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Use the below search options at the bottom of the page to find information regarding recent decisions that have been taken by the council’s decision making bodies.
03/12/2019 - Memorandum of Understanding between Boklok and Bristol City Council ref: 702 Recommendations Approved
On 1st October 2019 Cabinet authorises the
Executive Director for Growth
Decision Maker: Executive Director: Growth and Regeneration
Decision published: 05/12/2019
Effective from: 03/12/2019
Decision:
Enter into a non-binding Memorandum of
Understanding with Boklok to work in partnership to deliver new
homes in Bristol over the next 5 years.
Lead officer: Louise Baker
03/12/2019 - Council Tax Base 2020/21 ref: 691 Recommendations Approved
To recommend the Council Tax Base for 2020/21 for approval at Full Council.
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 03/12/2019 - Cabinet
Decision published: 03/12/2019
Effective from: 11/12/2019
Decision:
1. Cabinet approved the report and calculated amount as set out in the report and refer to Full Council for approval.
2. Cabinet delegated authority to Chief Finance Officer in consultation with Cabinet Member with responsibility for Finance, Governance and Performance to make any adjustments necessary if there are any material changes identified between Cabinet approval and submission for approval by Full Council.
Lead officer: Denise Murray
03/12/2019 - Challenge Fund: Transport Maintenance Funding ref: 695 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 03/12/2019 - Cabinet
Decision published: 03/12/2019
Effective from: 11/12/2019
Decision:
1. Cabinet noted the 2 funding bids detailed in the report recognising that if successful they will require match funding of up to £6m.
2. Cabinet authorised the Executive Director for Growth and Regeneration (in consultation with the Director for Finance, the Director for Management of Place and the Cabinet Member for Transport and Energy), to accept the funding award for Bid A of £3.88m and to thereafter deliver the project detailed in the report, including the procurement of all necessary contracts (goods, services or works) which may include individual contracts above the key decision threshold, and including the use of council match funding of up to £1,104m
3. Cabinet authorised the Executive Director for Growth and Regeneration (in consultation with the Director for Finance, the Director for Management of Place and the Cabinet Member for Transport and Energy), to proceed with the development and submission of a Full Business Case for the Bid B (subject to a successful Expression of Interest) with a further report to Cabinet should the bid be successful.
4. Cabinet authorised the use of the Councils Highways Maintenance Budget for match funding in respect of both projects, to the extent that this cannot be secured from other sources, up to a maximum of £2.2m.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
03/12/2019 - APR15 Access Fund Extension 2020/21 ref: 696 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 03/12/2019 - Cabinet
Decision published: 03/12/2019
Effective from: 11/12/2019
Decision:
1. Cabinet noted the funding bid detailed in the report recognising that if successful it will require match funding up to £230,100 (10%).
2. Cabinet authorised the Executive Director for Growth and Regeneration (in consultation with the Director for Finance, the Director for Management of Place and the Cabinet Member for Transport and Energy), to accept the funding award and to thereafter deliver the project detailed in the report, including procurement of all necessary contracts (goods, services, or works) and including the use of council match-funding up to £231,000.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
03/12/2019 - South Bristol Enterprise Support Project ref: 693 Recommendations Approved
To seek approval for Bristol City Council to
act as lead and accountable body for the South Bristol Enterprise
Support Project.
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 03/12/2019 - Cabinet
Decision published: 03/12/2019
Effective from: 11/12/2019
Decision:
1. Cabinet approved the role of the Council as the lead and accountable body for the delivery of the South Bristol Enterprise Support project, at a total value of £1.715 m over a 3 years delivery timescale, subject to the confirmation of ERDF grant funding from Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (£857,530) and WECA funding (£482,530) being approved later in December or January.
2. Cabinet authorised the Executive Director for Growth and Regeneration (in consultation with the Director for Finance, the Director for Economy of Place, and the Cabinet Member for Finance, Governance, Performance and Property) to conclude (i) grant funding agreements with both external funders (MHCLG and WECA), and the four consortium partners (YTKO Ltd, Dartington Hall Trust, The Prince’s Trust and Knowle West Media Centre), and (ii) such other contracts (for consultancy and marketing) up to a total value of £202,000 to be procured by the Council.
