The latest news and information from Bristol, brought to you by Bristol City Council
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www.bristol.gov.uk OurCity June 2015 News and events from your council • Getting Bristol moving How local transport is heading in the right direction • Warm Up Bristol Your key to a cheaper, energy efficient home Plus: • What’s on this summer • Your guide to council services and local representatives One Tree Per Child 36,000 new trees for Bristol Bristol Arena The latest on Bristol’s 12,000 capacity arena European Green Capital 2015 How to get involved in Bristol’s special year and enter a competition to win
Transcript
www.bristol.gov.uk
OurCityJune 2015
News and events from your council
• Getting Bristol moving How local transport is heading in the right direction
• Warm Up Bristol Your key to a cheaper, energy efficient home
Plus: • What’s on this summer
• Your guide to council services and local representatives
One Tree Per Child 36,000 new trees for Bristol
Bristol ArenaThe latest on Bristol’s 12,000 capacity arena
European Green Capital 2015How to get involved in Bristol’s special year and enter a competition to win
Helping Young People into Employment
Delivering one-to-one support from job seeking to sustained employment. • Training • Mentoring • Work Experience
Call Creative Youth Network on 0117 204 7338
or visit: bit.ly/Bristol-HYPE-West
Departmentfor Work &Pensions
controlling a partner is illegalIt might be nothing but it could mean everything. Report domestic abuse.
You can report anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
www.avonandsomerset.police.uk
OurCity June 2015
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Save energy with Warm Up Bristol
In October we launched Warm Up Bristol, one of the most ambitious energy efficiency schemes in the country.The aim is to improve homes across the city to make them warmer, cosier and healthier places to live. We’re doing this by helping people to access energy saving home improvements, which range from solid wall insulation and draught proofing to loft insulation and new boilers.
Over the course of four years advisers from our delivery partner, Climate Energy, will visit every home in the city to tell people about what’s on offer. We’ve secured funding from Europe, the UK government and EDF Energy, under the Energy Company Obligation, so households can access grants and subsidies for certain measures.
There is extra funding on offer to help landlords improve privately rented properties with low energy efficiency ratings.
If you’d like to find out more, why not visit the Warm Up Bristol show home in Easton, which is open on Tuesday and Thursday (9.30am–4.30pm) and Saturday (10.30am–2.30pm).
The show home is a fully insulated property so people can see what different energy efficiency measures look like in practice.
You can also visit: bit.ly/Warm-Up-Bristol or call the team on 0800 107 4100 or 0117 379 0203
Are you missing out?Thousands of people in Bristol are missing out on support they’re entitled to. If you’re disabled, a full-time carer or over-65 and need help to live independently, you could be eligible to receive extra cash to help with living costs. For details visit: bit.ly/Bristol-Benefits-Info
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Supported by
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Do you live outside Bristol City Council’s boundary?We’re sending this magazine to all households in Bristol, but to help keep the overall cost down we’ve avoided paying for expensive ‘boundary matching’. That means you might have received this even if you don’t live within Bristol City Council’s boundary.
However, there is still much that will be relevant to you, including our What’s On guide for the summer (see back pages), the latest on Bristol Arena, and transport in and out of the city, and how you can do your bit for the environment and benefit from Bristol’s year as European Green Capital.
ForewordWelcome to Our City. There is so much happening in Bristol, but some people tell me they have not always heard about this or that. So, I’ve commissioned this special post-election publication from Bristol City Council and some of its partners to help make sure that Bristol’s residents – and its closest neighbours – are kept up to speed on some of the most important issues in the city.This year Bristol is European Green Capital, the first UK city to win this prestigious title. While it recognises our environmental achievements, it’s also about all the other things we’re planning to do to make the city a greener, healthier and more pleasant place to live and work. Turning our hopes into reality is a big job, and we’ll need your involvement. Have a look at our special centre page feature to find out how you can do your bit in 2015.
