Decisions

To seek approval for new allotment rents and water service charges to be implemented from October 2025 and to approve that a stakeholder engagement process is progressed to review the way in which allotments rents and charges are structured, review and where necessary update the allotment tenancy agreement and tenancy rules to reflect current Allotment legislation and practice.

That the Committee for Public Health and Communities RESOLVED (unanimously):

1.      To note the outcome of the call-in committee decision on 27th March 2024 including the issues raised and the public forum questions and statements.

2.      To note the outcome of the consultation as set out in this report and in Appendix F and which have been taken into account in the recommendations before the Committee.

3.      Approved the revised allotment rent and charges set out in the report and Appendix A2 and the expansion of the discount scheme to enable more people on low incomes to benefit from a 50% reduced rent as outlined in this report.

4.      To note the introduction of direct debit payments to allow for quarterly or monthly payments.

5.      Authorised the Executive Director Growth and Regeneration in consultation with the Chair of the Public Health and Communities Committee to take all steps required to implement the revised allotments rent and charges and undertake the stakeholder engagement as set out in paragraph 9 of this report.

6.      Further approved a stakeholder engagement process to update the allotment tenancy agreement and update the tenancy rules, which will be the subject of a future report to the Public Health and Communities Committee.

To brief the Committee of the remaining provision of Bristol’s burial plots and cremated remains plots.

To invite the Committee to consider options for future provision of burials and internment of cremated remains with a view to the Committee taking a key decision on the preferred option.

That the Committee for Public Health and Communities RESOLVED (unanimously):

1.      To note the contents of the report and details provided within the appendices.

2.      To provide Officers with a preferred option to progress - option 2 as amended:

                                i.            Continue with the project but on a reduced scale – Remove Area 3 from the project – no burials within the SNCI area. Only proceed with Area 1 expansion.

The current plans require the attenuation pond to be formed within the SNCI. However, officers will prioritise investigating alternative drainage solutions that do not rely on systems running through the SNCI. They will consider all mitigation options, and no final decisions regarding drainage infrastructure will be made without thorough assessment of the environmental impact and the feasibility of alternatives.

Deliver approximately 870 standard coffin burial plots, 800 Cremated Remains Plots and 260 Baby Burial Plots in 2025. Provides forecasted provision for up to 10 years.

Additionally, set up a member task and finish group to determine the mid- and long[1]term future of Bristol’s burial provision.

3.      Authorised the Executive Director Growth and Regeneration in consultation with the Chair of the Public Health and Communities Policy Committee to take all steps required to progress the preferred option including procuring and awarding contracts over the key decision threshold.

To seek approval to commence re-procurement of the Bristol Public Health Nursing Service and the Young People’s Specialist Substance Misuse Treatment Service.

That the Committee for Public Health and Communities RESOLVED (unanimously):

1.      To approve the commencement of a re-procurement process for the Bristol Public Health Nursing Service and Young People’s Specialist Substance Misuse Treatment Service.

2.      To delegate authority to the Director of Public Health, in consultation with the Public Health and Communities Committee Chair, to take all steps required to procure and award contracts for the services, in line with the Council’s Procurement Rules (which could include NHS Provider Selection Regime Regulations) and within the maximum budget available (the exact amount will be confirmed but will be in the region of £11 million).

3.      To authorise the Director of Public Health to accept and allocate any additional external funding that supports these services in accordance with the Council’s Procurement Rules and any national regulations or funding restrictions.

4.      To note the indicative timescales for the re-procurement process, including consultation and engagement with key stakeholders, including Committee members.