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 Councillors Beech, Hiscott, Kent, Khan, Morris and Thomas.

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 22 May 2018 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Lord Mayor.

To note any declarations of interest from the Mayor and 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 declaration of interest made at the meeting which is not on the

register of interests should be notified to the Monitoring Officer for

inclusion.

None.

Newly elected Councillor Steve Smith

On behalf of the Full Council, the Lord Mayor welcomed Councillor Smith to his first Full Council meeting following his recent election as a councillor following the by-election in Westbury-on-Trym and Henleaze ward.

Newly appointed Council officers

On behalf of the Full Council, the Lord Mayor welcomed to their first Full Council meeting:

* Mike Jackson, Executive Director - Resources & Head of Paid Service

* Quentin Baker, Interim Director - Legal & Democratic Services

Shahzia Daya – Director - Legal & Democratic Services

On behalf of the Full Council, the Lord Mayor thanked Shahzia Daya who, after many years of dedicated service, was leaving her role to take up the post of Director of Legal at the West of England Combined Authority.  She also expressed best wishes to Shahzia in relation to her new role.

Recent city events

The Lord Mayor drew attention to and thanked all those involved in organising the following recent events:

* St Paul’s Carnival

* Bristol Pride

* Bristol Black Pride inaugural event

The Lord Mayor also advised that during the refreshment break, she had arranged for short films exploring the expression of grief through the power of dance and movement to be shown in the conference hall.

Please note: Up to 30 minutes is allowed for this item. Public forum items

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

Public forum items can be about any matter the Council is responsible for

or which directly affects the city.

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 Monday 16 July 2018 at latest.

One written statement per member of the public is permitted.

b. Public questions: Written public questions must be received by

5.00 pm on Wednesday 11 July 2018 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 petitions:

The Full Council received and noted the following petition:

Petition PP 01 - “Petition – Safety in Redland Road near Colston’s primary school Elmgrove annex”

Petition organiser – Catherine Burridge

Public statements:

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

PS 01 - Catherine Burridge - Safety in Redland Road near Colston’s primary school Elmgrove annex

PS 02 - Thangam Debbonaire MP - Safety in Redland Road near Colston’s primary school Elmgrove annex / Bishopston & St Andrews - parking and highway safety issues

PS 03 - Viran Patel - Mental health services

PS 04 - Julie Boston - Local taxation / local democracy

PS 05 - Oliver Fortune - Libraries - footfall / opening hours

PS 06 - Graham Donald - Canford Lane crossing

PS 07 - Eileen Means- Bristol for Europe

PS 08 - Max Langer - Bristol and Brexit

Statements were presented by individuals present at the meeting.

Public questions:

The Full Council noted that the following questions had been submitted:

PQ 01 - Council debt collection - Question from Paul Wheeler

PQ 02 - Interim staff pay - Question from Paul Wheeler

PQ 03 - Residents parking - Question from Dr Matthew Aldridge

PQ 04 - question withdrawn

PQ 05 - Central library - Question from Oliver Fortune

PQ 06 - Community led toilet service - Question from Oliver Fortune

PQ 07 - Road safety near schools - Question from Catherine Burridge

PQ 08 - Residents parking scheme in Bishopston and St Andrews - Question from

Sara Tullberg

PQ 09 - Residents parking scheme in Bishopston and St Andrews - Question from

Cecilia Farren

PQ 10 - Corporate Parenting Strategy - Question from Alderman Brian Price.

Within the time available, the Mayor responded verbally to questions PQ 05, PQ 06, PQ 07,

PQ 08,  PQ 09 and PQ 10, 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 16 July 2018 at latest.

None notified for this meeting.

ADJOURNMENT – At this point the Lord Mayor advised that the Full Council meeting would adjourn for a 20 minute refreshment break.

To receive the annual statement from the Mayor of Bristol.

After the Mayor’s statement, each of the other political group leaders will respond by making their own respective statements to Full Council, following which the Mayor will then be given an opportunity to make a final response.

The Full Council received and noted the annual statement from the Mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees.

Councillors Hickman, Weston, Combley and Negus then responded to the Mayor’s statement on behalf of their respective political groups.

The Mayor then made a final response and summed up.

The Full Council considered a report on the refreshed Corporate Parenting Strategy.

Councillor Godwin, Cabinet member for Children and Young People moved the report and the recommendations contained therein.

At this point in the meeting, some young people in foster care / care leavers addressed the meeting, sharing their experiences with councillors.

Councillor Combley then seconded the report.

Following debate, it was:

RESOLVED:

1. That the priorities and actions set out in the Corporate Parenting Strategy 2018 (Appendix A) be approved.

2. That the progress as summarised in the report on the delivery of Bristol’s

Corporate Parenting Strategy 2015 be noted.

3. The refreshed Bristol Pledge to children in care and care leavers (Appendix B) be noted.

The Full Council considered the annual report of the Audit Committee 2017-18.

Councillor Stevens, Vice-Chair of the Audit Committee moved the report and the recommendation contained therein.

Councillor J Clark, Chair of the Audit Committee in 2017-18 seconded the report.

Following debate, it was:

RESOLVED:

That the 2017-18 annual report of the Audit Committee be accepted and noted, including the committee’s concerns that internal control arrangements at the Council are not yet consistently as robust as they should be; it was also noted that the committee will continue to monitor and support the improvement required during 2018-19.

The Full Council considered a report proposing revisions to the terms of reference of the Audit Committee.

