Agenda and minutes

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

Apologies for absence were heard from Councillors Bennett, Craig, Dyer, Edwards, Fitzjohn, Kent, Grant, Fitzgibbon and Parsons.

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 following previous meetings as a correct record:

Tuesday 18 October 2022 Full Council

Tuesday 8 November 2022 Full Council

It was agreed that the minutes of 18 October 2022 Item 12 be amended to read “There was a debate”.  

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 18 October 2022 and 8 November 2022 be confirmed as correct record and signed by the Lord Mayor.

To note any announcements from the Lord Mayor

Full Council noted the sad news that former Councillors Alf Havvock and Tony Carey had recently passed away. Full Council also noted the passing of George ‘Johnny’ Johnson, the last surviving Dambuster. Members paid tribute to their memory and a minutes’ silence was observed.

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 9 December 2022 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 7 December 2022 at latest. A maximum of 2 questions per memberof 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 Statements

Full Council received and noted the following statements, which were also referred to the Mayor for his consideration and information.

Within the time available, statements AS01, PS01, PS02, PS03, PS04, PS06, PS07, PS14 and PS16 were presented by individuals present at the meeting.

Public Questions

Full Council noted that the following questions had been submitted:

Within the time available, the Mayor responded verbally to questions PQ02, PQ03, PQ05, PQ09, PQ10 also responding to supplementary questions.

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 12 December 2022

The Full Council received and noted the following petitions:

Petition CP01 – Save Central Library  – petition presented by Councillor Alex Hartley

Recommendation

That Full Council notes the update from the Committee Model Working Group regarding the work to develop the arrangements for the Committee model of governance.

Full Council considered a report on the Committee Model of Governance.

Councillor Helen Holland moved the report and the recommendations therein.

There was a debate, and it was:

RESOLVED: That Full Council note the report.

Recommendation

That Full Council accepts the report of the Audit Committee and notes the key areas the Committee is monitoring to support improvements required in internal control, risk management and governance. 

Full Council considered the Audit Committee Half-Year Report.

Councillor Andrew Brown moved the report and the recommendations therein.

There was a debate, and it was:

RESOLVED: That Full Council note the report.

Recommendation

That Full Council note the Annual Treasury Management Report for 2021/22, as detailed in Appendix A.

Full Council considered the Treasury Management Annual Report 2021/22.

Councillor Craig Cheney moved the report and the recommendations therein.

There was a debate on both this item and item 11, and it was:

RESOLVED: That Full Council note the report.

Recommendation

That the Mid-Year Treasury Management report for 2022/23 is noted.

Full Council considered the Treasury Management Mid-Year Report 2022/23.

Councillor Craig Cheney moved the report and the recommendations therein.

There was a debate on both this item and item 10, and it was:

RESOLVED: That Full Council note the report.

Recommendation

That Full Council note the Human Resources Committee Annual Report.

Full Council considered the HR Committee Annual Report for 2021/22

Councillor Lorraine Francis moved the report and the recommendations therein.

There was a debate, and it was:

RESOLVED: That Full Council note the report.

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 (Liberal Democrat)

TAKING BACK PUBLIC CONTROL OF OUR BUSES

Full Council notes that:

1.         A comprehensive bus service, providing a reliable and economical means of travel to all parts of the city for work, child support, health care, leisure, and other purposes is of vital importance to the city’s residents.

2.         There are multiple economic and social benefits of maintaining an effective and accessible bus service including

a.         providing a reliable means of travel for commuters and consumers contributing to the local economy.

b.         allowing those who would otherwise be isolated more freedom to access safe and social ways to participate in community and city life, improving their wellbeing and aiding independent living. This includes, but is not restricted to, those with physical or other disabilities, the elderly, and those on low incomes.

c.         reducing traffic, congestion, and air pollution through the removal of private vehicles from the roads.

3.         The Bus Services Act 2017 allows for alternative models to the provision of bus services where these were previously required to be operated solely by private companies whose working relationship with local authorities was strictly limited. The revised options are Enhanced Partnership, Advanced Quality Partnerships, and Bus Franchising.

4.         Bus Franchising offers the opportunity for public direction of innovation of fares, routes, and bus quality.

5.         Bus Franchising is being implemented or explored by a number of city and regional authorities across the country including the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Full Council believes that

1.         There are significant speed and cost advantages in implementing a more comprehensive mass transit solution based on buses as opposed to alternatives that are dependent on costly and disruptive infrastructure.

2.         Implementing bus franchising would provide the opportunity to comprehensively re-think and re-design how the bus service can best serve our citizens, the city, and the region.

3.         Services provided under a franchising model would be better designed to meet the needs of the city rather than those of the bus operator(s).

4.         Bus Franchising could provide the improvements and innovation required to achieve modal shift, increasing bus usage and reducing private car journeys.

5.         Bus Franchising would strengthen the West of England Combined Authority’s position in discharging its responsibilities for planning and transport across the region.

6.         The West of England Combined Authority’s previous dismissal of franchising in favour of developing an Enhanced Partnership was not the result of a comprehensive review of its potential benefits.

7.         The Enhanced Partnership model  ...  view the full agenda text for item 13.

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 2 hour 30 minute time limit.  Following a vote, it was agreed to proceed for an additional 30 minutes.

Motion 1 – Golden Motion: Taking Back Public Control of Our Buses

Councillor Andrew Brown moved the following motion:

Full Council notes that:

1.         A comprehensive bus service, providing a reliable and economical means of travel to all parts of the city for work, child support, health care, leisure, and other purposes is of vital importance to the city’s residents.

2.         There are multiple economic and social benefits of maintaining an effective and accessible bus service including

a.         providing a reliable means of travel for commuters and consumers contributing to the local economy.

b.         allowing those who would otherwise be isolated more freedom to access safe and social ways to participate in community and city life, improving their wellbeing and aiding independent living. This includes, but is not restricted to, those with physical or other disabilities, the elderly, and those on low incomes.

c.         reducing traffic, congestion, and air pollution through the removal of private vehicles from the roads.

3.         The Bus Services Act 2017 allows for alternative models to the provision of bus services where these were previously required to be operated solely by private companies whose working relationship with local authorities was strictly limited. The revised options are Enhanced Partnership, Advanced Quality Partnerships, and Bus Franchising.

4.         Bus Franchising offers the opportunity for public direction of innovation of fares, routes, and bus quality.

5.         Bus Franchising is being implemented or explored by a number of city and regional authorities across the country including the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Full Council believes that:

1.         There are significant speed and cost advantages in implementing a more comprehensive mass transit solution based on buses as opposed to alternatives that are dependent on costly and disruptive infrastructure.

2.         Implementing bus franchising would provide the opportunity to comprehensively re-think and re-design how the bus service can best serve our citizens, the city, and the region.

3.         Services provided under a franchising model would be better designed to meet the needs of the city rather than those of the bus operator(s).

4.         Bus Franchising could provide the improvements and innovation required to achieve modal shift, increasing bus usage and reducing private car journeys.

5.         Bus Franchising would strengthen the West of England Combined Authority’s position in discharging its responsibilities for planning and transport across the region.

6.         The West of England Combined Authority’s previous dismissal of franchising in favour of developing an Enhanced Partnership was not the result of a comprehensive review of its potential benefits.

7.         The Enhanced Partnership model is compromised by the power of veto that the region’s major bus provider will have over decision-making.

Full Council resolves to:

1.         Instruct the Chief Executive to write to the WECA Mayor requesting that he commissions a comprehensive  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.