Agenda and minutes

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 English and Jones.

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

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

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Full Council held on the 8^th September 2020 be confirmed as correct record and signed by the Lord Mayor.

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.

Councillor Clive Stevens declared the disclosable pecuniary interest that he had written a book of his experiences in local government.   He did not intend to withdraw for any item.

To note any announcements from the Lord Mayor

On the day before Armistice Day Full Council fell silent for two minutes as a mark of respect.

There were no public petitions.

Public Statements

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

PS02, PS03, PS10 and PS13 were presented by individuals present at the meeting.

Public Questions:

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

Within the time available, the Mayor responded verbally to questions PQ01, PQ02, PQ03, PQ04, PQ05 and PQ06.

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 9^th November 2020.

The Full Council received and noted the following petitions:

The Full Council received a progress report of the work of the Bristol Women’s Commission 2019-20.

There was a debate and it was:

RESOLVED

That the report of the Bristol Women’s Commission be noted.

The Full Council received a progress report of the work of the Bristol Commission on Race Equality (CoRE).

There was a debate and it was:

RESOLVED

That the report of the Bristol Commission on Race Equality be noted.

The Full Council considered the report which proposed the Medium Term Financial Plan and Capital Strategy.

Councillor Cheney moved the report and the recommendations contained therein.  Councillor Don Alexander seconded the report.

Following debate it was:

NOTED

1.      The economic outlook and projections within the 5 year MTFP.

2.      The Strategic planning approach

APPROVED: (44 members voting in favour, 0 against with 21 abstentions)

3.      Medium Term Financial Plan for the period 2021/22 to 2025/26

4.      Capital Strategy for the period 2021/22 to 2025/26

The Full Council considered a report which presented the annual treasury management review of activities and the actual treasury indicators in accordance with Local Government regulations.

Councillor Cheney moved the report and the recommendations contained therein.  Councillor Breckels seconded the report.

Following debate it was:

RESOLVED:

That the Annual Treasury Management Report for 2019/20 be noted.

The Full Council considered the Members Allowances Scheme.

The Lord Mayor moved the report and the recommendations contained therein.

Councillor Johnson seconded the report.

Following debate the recommendations were CARRIED (with 44 Members voting for, 14 against with 8 abstentions) and it was:

RESOLVED:

Full Council adopted the Members’ Allowances Scheme

The Full Council considered the proposed allocation of committee seats as set out in the report including revisions to the membership of the Licensing Committee.

The Lord Mayor moved the report and the recommendations set out therein.

Councillor Johnson seconded the report.

There was no debate and it was:

RESOLVED:

Full Council approved:

1.      The allocation of committee seats as set out within the report

2.      The membership of the Licensing Committee

MOTIONS RECEIVED FOR FULL COUNCIL – 10 NOVEMBER 2020

Important 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.

Golden Motion - PROTECTING JOBS AND PUBLIC SERVICES

Full Council notes:

1.      With deep concern, the recession already being experienced by many businesses, workers, and families here in Bristol – and exacerbated by the lack of sector specific support from Government.

2.      Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s Alliance for Full Employment, launched with Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees; the First Minister of Wales; Metro Mayors from Greater Manchester, London, Liverpool City Region, Sheffield City Region, and the North of Tyne; several major trade unions including CWU, Unite, UNISON, and TSSA; and backed by Labour councillors in Bristol and around the UK.

3.      UNISON’s campaign for Ministers to properly fund local councils to keep communities safe and help rebuild the country after the pandemic.

Full Council believes:

1.      The Chancellor’s long-overdue, last-minute statement on 22 October has left gaping holes in Britain’s social security net, with support for workers, businesses, and the self-employed still falling short of what is needed to protect jobs; this situation would be worsened still if the Government decides, as is rumoured, to freeze the minimum wage.

2.      The Alliance for Full Employment is right to call for a UK Regional Growth Fund to increase equity for small businesses; a fair furlough scheme to protect jobs; investment to rescue our high streets; a Youth Jobs Guarantee by extending Kickstart to provide direct support to hire 16-24 year olds; investment to ensure a fair transition and Green New Deal; increased payments to support people quarantining; and a permanent fiscal focus to take unemployment as seriously as inflation.  

3.      Keyworkers and all council staff have continued to go above and beyond throughout the pandemic but national Government has failed to keep its promise to do “whatever it takes” to support local councils, with a funding gap of some £10 billion across local government estimated in 2020/21.

Full Council resolves:

1. To support the Mayor in standing up for Bristol by writing to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to endorse the plan put forward by the Alliance for Full Employment.
2. To ask the Mayor to continue standing up for Bristol and calling for fair funding by working with UNISON’s latest campaign to protect frontline services.

Silver Motion

2. Use of Experimental Traffic Orders

“This Council is concerned that radical changes to the city’s road network have been introduced with no prior warning to those most affected by these moves namely, centrally based businesses, traders and  ...  view the full agenda text for item 58.

Following a short adjournment, it was 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.  There were two votes during the item and it was agreed to proceed up until a 50 minute limit.

Motion 1 – PROTECTING JOBS AND PUBLIC SERVICES

Councillor Godwin moved the following motion:

Full Council notes:

1.      With deep concern, the recession already being experienced by many businesses, workers, and families here in Bristol – and exacerbated by the lack of sector specific support from Government.

2.      Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s Alliance for Full Employment, launched with Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees; the First Minister of Wales; Metro Mayors from Greater Manchester, London, Liverpool City Region, Sheffield City Region, and the North of Tyne; several major trade unions including CWU, Unite, UNISON, and TSSA; and backed by Labour councillors in Bristol and around the UK.

3.      UNISON’s campaign for Ministers to properly fund local councils to keep communities safe and help rebuild the country after the pandemic.

Full Council believes:

1.      The Chancellor’s long-overdue, last-minute statement on 22 October has left gaping holes in Britain’s social security net, with support for workers, businesses, and the self-employed still falling short of what is needed to protect jobs; this situation would be worsened still if the Government decides, as is rumoured, to freeze the minimum wage.

2.      The Alliance for Full Employment is right to call for a UK Regional Growth Fund to increase equity for small businesses; a fair furlough scheme to protect jobs; investment to rescue our high streets; a Youth Jobs Guarantee by extending Kickstart to provide direct support to hire 16-24 year olds; investment to ensure a fair transition and Green New Deal; increased payments to support people quarantining; and a permanent fiscal focus to take unemployment as seriously as inflation.  

3.      Keyworkers and all council staff have continued to go above and beyond throughout the pandemic but national Government has failed to keep its promise to do “whatever it takes” to support local councils, with a funding gap of some £10 billion across local government estimated in 2020/21.

Full Council resolves:

1. To support the Mayor in standing up for Bristol by writing to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to endorse the plan put forward by the Alliance for Full Employment.
2. To ask the Mayor to continue standing up for Bristol and calling for fair funding by working with UNISON’s latest campaign to protect frontline services.

The motion was seconded by Councillor Johnson.

Following a debate, the Lord Mayor invited Councillor Godwin, as mover of the original motion to respond.

Following final remarks, upon being put to the vote, the original motion was CARRIED (53 voting for, 13 against) and it was

RESOLVED:

Full Council notes:

1.      With deep concern, the recession already being experienced by many businesses, workers, and families here in Bristol – and exacerbated by the lack of sector specific support from Government.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58.