Under the new committee system, there are nine Area Committees in Bristol. The Councillors elected to serve the wards in a neighbourhood are members of the corresponding Area Committee. Totterdown is in Windmill Hill ward and comes under Area Committee 7 (together with Bedminster, Southville and Filwood).
Area Committees make decisions about the local element of CIL monies and devolved s.106 monies. The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a charge levied by local authorities on new development in an area to help deliver the additional infrastructure needed; Section 106 agreements are for the mitigation of the impact of a specific development.
Area Committees have the following functions:
Community Investment Funds. Preparatory work can be done to understand how to ensure an equitable distribution of funding across the City in anticipation of the next round of grant funding allocations. Delivery of services An Area Committee can refer matters raised with it under Public Forum to a relevant officer in the Council for a response.
Highways Maintenance. A requirement to communicate with Area Committees about the prioritisation of highways maintenance works.
Road Safety Budgets. There should be greater involvement of Area Committees in prioritisation of road safety schemes. This is subject to a review of the resourcing requirements in the relevant departments, to include a review of the budgets that could be devolved to Area Committees in respect of road safety schemes.
Parks and Play Areas. Annual consultation role for Area Committees in respect of changes to front line services and provision, e.g. grass cutting frequency, play area equipment.
Disposal of local authority land, community buildings and community asset transfers. The Area Committee should be consulted on any proposal to dispose of local authority land, community buildings or
any community asset transfer, recognising that some transactions will be commercially sensitive.
Allotments. The Area Committee should be consulted about any new allotment provision.
Street cleaning, provision of street bins and enhanced street recycling. This links to the current contractual arrangements with Bristol Waste Company (BWC). There should be liaison with BWC representatives at a local level.
More information is available here: