Agenda and decisions

To note any declarations of interest from 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.

To receive any announcements from the Chair.

Up to 30 minutes is allowed for this item.

Any member of the public or councillor may participate in Public Forum. Public Forum items must relate to the remit of the committee and should be addressed to the Chair of the committee.

Members of the public who plan to attend a public meeting at City Hall are advised that you will be required to sign in when you arrive. Please note that you will be issued with a visitor pass which you will need to display at all times.

Please also note:

Questions

1.      Written public questions must be received by 5.00 pm, at least 3 clear working days prior to the meeting. For this meeting, this means that questions must be received at the latest by 5.00 pm on Friday 2^nd May 2025. Public Questions should be submitted via our webform: www.bristol.gov.uk/publicforum

2.      Any individual can submit up to 3 written questions.

3.      Written replies to questions will be available on the Council’s website at least one hour before the meeting.

4.      At the meeting, questioners will be permitted to ask up to 2 oral supplementary questions.

Statements

1.      Written statements must be received at latest by 12.00 noon, at least 2 working days prior to the meeting. For this meeting, this means that statements must be received at the latest by 12.00 noon on Wednesday 7^th May 2025. Public Statements should be submitted via our webform: www.bristol.gov.uk/publicforum

2.      Statements, provided they are no more than 1,000 words in length, will be circulated to all committee members and will be published on the Council’s website at least one hour before the meeting.

Petitions

1.      Details of the wording of any petitions, and the number of signatories to petitions must be received at latest by 12.00 noon, at least 2 working days prior to the meeting. For this meeting, this means that petition details must be received at the latest by 12.00 noon on Wednesday 7^th May 2025. Please email petition details to policycommittees@bristol.gov.uk

2.      At the meeting, individuals presenting petitions may be required to read out the objectives of the petition.

When submitting a question or statement please indicate whether you are planning to attend the meeting to present your statement or ask your question.

To seek authority to invite Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations to apply for the Advice Grant which will invest £2,240,000 grant funding over 4 years (£560,000 per annum) from 1 April 2026 – 31 March 2030, with an option to extend for a further 12 months.

The Committee RESOLVED (unanimous vote in favour):

1. To authorise the Executive Director for Adults and Communities and the Director for Public Health in consultation with the Chair of the Public Health and Communities Committee to:

2. Take all steps required to award the grants in-line with the maximum budget envelopes for up 5 years as outlined in the report.

3. Invite applications for the Advice Grant of £560,000 per annum, a total of £2,240,000 over four years from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2030 in line with the funding approach set out in the report.

4. Extend the funding agreement by a further 12 months making the total programme five years to 31st March 2031 at an additional cost of £560,000.

1. To note the Area Committee update report which provides a summary of the work to implement the new terms of reference approved in January 2024.

2. To seek approval for the criteria and process for allocation of the Local Community Infrastructure (CIL) Levy Equity Fund, which forms part of the guidance for spending local devolved CIL and S106.

The Committee RESOLVED (unanimous vote in favour):

1. To note the update report about implementation of terms of reference for Area Committees.

2. To approve the criteria and process for allocation of the Local CIL Equity Fund, to be introduced as part of the Area Committee process 2025.

3. To note that a paper setting out the CIL allocations for the Equity Fund 2025 will be brought to the Public Health and Communities Committee in November (To Be Confirmed).

4. To note the proposal to bring the revised Local CIL and S106 Funding Guidance to the Public Health and Communities Committee in November, to come into effect from January 2026.

1. To note the establishment of the Why Weight? Pledge for creating Healthier places Together across Bristol North Somerset and Gloucestershire Integrated Care System – a whole system’s approach to obesity prevention and creation of healthy weight environments.

2. To endorse and support this in Bristol City Council as an updated version of the Healthy Weight Declaration that was previously signed in February 2020.

The Committee RESOLVED (unanimous vote in favour):

1. To endorse and support the Why Weight? Pledge for creating Healthier places Together in Bristol, as part of the wider implementation of this as a whole systems approach to healthier weight environments and obesity prevention across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care System. An organisational certificate showing our commitment to the pledge should be signed by the Public Health and Communities Policy Committee Chairs (see Appendix A.2).

2. To agree that Christina Gray, Director of Public Health, will have oversight of implementation of the pledge in Bristol City Council and will provide assurance to the Health and Wellbeing Board who will be accountable for local pledge implementation.

To approve a tree works and tree planting programme that enhances the city’s highways and landscapes and increases tree canopy cover whilst offsetting the impact from the loss of ash trees made unsafe by Ash Dieback disease.

The Committee RESOLVED (6 members voting in favour, none voting against and with 3 members abstaining):

1. To approve the Highway Landscapes Tree Planting Programme and the required £1,903,000 capital and £933,000 revenue funding allocation as set out in the report.

2. To approve a new framework contract to the value of £2.7m that provides an alternative route for tree works to be procured should the council’s existing contract not have capacity.

3. To authorise the Executive Director: Growth and Regeneration in consultation with the Chair of the Public Health and Communities Committee and the S151 Officer to procure and award contracts to deliver highway improvements and tree management works as required, in-line with the procurement routes and maximum budget envelopes outlined in the report.

4. To authorise the Executive Director: Growth and Regeneration to invoke any subsequent extensions/variations specifically defined in the contract(s) being awarded, up to the maximum budget envelope outlined in the report.

5. To note the implementation of the Ash Dieback protocol as set out in Appendix A.

To establish a members’ Task and Finish Group to review commercial and income generation activities and opportunities in Parks and Green Spaces, and City Events.

The Committee RESOLVED:

1. (unanimous vote in favour) To note the report and approve the recommended approach in the Terms of Reference for the Commercialisation Task and Finish Group.

2. (unanimous vote in favour) To agree that Cllr Ed Fraser be appointed as Chair of this Task and Finish Group; and to agree that the Group be comprised of 7 members appointed in line with political proportionality (but with the flexibility to increase this to 9 members appointed in line with political proportionality if the Group so determines).

3. (unanimous vote in favour) To delegate the decision to agree frequency and duration of the meetings to the Task and Finish Group.

4. (unanimous vote in favour) To agree that the Task and Finish Group return to the Committee for Public Health and Communities on 21^st November 2025 with its findings.

To establish a member Task and Finish Group for a new Library Strategy.

The Committee RESOLVED:

1. (6 members voting in favour and 3 against) To note the report and approve the recommended approach and scope in the Terms of Reference (Appendix A) for the Library Strategy Task and Finish Group.

2. (unanimous vote in favour) To agree that Cllr Stephen Williams be appointed as Chair of this Task and Finish Group; and to agree that the Group be comprised of 9 members appointed in line with political proportionality.

3. (unanimous vote in favour) To agree to delegate the decision to agree frequency and duration of the meetings to the Task and Finish Group.

4. (unanimous vote in favour) To agree that the Task and Finish Group return to the Committee for Public Health and Communities on 21^st November 2025 with its findings.