Agenda item

The CRM introduced the report and highlighted the following:-

1. Area Committee 5 currently has £374,029.37 general CIL funding available to allocate for

2023/24;

2. As of 30 September 2023 Area Committee 5 had £31, 294.55 uncommitted Section 106 agreement monies available, of which £1,700.77 was designated specifically for tree planting and replacement;
3. Councillors were asked to consider 46 Outline Proposals submitted, and to decide which to invite to submit full proposals in Stage 2;
4. Councillors were asked to consider a full proposal for S106 tree funding;
5. It was generally agreed by the Committee that Transport/Highway proposals should not go forward to Stage 2 due to the resourcing/capacity issues within that team.

2023 Stage 2 Full Project Proposals: for decision

The Committee then considered the Tree Proposal as set out in paragraph 17 of the report. The following comments arose from discussion:-

1. One of the Ward Councillors for Southville expressed great concern that tree officers had not looked for sites in Southville despite it being the 2^nd hottest ward in Bristol and there was therefore a need for heat mitigation through tree planting. She would not vote for the tree planting proposals;
2. The Chair proposed that the three small tree planting proposals be approved and that officers be tasked with looking for proposals and a pipeline for S106 tree replacements and work with the Ward Councillor for Southville for a strategic plan and not accept low hanging fruit proposals; Action John Atkinson (Tree Bristol Officer)
3. It was noted that the cost of tree replacement proposals had increased due to inflation;
4. The proposals as set out in the report was moved by Councillor Varney and seconded by Councillor Hopkins and on being put to the vote it was:-

Resolved – (8 for, 2 against) That the tree planting proposals for Kingshill Road, Knowle, Gores Marsh Park, Bedminster & Victoria Park, Windmill Hill with a delivery cost of £3, 124.98 be approved.

2023 Stage 1 Outline Proposals submitted for consideration.

The Committee then considered 46 Outline Proposals submitted for consideration to go to Stage 2 to develop full proposals as set out in Appendix 3 of the report.

The CRM advised against inviting more proposals to stage 2 than it is likely the committee will be able to fund. This is due to the workload involved for organisations and colleagues developing full proposals. She confirmed that from October 2024 £137,000 would be available. It was noted that 4 proposals had been withdrawn from Knowle Ward.

Bedminster Ward.

The Ward Councillors agreed to prioritise the following schemes to go forward to Stage 2:-

·       It was agreed that Ashton Vale Club be asked to work up their proposal and provide a set of prices on their priorities. Action ES

·       A scheme for traffic calming around Compass Point primary school  was discussed, however the committee chose not to prioritise this scheme due to the backlog of transport projects and complexity of the proposed scheme. Councillors Bradshaw and Fitzjohn were invited to work on ideas for a smaller scheme focused on signage, which could be brought to the committee as part of next year’s process.

Brislington East Ward.

The Ward Councillors agreed to prioritise the following scheme to go forward to Stage 2:-

·   Ward Members had wished to fund St. Lukes Church but not for a combination boiler and a heat pump would require insulation.

Brislington West Ward.

The Ward Councillors agreed to prioritise the following scheme to go forward to Stage 2:-

Knowle Ward.

The Ward Councillors agreed to prioritise the following scheme to go forward to Stage 2:-

• There was some discussion regarding the Jubilee Pool proposal. The Chair stated that the proposal could not be legally funded as the Mayor would not sign any funding off;
• The CRM confirmed the decision had been made at a Cabinet meeting;
• It was agreed that the Jubilee Pool be provisionally approved to go forward to Stage 2 but that it would not be progressed until there was confirmation in writing from the Mayor’s Office regarding the ability to fund the proposal;
• It was agreed that the proposal below go forward to Stage 2 as there was a risk Jubilee Pool would not be able to progress. Action ES

Southville Ward.

The Ward Councillors agreed to prioritise the following scheme to go forward to Stage 2:-

Windmill Hill Ward.

The Ward Councillors agreed to prioritise the following scheme to go forward to Stage 2:-

• It was noted the planters on St Johns Lane were on transport land but the officer was confident he would be able to put the planters on it;
• There was some discussion regarding the Mosque and whether it was for community use. It was agreed to ask at Stage 2 for clarification on this and figures for use. The CRM advised that BCC environmental access standards should be used as a baseline. She also shared that Jamia Mosque have been working with WECIL to understand access needs in their building, so their proposal can be built on expert input; Action ES.
• The Councillors also requested a change of use of £20,400 funds awarded in 2021 to a Water Maze in Victoria Park that now cannot go ahead. It was agreed that Councillors will work with BCC Parks and residents to identify the best use of the funds, for example the rewilding that has been requested by the community. It was agreed to bring a proposal back in February 2024 for an amendment to the 2021 project. Action ES.

At this point Councillor Hornchen & Fitzjohn left the meeting.

Other proposals received for multiple Wards.

The CRM reported that the proposals for defibrillators was a City-wide initiative and defibrillators would be installed in locations agreed by Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) and Councillors, to address gaps in provision across Bristol. This AC had been asked to contribute £36,000 to the initiative. AC 6 had a deficit so had not approved funding, AC1 & AC3 had approved funding. She drew the Committee’s attention to the statement from Great Western Air Ambulance Charity in support of the initiative.

The following points arose from discussion:-

1. A Councillor questioned why a strategic project should be funded by local CIL. She had not seen evidence to suggest that 70 defibrillators were required in the city;
2. Would the funding be spent in year or phased? Members should be fully involved in where they were located within their ward. There was a need for an audit of those already in place and how often they were used;
3. It was agreed that as this was a strategic Initiative funding should come from strategic CIL however, that the proposal should be invited to stage 2 at which stage Councillors would reconsider. The committee asked that the Mayor’s Office were invited to comment on why this wasn’t being funded strategically
4. The CRM would also get clarity with the Wells Road reimbursement of funds & Jubilee Pool eligibility positions if possible, ahead of the next meeting;
5. The Chair and CRM would discuss the matters with legal officers too. Action Chair and ES

CHAIR

Meeting ended at 7.40pm.