Agenda and minutes

Please note: if the alarm sounds during the meeting, everyone should please exit the building via the way they came in, via the main entrance lobby area, and then the front ramp. Please then assemble on the paved area between the side entrance of the cathedral and the roundabout at the Deanery Road end of the building.

If the front entrance cannot be used, alternative exits are available via staircases 2 and 3 to the left and right of the Council Chamber. These exit to the rear of the building. The lifts are not to be used. Then please make your way to the assembly point at the front of the building. Please do not return to the building until instructed to do so by the fire warden(s).

The Lord Mayor welcomed all attendees to the meeting, and made a safety announcement in relation to the fire/emergency evacuation procedure.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Holland.

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

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

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Full Council held on the 15 January 2019 be confirmed as correct record and signed by the Lord Mayor.

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.

The Lord Mayor reminded members that at its meeting held on 21 January 2019, the Values and Ethics Sub Committee to the Audit Committee had overseen and granted a range of dispensations to the Mayor and councillors, to enable them to participate and vote on matters relating to the civic budget 2019-20 and the setting of the Council Tax at this meeting.

To note any announcements from the Lord Mayor

I.            Next Great Generation was a group of young people going out to feed the homeless and visiting Elders in the community.  Please contact them for further information.

II.            The Lord Mayor is taking part in a charity event on 23^rd March called ‘Bristol Come Dancing’ please do support if you can.

Under the Council’s constitution, there is no provision for public forum at the Budget Council meeting. However, in consultation with the Mayor and other party group leaders, the Lord Mayor has determined that public petitions and written statements will be accepted for this meeting on the following basis:

1. The wording of all petitions and all written statements must be submitted by the deadline of 12 noon on Thursday 21st February. Petition details / written statements should be sent to: democratic.services@bristol.gov.uk

2. Questions are not permitted on this occasion.

3. Petitions and statements for this meeting must be about the budget/reports included on the agenda.

4. Details of all petitions and statements submitted will be sent to the Lord Mayor, Mayor and all councillors as soon as possible after the above deadline.

5. At the meeting, the Lord Mayor will permit a brief opportunity for petitions to be presented at the start of the meeting (up to 1 minute for each petition), to allow petitioners to formally present their petitions and to confirm the final number of signatures. The Lord Mayor will ask Full Council to receive and formally note all petitions and written statements received.

Please note there will not be an opportunity at the meeting for the oral presentation of any statements.

Public petitions:

There were no public petitions received.

Public statements:

The Full Council received and noted the following statements:

The Full Council considered a report setting out the Mayor’s 2019-20 budget recommendations.

The Lord Mayor drew members’ attention to the budget procedure to be followed.

At this point, on the motion of the Lord Mayor, it was

RESOLVED:

That the relevant standing orders (policy and budget framework procedure rules) be suspended, noting that the procedure to be followed at this meeting is at variance with the Council’s standing orders.

The Mayor then moved the budget report.

Councillor Cheney, Deputy Mayor for Finance, Governance and Performance then seconded the report.

The leaders of each party group, Cllrs Hickman, Councillor Weston, Councillor Combley and Councillor Negus each responded to the budget proposals.

Councillor Gollop then presented comments on behalf of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board and Councillor Clarke on behalf of the Resources Scrutiny Commission.

The Mayor then responded to the points raised.

ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 3.25pm and reconvened at 3.45pm

On the meeting being reconvened, the Full Council then (under section 5 of the procedure) considered and debated each of the proposed budget amendments, as follows:

Liberal Democrat Budget Amendment

Amendment Summary: Youth travel card for Bristol buses, Bus Franchising, Clear and safe streets, Bus and Sustainable Transport Fund.

Funding Source: Reduced Corporate Capital Contingency

Councillor Kent moved the amendment 1a (Revenue) and 1b (Capital).

Councillor Hopkins seconded the amendment.

Following debate, upon being put to the vote, the amendment was LOST.

(vote 1a – 31 members voting for the amendment, 35 against, with 1 abstention

Vote 1b – 22 members voting for the amendment, 36 against, with 10 abstentions)

Councillor Gollop raised a point of order of the appropriateness of two votes in that situation.

Green Budget Amendment 1

Amendment Summary: Remuneration for in-house foster carers.

Funding Source: Mayor’s Office, Reduction in free parking for Councillors and senior officers.

Councillor Combley moved the amendment.

Councillor Denyer seconded the amendment.

Following debate, upon being put to the vote, the amendment was LOST

(10 members voting for the amendment, 51 against with 7 absentions)

Conservative Budget Amendment

Amendment Summary: Partially restore Council owned toilet blocks, extra mitigation for Cribbs Patchway New Neighbourhood.

Funding Source: Mayor’s Office, Brussels Office, PR & Consultation, strategic CIL funding.

Councillor Goulandris moved the amendment.

Councillor Steve Smith seconded the amendment.

Following debate, upon being put to the vote, the amendment was LOST.

(16 members voting for the amendment, 43 against with 8 abstentions.)

Green Budget Amendment 2 (MEES)

Amendment Summary: 12 year city strategy for Carbon Neutral 2030, Neighbourhood Enforcement flytipping, Corporate Parenting, Climate Change Scope 3 emissions, local flooding prevention, public engagement campaign, small community energy generation and efficiency schemes

Funding Source: Commercialisation budget, Enforcement of Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards

Councillor Combley moved the amendment.

Councillor Thomas seconded the amendment.

Following debate, upon being put to the vote, the amendment was CARRIED.

(53 members voting for the amendment, 15 against, with no abstentions)

Green Budget Amendment 3 (ASC)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 320.