Agenda and minutes

The Lord Mayor welcomed all attendees to the meeting and issued the safety information.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Don Alexander, Ali, Breckels, Cheney, Craig, Davies, Dyer, English, Fitzgibbon, Hulme, Rippington and Wye.

To note any declarations of interest from the Councillors.  They are asked to indicate the relevant agenda item, the nature of the interest and in particular whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest.

Any declarations of interest made at the meeting which is not on the register of interests should be notified to the Monitoring Officer for inclusion.

None received.

To agree the minutes of the previous meeting as a correct record.

On the motion of the Lord Mayor, seconded by Councillor Parsons, it was

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Full Council held on the 21 February 2023 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Lord Mayor.

To note any announcements from the Lord Mayor

There was none.

Public forum items can be about any matter the Council is responsible for or which directly affects the city. Submissions will be treated in order of receipt and as many people shall be called upon as is possible within the time allowed within the meeting (normally 30 minutes).

Further rules can be found within our Council Procedure Rules within the Constitution.

Please note that the following deadlines apply to this meeting:

a. Public petitions and statements: Petitions and written statements must be received by 12 noon on Friday 10 March 2023 at latest. One written statement per member of the public is permitted.

b. Public questions: Written public questions must be received by 5pm on Wednesday 8 March 2023 at latest. A maximum of 2 questions per member of the public is permitted. Questions should be addressed to the Mayor or relevant Cabinet Member.

Public forum items should be e-mailed to democratic.services@bristol.gov.uk

Public Petitions:

There was one public petition received which was referred to the Mayor for his consideration and response.

Public Statements:

The Full Council received and noted the following statements (which were referred to the Mayor for his consideration)

Please note: Up to 10 minutes is allowed for this item.

Petitions notified by Councillors can be about any matter the Council is responsible for or which directly affects the city.  The deadline for the notification of petitions to this meeting is 12 noon on Monday 13 March 2023.

The Full Council received and noted the following petitions:

ITEM WITHDRAWN

Item withdrawn.

Recommendation: Full Council is asked to note the update report from the Bristol City Youth Council.

Full Council considered an update report presented by members of the Youth Council.

There was a debate and it was:

RESOLVED: That the Bristol City Youth Council update was noted.

Recommendation: That Full Council approves the matters set out in paragraphs 6 and 7 of this report.

Full Council considered a report from the Committee Model Working Group.

Councillor Jenny Bartle moved the report and recommendations. Councillor Geoff Gollop seconded the report.

There was a debate and it was:

RESOLVED: Full Council approved the recommendations set out in paragraphs 6 and 7 of the report.

Recommendation: To review and approve the allocation of seats on committees in accordance with the statutory requirements concerning political balance and to approve the allocation of Committee Seats as set out in the report.

Full Council considered a report on Political Proportionality and Allocation of Committee Seats.

The Lord Mayor moved the report and recommendations. The Deputy Lord Mayor seconded the report.

There was no debate and it was:

RESOLVED: Full Council approved the allocation of seats on committees in accordance with the statutory requirements concerning political balance and approved the allocation of Committee Seats as set out in the report.

Recommendation: That Full Council adopts the Pay Policy Statement for 2023/24 to take effect from 1 April 2023.

Full Council considered a report on the Pay Policy Statement 2023/24.

Councillor Lorraine Francis moved the report and recommendations. Councillor Farah Hussain seconded the report.

Following debate, upon being put to the vote, the recommendations were APPROVED (34 For, 15 against, 5 abstentions) and it was:

RESOLVED: Full Council adopted the Pay Policy Statement for 2023/24, to take effect from 1 April 2023.

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

GOLDEN MOTION (GREEN): TACKLING KNIFE CRIME AND THE CAUSES OF KNIFE CRIME IN BRISTOL

Bristol City Council believes:

1.         Together with agency partners, we are working hard to address the causes of youth violence and trying to engage with young people to help them understand the devastating consequences carrying and using knives can have. This council believes that young people are important and recognises the positive contribution that young people make to the city. Bristol is working to support young people to make more positive choices when it comes to knife crime and youth violence. The impact of knife crime disproportionately impacts the BME communities of Bristol.