Lead officer: Robin McDowall
03/12/2019 - Drain Clearance and Land Drainage Surveys on land owned or leased by Bristol City Council ref: 698 Recommendations Approved
To seek approval to the extension of contract
to continue to provide response repairs drainage services
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 03/12/2019 - Cabinet
Decision published: 03/12/2019
Effective from: 12/12/2019
Decision:
1. Cabinet approved the extension of the contract with Domestic Drain Services from 1st October 2019 to 31st January 2020 to continue to deliver a responsive drainage service to Social Housing residents, whilst the tender process is completed at a cost of £387,000.
2. Cabinet approved quarterly call off approval limit of £250k so that no CPG or administration delay is incurred for each call off.
Lead officer: Zara Naylor
03/12/2019 - Local Growth Fund Re-allocation ref: 694 Recommendations Approved
To seek approval to submit applications to West of England Local Enterprise Partnership to reallocate £1m of funding to Portway Park and Ride Rail Station.
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 03/12/2019 - Cabinet
Decision published: 03/12/2019
Effective from: 11/12/2019
Decision:
1. Cabinet delegated authority to the Director, Economy of Place, to submit a request to the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership to allocate £1m of the remaining LGF STP funding to meet the additional Portway Park & Ride Rail Station project costs as set out in this report.
2. If the request is approved, Cabinet delegated authority to Director, Economy of Place, to spend up to £1.3m on the Portway Park & Ride Rail Station project. Any additional funding requirements over and above those already covered by these grants will be met from the transport capital programme budget.
3. Cabinet delegated authority to the Director, Economy of Place, to procure and enter into all contracts required for the Portway Park & Ride Rail Station project.
Lead officer: Andrew Davies
03/12/2019 - Hartcliffe Way Reuse & Recycling Centre ref: 697 Recommendations Approved
To provide an update on the development of a new Household Reuse and Recycling Centre at Hartcliffe Way and to seek approval to enter a Development Agreement with Bristol Waste Company.
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 03/12/2019 - Cabinet
Decision published: 03/12/2019
Effective from: 11/12/2019
Decision:
1. Cabinet approved the Council entering a Development Agreement with Bristol Waste Company to deliver the HRRC facility as detailed in Appendix A,
2. Cabinet approved allocation of £2m from current capital contingency to this scheme.
3. Cabinet approved expenditure of the £7m to deliver the works required to deliver the HRRC facility.
4. Cabinet approved to lease the Council-owned site to Bristol Waste Company on completion of the works, on terms to be negotiated and agreed by the Executive Director Growth and Regeneration;
5. Cabinet noted that the ongoing revenue costs for the operation of the HRRC are still being developed on but may be in the region of £1m. If this is not containable within the current service budget envelope this will need to be considered when setting the annual when the facility is operational.
6. Cabinet noted that a City Wide Depot Strategy will be produced to inform arrangements for the longer-term Street Cleansing Depot provision and that a report identifying the capital costs associated with delivery of this will come back to Cabinet at a future date.
Lead officer: Colin Molton
03/12/2019 - Budget Monitoring Out turn report P7 ref: 690 Recommendations Approved
More information to follow.
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 03/12/2019 - Cabinet
Decision published: 03/12/2019
Effective from: 11/12/2019
Decision:
1. Cabinet approved additional Capital programme budget added since P6 (£0.7m in total, individual schemes less than £0.5m, details listed under Appendix B).
2. Cabinet noted a risk of overspend on General fund services of £4.3m for 19/20 representing 1.1% of the approved budget (Appendix A).
3. Cabinet noted a forecast £1.7m underspend position with regard to the Housing Revenue Account.
4. Cabinet noted a forecasted £1.1m overspend for the Dedicated Schools Grant against approved budget.
5. Cabinet noted a risk of overspend of £0.13m for Public health, which is being monitored.
6. Cabinet noted the Sundry Debt position of £20.9m over 90days as at Period 7, reduced from £24.2m since P6. Individual directorate detail included under Appendix A1-6.