Councillor Mead, Chair of the Audit Committee moved the report and the recommendations contained therein.

Councillor Stevens, Vice-Chair of the Audit Committee seconded the report.

RESOLVED:

1. That approval be given to the updated terms of reference of the Audit Committee.

2. That the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Chair of the Audit Committee, be authorised to amend the Council’s constitution accordingly.

The Full Council considered a report on the designation of the authority’s Monitoring Officer.

Councillor Cheney moved the report and the recommendation contained therein.

Councillor Hance seconded the report.

In response to a point of order raised by Cllr Gollop, it was noted that the report contained a typographical error and that paragraph 10 of the report (risk assessment) should be amended as follows:

In paragraph 10, delete the words “Head of Paid Service” and replace with “Monitoring Officer”.

Subject to the above, it was

RESOLVED:

That Quentin Baker be appointed as the Council’s Monitoring Officer until such time as a permanent appointment has been made.

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.

1. MENTAL HEALTH (LABOUR GROUP GOLDEN MOTION)

Motion submitted by: Cllr Celia Phipps, Labour, Bedminster ward

“Full Council notes:

1.      Health and Safety Executive estimates of a £5.2 billion annual loss to the UK’s economy from more than 11 million days off due to stress, depression, and anxiety.

2.      Survey statistics published in the local media showing a 70% increase in the number of working days lost to stress at the UH Bristol NHS Trust since 2011, an 80% rise in instances of time off due to stress-related illness at the North Bristol NHS Trust since 2010, and a 210% rise in stress-related absence at the South West Ambulance Service since 2013: comprising a 41% rise over the seven years to 2017, with stress accounting for the greatest number of working days lost due to any type of illness (The Bristol Cable).

3.      That, with local authority budgets now cut by central Government almost half since 2010, last year stress represented the biggest reason for staff absence at Bristol City Council; we welcome this local authority’s progress in promoting agile and flexible working alongside the free Employee Assistance Programme and counselling service for council staff and their families.

4.      The continued underfunding of the NHS, including much-needed mental health services, by the current Government, despite recent un-costed public pronouncements and despite a long over-due pay rise for some staff following years of advocacy from NHS trades unions.

5.      The Marmot Review (2010), which recommended policy-makers to focus on the ‘causes of the causes’, and the programme of Thrive Bristol, published in March of this year.

6.      Its own current position, ratified in December 2017 – which states that ‘austerity has failed’ and that ‘Bristol needs more money and more powers’ – alongside the Mayor and this Labour administration’s commitment to fight austerity and protect public services.

7.      Labour members’ statements and questions at the Health and Wellbeing Board last month highlighting the lack of nurses for children in care; the need for a coordinated position calling for the full funding of the NHS, measures to tackle the recruitment and retention crises, and reinstatement of the NHS bursary for student nurses; and clarity on steps being taken by local NHS bodies and the AWP to monitor and improve staff wellbeing.

8.      That almost one hundred students are sadly believed to have taken their own lives in the last year, thought to include at least a dozen students at the University of Bristol and  ...  view the full agenda text for item 254.

At the start of this item of business, on the motion of the Lord Mayor, it was

RESOLVED (30 members voting in favour, 29 against, with no abstentions)

- That the duration of this meeting be extended to 9.15 p.m.

Altered Motion 1 – Mental health

Councillor Phipps moved the following altered motion:

“Full Council notes:

1.      Health and Safety Executive estimates of a £5.2 billion annual loss to the UK’s economy from more than 11 million days off due to stress, depression, and anxiety.

2.      Survey statistics published in the local media showing a 70% increase in the number of working days lost to stress at the UH Bristol NHS Trust since 2011, an 80% rise in instances of time off due to stress-related illness at the North Bristol NHS Trust since 2010, and a 210% rise in stress-related absence at the South West Ambulance Service since 2013: comprising a 41% rise over the seven years to 2017, with stress accounting for the greatest number of working days lost due to any type of illness (The Bristol Cable).

3.      That, with local authority budgets now cut by central Government almost half since 2010, last year stress represented the biggest reason for staff absence at Bristol City Council; we welcome this local authority’s progress in promoting agile and flexible working alongside the free Employee Assistance Programme and counselling service for council staff and their families.

4.      The continued underfunding of the NHS, including much-needed mental health services, by the current Government, despite recent un-costed public pronouncements and despite a long over-due pay rise for some staff following years of advocacy from NHS trades unions.

5.      The Marmot Review (2010), which recommended policy-makers to focus on the ‘causes of the causes’, and the programme of Thrive Bristol, published in March of this year.

6.      Its own current position, ratified in December 2017 – which states that ‘austerity has failed’ and that ‘Bristol needs more money and more powers’ – alongside the Mayor, the Labour administration, and the majority of the members of this chamber’s commitment to fight austerity and protect public services.

7.      Labour members’ statements and questions at the Health and Wellbeing Board last month highlighting the lack of nurses for children in care; the need for a coordinated position calling for the full funding of the NHS, measures to tackle the recruitment and retention crises, and reinstatement of the NHS bursary for student nurses; and clarity on steps being taken by local NHS bodies and the AWP to monitor and improve staff wellbeing.

8.      That almost one hundred students are sadly believed to have taken their own lives in the last year, thought to include at least a dozen students at the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England since October 2016; the efforts, including a recent march, of Bristol students to highlight these tragic deaths and the need for greater service provision; and the recent conference held by the Universities Minister at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 254.