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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.
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 If this is withdrawn, for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
01/10/2019 - Request to extend an existing banking contract ref: 659 Recommendations Approved
The provision of core banking services is a
business critical service needed to effectively and efficiently
process the financial transactions of a large and complex
Council.
Decision Maker: Executive Director: Resources
Decision published: 24/10/2019
Effective from: 01/10/2019
Decision:
To extend the contract for the provision of
banking services provided by the Royal Bank of Scotland banking
contract from 1st October 2019 for a further 2 years. The current
contract started on the 1st October 2016 and during this time the
service has been provided to a high standard. Given the critical
nature of this service until we have a replacement in place it is
high risk to terminate this arrangement.
Lead officer: Francesca Barclay
07/10/2019 - Old Market Network (Phase 1a) Civil & Mechanical Construction Project ref: 650 Recommendations Approved
Following a full open tender procurement
process, Vital Energy Ltd was the successful bidder. The tenderers
were scored on price, quality and social value.
Decision Maker: Executive Director: Growth and Regeneration
Decision published: 10/10/2019
Effective from: 07/10/2019
Decision:
To award a contract to Vital Energy Ltd for
the construction
Lead officer: Louise Baker
16/07/2019 - Heat Network Integrated Studies ref: 649 Recommendations Approved
BCC are actively installing heat networks
across the city in order to support the Mayor’s commitment
for Bristol to be a carbon neutral city by 2030 and to reduce fuel
poverty. There are a number of existing networks and many areas
identified in the heat priority area, which require work. A direct
award was taken in to order to provide value for money and due to
tight timescales owing to the progression of further heat networks
in the city and the need to ensure pipe sizing currently in design
was appropriate for wider networks. As such direct award was
awarded to the supplier who had carried out the previous work
Decision Maker: Director: Management of Place
Decision published: 07/10/2019
Effective from: 16/07/2019
Decision:
Approval for the award of a contract to
Sustainable Energy Limited in order to carry out assessment study
of existing heat networks, and how they could integrate into a
single city-wide heat network. The second part of the award is for
a number of feasibility studies for other heat network areas of the
city including Easton, Spike Island and Temple
Lead officer: Louise Baker
01/10/2019 - Home Care Contract Extension ref: 645 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 01/10/2019 - Cabinet
Decision published: 01/10/2019
Effective from: 09/10/2019
Decision:
Cabinet delegated authority to the Service Director for Care and Support Adults in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care to extend 9 home care contracts for a maximum period of 9 months for a total of approx. £2.9million.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
01/10/2019 - Cumberland Road Stabilisation Project ref: 644 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 01/10/2019 - Cabinet
Decision published: 01/10/2019
Effective from: 09/10/2019
Decision:
1. Cabinet approved implementing the construction and delivery of Option 2 set out in the report - full design to stabilise all elements of the project (which will also include full mitigation measures to ensure further resilience).
2. Cabinet approved the additional Capital funding estimation of £4,023,190 funded from underspends in the 19/20 capital programme.
3. Cabinet approved additional flood protection measures to raise the wall to 2065 flood protection requirements as an integral part of the detailed stabilisation design.
4. Cabinet authorised the Executive Director for Growth and Regeneration to enter into a contract for the above works to implement Option 2.
Wards affected: Hotwells and Harbourside;
01/10/2019 - Bristol Bus Deal Update ref: 642 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 01/10/2019 - Cabinet
Decision published: 01/10/2019
Effective from: 09/10/2019
Decision:
1. Cabinet agreed to enter into partnership with all participating bus operators by signing an appropriate Memorandum of Understanding.
2. Cabinet authorised the Executive Director of Growth and Regeneration, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport and the S.151 Officer, to develop a phased programme of works to enable the drawdown of funding, with individual packages being brought back to Cabinet for final approval, as appropriate.
3. Cabinet authorised the Executive Director of Growth and Regeneration, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport and the S.151 Officer, to draw on allocated funding from the Investment Fund from the West of England Combined Authority to deliver ‘quick win’ projects for the Number 2 bus route as the first phase of the programme of works.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
01/10/2019 - Procurement of Asset Management System ref: 641 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 01/10/2019 - Cabinet
Decision published: 01/10/2019
Effective from: 09/10/2019
Decision:
1. Cabinet approved the allocation of £600k from reserves towards the cost of procuring and implementing an asset management system for Parks, Docks, and Transport Services;
2. Cabinet authorised the Executive Director - Growth and Regeneration, in consultation with Cabinet Member, Finance, Governance and Performance, to procure an asset management system for a contract of up to 8 years at an estimated total contract value of £1.2-3.3m;
3. Cabinet approved the extension of the existing contract with Pitney Bowes (for the supply of asset management system, CONFIRM On Demand), by 1 year from the 31st January 2021, should the new system not be in place for the 31st January 2021;
4. Cabinet approved the extension of the existing contract with Pitney Bowes (for the supply of asset management system, CONFIRM Desktop) by up to two years from April 2020 until 31 January 2022 should that prove necessary i.e. should the new system not be in place for 31 January 2021.