Lead officer: Denise Murray
03/12/2019 - Recommissioning of Advocacy Service Contracts ref: 689 Recommendations Approved
To seek approval for recommissioning of adult Social Care Advocacy Services and to request a further extension to existing contacts.
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 03/12/2019 - Cabinet
Decision published: 03/12/2019
Effective from: 11/12/2019
Decision:
1. Cabinet approved the strategic re-commissioning of Lot 2 Adult Social Care Services under a locality based model.
2. Cabinet authorised the Executive Director People in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care to take all steps necessary to extend the existing contracts for Lot 2 Adult Social Care Advocacy Services for the period 1/01/20 to 31/12/20 at a cost of £358,677.
Lead officer: Lucia Dorrington
03/12/2019 - Enabling the Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise Sector ref: 688 Recommendations Approved
To seek approval to commission capacity building and infrastructure support to enable the VCSE sector through a grant process for a period of 4 years.
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 03/12/2019 - Cabinet
Decision published: 03/12/2019
Effective from: 11/12/2019
Decision:
Cabinet authorised the Executive Director (Resources) in consultation with the Deputy Mayor to:
1. Invite VCSE organisations to apply for a grant to enable the VCSE sector to build capacity and provide infrastructure support from 1st October 2020 – 30th September 2024 at a total cost of £1,266,432 (£316,608 p.a.) with the option to extend by 12 months (taking the total cost up to £1,583,040).
2. To enter into a grant agreement with the successful applicant.
3. To pursue the option to extend the current arrangement by 12 months at a further cost of £316,608 if required.
Lead officer: Penny Germon
03/12/2019 - Collection fund surplus/ deficit report ref: 692 Recommendations Approved
To consider the estimated Collection Fund surplus / deficit as at 31st March 2020 for referral to Full Council for approval.
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 03/12/2019 - Cabinet
Decision published: 03/12/2019
Effective from: 11/12/2019
Decision:
Cabinet approved the report and calculations as set out in this report and referred to Full Council for approval.
Lead officer: Denise Murray
03/12/2019 - APR15 Catch 22 Include School Bristol Closure ref: 699 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 03/12/2019 - Cabinet
Decision published: 03/12/2019
Effective from: 11/12/2019
Decision:
Cabinet approved the contract award to Cabot Learning Federation for the replacement of Alternative Learning Provision (statutory education) services for vulnerable Bristol resident children of school age, including students with EHCPs at a cost of £1,026k over the whole contract term from November 2019 to August 2021.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
03/12/2019 - Harbour Estate Review ref: 700 Recommendations Approved
To approve commencement of the Bristol Harbour Feasibility and Case Study Project and to commence engagement with stakeholders regarding the project.
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 03/12/2019 - Cabinet
Decision published: 03/12/2019
Effective from: 03/12/2019
Decision:
1. Cabinet noted commencement of the Bristol Harbour Feasibility and Case Study Project that will provide market-rate comparators and key background information for a future Bristol City Council Review of Bristol Harbour.
2. Cabinet noted communication with stakeholders to inform them about the aims, objectives and activities of the Feasibility and Case Study Project and the future Bristol City Council Review of Bristol Harbour and support them to interpret the findings of the Consultation and Communication project.
3. Cabinet noted that the work in 1. and 2. above will feed into the future Bristol City Council Harbour Review and Strategy that will return to Cabinet in July 2020.
Lead officer: Penny Fell
03/12/2019 - Q2 Corporate Risk Report ref: 701 Recommendations Approved
To receive and review the corporate risk register.
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 03/12/2019 - Cabinet
Decision published: 03/12/2019
Effective from: 03/12/2019
Decision:
Cabinet noted the report and progress on embedding Risk Management arrangements within the Council.
