Full Council comprises of the Mayor together
with 70 Councillors, each of whom is elected for a 4 year term and
who represent the 34 wards of the City. The overriding duty of
Councillors is to the whole community but they have a special
responsibility to the constituents of their ward.
All Councillors and the Mayor meet together as
the Full Council. These meetings are open to the public and the
press and are also broadcast live on the Council’s YouTube
page.
The Full Council sets the broad Policy and
Budget Framework within which the Council including the Mayor and
their Executive operates. The Full Council is chaired by the Lord
Mayor of Bristol. This role is a ceremonial and civic one. The Lord
Mayor is a councillor and is chosen and appointed for a one year
term by the Full Council at its annual Council meeting in May.
Apart from the Annual and Budget Council
meetings, there is a one hour ‘Member Forum’ before
each Council meeting for Councillors to ask questions of the
Elected Mayor. This session is also
open for the public to observe and is webcast.