I want to make sure that everyone in Bristol is aware of the local services, plans, opportunities and initiatives that affect you. Whether it’s working together on library provision for the future, looking ahead to Bristol’s new arena development, building more council homes or providing employment opportunities, you’ll find it all and much more in Our City.
You can also find out more about your local councillors, how to access vital council services, and the all-important what’s on guide to summer in Britain’s best city.
In this edition we will be taking a special look at my primary school planting initiative which I’ve linked up with Australian charity ‘One Tree Per Child’ to spark a global movement. Plus we’ll be painting the big picture for transport – undoubtedly one of Bristol’s greatest challenges.
I hope you enjoy reading and getting the most out of our amazing city this summer.
Filwood Green Business Park. . . . . . . . . . . . .14
New council homes. . . . . . .14
HomeChoice . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Better quality Home Care .15
Could you help a disabled child? . . . . . . . . . . .16
Decision making in Bristol. 17
Bristol’s councillors . . . . . . .18
Council contacts . . . . . . . . . .19
What’s on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
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If you would like this information in another language, Braille, audio tape, large print, easy English, BSL video or CD rom or plain text please contact 0117 922 2650.
Comments?
Email [email protected] or write to: Public Relations, Bristol City Council, 100 Temple Street, c/o PO Box 3176, Bristol BS3 9FS
Design & Print by Bristol City Council, Bristol Design BD6621
Web addresses: We have used shortened web links in this magazine that look like “bit.ly/.....”. This has been done to save space and help make them easy to use. Just type the links directly into your internet browser to access the content we want to share.
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Libraries for the Future – Have your say on Bristol’s library service We want more modern libraries to meet more people’s needs, but we also need to face up to the difficulties of saving money as national cuts continue to bite. What we provide in many of our libraries now is not necessarily relevant to everyone.
Earlier this year we released some initial proposals and we still want to hear your views. The Mayor, in consultation with his Cabinet, has extended consultation until the end of June. He has also declared that no library will be at risk of closure before April 2016.
Please fill out our survey online at bit.ly/Bristol-Future-Libraries or drop in to your local library or Citizen Service Point to find out more. All suggestions welcome!
Pick up a healthier life for freeThere’s a whole host of free services available in Bristol ranging from help with weight loss, exercise and stopping smoking, to support for mental wellbeing and access to substance misuse services.
All of these are brought together in a snappy new leaflet, available in local community and leisure centres, GP surgeries and pharmacies.
“Sometimes you don’t need to visit your GP to get the information you need, but you do have to know where to look for it. We’re going to be signposting our customers to this new leaflet as it’s a great resource for everyone,” says pharmacist Jonathan Campbell, of Old School Pharmacy in Fishponds. You can also download the leaflet at: bit.ly/Bristol-Healthy-Living-Leaflet
This Girl Can is a celebration of the active women who are doing their thing no matter how they do it, how they look or how sweaty they get.
“With the help of eight inspiring local women we’ve launched Bristol Girls Can,” explains Cllr Simon Cook, Assistant Mayor for Business Change, Resources and Culture, “Our aim is to build a community of active women in the city and together break down some of the common barriers to regular exercise.”
Visit bit.ly/Bristol-Girls-Can to find out about local activities and facilities.
I wanted to start running but I’d tried it before and not really stuck at it. I heard about a running community called ‘This Mum Runs’ and looked at the group on Facebook. I took the first step and posted to see if there were any other beginners.
It struck a chord with lots of other mums, but no one really knew where or how to start. Mel, the organiser of the group, offered to coach us and put together a Couch-to-5K programme. Fifteen women signed up straight away with a long waiting list of others. When we started we were running for a minute at a time, and now we can all run 5K without stopping – and what’s even more incredible is that we actually enjoy it!
Name: Anneke van EijkernAge: 40 Sport: RunningWorks: Equality worker
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OurCity June 2015
Bristol leads the world in tree planting initiative During its year as European Green Capital 2015, Bristol is going global with its mayoral initiative to launch One Tree Per Child, teaming up with an Australian charity to plant 36,000 trees.
