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 meeting as a correct record.

To note any announcements from the Lord Mayor

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 10 January 2025 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 8 January 2025 at latest. A maximum of 3 questions per member of the public is permitted. Questions should be addressed to the Leader or relevant Policy Committee Chair.

Public Questions and Statements should be submitted via our webform:

www.bristol.gov.uk/publicforum

Petitions 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 13 January 2025.

Recommendation: That Full Council note the report.

Recommendation: That Full Council approve that being Care Experienced can become a protective characteristic.

Recommendation: Agree, in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012, the amount calculated by Bristol City Council as its Council Tax base for the financial year 2025/26 shall be 136,010.

Recommendation

1. That an estimated surplus as at 31 March 2025 on the Council Tax element of the Collection Fund of £3.586m be declared for 2024/25 and shared between this Council, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset and the Avon Fire and Rescue Service in proportion to their 2024/25 precepts on the Collection Fund.

2. That an estimated surplus as at 31 March 2025 on the Non-Domestic Rates (NDR) element of the Collection Fund, net of grants, of £1.606m be declared for 2024/25 and shared between this Council, Avon Fire and Rescue Service and the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) in proportion to the appropriate year demands (Bristol 95%, WECA 4%, Avon Fire and Rescue Service 1%).

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 (GREEN PARTY): CEASEFIRE IN GAZA AND ENDING THE UK’S ARMS TRADE WITH ISRAEL

Full Council notes: 

1.         Israel’s ongoing assault on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians - almost half of them children. Over 70% of buildings and infrastructure has been destroyed, while over 90% of Palestinians in Gaza have been displaced, many of them multiple times.

2.         In January, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the world court, handed down an interim ruling affirming there is plausible evidence Israel is committing genocidal acts against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. As a State Party to the Genocide Convention, the UK has a binding obligation to employ all means reasonably available to prevent and deter further genocidal acts.

3.         In July, the ICJ issued an advisory opinion ruling that Israel's military occupation is unlawful and must end, and that Israel is in breach of the international prohibition of the crime of apartheid. The court affirmed that all states are under an obligation not to render aid or assistance to this unlawful situation.

Full Council believes that:

1.         We all have a responsibility to stand with Palestinians in the face of such catastrophic violence and do everything in our power to bring such suffering to an end.?? 

2.         Stemming from the obligations laid out by the ICJ, councils must avoid procuring from or investing the funds they manage, including Local Government Pension Scheme funds, in companies that facilitate Israel's breaches of international law. This includes arms companies producing weapons and military technology used by Israel in its relentless attacks on Palestinians, and financial institutions which finance these arms companies.

3.         The recent defeat of draconian attempts to restrict the right of public bodies to take ethical investment and spending decisions means that councils are free to take human rights and other ethical considerations on board when making financial decisions.

Full Council resolves to:

1.         Call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire to stop the catastrophic loss of life, and the return of all hostages.

2.         Call on the Leader of the Council and all Party Group Leaders to write to the UK government, calling on them to end the UK’s arms trade with Israel, and for PM Kier Starmer to organise this.

3.         Call on our representatives on relevant bodies to call for a divestment from any funds it administers, including Local Government Pension Scheme funds, from companies complicit in Israel’s attacks on Palestinians, such as arms companies  ...  view the full agenda text for item 12.