Agenda item

Ellie Stevens, Community Resources Manager, introduced this report and, together with John Atkinson made the following points:

a.      Member’s attention was drawn to the 6 monthly progress update set out on the website.

b.      The Terms of Reference had been recently adjusted to confirm that this was a formal meeting.

c.       Members were asked to note the lack of funds available to this committee.

d.      Cllr Edwards and Cllr Fodor drew officer’s attention to schemes that were in progress; seeking a means to encourage progress; updates and alterations to them. 

e.      Members were advised that a number of factors were delaying schemes being finalised; Transport service reported that there was a 2 year delay on delivering schemes; that the cost of living increase had impacted the pricing and costings of schemes.

f.        Transport would provide updates on their areas of responsibility to members; concerns were expressed with regards to the time involved in receiving updates and progress reports with regards ongoing schemes.

g.       CIL fund available now stood at £8,802.84, an increase to the figure given in the report.

h.      S106 Fund of £59,541.00; of which £46,987.43 designated specifically for tree planting and tree replacement.

i.        Outline Proposals Submitted; the proposals noted at section 14 of the report would be deferred until sums are available for allocation.

j.        Citywide initiative for the deployment of Defibrillator:

                                I.            AC 2 were not being asked for funds to support the initiative

                              II.            Members proposed that Great Western Ambulance service should be asked for data on the location of the units.  It was suggested that it could be provided on a locality map, possibly accessible on line.

                            III.            Action: Action for community resources team: Contact data intelligence team about marking defibrillators on Pin Point.

k.       Jon Atkinson provided an overview of the tree planting scheme and location of the trees.

                                I.            Welcomed members input into the location of trees within their wards

                              II.            Fruit trees were considered as part of the scheme and had been planted in various areas; shared that work continued with community garden groups on the planting of fruit trees.

l.        The next formal meeting of the committee should take place in February 2024 but with the lack of funds available to allocate and the change to the structure of area committee the meeting may be delayed to after the May 2024 local elections.  This will be reviewed earlier next year and upon finalisation of the Community Working Groups proposals.

m.    Cllr Guy Poultney led members thanks to Officers for their continued support to the work and delivery of the committee.

The Committee moved, seconded and upon being put to the vote, it was

RESOLVED:

1.      To note the progress update on previously approved AC2 projects and the publication of 6 monthly updates published on BCC webpages

2.      Note the CIL and S106 monies available as of 31^st October 2023

3.      Note the 3 Outline Proposed submitted that are to be deferred until funds are available.

4.      Agreed the planting scheme set out in Appendix 4 Tree Planning s106 Stage II Application

5.      Agreed to delegate authority to the lead Tree Officer, Jon Atkinson, to make substitutions to the planting plan, when and where appropriate