Agenda and decisions

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.

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

To receive any announcements from the Chair.

Up to 30 minutes is allowed for this item.

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

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

Please also note:

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 April. Public Questions should be submitted via our webform: www.bristol.gov.uk/publicforum

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 April. Public Statements should be submitted via our webform: www.bristol.gov.uk/publicforum

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 April. 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.

When submitting a question or statement please indicate whether you are planning to attend the meeting to present your statement ask your question

This report provides an update on current significant strategic risks to achieving the Council’s objectives as set in the Corporate Strategy 2022-2027 and summarises progress in managing the risks and actions being taken as at Quarter 4 2024-25.

The Committee RESOLVED:

- To note the report.

This report seeks approval of the upfront payment of the annual employer (future service) pension contribution.

The Committee RESOLVED (unanimous vote in favour):

- To approve the upfront payment of the 2025/26 employers’ pension contribution to the Avon Pension Fund.

A formal motion to ‘make Bristol the UK’s most accessible city’ was approved by Full Council in October 2024. The transport-focused content within that motion is being addressed via the Transport and Connectivity Policy Committee.

This report provides a broader update and seeks the Committee’s views on the first four actions within the ‘resolution section’ of the motion, which are cross-cutting council-wide issues.

The Committee RESOLVED:

- To note the report together with the comments made by, and further steer provided by members during the discussion, noting also the comments provided through the public forum at the meeting.

1. To seek approval to accept and spend the funding allocated in relation to the Property Transformation Programme for the 2025/26 financial year.

2. To seek approval to accept and spend the Corporate Landlord service budget in relation to an IT solution for the Service (including Asset Management System). Previous approvals were not clear on the use of service budget; only programme budgets; this report is to make clear the service budget picking up the ongoing cost.

3. To inform and update the Committee on the scope and progress of the Property Transformation Programme.

The Committee RESOLVED:

In terms of the Programme:

1. (6 members voting in favour and 3 against) To approve the Property Transformation Programme (and projects identified in the report).

2. (6 members voting in favour and 3 against) To authorise the Director: Property, Assets and Infrastructure to take all steps required to implement the Property Transformation Programme and projects identified in the report (including procuring and awarding contracts over the key decision threshold) in line with the maximum budget envelopes allocated for 2025/26 and as outlined in the report (subject to approval of the transformation budget by the Strategy and Resources Committee on 19 May 2025).

3. (unanimous vote in favour) To authorise the Director: Property, Assets and Infrastructure, in consultation with Chair of the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee and the s.151 Officer to extend or vary the existing Hard Facilities Management (Hard FM) contract (which may be above the key decision threshold) and that may be required to enable continuation of service provision during the procurement of a new contract, to be funded from within the existing service budget.

In terms of IT for Corporate Landlord – Service budget:

4. (unanimous vote in favour) To authorise the Director: Property, Assets and Infrastructure, in consultation with Chair of the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee to take all steps required to procure and award an IT solution(s) for the Corporate Landlord service (including Asset Management solution) (which may be above the key decision threshold) for up to 7 years.

5. (unanimous vote in favour) To authorise the Director: Property, Assets and Infrastructure to invoke any subsequent extensions or variations specifically defined in the contract(s) being awarded, up to the key decision threshold.

In terms of noting:

6. To note the update report on progress of the Property Transformation Programme.

This report seeks approval to bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for grant funding of £1,010,825.00 for the delivery phase of the Sounds of the South West project and, if the bid is successful, approval to accept and spend the grant.

The Committee RESOLVED (unanimous vote in favour):

1. To approve the proposal to submit a bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for the delivery phase of Sounds of the South West.

2. To delegate authority to the Executive Director: Growth and Regeneration to take all steps required to submit the bid and accept and spend the grant (including entering the grant agreement) should the bid be successful.