved, secondedby CouncillorAni Stafford-Townsendseconded and upon being put to the vote, it was

RESOLVED(unanimously) –that thetree plantingproposals setout inthe report(listed below) be approved:

TreePlanting Proposals

19/015831 QueenStreet Central200001 Pyruscalleryana Chanticleer £1075.75

19/01583 2 Queen Street Central 200003 Carpinus betulus £1075.75 19/01583 3 Welsh Back Central 200007 Ulmus New Horizon £1075.75 19/01583 4 The Haymarket Central 200013 Ginkgo biloba £1075.75 19/01583 5 City Docks Central 200078.1 Alnus cordata £1075.75 19/04841 6 ClementStreet LawrenceHill 200015.5Quercus castanifolia

£1075.75

19/048417 ClementStreet LawrenceHill  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Suzy Feltham (Landscape Works and Play Manager) introduced this report and made the following comments:

·       The report set out details of a request for additional funding for a new play area

·       The additional works required had been drawn up by landscape architects and were set out in the location plan

·       Examples of the kit that would be used were shown. Since the existing surface was poor, wet pour and rubber surfacing was required

·       Additional trees were proposed with blue painting based on a river theme and an upgrade of the existing benches

·       There had been a significant amount of consultation including the local nursery and housing team

·       The Neighbourhood Development Forum were fully on board with the scheme

·       The play panels were likely to be situated near the toddler unit

·       A new space strategy had recently been delivered to address the issues of staggered upgrades. This strategy would require that play space was provided for children within 150 metres of their house

·       Whilst funding for some estate renewal schemes came from the HRA, our team delivered housing play areas for inspection and repair purposes

Committee members made the following comments:

·       The Committee should support this project as there was a huge need for it

·       A number of recent projects had been left in a poor state following the completion of works which demoralised residents. In future, these needed to be completed properly to ensure expectations were fully met

·       A map of those schemes completed and future schemes would be helpful for the committee

·       There was a need to fully engage tenants in the delivery of priorities

·       It was important to identify play areas in places where there was little space available for them such as near the BRI

·       The Old Market Development Area had been specifically identified for funding support by the local Old Market group

The Committee noted that officers were currently advertising for an additional post to help support the committee process, including the community engagement function.

Councillor Sibusiso Tshabalala moved, seconded by Councillor Abdul Malik and upon being put to the vote, it was

RESOLVED (unanimously) – that additional funds be approved to allow for the proper completion of the previously funded project  in the Old Market Neighbourhood Development Plan Area as follows:

TOTAL £97,375

Breakdown as follows, based on costings from contractors this year as well as quotes from suppliers.

• Prelims (including security, welfare and safety setup) - £9000

• Site Clearance/Excavation - £7000

• Proposed Hard Surface Installation (asphalt scooter track/path, wet pour, EPDM rubber mulch to replace grass mat and provide all weather, longer lasting, harder wearing play surface + colour and patterns instead of black wet pour that we don’t have much of in Bristol) inc. installation - £80,000

• Proposed Landscaping (relevelling worn areas, tree planting, boulders,

weaving logs, planting) - £2000

• Outdoor furniture (fencing to extend area, drop bollard, seating) - £9600

• Play Equipment (two new bigger swings for more capacity, new toddler multi unit, sensory play for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.