Co-founded by actress Olivia Newton-John and environmentalist Jon Dee, the charity picked Bristol to kick-start a global roll-out of the tree planting programme. “We did our homework to find the right city to launch One Tree Per Child and Bristol fitted the bill perfectly,” says Jon Dee, “It already has many trees and we shared Mayor George Ferguson’s vision to increase the tree canopy and make Bristol an even better environment for children to grow up in. The fact Bristol is European Green Capital in 2015 made it a no-brainer.
“Fortunately the council was as positive as us about how One Tree Per Child can encourage local people to have a stake in their local green spaces.”
Primary school children can get involved by planting free trees and shrubs in their school grounds or nearby green spaces.
“When a child plants a tree and watches it grow, their commitment to the environment and local community grows too,” says Mayor George Ferguson, “This is an excellent way to educate children about the
importance of planting for their future wellbeing.
“We will share our experiences with cities around the world and show them how they can expand their tree planting ambitions.”
I believe society benefits when young children get out, get their hands in the earth and plant trees. It’s so exciting for us that Bristol is the first city worldwide to roll out One Tree Per Child. Years from now, children who plant a tree will be able to look back and say ‘that was my tree – I really made a difference!’
Grow your own fruit at home!Special assemblies by tree experts are
available to all 130 primary schools. Pupils learn about the benefit of
trees and can take a free dwarf fruit tree home to plant.
To get your school involved email [email protected] or visit bit.ly/Bristol-One-Tree- Per-Child
36,000 trees – where are they all going?●● 10,000 trees have already been planted.
●● 2,015 large trees will be planted to mark European Green Capital.
●● 12,000 trees will be planted in woodlands and hedgerows.
●● 12,000 free fruit trees will be given to local children to grow at home.
●● Most trees will be planted during the growing season, November 2015 to March 2016.
Olivia Newton-John
“It is, without a doubt, the thing people seem to care about the most,” says Bristol’s Mayor George Ferguson, reflecting on the recurring transport theme which has dominated his recent public Question Time. “I absolutely understand its importance, and it’s a major priority for me. Putting it right is a long-haul journey, but one on which we’re finally making some real progress.”
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The transport landscape in and around Bristol is going through some huge changes. It needs to. Bristol is notoriously one of Britain’s most congested cities, with around 56,000 commuters driving in to the city each day and around half a million vehicles moving through the city centre…often very slowly.
Add to that the impact on air quality, with some of the most vulnerable people in the city dying from conditions relating to road traffic emissions and there’s no doubt that more must be done.
One man who’s particularly close to the issue is Peter Mann, Bristol City Council’s Service Director for
Transport. “Bristol is the main commuter destination in the region so we have a wide mix of transport improvements both inside the city boundary and linking to our neighbours. These fit together to make traffic flow easier and give people various options for getting to and from work. It’s not happening overnight, but things are moving in the right direction.”
The evidence suggests he’s not mistaken. According to the 2011 Census, Bristol has reached a tipping point when it comes to how people commute – 57% of Bristol residents under 40 now cycle, walk or use public transport to get to work.
The city’s Assistant Mayor for Place, with responsibility for transport, is Cllr Mark Bradshaw.
“My priority is to make it easier for our residents and businesses to use a range of ways to travel. Each journey made by walking, cycling, rail or bus is making a difference to reducing traffic congestion and tackling air pollution. Keeping up the pressure on bus and train operators to improve services and make fares more affordable; providing better travel information and working cross-boundary to secure the investment we need are all part of ongoing work to meet the travel and access needs in our city region.”
Getting Bristol moving – how local transport is heading in the right direction
Bristol is the only UK city where
congestion has improved over the
past two years*
*TomTom
satnav an
nu
al survey, 2015.
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What’s being done?
MetroBus is a new express bus service that provides quicker and more reliable bus links. It’s a joint project between Bristol City Council, North Somerset Council and South Gloucestershire Council. It will enable thousands more people to access employment, education and leisure destinations. It will be faster and more reliable than existing bus services, removing
the need to change buses in the city centre for many passengers, and will offer greener vehicles.
