Heather Mack
Councillor for LockleazeCllr Heather Mack is the Deputy Leader of Bristol City Council
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Bristol City Council has published its finalised draft budget proposals.
Cllr Heather Mack, Deputy Leader of the Council said; “This is a transitional budget that has been built on collaboration and which encourages contributions and ideas from all.
“Following a list of failures from the previous Labour administration, 14 years of Conservative cuts to local authorities and an increase in demand for some of the vital services that the council provides, we’re facing significant financial challenges. We need to instil a greater level of financial sustainability across all levels of the organisation so we can deliver needed services in a fair and equitable way in the future.
“Our motives as an administration are to work collaboratively to build a happier, greener and more resilient city. This won’t happen if we don’t tackle our finances and put the council on a sounder financial footing, and that’s what this budget does.”
“Make no mistake that local authorities across the country will continue to have to make cuts unless this Government delivers more support so we can provide vital services that some of our country’s most vulnerable people rely on.”
The council has a legal obligation to set a balanced budget every year. A full range of options brought forward by council departments to make £52 million of savings were made public and discussed by the cross-party Finance Sub-Committee earlier in the month.
The draft budget, which took all these discussions into account, will now be taken to the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee for further scrutiny and discussion before being brought by the Leader of the Council to a meeting of the full council on the 25th of February for adoption. Political parties will also have a chance to bring amendments to the budget to this meeting.
Having listened to the concerns that Bristol’s affected communities have put forward, several of the original proposals have not been taken forward. These include a proposal to cut £2.4million from the existing £4.7million libraries budget.
While there is recognition that savings will have to be made in the future, a cross-party working group will be set up by the Public Health and Communities Policy Committee to decide how to reform the library service across the city.
Liberal Democrat Cllr Stephen Williams, Chair of the Public Health and Communities policy Committee, said, “This working group will be able to conduct a root-and-branch review of the library service. I’m pleased that we will now have the time and space to do this meaningfully, without the immediate pressure of a budgetary cut. However, one of our objectives will be to craft a service that is financially sustainable.
“We will also be looking at ways of improving the service offering by having libraries open at the times of day most useful for their communities. Additionally, we will see what other activities could take place in the network of library buildings, and whether library outlets could be opened in other venues. I look forward to working with the various library ‘friends-of’ groups and others who want to see a revamped service that meets the needs of Bristol.”
Other proposals that have not been taken forward in the final budget include proposals to cut school crossing patrols and charging for disabled parking bay installation, after pushback from the Chair of the Transport and Connectivity Committee, Cllr Ed Plowden.
Cllr Plowden said, “Our school crossing patrol officers, or lollipop people as they are affectionately known, do a truly fantastic job in dangerous circumstances. Working split shifts in all weathers for the living wage, they make such a difference to the journey to school for so many children who must cross dangerous streets.
“While I am delighted that we don’t need to take forward the reduction in school crossing patrols, I’m also determined to reduce road danger. By working together with the emergency services, but more importantly all the people who drive and move goods and services around Bristol, we can make Bristol’s streets safer for our children once and for all.”
Any changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme will also not be in this year’s budget, and a cross-party working group working with external stakeholders, including organisations like ACORN, will be set up to examine how best the Council can support low income families in the future. This will include looking at the council tax reduction scheme.
The reduction and closure of the Cultural Investment Programme has been deferred, as well as the proposed closure of Blaise Museum, Red lodge Museum and the Georgian House Museum.
The cross-party committee on culture will now look at plans for alternative funding for arts and culture, including the best ways to utilise these cultural assets.
While making significant savings in some areas, the budget will also invest in vital areas to improve the lives of Bristol residents:
Transport
Children and Young People
Housing Revenue Account
Cllr Barry Parsons, Chair of the Homes and Housing delivery Policy Committee, said “We will be investing tens of millions to bring council homes up to a safe and decent standard and deal with a huge backlog of repairs that has built up under the previous administration.
“We’re also investing to tackle homelessness, buying 75 new homes for temporary accommodation, and stopping people becoming homeless in the first place. This is a win-win: saving the council money while providing better outcomes for families at risk of losing their home.”
Prevention of Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence
Cllr Cara Lavan; “Prevention of Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence are absolute priorities for Bristol Green Party. Even though provision of this service is non statutory, we will be ensuring the council invests £2.5m to continue the currently available services.
“We have also been assured that all of our annual grants providing domestic abuse services have been reconfirmed, with a small uplift in some cases.”
Notes for editors
Housing Revenue Account
Cllr Heather Mack is the Deputy Leader of Bristol City Council
More about Heather