News / Politics
Flash mob choir breaks into song at council meeting
A council meeting took an unexpected turn on Friday when an update on the controversial park licenses scheme turned into a vocal performance.
Councillors were expecting only dry procedure when they met to discuss the initiative, which has seen small businesses up in arms at the fees they will now have to pay to operate in parks.
But when Bring Your Own Baby Choir lead Julia Turner stood up in the public gallery to argue against the scheme, she brought with her a surprise.
After criticising the “massive losses to our community” brought on by walking and yoga groups choosing not to run out of parks due to the fees, she said: “But you know what?”
Suddenly bursting into song, she stood up and sang: “It isn’t too late. You can turn this around.”
On the public gallery seats around her, some 20-odd people got to their feet and joined in.
“Wander into a park. Sit yourself under a tree. Take a deep breath. What do you want to see?
“What do you want for our city?”
Many were carrying their babies, who through some alchemy stayed quiet throughout.
A round of applause met the performance and chair Stephen Williams said: “Well that’s a novelty.
“I hope I haven’t set a precedent for the lord mayor and all my fellow committee chairs by allowing a performance as opposed to a statement.”
“I hope you have,” someone else commented.
Choir lead Julia Turner said the licenses are “decimating park culture” – photo: Kiran Dhami
The licenses affect businesses operating on council-owned green land.
They cost between £400 and £800 plus VAT a year, with a 50 per cent discount for Bristol-based companies whose annual turnover is less than £25,000.
Commercial dog walkers pay between £300 and £500 plus VAT a year.
Explaining her decision to do a flash mob, Turner said: I have been trying to talk to the council about (the licenses) since September and I’m getting nowhere.
“This was to show what we do in the park but also how much they are decimating park culture.
The license scheme looks to continue as planned, but the performance certainly got councillors’ attention.
Main image: Bristol City Council
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