Services are expected to start next year, linking Long Ashton to Hengrove; Ashton Vale to Temple Meads; and the northern fringes of the city, such as Cribbs Causeway, Bristol Parkway and Emerson’s Green, to Hengrove via the city centre.
MetroWestA 30-minute metro-style rail service using existing rail infra-structure, creating stations and reopening lines to Portishead in 2018 and Henbury by 2020.
Cycling AmbitionOver the next three years the region is investing over £19m from national Cycling Ambition Funding in lots of schemes. These include new ‘quiet routes’, crossings and an extra 4,000 cycle parking spaces.
Residents’ ParkingNew residents’ parking schemes in
15 areas around the city centre will help keep streets free
of commuter parking. Pay and Display in most RPS areas provides the first 30 minutes free; ideal for quick visits to local shops and businesses.
What about standard bus and train services?The council has few direct powers over bus and train operators, but is encouraging investment in more buses and better trains. Service reliability, affordability and choice in payment types are key messages to the transport companies. Investment in newer buses with
wifi and destination information and in more modern, higher capacity trains, will help meet growing demand. The council is investing in new bus shelters with ‘real time information’ and is a partner in projects to improve rail station access.
20mphA city-wide rollout of 20mph zones is helping provide safer, healthier streets.
Rail improvementNetwork Rail is embarking on the electrification of rail lines to London in 2016 and Cardiff in 2017. This will cut the journey time from Bristol to London to just under 80 minutes. There are also plans for a major £100m refurbishment and improvement of Temple Meads, giving Bristol a better quality transport hub.
Getting Bristol moving – how local transport is heading in the right direction
www.bristol.gov.uk
OurCity June 2015
MetroBus
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OurCity June 2015
Flexible and sustainable
The design for the Bristol Arena is unique. It will deliver:
●● A world-class live concert venue for 12,000 spectators that can be easily converted to a more intimate 5,000 seat amphitheatre.
●● A flexible space for many kinds of events including music, comedy, sports, exhibitions and award ceremonies.
●● The highest levels of sustainability with plans for the biggest-building based solar panel system in the city.
What happens next?
Visit bit.ly/Bristol-Temple-Quarter for more information over the summer when we will be consulting on the arena plans before they are submitted for planning permission.
Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone – a vibrant new quarter for the city
Sited on Arena Island next to Temple Meads station the Bristol Arena will be a major catalyst for the creation of a vibrant new city quarter, known as Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone.
The zone is set to deliver 17,000 jobs over 25 years with a focus on creative, low carbon and high tech industries, building on the region’s reputation as a creative hotspot.
Bristol Arena – the dream gets closer to realityThe 12,000 capacity Bristol Arena has been a long time coming but we now know what the new regional entertainment venue will look like.
Populous, designers of the London 2012 Olympic Stadium, has teamed up with award winning locally-based consultants, architects FCB Studios, engineers BuroHappold and Bristol planning consultants CSJ, to create the £90 million venue.
June/July 2015 Summer 2015 Spring 2016 End 2017Pre-planning consultation Submission of planning application Construction starts on site Arena opens
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Bristol Arena – the dream gets closer to reality
We won because of all the little things and the really big things we’re doing to make Bristol a healthier, happier place to live.
Bristol, the UK’s first ever European Green Capital.
Cut out plastic bags and bottlesChoose re-usable bags and re-fillable bottles and prevent a huge amount of waste going to landfill and into our oceans.
Leave no trace The Festival of Nature in June is a great opportunity to learn more about nature conservation.
Get on your bikeJoin the Bristol Cycle Festival 6th-14th June or this year’s Sky Ride for a free expert bike check and reflective vest.
We would love you to join us in celebrating our year in the spotlight, by pledging to do something different in 2015. Push our ‘Do 15 in 15’ pledge button, either in person or click it online and tell us you’re ‘in’.
do15.bristol2015.co.uk
If you’re up for the challenge, then it’s as easy as: doing something different, sharing that you have done it and inspiring others to do something too. Let’s show what’s possible when we all come together to make Bristol a better place.
