Agenda and draft minutes

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

Apologies for absence were heard from Councillors Davies, Denyer, Dyer, Grant, Hance, Hussain, Jackson, O’Rourke, Mack and Massey.

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.

Full Council noted that on the 11th March 2024, a dispensation was agreed at the Value and Ethics Committee that would allow Members who are landlords or private renters to participate in Agenda Item 9: Living Rent Commission.

The following members declared an interest as either landlords or private renters:

Bennett, Breckels, Brown, Cheney, Clark, Classick, Dudd, Edwards, Geater, Gollop, Goodman, Goulandris, Hathway and Stone.

Councillors Don Alexander and Jos Clark declared an interest as allotment volunteers.

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

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

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Full Council held on the 28^th February 2024 be confirmed as correct record and signed by the Lord Mayor.

To note any announcements from the Lord Mayor

As this was the last Full Council of the Municipal Year, the Lord Mayor thanked Members for their service to the people of Bristol. 

Please note that with the agreement of the Lord Mayor, the deadline for Public Questions and Statements relating to Item 16: Special Urgency Decision DSG Safety Valve has been extended to 12.00 noon on Monday 11 March.

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 (usually 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 8 March 2024 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 6 March 2024 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 forum items should be e-mailed to democratic.services@bristol.gov.uk

Public Petitions and Statements:

Full Council received and noted the following petitions and statements (which were referred to the Mayor for his consideration)

Tina Holmes

Bristol Fair Renting Campaign – rent controls

Tim Beasley

Proposed changes to Bristol Allotments

Proposed changes to Bristol Allotments

Neil Bennetta

Sue Crimlisk 

Objection to proposed changes to allotments consultation

Proposed changes to Bristol Allotments

Proposed changes to Bristol Allotments

Proposed changes to Bristol Allotments

Kelly Allen

Reinstating buses

Proposed changes to Bristol Allotments

Within the time available, Petition PP01 and statements PS01, 05, 12, 14, 22, 23 and 39 were presented by individuals 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 PQ01, 02, 06, 07 and 09 and responded 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 11 March 2024.

Full Council received and noted the following petitions:

Recommendation: That Full Council debates the petition and refers it to the Mayor / relevant Cabinet member for a formal response.

Full Council considered a report of the Director – Legal and Democratic Services setting out details of a petition ‘Objections to Bristol City Council’s Changes to Allotment Rules and Rent’. The petition had reached the 3,500 signature threshold to qualify for a Full Council debate.

Holly Wyatt, the petition organiser, was invited by the Lord Mayor to present the objectives of the petition.

The Full Council debated the petition.

Following the debate it was:

RESOLVED: That the petition and the comments from the debate be noted and referred to the Mayor for response.

Recommendation: That Full Council note the Bristol Living Rent Commission report recommendations.

Full Council considered a report on the Living Rent Commission.

Councillor Tom Renhard moved the report as the Cabinet Member for Housing Delivery & Homelessness.

There was a debate, and it was:

RESOLVED: Full Council noted the Bristol Living Rent Commission report recommendations.

Recommendation: That Full Council note Grant Thornton’s Interim Auditors Annual Report for 2021/22 and 22/23, focusing on their value for money assessment, along with an action plan agreed by management.

Full Council considered the External Audit Annual Report 2021/22 and 2022/23.

The Lord Mayor moved the report.

Recommendations:

That Full Council note the Audit Committee Self-Assessment Report for 2023/24.

That Full Council consider the issues raised in this report in setting up future Council committees.

Full Council considered a report on the Audit Committee Annual Review of Effectiveness.

Councillor Andrew Brown moved the report as Chair of the Audit Committee.

Following debate for items 10 and 11, it was:

RESOLVED: Full Council noted Grant Thornton’s Interim Auditors Annual Report for 2021/22 and 22/23, focusing on their value for money assessment, along with an action plan agreed by management.

RESOLVED: Full Council noted the Audit Committee Self-Assessment Report for 2023/24. Full Council considered the issues raised in this report in setting up future Council committees.

Recommendation: That Full Council endorses the Parental Leave Policy for Councillors.

Full Council considered a report on the Parental Leave Policy.

The Lord Mayor moved the report and Councillor Steve Smith seconded the report.

There was no debate, and it was:

RESOLVED: Full Council endorsed the Parental Leave Policy for Councillors.

Recommendation: That Full Council adopts the Pay Policy Statement for 2024/25 to take effect from 1 April 2024.

Full Council considered a report on the Pay Policy Statement.

The Lord Mayor moved the report and Councillor Steve Smith seconded the report.

There was a debate, and it was:

RESOLVED (35 FOR, 16 AGAINST, 4 ABSTENTIONS): Full Council adopted the Pay Policy Statement for 2024/25 to take effect from 1 April 2024.

Recommendation: That Full Council confirms the designation of Tony Kirkham as Interim Section 151 Officer with effect from 1 April 2024.

Full Council considered a report on the Appointment of Interim Director of Finance.

