Agenda and minutes

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

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bradshaw, Davies, English, Mohamud, Quartley and Rippington.

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 Goulandris, it was

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Full Council held on the 6 July 2021 be confirmed as correct record and signed by the Lord Mayor.

To note any announcements from the Lord Mayor

The Lord Mayor informed Full Council that there would be a Service of Commemoration to be held on Tuesday 21st September at 2pm at St Mark’s, the Lord Mayor’s Chapel. This was in memory and in tribute to the following former Councillors who passed away during 2020 and 2021:

Ald Claire Warren

Ald Bill Payne

Ald Arthur Massey

Members of Council were invited to attend.  Information would be circulated to the Whips by Democratic Services.

Public Forum (Public Petitions, Statements and Questions)

Public forum items from members of the public who live or work in Bristol 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 two working days prior to the meeting - by 12 noon on Friday 3^rd September2021 at latest.  One written statement per member of the public is permitted.

b. Public questions: Written public questions must be received three clear working days prior to the meeting - by 5pm on Wednesday 1^st September 2021 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.

c. Members of the public who wish to present their public forum in person during the meeting are asked to register their intent to attend by giving at least two clear working days notice prior to the meeting by midday on Friday 3^rd September 2021.  This would help plan for covid secure measures within the meeting room and Council building.

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

Please note that members of the press and public will be asked to watch the meeting on a screen in another room due to the maximum capacity of the venue. Those registered to speak for public forum will be brought into the meeting to speak to their item in turn.

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 also referred to the Mayor for his consideration/information):

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 6^th September 2021.

The Full Council received and noted the following petitions:

Petition CP01 – petition presented by Councillor Hornchen - Petition by residents of Wyndham Crescent, Broomhill, in favour of changing the road layout to one way including new double yellow lines. (91 Signatures).

Full Council received an update on the Youth Council, presented by the Youth Mayors Alice Towle and John Wayman.

The update was introduced by Mayor Marvin Rees.

Councillors King, Townsend, Michellat and Hartley responded to the update on behalf of their respective political groups.

RESOLVED – The report was NOTED.

Full Council considered the annual report of the Audit Committee.

The report was moved by Councillor Hopkins and seconded by Councillor Dyer.

Councillors Goodman and Gollop responded on behalf of their respective political groups.

RESOLVED – The report was NOTED.

Full Council considered a reference from the Human Resources Committee regarding Selection Committee Size and Composition.

The report and recommendations were moved by Councillor Wye and seconded by Councillor Pearce.

Councillors Eddy and Classick responded on behalf of their respective political groups.

RESOLVED – That Council approve the reduction in size of the Selection Committee from 9 to 6 members as recommended by the Human Resources Committee.

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 could 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 - Protect the Green Belt and Bristol’s Green Spaces

This Council welcomes the importance placed by Her Majesty’s Government on the protection of the Green Belt and endorses the main reasons given for preserving this strategic space.

These zones are essential to check urban sprawl; prevent the merging of neighbouring towns; safeguard the countryside from encroachment; preserve the setting and special characteristics of historic areas; and assist in urban regeneration by encouraging the recycling of already developed land. 

The need to conserve the existing Green Belt, as well as retaining vital green spaces, remains a major priority for most people in our city.   As a result, Council notes the Mayor’s recent decision to not now build housing on Brislington Meadows and to ‘look again’ at housing plans which would destroy the Western Slopes wildlife corridor. 

Sadly, there are other equally significant sites which remain under the threat of the bulldozer.  One such place is Yew Tree Farm, Bristol’s last working farm.  The family there has been recognised by the Avon Wildlife Trust and RSPB for the huge strides made in achieving sustainable, low-intensity, organic local food production, whilst maintaining abundant and attractive biodiversity.  

Considering the Mayor’s pledges around combatting food poverty and encouraging communities to grow more of their own food, Council calls for a halt to the proposed redevelopment of or incursion into any remaining productive wildlife rich agricultural land.  Furthermore, the Mayor is asked to give a cast-iron commitment that he will look instead to increase the emphasis placed in the Authority’s Site Allocations and Development Management policies on re-using or re-purposing existing and emerging ‘brownfield’, previously developed or urban centres rather than continuing to erode our surrounding fields and countryside.

Motion to be moved by: Councillor Richard Eddy

2.      Silver Motion - Reduce carbon emissions from new building by 75% immediately

Full Council notes that:  

1.      Bristol City Council declared a Climate Emergency in November 2018 following a Green Motion set out by Carla Denyer.

2.      The motion committed the city to achieve net zero carbon by 2030 and there are now only 9 years left to this target date.

3.      The Council is currently required to implement the Government approved uplift to Part L (power and energy standards) and F (ventilation standards), of the new building regulations in December 2021.

4.      Responses to the Government’s 2020 consultation on the Future Homes Standards made it clear that the Part L uplift proposed for December 2021 was  ...  view the full agenda text for item 11.

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 45 minute limit for motions and a 9pm finish time for the meeting.

Golden Motion: PROTECT THE GREEN BELT AND BRISTOL’S GREEN SPACES

Councillor Eddy moved the following motion:

This Council welcomes the importance placed by Her Majesty’s Government on the protection of the Green Belt and endorses the main reasons given for preserving this strategic space.

These zones are essential to check urban sprawl; prevent the merging of neighbouring towns; safeguard the countryside from encroachment; preserve the setting and special characteristics of historic areas; and assist in urban regeneration by encouraging the recycling of already developed land.

The need to conserve the existing Green Belt, as well as retaining vital green spaces, remains a major priority for most people in our city.   As a result, Council notes the Mayor’s recent decision to not now build housing on Brislington Meadows and to ‘look again’ at housing plans which would destroy the Western Slopes wildlife corridor.

Sadly, there are other equally significant sites which remain under the threat of the bulldozer.  One such place is Yew Tree Farm, Bristol’s last working farm.  The family there has been recognised by the Avon Wildlife Trust and RSPB for the huge strides made in achieving sustainable, low-intensity, organic local food production, whilst maintaining abundant and attractive biodiversity. 

Considering the Mayor’s pledges around combatting food poverty and encouraging communities to grow more of their own food, Council calls for a halt to the proposed redevelopment of or incursion into any remaining productive wildlife rich agricultural land. 

Furthermore, the Mayor is asked to give a cast-iron commitment that he will look instead to increase the emphasis placed in the Authority’s Site Allocations and Development Management policies on re-using or re-purposing existing and emerging ‘brownfield’, previously developed or urban centres rather than continuing to erode our surrounding fields and countryside.

The motion was seconded by Councillor Hucker.

Councillor Renhard then moved the following amendment:

‘That the motion be amended to read as follows:

This Council welcomes the importance placed by Her Majesty’s Government on the protection of the Green Belt and endorses the main reasons given for preserving this strategic space.

These zones are essential to check urban sprawl; prevent the merging of neighbouring towns; safeguard the countryside from encroachment; preserve the setting and special characteristics of historic areas; and assist in urban regeneration by encouraging the recycling of already developed land.

The need to conserve the existing Green Belt, as well as retaining vital green spaces, remains a major priority for most people in our city.   As a result, Council notes the Mayor’s recent decision to not now build housing on Brislington Meadows and to ‘look again’ at housing plans which would destroy the Western Slopes wildlife corridor.

Sadly, there are other equally  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.