Walk moreAbout a third of all the journeys we undertake are less than a mile, which is about a 20 minute walk.
Reuse your cupReusable coffee and tea cups are a great investment - they last for years and are easy to wash.
Shop local for seasonal produceBristol is an inspirational food city and the South West has the greatest concentration of organic producers in the UK. Visit soilassociation.org/boxschemes to find local organic veg near you.
Leave the carWhy not try taking a bus or train instead of the car? Just one full bus could take 75 cars off the road.
Only buy the food you needSadly, almost half of the 7m tonnes of food that is thrown away by households every year could have still been eaten.
Win great prizes - enter now!To encourage you to join in with our year as European Green Capital, we have some great prizes on offer in our competition.
Win a Riverford Organic Farms medium vegetable box delivered to your door every fortnight from July-December 2015.
The box is packed with eight tasty varieties of fresh organic veg, including essentials such as potatoes, onions and carrots. Seasonal treats such as squash, artichokes and purple sprouting broccoli will help you keep things interesting in the kitchen.
Win a VIP experience for two at this year’s Balloon Fiesta (6th -9th August).
Your prize will include access to the Members’ enclosure and a flight in the Solar Balloon on a day of your choice (weather permitting).
We are delighted to offer you the chance to see some of the action next season. Thanks to our partners at Bristol Sport we have ten pairs of tickets to give away.
The tickets are for a home league fixture next season for Bristol City FC, Bristol Rugby or the Bristol Flyers basketball team.
Please note; tickets are for a game taking place before the end of December 2015 and are subject to availability.
Answer our competition question
Which bridge in Bristol was shrouded in fog in February 2015?
Name .......................................................
Bristol 2015, Unit 5-6, 1 Canon’s Road, Bristol, BS1 5TX
10 pairs oftickets
Riverford OrganicFarms
Veg Box
Hot Air Balloon
Ride
Enter online at bristol2015.co.uk/citywide-mail-competition/ or cut out this section and return it to us at the address below – either in person or in the post. Good luck! Competition closes 30.06.2015. Full terms and conditions can be found at: bristol2015.co.uk/news/competition-terms-and-conditions/
Inside Bristol’s cycling communityCycling is getting ever more popular in Bristol. One of the local organisations which is supporting the two-wheeled renaissance is not-for-profit Bristol Bike Project. Our City caught up with Pi, who’s spent three years working there.
What’s your favourite place to visit by bike?
“My favourite area is Ashton Court. It’s an amazing resource for the city. It’s just a 10 or 15 minute ride from the city centre along the cycle path and you can be on a beautiful hillside overlooking the city. ”
What would you say to someone who doesn’t cycle and lives in Bristol?“I would suggest they give it a try and see how quick and easy it can be to get around. Travelling by bike means you don’t have to wait for a bus, spend ages walking or get stuck in one of Bristol’s notorious traffic jams.”
Can you tell us a bit more about the Bristol Bike Project?“We’re a not-for-profit community interest company. We primarily take donated bikes and support people in transport poverty to help fix them up. We mainly work with people who can’t access other kinds of transport; people who might not have enough money for bus fares and certainly can’t afford to buy cars. Instead we offer them a free bike and the skills to maintain it.
“We have a shop on the side of our workshop where we sell bikes and do repairs. The profit from this helps to support the community work we do around Bristol.”
How can people get involved?
“Just come in and see us. There are loads of routes in to the project for people to get involved with at whatever level they’re interested in. We’re always looking for bikes so if people want to donate that will really help us out.
“Beyond that people can volunteer. They can come in at various times during the week to help us fix up bikes or work with people to allow them to do it themselves. We’re all about sharing skills so if people are looking for advice on how to look after their bikes, they should come down.
“We run a Bike Kitchen on Thursday evenings where people can come in and fix their bikes themselves, get stuck in and use our tools. We also have a women’s specific workshop which is staffed by female volunteers.”