2.         Knife violence and the impact of violence has increased in recent years. The perception of the danger of knife crime, and fear for one’s loved ones has increased. In the year to end September 2022, there was a total of 1,204 incidents involving a sharp object. In that time there were 8 murders that involved a knife, constituting 42% of homicides with the Avon & Somerset area. In addition, there were 164 threats to kill, 12 attempts to kill, 33 rapes, and 597 serious assaults with a knife. [1]

3.         Injuries from knife violence increases in times of economic crisis and desperation. In January 2023, a man died in Castle Park due to knife violence, In February 2023, a woman was injured in a knife incident in Filton. One is one too many, and Bristol believes the victims of knife crime should be zero and that zero is possible.

4.         The causes of knife crime are complex but rooted in poverty and fostered by school exclusion. The solutions require cross agency working and flexible approaches.

Bristol City Council notes:

1.         The Safer Approach Strategy of 2021

2.         The Drug and Alcohol Strategy for Bristol 2021-2025 2021

3.         Bleed kits may be added to defibrillation units to provide public access in emergency situations.

4.         That our city centre public realm must be felt safe for all, with increased visibility and safety measures.

5.         That there are several areas of known hotspots in the city centre, where street furniture such as Bus stop advertisements create blind spots from view.

6.         That there are some great initiatives across our city run by people with lived experience, who are working to help our young people to avoid being groomed into causes of knife crime. However, some of these projects are unable to access formal routes of  ...  view the full agenda text for item 13.

Following a short adjournment, it was 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 9.15pm.

GOLDEN MOTION (GREEN): TACKLING KNIFE CRIME AND THE CAUSES OF KNIFE CRIME IN BRISTOL

Councillor Mohammed Makawi moved the following motion:

Bristol City Council believes:

1. Together with agency partners, we are working hard to address the causes of youth violence and trying to engage with young people to help them understand the devastating consequences carrying and using knives can have. This council believes that young people are important and recognises the positive contribution that young people make to the city. Bristol is working to support young people to make more positive choices when it comes to knife crime and youth violence. The impact of knife crime disproportionately impacts the BME communities of Bristol.

2. Knife violence and the impact of violence has increased in recent years. The perception of the danger of knife crime, and fear for one’s loved ones has increased. In the year to end September 2022, there was a total of 1,204 incidents involving a sharp object. In that time there were 8 murders that involved a knife, constituting 42% of homicides with the Avon & Somerset area. In addition, there were 164 threats to kill, 12 attempts to kill, 33 rapes, and 597 serious assaults with a knife. [1]

3. Injuries from knife violence increases in times of economic crisis and desperation. In January 2023, a man died in Castle Park due to knife violence, In February 2023, a woman was injured in a knife incident in Filton. One is one too many, and Bristol believes the victims of knife crime should be zero and that zero is possible.

4. The causes of knife crime are complex but rooted in poverty and fostered by school exclusion. The solutions require cross agency working and flexible approaches.

Bristol City Council notes:

1. The Safer Approach Strategy of 2021

2. The Drug and Alcohol Strategy for Bristol 2021-2025 2021

3. Bleed kits may be added to defibrillation units to provide public access in emergency situations.

4. That our city centre public realm must be felt safe for all, with increased visibility and safety measures.

5. That there are several areas of known hotspots in the city centre, where street furniture such as Bus stop advertisements create blind spots from view.

6. That there are some great initiatives across our city run by people with lived experience, who are working to help our young people to avoid being groomed into causes of knife crime. However, some of these projects are unable to access formal routes of funding.

7. That the route of many young people into the causes of knife crime starts with school exclusions, often due to unsupported needs.

8. That the requirement to save in energy costs should not be to the detriment of personal security.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.