Agenda item

The Parks Services Manager delivered the presentation on the development of an Allotments and Food Growing Strategy. Key points raised included:

?       A new Allotments and Food Growing Strategy for 2023-2028 was being developed, replacing the previous Allotments Strategy from 2009. The remit had been expanded to include smallholdings and other food growing locations.

?       The strategy was being developed in parallel with the Parks and Green Spaces strategy which allowed for a wider land use assessment.

?       The new strategy was intended to address the increase in demand and land pressures by considering a number of challenges by theme; these were identified through feedback with tenants and the Allotment Forum.

?       Proposed themes included:  Tenancy management; Site management; Community management; Managing for Nature; Managing for Climate Change; Supply and demand; Investment and sustainable finances; Sustainable food production; Health and wellbeing; Welcoming and accessible; Education and learning.

Commission Members commented and raised questions regarding the report. The Director for Management of Place and Parks Services Manager provided responses.

?       Members welcomed the report and considered this timely.

?       A Member requested further information on the use of phosphates in Allotments. Officers agreed to provide this information.

?       Clarification was requested over the stakeholders that had been involved in land use discussions. Stakeholders included Bristol Food Producers, Bristol Food Network, and community food growing groups.  It was noted that transparency over access was needed.

?       A query was raised over any plans to expand the land made available for allotments and food growing. Officers responded that the mapping exercise to understand current use was intended to help to increase land on existing spaces through tenancy management. Public open spaces had not been ruled out, and it was likely that there would be a hierarchy to release land.

?       Members were unsurprised at the long waiting list as this matched their experiences. It was agreed that some Council investment would always be required.

?       It was clarified that where animal smallholdings existed these were largely in sheds.

?       A Member suggested that more could be done around considerations of accessibility and raised an example that changes to locks had prevented their use by people with limited mobility. Accessibility concerns were also raised around the hose pipe policy as some tenants were not able to carry water over distance. Members requested further discussion around the use of water butts.

?       Members suggested that they may be able to provide information around potential sites, providing an example of a known privately owned area that could not be developed due to a Public Right of Way.

?       Local Authority borders were discussed, as some sites are located close to or crossing borders and tenants may originate from inside and outside Bristol. A concern was raised regarding the language used to refer to ‘Bristol citizens’ as it may exclude some out of area users. Clarification of this was requested.

RESOLVED; That Officers note the comments of the Communities Scrutiny Commission for consideration, including requests i) for further information regarding the use of phosphates, ii) to examine issues around accessibility, iii) to examine issues around water use, and iv) to clarify the reference to ‘Bristol citizens’ in reference to tenants and users.