Agenda and minutes

Please note: if the alarm sounds during the meeting, everyone should

please exit the building via the way they came in, via the main entrance

lobby area, and then the front ramp. Please then assemble on the paved

area between the side entrance of the cathedral and the roundabout at

the Deanery Road end of the building.

If the front entrance cannot be used, alternative exits are available via

staircases 2 and 3 to the left and right of the Council Chamber. These exit

to the rear of the building. The lifts are not to be used. Then please make

your way to the assembly point at the front of the building. Please do

not return to the building until instructed to do so by the fire warden(s).

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 Brain, Cheney, C Davies, M Davies, Hickman, Holland, Khan, Massey and Pearce.

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

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Full Council held on 17 July 2018 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Lord Mayor subject to the following amendment:

Councillor Steve Smith to be shown as present in the meeting attendance list.

To note any declarations of interest from the Mayor and 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.

Councillor Kent advised that he had declared an interest to the Monitoring Officer in relation to Motion 2 (it was noted that this was not a disclosable pecuniary interest and would not affect his participation in that item of business).

Alderman Pat Roberts

The Lord Mayor informed Full Council of the recent death of former Bristol City

councillor, Alderman Pat Roberts.

Councillors P Smith, Eddy and Hopkins then addressed the Full Council, paying tribute in remembrance of Alderman Roberts.

The Full Council then observed a minute’s silence in memory of Alderman Roberts.

Please note: Up to 30 minutes is allowed for this item. Public forum items

should be e-mailed to democratic.services@bristol.gov.uk

Public forum items can be about any matter the Council is responsible for

or which directly affects the city.

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 Monday 10 September 2018 at latest.

One written statement per member of the public is permitted.

b. Public questions: Written public questions must be received by

5.00 pm on Wednesday 5 September 2018 at latest.

A maximum of 2 questions per member of the public is permitted.

Questions should be addressed to the Mayor or relevant Cabinet

member.

Public petitions:

The Full Council received and noted the following petitions:

Petition PP 01  - Parking charges around churches

Petition organiser – Angela Moseley

Petition PP 02 - SEND

Petition organiser – Claire Mellor / Tracy Creed

Petition PP 03 - Saving the number 10 bus service

Petition organiser – Michael Bell

Public statements:

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

PS 01   Alex Joseph – Guangzhou, twin city – ethical practices

PS 02   Paul Martin – Ashton Court miniature railway

PS 03   Chris Castleman – Ashton Court miniature railway

PS 04   Fiona Wilson – Ashton Court miniature railway

PS 05   Trevor Chambers – Ashton Court miniature railway

PS 06   Mrs C Canner – Ashton Court miniature railway

PS 07   Dian Porter – Ashton Court miniature railway

PS 08   Julia Gurr – Ashton Court miniature railway

PS 09   Ryan Cumner – Ashton Court miniature railway

PS 10   Rebecca Strong – Ashton Court miniature railway

PS 11   Paul Jones – Ashton Court miniature railway

PS 12   Lana Gayle – re: Motion 2 - SEND

PS 13   Arthur Clark – Ashton Court miniature railway

PS 14   Alan Grimsted – Ashton Court miniature railway

PS 15   Fern Bohin – re: Motion 2 - SEND

PS 16   Kevin Slater – Ashton Court miniature railway

PS 17   Maggie Holland – Ashton Court miniature railway

PS 18   Roger Sykes – Ashton Court miniature railway

PS 19   Kean Seager – re: Motion 1 – Change in Council enforcement policy towards

            illegal encampments

PS 20   Maggie Shapland – Ashton Court miniature railway

PS 21   Claire Mellor – re: Motion 2 - SEND

PS 22   Michael Broussine – Bishopston and St Andrews traffic and parking

PS 23   Janet Seager – re: Motion 1 – Change in Council enforcement policy towards

            illegal encampments

PS 24   David Redgewell – Ashton Court miniature railway / Henbury loop/ toilets / graffiti

PS 25   Anne Pepper – re: Motion 1 – Change in Council enforcement policy towards

            illegal encampments

PS 26   Caroline Gregory – re: Motion 2 - SEND

PS 27   Fiona Castle – re: Motion 2 - SEND   

PS 28   Jennifer Smith – re: Motion 2 - SEND

PS 29   Tracy Creed – re: Motion 2 - SEND

PS 30   Olivia W Batley – re: Motion 1 – Change in Council enforcement policy towards

            illegal encampments

PS 31   Leslie Roberts – Ashton Court miniature railway

PS 32   Alice Marshment – re: Motion 2 - SEND

PS 33   Roy May – re: Motion 1 – Change in Council enforcement policy towards

            illegal encampments

PS 34   Sally Kent – re: Motion 2 - SEND

PS 35   Elaine Kirkham – re: Motion 1 – Change in Council enforcement policy towards

            illegal encampments

PS 36   Mika Hirose – re: Motion 2 - SEND

PS 37   Elaine Jones – re: Motion 2 - SEND

PS 38   David Angel – re: Motion 3 – Expansion of Bristol International Airport and                       climate change

PS 39   Joy & Tony Joseph  ...  view the full minutes text for item 265.

The Full Council received and noted the following petition:

Petition CP 01 – No parking charges at Blaise

Petition presented by Councillor Weston

The Full Council considered a report of the Service Director - Legal and Democratic Services setting out details of a petition concerning Ashton Court miniature railway.  The petition had reached the 3,500 signature threshold to qualify for a Full Council debate.

Norman Rogers, the petition organiser, was invited by the Lord Mayor to present the objectives of the petition.

The Full Council then debated the petition.