01/10/2019 - Local Government Corporate Peer Challenge Report ref: 647 Recommendations Approved (subject to call-in)
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 01/10/2019 - Cabinet
Decision published: 01/10/2019
Effective from: 01/10/2019
Decision:
1. Cabinet noted the progress made to complete actions within the LGA Action Plan and the measures underway to complete the actions as detailed in appendix A1.
2. Cabinet delegated authority to the Executive Director of Resources and Head of Paid Service, in consultation with the Deputy Mayor with responsibility for Finance, Governance and Performance to complete any outstanding actions and to amend and update the action plan (appendix A1) when required.
3. Cabinet will continue to review the progress made to complete the action plan at Cabinet on a bi-annual basis.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
01/10/2019 - Q1 Performance Report ref: 646 Recommendations Approved (subject to call-in)
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 01/10/2019 - Cabinet
Decision published: 01/10/2019
Effective from: 01/10/2019
Decision:
1. Cabinet noted the report and measures underway to improve performance
Wards affected: (All Wards);
01/10/2019 - Budget Monitoring Out turn report P5 ref: 639 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 01/10/2019 - Cabinet
Decision published: 01/10/2019
Effective from: 09/10/2019
Decision:
1. Cabinet approved the submission of a funding bid to the Local Highways Maintenance Challenge fund of up to £4m for 2019/20 and note a further report will come back to Cabinet for approval to spend with match funding from within current approved capital programme.
2. Cabinet approved the submission of an expression of interest to the Local Highways Maintenance Challenge fund of up to £20m for 2020/21 funding and note a further report will come back to Cabinet for approval to spend which will detail any source of required match funding.
3. Cabinet approved the 2019/20 capital budget is revised to £211.6m and the £39.7m underspend as per appendix B for 2019/20 is re-profiled to future periods.
4. Cabinet noted a risk of overspend on General fund services of £3.1m for 19/20 representing 0.8% of the approved budget (Appendix A).
5. Cabinet noted a forecasted balanced position with regard to the Housing Revenue Account.
6. Cabinet noted a forecasted balanced position for the Dedicated Schools Grant taking into account the planned contribution to reserves of £0.6m.
7. Cabinet noted a risk of overspend of £0.7m for Public health, which is being monitored.
8. Cabinet noted a forecast £39.7m underspend on the capital programme, albeit run-rate is more than 50% behind the curve.
9. Cabinet noted the Sundry Debt position of £18.9m over 90days as at Period 5. Individual directorate detail included under Appendix A1-6.
10. Cabinet noted £0.4m of S.106 resources is added to the Capital Programme as detailed in appendix B.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
01/10/2019 - Tender Bristol City Council and Bristol Waste Motor Insurance ref: 640 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 01/10/2019 - Cabinet
Decision published: 01/10/2019
Effective from: 09/10/2019
Decision:
1. Cabinet approved a competitive tender process for Motor Insurance for Bristol City Council and Bristol Waste Company for a term of 3 years with an option to extend for 2 years for an estimated value of £4.5m.
2. Cabinet authorised the Service Director for Finance in consultation Deputy Mayor for Finance Governance and Performance to award a contract for Bristol City Council Motor Insurance.
3. Cabinet authorised the Service Director for Finance in consultation Deputy Mayor for Finance Governance and Performance and Managing Director Bristol Waste Company to award a contract for Bristol Waste Motor Insurance.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
01/10/2019 - Templegate and West End MSCP Structural Repairs ref: 643 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 01/10/2019 - Cabinet
Decision published: 01/10/2019
Effective from: 09/10/2019
Decision:
1. Cabinet approved option B as set out in the report for Temple Gate MSCP to undertake internal and external concrete repairs, roof repairs to extend the useful life of the car park for 10 years requiring a commitment of £499,635 from the Capital allocation.
2. Cabinet approved option B as set out in the report for West End MSCP to undertake extensive concrete repairs to prevent further deterioration of the structure to extend the useful life of the car park for 10 years requiring a commitment of £1,062,000 from Capital allocation.
3.Cabinet authorised the Executive Director Growth and Regeneration to procure all necessary contracts for implementation of Recommendations 1 and 2.
Wards affected: Central;
01/10/2019 - Public Health Commissioning Intentions 2020 - 2025 NHS Health Checks ref: 635 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 01/10/2019 - Cabinet
Decision published: 01/10/2019
Effective from: 09/10/2019
Decision:
Cabinet delegated authority to the Director of Public Health to commission services for NHS Health Checks for a period of 5 years from 1st April 2020, at a value of up to £285,000 per annum.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
27/08/2019 - Management of Rents for the Syrian Resettlement scheme ref: 634 Recommendations Approved
The Syrian Resettlement Team delivers the
Vulnerable Person’s Resettlement Scheme (VPRS) on behalf of
the Home Office. The cost of the scheme is fully funded by the Home
Office.
