News / Politics
Councillors clash over new strategy
Bristol City Council had their full council annual general meeting on May 13.
At the meeting, the new conservative lord mayor Henry Michael Mitchellat was sworn in, with the previous Lib Dem lord mayor, Andrew Varney, stepping down to deputy mayor.
Although all councillors were satisfied with the choice of lord mayor, there were conflicting opinions on the the council’s new five-year corporate strategy due to its non-committal tone. The strategy was compared to “poetry” by Labour councillor Rob Logan and Conservative councillor Mark Weston.
When called upon, Logan stood and raised his hands, declaring, “Rejoice, there is a new plan!”. However, he continued: It commits us to nothing (and is) generic and waffling – is this Bristol, New York or Japan?”
The Labour group said they were expecting to support the strategy but could not after reading and shared they would abstain in the vote.
Logan added: “It (the document) smuggled within it a specific commitment – the Workplace Parking Levy – and we don’t think investigation has been done to make that commitment as clearly as it is spelt out in the document.”
The workplace parking levy would encourage commuters to cycle or walk – photo: Bristol City Council
The Workplace Parking Levy is a ‘Priority 4’ objective in the corporate strategy document.
The Levy aims to “fund further improvements to public transport and active travel”. Its implementation would charge a fee on employers for the parking spaces they provide for employees.
Meanwhile, Conservative Mark Weston described the ‘Priority 3’ aim to create “safe, healthy neighbourhoods and affordable, safe and good quality homes” an “interesting one”. He added: “the proof will be in the pudding.”
Speaking until he was cut off due to time, Weston quickly continued that he “cannot support” the Workplace Parking Levy or the “implied extension of the clean air zone”
Green councillor Heather Mack echoed the strategy, calling for the need to “work together for a sustainable and equitable Bristol that enables everyone to be safe, well and thrive”.
55 out of the 70 councillors voted on the strategy.
With 33 votes for yes and 22 abstentions, the corporate strategy, which aims to “deliver good services that run smoothly and effectively”, was approved.
The next full council meeting will take place on July 8 at 6pm.
Main photo: Bristol City Council
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