South Gloucestershire Council

BBC

South Gloucestershire Council laid off nearly 100 fewer staff in 2018 than the year, before but still racked up around £1m in redundancy payouts.

The authority made 125 people redundant in 2017/18, at a cost of roughly £1.6million. Last year, there were only 30 compulsory redundancies, but they added up to around £1m – chiefly because of large payments to made three individuals.

A council spokesman said: “There were a number of redundancies in 2018/19, following reorganisation within the council as part of our ongoing work to improve the value for money as we continue to deliver our priorities and the services people need.

“A number of individuals received contractual redundancy payments as part of this process, which are capped by the council’s policy.

“The total costs to the council (described as ‘exit packages’) includes pension costs payable to the pension fund to comply with pension rules.”

Altogether the council paid out almost £1.25m in severance payments in 2018/19, compared with nearly £2.05million the previous financial year.

Travelwest

Nearly three million people have travelled on Bristol's Metrobus service since it first began last May.

First Bus says a recent survey showed more than 80 per cent of customers would recommend the services to a relative or friend.

The most used route is the recently-launched M1 Hengrove to Cribbs Causeway service, which has carried more than 1.3m customers to date.

BBC

Around 15 million trees have been planted in England with government funding between 2010 and 2018 - but rates vary widely and many urban areas did not have any.

More than a quarter were planted in just five areas - Northumberland, Stratford-upon-Avon, Eden, Carlisle and County Durham.

The rate varies across our region. Wiltshire has the most with 241,000 trees planted over eight years, while Bristol had no trees planted at all. Elsewhere...

• South Somerset - 58,500 trees planted over eight years
• Stroud - 147,500
• Mendip - 38,700
• BANES - 31,200
• West Somerset - 61,400
• Taunton Deane - 22,700
• Forest of Dean - 26,600
• Tewkesbury - 14,200
• Swindon - 36,500
• North Somerset - 4,600
• Cotswolds - 173,400
• Cheltenham - 2,600
• Gloucester - 2,500
• South Gloucestershire - 4,900
• Sedgemoor - 7,800

This story has been generated using Forestry Commission data and BBC analysis.

Companies, communities and organisations across Bristol and its neighbouring counties have been celebrating Pride all week.

Many have registered to join the thousands who will parade through the city in the next hour.

BBC West will be reflecting the favour of the event and marching alongside.

Join us, via our website live stream and please send us your pics @bbcbristol #bbcbristol on Twitter and @BBCwest on Instagram.

Companies, communities and organisations across Bristol and its neighbouring counties have been celebrating Pride this week.

Many have registered to join the thousands who will parade through the city tomorrow from 1030.

BBC West will be reflecting the favour of the event and marching alongside.

Join us, via our website, from 1000 tomorrow and please send us your pics @bbcbristol #bbcbristol on Twitter and @BBCwest on Instagram.