Agenda

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.

To agree the minutes of the previous meetings of 21 May 2024 and 3 June 2024 as a correct record.

To note any announcements from the Lord Mayor

***Please note that due to the late publication of motions, public questions or statements related to motions can be submitted by 10.00am on Tuesday 9 July.***

Members of the press and public who plan to attend a public meeting at City Hall are advised that you will be required to sign in when you arrive, and you will be issued with a visitor pass which you will need to display at all times.

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 5 July 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 3 July 2024 at latest. A maximum of 3 questions per member of thepublic is permitted. Questions must be addressed to the Leader or relevant Policy Committee Chair or Regulatory Committee Chair. Please make it clear to whom your question is directed. Further information is available on our website.

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

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 8 July 2024.

Recommendation: That Full Council note the Bristol City Youth Council update.

Recommendation: That Full Council approve Bristol’s new Corporate Parenting Strategy 2024 – 29 and associated Pledge for Children in Care and Care Leavers (referred to in this report here on in as care-experienced children).

Recommendation: that Full Council note the Equity and Inclusion Annual Progress Report 2023/24.

Please Note: due to the Pre-Election Period, it is not possible to publish motions until after the General Election. Motions will be published on Friday 5 July.

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.

GOLDEN MOTION (Green): Ending local government austerity and investing in local public services

This Council notes that:

• Government grants to local authorities were cut by 40% in real terms between 2009/10 and 2019/20, from £46.5bn to £28.0bn. 
• As a result, between 2010 and 2019, more than £30 billion in spending reductions (often termed austerity measures) were made to welfare payments, housing subsidies and social services in the UK
• These austerity measures have contributed to 335,000 excess deaths, resulted in a fall in the UK life expectancy, and culminated in UK workers being £11,000 worse off a year after years of wage stagnation.
• At the same time, there has been a huge surge in demand for vital services provided by local authorities, such as adult social care, which takes up about three-quarters of Local Authority budgets. 
• Spending on social care grew by an average of 2.6% a year in real terms between 2014/15 and 2021/22. 
• This is less than the 3.4% a year increase in spending that the Health Foundation has calculated will be needed between 2024/25 and 2032/33 to meet future demand. This is equal to £8.3 billion overall.
• The National Audit Office has recognised that the pressure on local authority finances “impacts on the funding available for adult social care”.
• Bristol City Council signed up to the Ethical Care Charter in 2021. 
• As a result of decreased funding and increased demand for services, since 2021 six local authorities have declared themselves effectively bankrupt, with many councils, including Bristol, warning they may have to do the same.
• The Labour Party has not committed to increasing funding for local authorities. 

This Council believes that:

• Cuts to the government grants provided to local authorities must be reversed by the new government in order to sufficiently fund growing demand for key services such as adult social care. 
• Without adequate funding, the increased financial pressure from increased demand for these services is likely to have serious negative financial implications for local authorities and Bristol City Council.
• As well as increased funding, the UK government and local authorities must commit to improving the working conditions of social workers.
• The Ethical Care Charter is essential to ensuring that employment conditions do not routinely short change clients and ensure the recruitment and retention of a more stable workforce through more sustainable pay, conditions and training  ...  view the full agenda text for item 11.