Agenda item

NC & NP decision and discuss:

i.          CIL/Section 106 money funding

ii.         Other NP Business

The Neighbourhood Partnership considered the activities / business report from the Neighbourhood Co-ordinator and subgroup Champions.

Request for Parks Devolved S106

The Environment sub-group had met on 9^th February and had recommended that the Neighbourhood  Committee allocate £1,600 of devolved S106 towards improvements to the ‘deer path’ through Conham Woodland.

Last year Friends of Dudridge Park Group (FDPG) were awarded £16,700 by Ibstock Cory to improve the pond and the surrounding area in Conham Woodland.  Part of this project included work to the deer path which runs from the park down to Conham Vale.  The group had received help with this grant application from the NP funded fundraiser.

Since the work was originally priced it had become clear that significantly more work was required to the path than originally thought and indeed there had been further recent subsidence.  FDPG has reached agreement with both Tesco and Cory to allocate the underspend from the two projects that they funded last year which amounted to £9.5k, however, a further £1,600 was required to deliver the work identified. 

During discussion it was commented that this was an exemplary piece of work and an excellent use of NP funding.  It was suggested that as there was now only £1657.54 funding left in this S106 item, the full balance should be awarded to this very worthwhile project.

The Neighbourhood Committee RESOLVED that 1657.54 be awarded to Friends of Dundridge Park Group from S106 funding

(S102 Ref: 10/00121/89 Two Mile Hill Road/ZCD…988)

Request for Devolved CIL Monies

The Environment sub-group had also recommended using £10,000 of CIL devolved to the St George area to fund a project to bring improvements to St George green spaces while also encouraging more volunteering in the area. The funding would be used to enable ParkWork to carry out regular work sessions in the area.  This scheme has also been running successfully in the Central, Clifton and Harbourside area where CIL has also been used by the CC&H NP to provide funding. 

ParkWork is a Bristol Parks Forum programme run through Bristol City Council that gives those on the route to employment work experience, horticultural skills and training through volunteering in parks. As well as their own volunteers the sessions are advertised to attract new volunteers from the general public to work with ParkWork and the Friends group at the site. This had worked well for CC&H NP where 10 new volunteers were attracted to volunteer with the Friends of Brandon Hill over the first 4 months that the opportunity was advertised.

During discussion the comment was made that in view of the proposed changes to NPs across Bristol as a result of reduced funding available from the Council, it was ever more important to attract volunteers in the community to help deliver the many aspirations of the current Partnership, in whatever form that might take in future.

A steering group would be formed from members of the Environment sub-group to monitor the project.  Cllr Fabian Breckels would be the lead contact between the steering group and the St George Councillors

The Neighbourhood Committee RESOLVED that £10,000 CIL money be awarded to the ParkWork project.

It was noted that members of the Environment sub-group and Traffic sub-group were keen to continue their role, in some form or another within the new community led organisation going forward.