Lead officer: Jan Cadby
03/08/2018 - Purchase of long term empty property ref: 685 Recommendations Approved
Buying this empty property enabled it to be
brought back into residential use and to meet one of the
‘Fair and Inclusive’ policy objectives of the City
Council’s Corporate Strategy 2018-2023 and Corporate Business
Plan 2018/19 to make sure that 2,000 new homes (800 affordable) are
built in Bristol each year by 2020. There are a number of actions
to achieve this, one of which is to: ‘bring empty private
properties back into use, through both informal negotiations with
owners and formal enforcement when required’. The purchase of
this property will also feed into the Bristol Housing Strategy
2016-2020 and the Private Housing Policy Statement objective of
reducing empty properties and provide ‘well designed, quality
homes that are affordable, sustainable and suitable for
people’s needs’. Paragraph 51 of the National Planning
Policy Framework states that local authorities should identify and
bring back into residential us empty housing in line with local
housing and empty homes strategies and where appropriate acquire
properties under compulsory purchase powers.
Decision Maker: Director: Housing and Landlord Services
Decision published: 25/11/2019
Effective from: 03/08/2018
Decision:
Approval to purchase by agreement with the
owner a long term empty property (6 Lancaster St, Barton Hill,
Bristol BS5 9QL). Section 17 of the Housing Act 1985.
Lead officer: Louise Baker
21/11/2019 - Specialist Commercial heat network advice to City Leap ref: 687 Recommendations Approved
City Leap is a key project being undertaken by
the council to enable it to respond to the Climate Emergency
declared by the council in November 2018 and the subsequent
adoption of the ambition of Bristol being a carbon neutral city by
2030.
To support the council in its delivery against this ambition, City
Leap aims to deliver at least £1bn of investment in
Bristol’s energy system over the next 10 years, delivering a
cleaner, greener, healthier city for the benefit of all its
residents and businesses.
There is a requirement for highly specialised commercial advisory
services, including directly relevant energy sector-specific
knowledge and experience, to support a successful conclusion to the
ongoing City Leap procurement exercise for a Strategic Partner, who
will bring very substantial investment and delivery capability to
enable the aim of £1bn of investment in the city’s
energy system to be achieved.
Decision Maker: Executive Director: Growth and Regeneration
Decision published: 25/11/2019
Effective from: 21/11/2019
Decision:
Appointment of specialist consultants to
provide commercial advice and expertise in order to refine and
improve the presentation of the commercial business model for the
council’s heat network, which forms a key part of the overall
business case for City Leap which will be presented to potential
Strategic Partners as part of the City Leap procurement
exercise.
Lead officer: Louise Baker
21/11/2019 - Specialist Commercial advice to City Leap ref: 686 Recommendations Approved
City Leap is a key project being undertaken by
the council to enable it to respond to the Climate Emergency
declared by the council in November 2018 and the subsequent
adoption of the ambition of Bristol being a carbon neutral city by
2030.
To support the council in its delivery against this ambition, City
Leap aims to deliver at least £1bn of investment in
Bristol’s energy system over the next 10 years, delivering a
cleaner, greener, healthier city for the benefit of all its
residents and businesses.
There is a requirement for highly specialised commercial advisory
services, including directly relevant energy sector-specific
knowledge and experience, to support a successful conclusion to the
ongoing City Leap procurement exercise for a Strategic Partner, who
will bring very substantial investment and delivery capability to
enable the aim of £1bn of investment in the city’s
energy system to be achieved.
Decision Maker: Executive Director: Growth and Regeneration
Decision published: 25/11/2019
Effective from: 21/11/2019
Decision:
Appointment of specialist consultants to
provide commercial advice and expertise in order to support a
number of deliverables linked to refining and improving the
presentation of City Leap’s business case, target operating
model and commercial strategies to potential Strategic Partners as
part of the City Leap procurement exercise.
Lead officer: Louise Baker
01/11/2019 - Broughton Hopper – Essential structural repairs and waterproofing ref: 684 Recommendations Approved
To ensure council buildings are well
maintained and to prevent deterioration.