Following the debate, it was

RESOLVED:

That the petition and the comments from the debate be noted and referred to the Mayor / Deputy Mayor for Communities for consideration and response.

9. Appointment of Monitoring Officer, Electoral Registration Officer and Returning Officer

The Full Council considered a report seeking approval of the appointment of the Council’s Monitoring Officer, Electoral Registration Officer and Returning Officer.

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

Councillor L Alexander, Deputy Lord Mayor seconded the report.

It was then:

RESOLVED:

That Tim O’Gara be appointed to the roles of Monitoring Officer, Electoral Registration Officer and Returning Officer with effect from 1 November 2018.

ADJOURNMENT – At this point the Lord Mayor advised that the Full Council meeting would adjourn for a 20 minute refreshment break.

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/three motions to be considered.  With the agreement of the Lord Mayor, motion 1 below will be considered at this meeting, and motions 2 and 3 may 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.

1. CHANGE IN COUNCIL ENFORCEMENT POLICY TOWARDS ILLEGAL ENCAMPMENTS (CONSERVATIVE GROUP GOLDEN MOTION)

Motion to be moved by: Cllr John Goulandris, Conservative, Stoke Bishop ward

“This Council, together with most Bristolians, has become exasperated by the incursions of illegal traveller encampments on much loved green spaces around our city, including the Downs, Highridge Common and Horfield Common. As a result, hard-working, law-abiding, tax-paying Bristolians and their families were prevented this Summer from unfettered access to these vital public places.  At the same time, the costly Council managed traveller transit camps, whose running expenses fall on Bristol council tax payers, were not fully utilised. 

The costs of clearing up our green spaces, often after a lengthy illegal occupation, are high and the Council presently makes no effort to recoup these costs from the offending travellers themselves. Likewise, no attempt is made to recoup the legal fees of the court action required by Bristol City Council to evict these groups.  

Many local authorities around the country appear to have found an extremely effective enforcement measure. For example, London boroughs have applied to the High Court for interim injunctions, which cover both named individuals and persons unknown from establishing unlawful sites across their whole administrative geographical area.

Council therefore urges the Mayor to investigate this as a matter of urgency with a view to adopting this approach in Bristol. 

In addition, as political pressure continues to grow to find a permanent solution to this problem, some 59 Conservative MPs have backed a proposal to make acts of deliberate or intentional trespass onto private or public land a new criminal offence.  This move would mirror the position recently adopted by Eire, which has proved very effective in reducing illegal traveller incursions. 

Council calls on the Mayor to add his support to this initiative by writing to the Prime Minister, Theresa May and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government, James Brokenshire MP and requesting that sufficient Parliamentary time is made available to enable this long overdue legislative change to take place.”

2. SEND

Motion submitted by: Cllr Tim Kent, Liberal Democrat, Hengrove and Whitchurch Park ward

“Council notes that the Mayor decided to propose cuts of £5m to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities High Needs Block budget in January (referenced as a Deficit Recovery Programme) and regret that this extraordinary reduction in funding for children that need additional support was not fully included in the budget papers for February Full Council.

Council notes that  ...  view the full agenda text for item 269.

Motion 1 – Change in Council enforcement policy towards illegal encampments

Councillor Goulandris moved the following motion:

“This Council, together with most Bristolians, has become exasperated by the incursions of illegal traveller encampments on much loved green spaces around our city, including the Downs, Highridge Common and Horfield Common. As a result, hard-working, law-abiding, tax-paying Bristolians and their families were prevented this Summer from unfettered access to these vital public places.  At the same time, the costly Council managed traveller transit camps, whose running expenses fall on Bristol council tax payers, were not fully utilised. 

The costs of clearing up our green spaces, often after a lengthy illegal occupation, are high and the Council presently makes no effort to recoup these costs from the offending travellers themselves. Likewise, no attempt is made to recoup the legal fees of the court action required by Bristol City Council to evict these groups.  

Many local authorities around the country appear to have found an extremely effective enforcement measure. For example, London boroughs have applied to the High Court for interim injunctions, which cover both named individuals and persons unknown from establishing unlawful sites across their whole administrative geographical area.

Council therefore urges the Mayor to investigate this as a matter of urgency with a view to adopting this approach in Bristol. 

In addition, as political pressure continues to grow to find a permanent solution to this problem, some 59 Conservative MPs have backed a proposal to make acts of deliberate or intentional trespass onto private or public land a new criminal offence.  This move would mirror the position recently adopted by Eire, which has proved very effective in reducing illegal traveller incursions. 

Council calls on the Mayor to add his support to this initiative by writing to the Prime Minister, Theresa May and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government, James Brokenshire MP and requesting that sufficient Parliamentary time is made available to enable this long overdue legislative change to take place.”

Councillor Hiscott seconded the motion.

Following debate, upon being put to the vote, the motion was LOST (16 members voting in favour, 39 against, with 1 abstention).

At this point in the meeting, on the motion of the Lord Mayor, it was agreed that standing orders be suspended to allow the consideration of motions to continue for a further 15 minutes beyond the standard 30 minute time limit.

Altered Motion 2 – SEND

Councillor Kent moved the following altered motion:

“Council notes  the  cuts of £5m to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities High Needs Block budget in January (referenced as a Deficit Recovery Programme) and regret that this extraordinary reduction in funding for children that need additional support was not fully included in the budget papers for February Full Council.

Council notes that many local authorities have raised concerns with the current Government about the inadequacy of the High Needs funding in the light of the increasing costs of SEND statutory requirements and increasing demand.

Council notes  ...  view the full minutes text for item 269.