Agenda item

Up to 30 minutes is allowed for this.

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 5 pm on 20 September 2016.

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 23 September 2016.

            Comments on public forum statements –

a.     Student parking – NP welcomed Joni Lloyd Community Liaison officer for University of Bristol, suggested that Joni attend the next Stoke Bishop Neighbourhood Forum on 1^st November and the next Transport Working Group on 31 October 2016. Concern was expressed that the Vice Chancellor had disregarded previous correspondence about the parking issues caused by students not using on-site parking facilities at the University. NP advised by Joni that students could not be told not to bring their vehicles. NP members felt that this was incorrect as other universities did apply that as a policy. The NP acknowledged it had limited control over this issue and that the only option open to it was to maintain the pressure on the University to amend its approach. Councillor Abraham offered to meet the Vice Chancellor directly to discuss possible options to mitigate the problem of, student related, on street parking and discuss other concerns raised about noise and behaviour.

b.     Concern about inappropriate use of the Downs and lack of any meaningful consultation. The NP acknowledged that the Downs were controlled by the Downs Act 1861 and that there was no provision in the Act for public consultation. In respect of a burger van licence the NP was informed that Bristol City Council lawyers had advised that the Downs Act had precedence, not the Licensing Sub-Committee regarding permission to use the Downs for this purpose.

            It was understood that the Downs Committee was reviewing its procedures and was recommending that in future pre-approval would be sought from council officers and if appropriate Development Control (Planning) prior to any application going ahead.  In the meantime the Chair undertook to liaise with Councillor Abraham and Alan Preece and compose a letter to Head of Legal Services, Bristol City Council in order to pursue this matter further.

c.      Statement was noted.

d.     Agreed that the Chair write to Bristol City Council to request that an appropriate representative of the Council give a presentation to the Westbury on Trym Forum of 2 November 2016 in respect of the Canford Park Management Plan 2012 -2017 and how Parks and Estates would deliver the comprehensive review. 

e.     Non enforcement issue in Stoke Bishop area, agreed to refer to the Planning Sub-Committee of the Stoke Bishop Neighbourhood Forum and invite local residents and a member of the Council’s planning and enforcement team.

f.       Paul Walker Library Development Officer attended to advise on swipe card scheme being implemented, late in the autumn, to allow access to libraries outside normal opening hours. NP advised that there would be a community meeting on 25 October at 7 pm at Westbury Library to explain to public how it would work. The Chair also asked Paul to attend Stoke Bishop Neighbourhood Forum, WoT Neighbourhood Forum and Henleaze Neighbourhood Forum on 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd November respectively.

            St Mary’s Church - meeting on 4 October – this was an additional issue raised during public forum but no statement was received – about looking at issues regarding the Massive Attack concert held on the Downs in September. Andrew (Neighbourhood Co-ordinator) undertook to find out more and let NP members know details.