Decision Maker: Director: Housing and Landlord Services
Decision published: 25/11/2019
Effective from: 01/11/2019
Decision:
Approval to award contract to undertake
essential structural repairs and waterproofing works to the former
coal hopper beneath Broughton House in Redcliffe. These works will
be paid for from the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).
Lead officer: Louise Baker
08/10/2019 - Section 21 Consultation ref: 683 Recommendations Approved
Central Government sought views on: A new deal
for renting: resetting the balance of rights and responsibilities
between landlords and tenants. This consultation, which ran between
21 July 2019 and 12 October 2019, asked for opinions on
implementing the government’s decision to remove Section 21
of the Housing Act 1988 and improving section 8 eviction
grounds.
As the proposals outlined in the consultation are likely to have a
positive impact on homelessness and on the ability of local
authorities to prevent and relieve homelessness, it was felt
important that the authority respond to this consultation. The
Cabinet Member for Housing was consulted and was supportive of the
final draft used for submission.
Decision Maker: Director: Housing and Landlord Services
Decision published: 25/11/2019
Effective from: 08/10/2019
Decision:
Bristol City Council (Housing Options Service)
responded to this consultation as follows:
Bristol City Council (Housing Options Service) is grateful for the
opportunity to respond to the Government’s consultation on A
new deal for renting: resetting the balance of rights and
responsibilities between landlords and tenants. We have submitted a
response to the consultation questionnaire, but would also like to
submit this written statement.
The following is a summary of some of the key issues raised by
colleagues in the Housing Options service in response to this
consultation.
Overall, we welcome the proposals to abolish the assured shorthold
regime (including the use of section 21 notices).
However, we recognise that there may be circumstances where no
fault possession is still required, specifically with respect to
supported accommodation. Some types of supported housing rely on
the delivery of support, either directly or by means of financial
provision, from an external agency. If this is withdrawn, for
reasons that may be entirely beyond the control of the provider of
that accommodation, such housing cannot currently be sustained and
section 21 is used to end the tenancy. There would have to be a
similar arrangement in place in future to avoid supported housing
being ‘log-jammed’ and/or occupied by people who no
longer require support or pose some kind of risk if they continue
occupancy.
Most supported housing is supplied in circumstances where the need
for it is likely to cease to apply at some future point. If section
21 notices are completely withdrawn, some special form of
legislative process will need to take its place.
In general we would like to see more emphasis on discretionary
rather than mandatory grounds for possession.
With respect to the premise of question 4 – ‘that a
landlord should be able to gain possession if their family member
wishes to use the property as their own home?’ – we
would wish to see greater clarification as to what is meant by
‘family member’ in this context. It is suggested that
this should be a discretionary ground which is best considered on a
case by case basis. Both nationally and locally, the ‘end of
an assured shorthold tenancy’ has been recorded as the top
cause/trigger for homelessness. In 2018/19 there were 433
presentations to Bristol City Council’s homelessness service
who reported their last settled home as a private rented tenancy
and this has consistently been the foremost reason for people
presenting as homeless in Bristol for the past five years. In many
cases, landlords state that they want to move back into the
property or want vacant possession for a family member. Landlords
are not obliged to provide any proof that this is actually the case
and there may be occasions where landlords use this reasoning when
in fact they require vacant possession to re-let a property at a
higher rent.
Question 5 asks – ‘Should there be a requirement for a
landlord or family member to have previously lived at the property
to serve a section 8 notice under ground 1?’ We would
question how this will be policed and what will be the sanctions if
the law is improperly used in such cases. We believe that such
cases should be discretionary and considered by the courts on a
case by case basis.
