Agenda and minutes

The Lord Mayor welcomed all attendees to the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Abraham and Councillor M Davies.

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.

None received.

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 12^th January 2021 be confirmed as correct record and signed by the Lord Mayor.

To note any announcements from the Lord Mayor

The Lord Mayor informed Full Council of the recent death of former Lady Mayoress Barbara Cook.  Condolences were sent to her husband former Councillor Simon Cook and her family.  A minutes silence was observed.

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

2. The wording of all petitions and all written statements must be submitted by the deadline of 12 noon on Monday 22^nd February. Petition details / written statements should be sent to: democratic.services@bristol.gov.uk

3. Questions are not permitted on this occasion.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6.The Lord Mayor will ask Full Council to receive and formally note all petitions and written statements received.

Public petitions:

There were no public petitions received.

Public statements:

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

The Full Council considered a report setting out the Mayor’s 2021-2022 budget recommendations. 

The Lord Mayor drew member’s 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 introduced the budget report.

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

The leaders of each party group, Cllrs Hickman, Weston, Combley and Hopkins each responded to the budget proposals.

Councillor Clarke presented comments on behalf of the Resources Scrutiny Commission and Overview and Scrutiny Management Board.

The Mayor responded to the points raised.

Full Council then considered and debated each of the proposed budget amendments as follows:

Liberal Democrat Group Budget Amendment

Revenue - Increased budget for Children’s Play Park Repairs, investment in SEND support through intervention and improvement team aimed at improving inclusion, increase in Capital Financing to pay for additional SEND school places, reduction in PR department, merged Mayor’s Office and Executive Office, removal of Mayor’s Fund.

Capital - Deliver more special places through support of Schools Expansion and SEND strategy, invest in additional sports and leisure facilities to deliver East Bristol Pool. Investment in Children’s Play facilities, investment in Safer Neighbourhoods, create a new Cycle fund to improve cycle network, investment in Parks to improve standards. Assign funding from the capital contingency fund, capital finance raised through additional borrowing.

Councillor Kent moved the amendment, seconded by Councillor Hopkins.

Following debate, upon being put to the vote on both elements of the amendment, the amendment was LOST.

Vote 1 - 30 members voting for, 34 against and 1 abstention.

ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned for fifteen minutes.

Labour Group Budget Amendment

Increased Waste and Litter Enforcement Officers with income from fixed penalty notices.

Councillor Don Alexander moved the motion, seconded by Councillor Pickersgill.

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

Vote 2 – 65 members voting for, none against and no abstentions.

Green Budget Amendment (HRA)

Increased HRA revenue available for increased 5 year capital programme, increased new Council House building and accelerate programme of improvement works on HRA stock, increased council rents by inflation +1%.

Councillor Denyer moved the motion, seconded by Councillor Bowden-Jones.

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

Vote 3 – 19 members voting for, 42 against and 4 abstentions.

Green Budget Amendment (Resources)

Reallocate one off expenditure by reduced spend on developing strategy/asset management plan, additional £250k to develop and update strategic outline case for a workplace parking levy.

Councillor Thomas moved the motion, seconded by Councillor O’Rourke.

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

Vote 4 – 18 members voting for, 45 against and 2 absentions.

Green Budget Amendment (Capital)

Reallocate the strategic CIL previously allocated to the Arena,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 99.