Agenda and minutes

Members of the public intending to attend the meeting are asked to

please note that, in the interests of health, safety and security, bags may

be searched on entry to the building. Everyone attending this meeting is

also asked please to behave with due courtesy and to conduct

themselves in a reasonable way.

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 Councillors Jama and Radford.

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

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Full Council meeting held on 15 January 2018 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Lord Mayor.

The Lord Mayor reminded members that at its meeting held on 25 January 2018, 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 2018-19 and the setting of the Council Tax at this meeting.

None.

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 5.00 pm on Thursday 15 February. Questions are not permitted on this occasion. Petition details / written statements should be sent to: democratic.services@bristol.gov.uk

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

3. 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.

4. 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:

The Full Council received and noted the following petitions:

Petition PP 01 – “Marvin Rees: set a no-cuts budget to fight Tory austerity!”

Petition organiser – Matthew Carey (petition presented at the meeting by Tom Baldwin)

Petition PP 02 – “Re-open the Rent Offices in Hartcliffe, Southmead, Ridingleaze & Fishponds”

Petition organiser – Matthew Carey (petition presented at the meeting by Heather Jarrett)

Petition PP 03 – “Re-open Bristol City Council owned public toilets”

Petition organiser / presenter – Owen Adams

Written statements:

The Full Council received and noted the following statements:

PS 01 - Oliver Fortune – Libraries

PS 02 - Catherine Ninji – Bristol Rethink Carers Service

PS 03 - Judith Caines – Council tax/libraries

PS 04 - Ornella Saibene – Budget cuts

PS 05 - Esther Giles – Budget

The Full Council considered a report seeking the adoption of the Corporate Strategy 2018 – 2023 as part of the Council’s policy framework.

Cllr Cheney, Deputy Mayor for Finance, Governance and Performance moved the report and the recommendation contained therein.

Cllr Craig seconded the report.

The report was then debated.

ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 2.28 pm and reconvened at 3.35 pm

On the meeting being reconvened, it was:

RESOLVED (38 members voting in favour, 16 against, with 12 abstentions):

That the Corporate Strategy 2018 - 2023 be adopted as part of the Council’s policy framework.

The Full Council considered a report setting out the Mayor’s 2018-19 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.

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

Cllr Gollop then presented comments on behalf of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board

ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 3.45 pm and reconvened at 4.05 pm

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: Investing in parks, open spaces and street trees; More funding for the Better Lives programme; Reverse library cuts, maintain a full network; Investing in communities and area boards; Improve flood protection; Reduce capital financing; School expansion in south Bristol; Aids & adaptations - private homes; Remove capital contingency; Investing in parks and play; Investing in libraries - better access fund.

Funding source: Investing CIL into capital programme.

Councillor Kent moved the amendment.

Councillor Negus seconded the amendment.

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

(29 members voting for the amendment, 37 against, with 2 abstentions).

GREEN BUDGET AMENDMENT 1

Amendment summary: Increase funding for the Local Crisis Prevention Fund, which provides one-off emergency support for the most vulnerable people (this was cut by £1.05m or approx. 70% in the 2017-18 budget).

Funding source: Increase income from skip, scaffold and hoarding licenses (the fee paid by developers for blocking the highway) by £100k.

Councillor Denyer moved the amendment.

Councillor Fodor seconded the amendment.

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

(65 members voting for the amendment, none against, with 1 abstention).

GREEN BUDGET AMENDMENT 2

Amendment summary: Buy/refurbish 2 properties to run small scale (2 or 3 bed) specialist children’s homes.

Funding source: Use part of the capital contingency / Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) drawdown, instead of putting it all into reserves.

Councillor Combley moved the amendment.

Councillor Stevens seconded the amendment.

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

(66 members voting for the amendment, none against, with 1 abstention).

GREEN BUDGET AMENDMENT 3

Amendment summary: Put an additional £30k into the parks budget to allow the parks department to operate reducing the pressure to introduce advertising in parks.

Funding source: Charge for the car parking passes for City Hall which are currently issued free to councillors, aldermen and senior council staff.

Councillor Combley moved the amendment.

Councillor Hance seconded the amendment.

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

(12 members voting for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 208.