Agenda item

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

·           The proposals included tree planting in the adjacent Area Committee 1 and 5 areas due to the lack of planting opportunities in the 1 mile radius of the time limited S106 agreements in relation to the former Police Station, New Bridewell Street, City Centre;

·           The money proposed to be spent out of area amounted to approx. £6,900.

The following comments were made by Councillors:

·         Concern that not all the money could be used for tree planting in the Area Committee 4 area and that the 1 mile radius prevented the monies from being used in other parts of Area Committee 4, such as St George;

·         Consideration needed to be given to creative and innovative solutions such as the use of planters where it was not possible to identify sites for tree planting;

·         The risk of the S106 monies being subject to clawback by the developer if not spent within the time limit was low;

·         The Area Committee boundaries would not be recognised by local residents and it may be better to use the monies to plant trees elsewhere rather than risk losing it.

In considering the tree planting project proposals, Members agreed that the project be partially funded to deliver the projects within Area Committee 4 area.

In considering the tree planting proposals outside Area Committee 4, Councillor Ruth Pickersgill proposed that planting in adjacent Area Committee 1 and Area Committee 5 areas with available Area Committee 4 S106 monies be approved.  This was seconded by Councillor Steve Pearce and on being put to the vote was NOT CARRIED (4 in favour and 6 against).

Councillor Asher Craig proposed that the proposed planting in adjacent Area Committee 1 and Area Committee 5 areas with Area Committee 4 S106 monies be rejected and the outstanding monies be set aside for future creative and innovative planting proposals within the Area Committee 4, noting there was a small risk that the S106 monies would be the subject of clawback by the developer.  This was seconded and on being put to the vote was CARRIED.

RESOLVED that

(1)   the that the tree planting project proposals be partially funded to deliver the projects within Area Committee 4 area as follows;

(a) 19 trees using 13/00452 / Former Magistrates Court, Nelson Street, City Centre using all remaining funding for that contribution save for £59.03 residue which could be added to revenue fund for future maintenance;

(b) 2 trees will be planted using 13/05273 / Former Bridewell Street Police Station, New Bridewell Street using £1,530.42  leaving £15,596.58 of this contribution.

(c) 3 trees will be planted using 15/05293 / Newfoundland Road Car Park, St. Agnes using all remaining funding for that contribution save for £4.35 residue which could be added to revenue fund for future maintenance.

(d) 6 trees will be planted using £4,591.26 of 15/05530 / 31 to 45 Lower Ashley Road, St. Pauls leaving £9,299.83 of this contribution to plant trees in the area next year

(2)   that the proposed planting in adjacent Area Committee 1 and Area Committee 5 areas with Area Committee 4 S106 monies be rejected and the outstanding monies be set aside for future creative and innovative planting proposals within the Area Committee 4, noting there was a small risk that the S106 monies could be subject to clawback by the developer.

Schemes NOT approved as follows: