Agenda item

The report recommends funding decision on submitted Full Proposal for approval of S106 Tree planting funds 

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

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) available to the Area Committee totalled £533,172.88.  This broke down for general AC6 expenditure and for the Hengrove Neighbourhood Plan Area as follows:

·         For General AC6 expenditure £215,335.29

·         For Hengrove ND Plan expenditure £337,837.59

The Section 106 (S106) available to the Area Committee totalled £63,508.12 of which £9,546.50 was designated specifically for tree planting and tree replacement.

The Tree Officer outlined the ongoing project, working with ‘Trees for Climate’ fund from DEFRA and also how the team linked to funding through private or corporate sponsorship of tree plots.

Bristol City Council and their partners aimed to plant as many trees as possible in the Local Authority Area. Bristol’s One City Action Plan has the

Environmental Objective of doubling the tree canopy in the city by 2046 and becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

In response to questions from Councillors, the Tree Bristol Officer clarified the following points:

·         Existing plots which had previously held failed trees were identified and reassigned as soon as they were available.

·         Councillor Morris was asked to provide information to officers about the site around the bike track which would be available for a future project.

·         If trees were planted by a contractor (such as the Metrobus project), the responsibility for those trees lay with the contractor for a specified number of years.

·         One Tree Per Child was an ongoing project committed to planting 6000 trees a year around schools and involved school children often of years 4, 5 and 6.  Trees may not be on the site of the school, but nearby, and children would assist in the planting.

The requirement was summarised as follows:

RESOLVED that the Committee:

1. Noted the progress of previously approved projects.

2. Noted the progress of 2021/22 Area Committee process and the decision-making for S106 monies specified for tree planting and replacement.

3. Noted the CIL and S106 monies available at 30th June 2021.

4. Considered the funding for the S106 Tree Proposal submitted and did not attach any conditions.

5. Noted the legal information concerning the Public Sector Equality duty in reaching all its decisions.

6. Considered the project proposal submitted and approved full delivery of the project.

7. Approved the allocation of remaining S106 (£363.98) as additional support to maintenance.