We do not agree that the ‘ground under Schedule 2 concerned
with rent arrears be revised so: The landlord can serve a two week
notice seeking possession once the tenant has accrued two
months’ rent arrears.’ The implementation of welfare
reform/universal credit has led to lengthy delays in payment for
some people. Bristol also has a high number of short term,
temporary, low paid and zero hours contract jobs. We recognise that
many people on such contracts are frequently in and out of work,
making it difficult for low income households to meet housing
related costs. Nor do we agree with the proposal that courts
‘must grant a possession order if the landlord can prove a
pattern of behaviour that shows the tenant has built up arrears and
paid these down on three previous occasions’. We would
reiterate our concerns about the implementation of welfare reform
and the proliferation of low paid/zero hours contracts. In fact, if
a tenant household has accrued arrears but has ‘paid these
down’ it does suggest irregular income, but more importantly,
a tenant intention to maintain the tenancy by eventually paying the
rent. It is felt that the proposals outlined in this section could
undermine our ability to tackle and prevent homelessness.
With respect to the grounds available to end a tenancy where
anti-social behaviour is a problem, we believe that 7A (‘The
tenant has been convicted of a serious offence in or around the
property, against someone living in or around the property, or
against the landlord’) – should be a discretionary
rather than a mandatory ground, considered on a case by case basis.
Our reasoning is that there is no definition or examples of
‘a serious offence’ provided in the consultation. We
can imagine that there may be cases where such an offence has been
committed but that this in no way affects the ability of the tenant
to sustain a tenancy and be a good neighbour.
We are in agreement with the proposals concerning domestic
violence. With respect to question 27 (‘Should a victim of
domestic abuse be able to end a tenancy without the consent of the
abuser or to continue the tenancy without the abuser?’) we
would agree that a victim of domestic violence should be able to
continue the tenancy without the abuser and would like to see it
specified that the tenancy should continue on its original terms.
We would also like to propose consideration of how such a victim
can be enabled to continue their tenancy through financial and
other support if needed i.e. if their financial situation would
lead to hardship in paying the rent.
Question 28 (on Property Standards) asks whether we would
‘support amending ground 13 to allow a landlord to gain
possession where a tenant prevents them from maintaining legal
safety standards’. We would argue that a landlord should be
able to gain access to the property, to ensure legal safety
standards, not gain possession.
We would like to see this considered on a case by case basis.
Overall, we believe that the proposals outlined in the consultation
will have a positive impact on homelessness and on the ability of
local authorities to prevent and relieve homelessness, though we
would reiterate our belief that a number of the mandatory grounds
outlined in the proposals should be reduced in favour of
discretionary grounds. By moving the homelessness relief stage to a
point earlier than when a possession order is being sought, local
authorities will have more time to focus on early intervention and
working with households to prevent their homelessness. Offering the
victims of domestic violence the opportunity to remain in their
homes is also likely to have a positive impact on reducing
homelessness.
However, before implementation of any of the proposed changes,
there urgently needs to be reform of the current court system, with
the introduction of the new ‘housing’ court. It is
strongly felt that the proposals being made will not work
effectively without a concomitant change to the existing court
process, as the current process is too slow and unwieldly for both
tenants and landlords.
Lead officer: Louise Baker
20/11/2019 - Access Fund Extension 2020/21 ref: 682 Recommendations Approved
The DfT grant will provide Bristol City
Council and its local authority partners with funding to continue
the successful work under the Access WEST programme [see here for
original bid document:
https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/travelwest/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/The-West-of-England-Final-without-appendices-V2.pdf}The
programme focusses on providing support to businesses, communities
and schools to encourage uptake of sustainable modes of travel and
includes a range of activities including (but not limited to) free
loan bikes, bus tickets for those seeking employment, skills and
training and match-funded grants for businesses to install
sustainable travel amenities.
Decision Maker: Executive Director: Growth and Regeneration
Decision published: 21/11/2019
Effective from: 20/11/2019
Decision:
- To submit a funding application to the
DfT’s Access Fund Extension competition for £2.301m on
behalf of the West of England Authorities dependent on relevant
approvals from partner local authorities’ S151 Officers and
Bristol’s S151 Officer and in consultation with the Cabinet
Member for Transport and Energy
- To commit to the 10% required match-funding for the bid at
£230,100
- Noted that permission to accept and spend the grant, if awarded
will be sought at Cabinet on the 3rd December
Lead officer: Louise Baker