Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chair welcomed all attendees to the meeting and explained the emergency evacuation procedure.

It was noted that apologies had been received as follows:

- Cllr Mack (Cllr Fodor was in attendance as a substitute)

- Cllr Renhard (Cllr Dudd was in attendance as a substitute)

- Cllr Stafford-Townsend (Cllr Freeman was in attendance as a substitute)

To note any declarations of interest from 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.

It was noted that there were no declarations of interest.

Up to 30 minutes is allowed for this item.

Please note: as this is an extraordinary meeting, public forum items must be about the business for which the extraordinary meeting has been arranged.

Any member of the public or councillor may participate in Public Forum. Public Forum items should be addressed to the Chair of the committee.

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Questions

1.      Written public questions must be received by 5.00 pm, at least 3 clear working days prior to the meeting. For this meeting, this means that questions must be received at the latest by 5.00 pm on Tuesday 8 October. Please email questions to policycommittees@bristol.gov.uk

2.      Any individual can submit up to 3 written questions.

3.      Written replies to questions will be available on the Council’s website at least one hour before the meeting.

4.      At the meeting, questioners will be permitted to ask up to 2 oral supplementary questions.

Statements

1.      Written statements must be received at latest by 12.00 noon, at least 2 working days prior to the meeting. For this meeting, this means that statements must be received at the latest by 12.00 noon on Thursday 10 October. Please email statements to policycommittees@bristol.gov.uk

2.      Statements, provided they are no more than 1,000 words in length, will be circulated to all committee members and will be published on the Council’s website at least one hour before the meeting.

Petitions

1.      Details of the wording of any petitions, and the number of signatories to petitions must be received at latest by 12.00 noon, at least 2 working days prior to the meeting. For this meeting, this means that petition details must be received at the latest by 12.00 noon on Thursday 10 October. Please email petition details to policycommittees@bristol.gov.uk

2.      At the meeting, individuals presenting petitions may be required to read out the objectives of the petition.

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Public questions:

It was noted that 3 public forum questions had been submitted to this meeting as follows:

Qs 1-3: Dan Ackroyd - subject: Agenda item 5 - The Future of the Bottle Yard studios.

It was noted that responses to these questions had been published in advance of the meeting.

Public statements:

It was noted that 2 public statements had been received for this meeting, as follows:

1. Dan Ackroyd: - subject: Agenda item 5 - The Future of the Bottle Yard studios

2. Ian Harris - subject: Agenda item 5 - The Future of the Bottle Yard studios

Dan Ackroyd and Ian Harris presented their respective statements.

The Committee RESOLVED (6 members voting in favour and 3 against):

To authorise the Executive Director for Growth and Regeneration, in consultation with the Leader, Director of Finance and the Director of Legal Services, to negotiate the terms of disposal and the final terms of contract and to consult with all relevant trade unions including those representing freelance workers. Any final decision on disposal including the final terms of the contract to then be considered by the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee.

The Committee gave further consideration to the report on this matter as submitted originally to the Committee on 16 September 2024.

The Chair reminded members of the following context for the further discussion of this item:

1. On 16 September, the Committee had approved recommendation 1 as set out in the report: i.e. Approval had been given to the proposal to identify a purchaser of the long leasehold interest of the Bottle Yard Studios.

2. No decision was taken on 16 September on recommendation 2 as set out in the report, which asked the Committee to: ‘Authorise the Executive Director for Growth and Regeneration, in consultation with the Leader, Director of Finance and the Director of Legal Services, to settle the terms of disposal and negotiate (as necessary) the final terms of contract, subject to any condition or requirements set by the Committee.’

3. At this meeting, the Committee was being asked to consider and take a decision on recommendation 2 as set out in the 16 September report.

Summary of main points raised/noted in discussion of this item:

1. It was noted that the report included certain exempt appendices (relating to matters of commercial sensitivity) and that, in the event that any member wished to raise a question or matter specifically in relation to the exempt information, it would be necessary for the committee to move into exempt session.

2. In response to a question, it was confirmed that this project had first been put forward as a proposition in November 2022, and had then started in early 2023.  Relevant Cabinet members had been briefed confidentially as the project then developed through 2023 and into 2024, and a confidential briefing had been provided for the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board in early 2024.  These briefings had been provided on a confidential basis in light of commercially sensitive issues around the proposal.

3. Officers responded to questions from members about the consultation that had taken place on the proposals.  It was noted that consultation had taken place with all relevant  Council staff and their trade union representatives.  Officers had now met with Equity but had not specifically briefed freelance workers (who were not employed directly by the Council).

4. In response to questions, it was confirmed that the proposal approved by the Committee on 16 September was to identify a purchaser of the long leasehold interest of the Bottle Yard Studios; the Council would still be the freeholder. It was not currently proposed that break clauses would be included as part of the lease.

5. It was noted that Phase 1 market testing had been undertaken in February and March 2024. It was noted that due to commercial sensitivity considerations, any detailed questions around this would need to be taken in exempt session.

6. Cllr King stated that Cabinet members had, under the previous administration explored options with officers but had made no decisions.  The view of Labour group members of the Committee was that the Strategy and Resources Policy  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61.