Agenda item

Actions arising

1.       Wells Road Traffic lights; CRM shared that she sought clarity on the position of a future reimbursement from WECA and will consider to do so and report back.

2.       St Pauls Church; confirmed that funding had been released.

3.       Southville: Tree Planting meeting had progressed.

4.       Ashton Playing fields; the funding allocated to this project remains and an update was sought on the position with the football pitch.  CRM would make arrangements for an update to be provided.

The Chair invited CRM to address all the questions and comments put by members by working through the report.

No Pre-commitment of future CIL receipts.

Members attention was drawn to section 13 of the report that stated that:

a.       There is no option to go into a deficit CIL funding allocation and to over commit on the assumption of future receipt of CIL.

b.       Members were encouraged to allocate the sums available because area committee boundaries will change following the local elections in May.  The total number of Area Committees will increase from 6 to 9 which will result in the redistribution of funds based on the new boundaries and make up of each committee.

c.       The sum available for distribution to the proposals listed at stage 2 is £449,604.99; this is a slight increase to the figure given at the end of January.

Questions for Clarification:

d.       Members explored the possibility of further funds becoming available for distribution and looked to CRM to clarify the process should this be the case.

e.       CRM advised that Jim Ciffe would be responsible for identifying the funds available for which ward and how that would be mapped for the newly formed AC boundaries. 

f.        It was not possible to determine whether all the projects listed would come to fruition and it could be some may fall away but this will be monitored and reviewed by officers, and reported on at future committees.

g.       Members then went on to explore how best to distribute the funds available to the project proposals outlined in the report. 

h.       CRM confirmed that: 17 proposals had been submitted with 2 proposals withdrawn; that the following adjustments were required:

                                 I.            That project proposal AC523P92 Community notice board Bedminster Ward proposal required an additional £100.  This was to allow the organise to adhere to the requirement to work with an established accountable body to hold funds on the proposers behalf.  Sum required now £1100.

                               II.            The project proposal AC523P76 community notice board for Foxcote Rd Ashton, required a similar uplift of £100 as above.  £1320.

                             III.            The project proposal AC523P84 Bristol Jamia Mosque Disabled Access; sum required had increased to £75,000 from the original request of £35,000.

i.         Members considered the above determining that:

                                 I.            The increase for the community boards was an acceptable request.

                               II.            That the BJM should be advised to seek future alternative funding to meet the increase project cost and that committee would limit their deliberation to the original submission of £35k.

j.         Members deliberated the issues surrounding the cost of the deployment of the Defibrillator’s across the Wards.  The proposal from the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity was for the sum of £36,000 to support the roll out.

k.       In summary from the discussion that followed.

                                 I.            Each Defibrillator cost £1800 and the sum requested would give rise to a total of 20 being placed across the area committee wards; no information on the proposed actual location but they would so position to ensure access to this equipment in appropriate places.

                               II.            Members shared concerns about the provision of this important piece of equipment from CIL budget and not from BCC Strategic Budget.

                             III.            CRM reported that Area Committee 1 and 3 had made allocations to support this Citywide project deployment.

                            IV.            Members noted that the overall sum required to support all proposals outlined in the report exceed the sum available.   Members considered not making an allocation to the Defib and/or allocation a sum to allow the purchase of a fixed number.

l.         CRM noted that the proposals listed in the report had a project overspend of £24,753.01.

m.     Variation in cost in delivering the project proposals was a concern for Members; that in the current cost of living crisis the actual sum required may increase.  A discussion followed on whether provision could be made to support proposers should they be impacted in this way. 

n.       The Landscape Works & Play Manager, provided assurances that when projects were costed by that team, that an allowance was made in the figure given to allow for inflation. 

o.       CRM advised members that the terms of reference did not allow for the retention of sums to meet a cost of living increase for projects as they progressed.  A decision to allocate further funding would need to be made at this meeting or at a future formal Area Committee meeting.   

The Chair then moved to a vote based on the views and concerns expressed by members as follows:

When section.14 of the report was put to the vote the following was resolved:

         I.            That the two proposals for community notices board allocation to be uplifted by 10% to allow them to meet the handling fee. 

       II.            Agreed that a 10% increase would be applied to AC523P92 Ashton Vale Together and AC523P75 Foxcote Road Ashton project proposal.

When section 15 of the report put to the vote:

     III.            That proposal AC523P84 Bristol Jamia Mosque Disabled proposal be increased to £75K from £36k which was the original sum applied for.

    IV.            Not Agreed.

      V.            BJM to be advised to make a future application.

When the Chair moved and seconded by Cllr Varney

    VI.            That project proposal AC523P87 Provision of Public Access Defibrillators allocation be limited to the sum of £7,200 to allow for the provision of 4 Defibrillators.

   VII.            Agreed (6 for: 5 Against)

When the Chair moved for a vote

 VIII.            That the remaining project proposals outlined in the report go forward subject to the adjustments discussed and agreed.

     IX.            The following was agreed.

Committee Members were provided with a supplementary report that address variations to the sums previously allocated.  The CRM sought agreement from members and provided the following explanation.

A.      Windmill Hill Ward; Victoria Park Water Maze original allocation on the 10 November 2021 of £20,400.

1)      This sum could not be spent for the refurbishment of the water maze and permission was sought to redirect the sum to rewilding project in the park.

2)      That an additional £4618.00 would be required to support this project.

B.      Southville Dame Emily Park Improvements and upgrades original allocation on the 10 November 2022 to allow the adjustment of the terms of allocation to include the replacement of vandalised garden beds used to provide play/education on nature and biodiversity.

When the Chair moved to the vote it was:

Resolved: (unanimous)

         I.            That the sum awarded for the water maze project in Victoria Park be allocated to the rewilding project.

       II.            That an additional sum of £4618 would be further allocated to meet the additional cost required for the rewilding project to be executed.

     III.            That the award to the Dame Emily Park improvements terms of reference can extend to include the replacement of vandalised garden beds.