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Call for ‘urgent and transformative action’ to protect Bristol’s shared spaces
A collective of Bristol organisations is calling for urgent action to safeguard the future of shared spaces, warning they face a “multitude of existential threats”.
A manifesto has been drawn up by the cohort of 16, which includes Eastside Community Trust, Southmead Development Trust, Windmill Hill City Farm, Trinity Community Arts and Filwood Community Centre, setting out changes designed to protect and enhance community buildings and land.
It comes against a backdrop of ever-increasing pressures on the council’s budget and at a time of political upheaval, with the city switching from a mayoral model of governance to a committee structure in May.
is needed now More than ever
The campaign, titled Roots of Resilience: Saving Community Spaces, highlights the need for the process underpinning decisions on council-owned buildings to reflect their importance as the connecting fabric of our communities.
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The manifesto states: “Our community, civic and cultural infrastructure has played an indispensable role in supporting our communities for decades and has proven its worth through the pandemic and cost of living crises.
“However, the process underpinning decisions on disposal of council-owned buildings hugely undervalues the impact and role. Without changes to these, the future of these spaces will always be at risk.
“As individual organisations, we help the unique communities we serve. Together we form the vital fabric of the city, enriching the lives of Bristolians and contributing to the overall health of the city-wide community. But current policies and practices are posing a serious threat to the long-term sustainability of this vital network.”
The manifesto launches in the week a silver motion will go before Bristol City Council calling for the administration to follow a scrutiny enquiry and “show a more positive attitude towards asset transfers and community management” in light of fears that the current financial shortfall will see more valued community services close.
Emma Harvey, CEO of Trinity Community Arts, said: “The choices we make now in response to the challenge of preserving civic and cultural infrastructure in the face of financial uncertainty is a decision that will have lasting consequences for future generations, and this is why it is vital that we take steps now.”
The collective is calling for a review of the community asset transfer (CAT) process, whereby the running of buildings or spaces are transferred to a community organisation, to enable more organisations to consider this route and a framework for protection.
The campaign highlights the need for the process underpinning decisions on council-owned buildings to reflect their importance as the connecting fabric of our communities photo: Paul Blakemore (SMOOSH Filwood Community Centre)
The manifesto also asks the council to:
- Adopt a target and strategy for increasing the number of community-owned assets.
- Delegate leadership for community assets to a member of cabinet or committee.
- Delegate authority to officer level to award CAT leases, for 95 years, when these are up for renewal.
- Include representation from neighbourhoods and committees in the CAT decision-making committees.
- Create a framework for protection and disposal of council-owned assets, including creating a new ‘community’ asset class which prioritises preservation of community spaces.
- Implement a fair rent structure that recognises the social and investment benefits of community-owned assets.
- Develop a capital investment strategy for organisations with CAT leases.
Steve Sayers, CEO of Windmill Hill City Farm, said: “Unfortunately, without changes to how decisions are made about community infrastructure, the future of those spaces will always be at risk. The suggestions we are putting forward will enable us to secure a brighter future for our much-loved community spaces.”
Stacy Yelland, CEO of Eastside Community Trust, added: “Our proposed steps will enable Bristol to lead the nation in safeguarding community infrastructure. In many respects, we are already ahead of other authorities, and with the One City Plan we already have a commitment to increase community involvement in managing social infrastructure.
“By incorporating our asks, we can demonstrate a model of positive cooperation and community engagement which works for all Bristol’s communities.”
People are invited to share what their local community space means to them – photo: Simon Boddy/ Ambitious PR
Leaders of community organisations are also inviting people to share what their local community space means to them by adding a memory, word, sentence or feeling to a ribbon. These will then be tied to existing structures rooted in community organisations to demonstrate how much these spaces mean to people in Bristol.
Main photo: Simon Boddy/ Ambitious PR
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