Issue - meetings

Note:

Under the Council’s constitution, 30 minutes are available for the consideration of motions. In practice, this realistically means that there is usually only time for one, or possibly two motions to be considered.

With the agreement of the Lord Mayor, motion 1 below will be considered at this meeting, and motion 2 is likely to be considered, subject to time.

Details of other motions submitted, (which, due to time constraints, are very unlikely to be considered at this meeting) are also set out for information.

MOTIONS RECEIVED FOR FULL COUNCIL

1. Golden Motion - Homelessness and Immigration Rules

1. This council notes the Government Immigration Rules published on 22 October 2020, coming into effect on 1 December 2020 which made rough sleeping grounds for refusing or cancelling a person’s leave to remain in the UK.

2. This council further notes the implementation guidance published by the Government on 20 April 2021 which clarifies how the rules will be implemented

3. This council welcomes Bristol’s status as a City of Sanctuary and the work the administration is doing to make Bristol a welcoming place for refugees.

4. This council welcomes the Labour administration’s work to reduce rough sleeping by 80% since 2016.

5. This council welcomes the Labour administration’s introduction of Bristol Street Outreach – a new service to help accelerate the Council’s work to end rough sleeping in Bristol.
6. This council welcomes the government’s ongoing commitment to end rough sleeping by 2024.

This council believes

7. In order to end rough sleeping, people experiencing homelessness must be able to confidently approach local services provided by this council and its commissioned partners.

8. That the immigration rules as proposed will dissuade many people facing homelessness from accessing those services for fear that their details will be passed to immigration authorities and that this will lead to an increase in rough sleeping

This council therefore pledges

9. Subject to the circumstances of each individual case, in order to assist the national effort to end rough sleeping we will make no direct referrals under the rough sleeping Immigration Rules.

10. The council will also not require any of our commissioned partners to make referrals or pass data to the Home Office under the Immigration rules.

11. The council will only share information and data with the Home Office with the explicit and informed consent of the individual.

12. To display this commitment prominently in public areas and on our website and to inform those organisations that we work with (commissioned and non-commissioned) who make referrals to us of this policy.

13. To join Homeless Links’s #SupportDontDeport campaign and allow our logo to be identified with that campaign.

Motion to be moved by: Councillor Tom Renhard (Labour Group)

2. LGBT+ Mental Health Protection

Full Council notes that:

1. Under the Equalities Act 2010, Bristol City Council has a legal duty to combat discrimination and promote equality.
2. That the Council’s Equality Strategy 2018-2023 establishes the principles that the Council will work “with residents and employers to create communities which are able to come together, value diversity and  ...  view the full agenda text for item 12

Following a short adjournment, it was then moved by the Lord Mayor that standing order CPR2.1(xi) be suspended to allow the meeting to go past the 30 minutes time limit for motions.  Following a vote it was agreed to proceed up until a 60 minute limit for motions and a 9pm finish time for the meeting.

1. Golden Motion - Homelessness and Immigration Rules

Councillor Renhard moved the following motion:

1. This council notes the Government Immigration Rules published on 22 October 2020, coming into effect on 1 December 2020 which made rough sleeping grounds for refusing or cancelling a person’s leave to remain in the UK.

2. This council further notes the implementation guidance published by the Government on 20 April 2021 which clarifies how the rules will be implemented

3. This council welcomes Bristol’s status as a City of Sanctuary and the work the administration is doing to make Bristol a welcoming place for refugees.

4. This council welcomes the Labour administration’s work to reduce rough sleeping by 80% since 2016.

5. This council welcomes the Labour administration’s introduction of Bristol Street Outreach – a new service to help accelerate the Council’s work to end rough sleeping in Bristol.

6. This council welcomes the government’s ongoing commitment to end rough sleeping by 2024.

This council believes

7. In order to end rough sleeping, people experiencing homelessness must be able to confidently approach local services provided by this council and its commissioned partners.

8. That the immigration rules as proposed will dissuade many people facing homelessness from accessing those services for fear that their details will be passed to immigration authorities and that this will lead to an increase in rough sleeping

This council therefore pledges

9. Subject to the circumstances of each individual case, in order to assist the national effort to end rough sleeping we will make no direct referrals under the rough sleeping Immigration Rules.

10. The council will also not require any of our commissioned partners to make referrals or pass data to the Home Office under the Immigration rules.

11. The council will only share information and data with the Home Office with the explicit and informed consent of the individual.

12. To display this commitment prominently in public areas and on our website and to inform those organisations that we work with (commissioned and non-commissioned) who make referrals to us of this policy.

13. To join Homeless Links’s #SupportDontDeport campaign and allow our logo to be identified with that campaign.

The motion was seconded by Councillor Rippington.

Councillor Weston moved the following amendment:

‘That the motion be amended to read as follows:

1.  This council notes the Government Immigration Rules published on 22 October 2020, coming into effect on 1 December 2020 which made rough sleeping grounds for refusing or cancelling a person’s leave to remain in the UK.

2.  This council further notes the implementation guidance published by the Government on 20 April 2021 which clarifies how the rules will be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12