The Lord Mayor moved the report and Councillor Steve Smith seconded the report.

There was no debate, and it was:

RESOLVED: That Full Council confirmed the designation of Tony Kirkham as Interim Section 151 Officer with effect from 1 April 2024.

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 (LABOUR): The Caring Economy

This Council notes:

• The UK is one of the most expensive countries in the world for childcare. Parents continue to face huge difficulties finding the right care for their children. Likewise, carers face a number of challenges.

• The West of England Combined Authority has adopted a local industrial strategy, and Bristol City Council is in the early stages of developing an economic strategy. Research has found that a 2% investment in care produces double the number of jobs for women and almost as many jobs for men as the same investment in construction.

• Following a campaign from Labour MPs, the Government now recognises childcare as a form of infrastructure, meaning the Community Infrastructure Levy could be spent on capital costs for childcare provision.

This Council believes:

• Further action needs to be taken to ensure that children across Bristol get the best start in life, regardless of the post-code and economic background they were born into.

• Early years intervention is crucial for improving life outcomes. The council and its partners should continue to prioritise the outcomes of Bristol’s children and young people and embed their interests in all its work. 

• Childcare remains far too expensive, and it is unacceptable that in 2023, some parents are unable to go back to work due to childcare costs.

• Likewise, action needs to be taken to support carers, both through the council, through its partners, and throughout Bristol.

• Bristol needs a National Care Service introduced, that follows the principles outlined in the Fabian Society’s pamphlet ‘A National Care Service for all’

This Council resolves to:

• Call on members of the Strategy and Resources Committee to continue to protect maintained nurseries as a priority and reject any proposals to reduce funding for them in budgets put forward to Full Council in future. Furthermore, work alongside the Schools Forum to explore reforming the budget setting model by moving to a benchmarked model based on final summer term registrations from each September, giving nurseries the flexibility they need to maintain the best possible provision for our children.

• Call on Party Group Leaders to write to the Government to ask it recognises state nursery provision a statutory service and provide additional funding to local government to fund this, and lobby the Government to follow the lead of the Welsh Government and exempt nursery schools in Bristol from paying business rates.

• Call  ...  view the full agenda text for item 15.

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 9.30pm

GOLDEN MOTION (LABOUR): The Caring Economy

Councillor Amal Ali moved the following motion:

This Council notes:

• The UK is one of the most expensive countries in the world for childcare. Parents continue to face huge difficulties finding the right care for their children. Likewise, carers face a number of challenges.

• The West of England Combined Authority has adopted a local industrial strategy, and Bristol City Council is in the early stages of developing an economic strategy. Research has found that a 2% investment in care produces double the number of jobs for women and almost as many jobs for men as the same investment in construction.

• Following a campaign from Labour MPs, the Government now recognises childcare as a form of infrastructure, meaning the Community Infrastructure Levy could be spent on capital costs for childcare provision.

This Council believes:

• Further action needs to be taken to ensure that children across Bristol get the best start in life, regardless of the post-code and economic background they were born into.

• Early years intervention is crucial for improving life outcomes. The council and its partners should continue to prioritise the outcomes of Bristol’s children and young people and embed their interests in all its work. 

• Childcare remains far too expensive, and it is unacceptable that in 2023, some parents are unable to go back to work due to childcare costs.

• Likewise, action needs to be taken to support carers, both through the council, through its partners, and throughout Bristol.

• Bristol needs a National Care Service introduced, that follows the principles outlined in the Fabian Society’s pamphlet ‘A National Care Service for all’

This Council resolves to:

• Call on members of the Strategy and Resources Committee to continue to protect maintained nurseries as a priority and reject any proposals to reduce funding for them in budgets put forward to Full Council in future. Furthermore, work alongside the Schools Forum to explore reforming the budget setting model by moving to a benchmarked model based on final summer term registrations from each September, giving nurseries the flexibility they need to maintain the best possible provision for our children.

• Call on Party Group Leaders to write to the Government to ask it recognises state nursery provision a statutory service and provide additional funding to local government to fund this, and lobby the Government to follow the lead of the Welsh Government and exempt nursery schools in Bristol from paying business rates.

• Call on the Children and Young People committee to explore other ways of making childcare more accessible in Bristol.

• Call on the Mayor to instruct appropriate officers to explore allocating future Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy raised in regeneration areas towards capital  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

Please note that with the agreement of the Lord Mayor, the deadline for Public Questions and Statements relating to Item 16: Special Urgency Decision DSG Safety Valve has been extended to 12.00 noon on Monday 11 March.

Recommendation: Full Council is asked to note the use of special urgency provisions (APR 16) in relation to a decision that was been taken by Cabinet in respect of the Safety Valve Programme Report on the 5 March 2024

Full Council considered a report on a decision taken under Special Urgency Provisions.

The Lord Mayor moved the report.

There was a debate, and it was:

RESOLVED: Full Council noted the use of special urgency provisions (APR 16) in relation to a decision that was been taken by Cabinet in respect of the Safety Valve Programme Report on the 5 March 2024.