The LA identifies a property and pays rent on the property and then
the Home Office matches a refugee family from the Middle East and
North African region to resettle in the UK. The Home Office budget
is used to fund the rent for the property until the new family
arrives and is in receipt of benefits. This can be six months full
rental costs. In addition the budget funds the deposit and the
difference between the rental cost and the tenant contribution and
overall the VPRS budget fund 50% of rental costs.
Home Turf Lettings (a subsidiary of DHI Bath) sourced 20 properties
to house the first 20 VPRS families and now manage the properties
on behalf of landlords. The VPRS pay Home Turf Lettings a
management fee which is 20% of the value of the rent for each
property. In total £446,040 will have been paid to Home Turf
lettings since the inception of VPRS.
From September 2017, the Syrian Resettlement Team decided to source
accommodation inhouse. The Syrian Resettlement Team uses the
Bristol Credit Union to collect rents from tenants and to make
monthly rental payments to landlords. In August 2019, the Syrian
Resettlement Team is renting 52 properties owned by private sector
landlords. The Bristol Credit Union charges a management fee of
£10 per account per month. From January 2018 – August
2019 the Bristol Credit Union have been funded £12,750 for
their management fees. In August 2019 the Bristol credit union is
managing 61 tenant accounts and 52 landlord accounts.
Decision Maker: Director: Adult Social Care
Decision published: 01/10/2019
Effective from: 27/08/2019
Decision:
To approve the transfer of £50,000 for
outstanding payments due to Home Turf Lettings and allow the
transfer of £80,000 to the Bristol Credit Union between
September 2019 and December 2019.
Lead officer: Terry Dafter
01/10/2019 - Airport Road Disposal Strategy ref: 638 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 01/10/2019 - Cabinet
Decision published: 01/10/2019
Effective from: 09/10/2019
Decision:
1. Cabinet authorised the Executive Director for Growth & Regeneration in consultation with the Executive Member for Housing to negotiate and 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.
2. Cabinet authorised the Executive Director of Growth & Regeneration in consultation with council’s s151 officer and the Service Director Legal and Democratic services to negotiate mutually acceptable terms for the drawdown of Homes England Funding and subject to resolving outstanding legal issues pass this to Boklok via a funding agreement.
3. Cabinet authorised the Executive Director for Growth & Regeneration to transfer Airport Road to Boklok at best consideration subject to the completion of the enabling works in accordance with a detailed planning consent and Funding Agreement.
4. Cabinet authorised the Executive Director for Growth & Regeneration, in consultation with the Executive Member for Housing, to explore the potential for the affordable housing to be transferred to the Council and report back to Cabinet, should this be deliverable, on the terms of such an arrangement.
5. Cabinet noted that if recommendation 4 is not deliverable, Boklok will dispose of the affordable housing to a registered provide of their choice
Please note that Appendix A was uploaded in error. The correct site plan has been included as a separate appendix – A2. The decision-maker was aware of the correct extent of the land when making the decision.
Wards affected: Filwood;
01/10/2019 - Procurement of ZEDpods at Chalks Road Car Park ref: 637 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 01/10/2019 - Cabinet
Decision published: 01/10/2019
Effective from: 09/10/2019
Decision:
1. Cabinet approved the scheme being added to the HRA Housing Investment Programme for 2019/20, with an estimated Contract Sum of up to £1.43m within the approved budget envelope.
2. Cabinet approved the appropriation and transfer of the proposed ZEDpod development (not existing car park) from its current General Fund purpose to the purpose of `housing’ land held under the Housing Revenue Account.
3. Cabinet approved the procurement of the homes through a `direct’ call-off through the LHC South West `Offsite Construction of New Homes’ Framework.
4. Cabinet delegated authority to the Executive Director of Growth and Regeneration (with appropriate legal and procurement advice) in consultation with Cabinet Member for Housing, to take all steps to procure and award contracts and enter into any necessary agreements required to successfully implement the proposed scheme.
Wards affected: St George West;
01/10/2019 - Improving Bristol's Post 16 Education, Skills and Career Pathways Strategy 2019-24 ref: 636 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 01/10/2019 - Cabinet
Decision published: 01/10/2019
Effective from: 09/10/2019
Decision:
1. Cabinet endorsed the LCP Post 16 Strategy and agreed that Bristol City Council supports strategy implementation, including further business option appraisals regarding free bus travel for 16-18 year olds.
2. Cabinet agreed that BCC leads and supports the development of a collaborative business case and funding applications to WECA and other funders to generate additional resources to support strategy implementation and success.
Wards affected: (All Wards);