The Bristol Bike Project is based in Hamilton House just off City Road. You can find more at bit.ly/Bristol-Bike-Project or email at: [email protected]
Get involvedThe Bristol 2015 Lab is a fantastic drop-in space on the Harbourside, which hosts free, family friendly green events.
Win great prizes - enter now!To encourage you to join in with our year as European Green Capital, we have some great prizes on offer in our competition.
Win a Riverford Organic Farms medium vegetable box delivered to your door every fortnight from July-December 2015.
The box is packed with eight tasty varieties of fresh organic veg, including essentials such as potatoes, onions and carrots. Seasonal treats such as squash, artichokes and purple sprouting broccoli will help you keep things interesting in the kitchen.
Win a VIP experience for two at this year’s Balloon Fiesta (6th -9th August).
Your prize will include access to the Members’ enclosure and a flight in the Solar Balloon on a day of your choice (weather permitting).
We are delighted to offer you the chance to see some of the action next season. Thanks to our partners at Bristol Sport we have ten pairs of tickets to give away.
The tickets are for a home league fixture next season for Bristol City FC, Bristol Rugby or the Bristol Flyers basketball team.
Please note; tickets are for a game taking place before the end of December 2015 and are subject to availability.
Answer our competition question
Which bridge in Bristol was shrouded in fog in February 2015?
Name .......................................................
Bristol 2015, Unit 5-6, 1 Canon’s Road, Bristol, BS1 5TX
10 pairs oftickets
Riverford OrganicFarms
Veg Box
Hot Air Balloon
Ride
Enter online at bristol2015.co.uk/citywide-mail-competition/ or cut out this section and return it to us at the address below – either in person or in the post. Good luck! Competition closes 30.06.2015. Full terms and conditions can be found at: bristol2015.co.uk/news/competition-terms-and-conditions/
BRISTOL: A Learning CityLeaders and organisations from across the city have come together to develop Bristol as a Learning City. They feel passionately that learning is for everyone – and for life.
“Our city has some of the best universities and schools in the UK and we want to make sure that everyone, wherever they live, has access to a great education,” says Cllr Brenda Massey, Assistant Mayor for People.
With lots of partners involved, there are many opportunities to improve support for schools, colleges and employers to create a world-class workforce.
To help you get started here are some useful links to local learning courses:
●● bit.ly/Bristol-Courses
●● bit.ly/Bristol-Ways2Work
●● bit.ly/On-Site-Bristol
For more information visit bit.ly/Bristol-Learning-City
A £12m investment project in South Bristol developed to boost the local economy and create jobs has opened for business. Filwood Green Business Park is a flagship project for Bristol’s year as European Green Capital, providing opportunities for small to medium size businesses with an environmental focus.
It is the only building of its type in the South West to be built to the leading industry ‘BREEAM Outstanding’ environmental and sustainability standards.
With 40,000 sq ft of workshop and office space, the business park is expected to create 350 jobs and be a catalyst for nearby development.
To find out more about the opportunities being created for businesses and individuals at Filwood Green Business Park visit bit.ly/Bristol-Filwood-Green or call 0117 403 2403.
Work underway on city’s new council homesWork has started on the first phase of a project to build 1,000 new council homes across the city.
The first phase of homes will provide much needed accommodation for larger families, including five sites that feature four-bedroom homes. Later phases are likely to focus on smaller homes, based on the needs of different parts of Bristol.
“This valuable programme provides much-needed council housing and makes good use of our land,” says Cllr Daniella Radice, Assistant Mayor for Neighbourhoods.
More developments are planned, and you can keep up to date at bit.ly/Bristol-New-Council-Homes
Filwood Green Business Park opens its doors
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Better quality Home Care on the wayChanges to Bristol’s Home Care services will help people access them locally and improve their reliability and flexibility.
Bristol City Council arranges and funds care for over 1,700 people. They receive over 21,000 hours of care each week in their own homes. Now we’ve grouped the city into 11 zones, with each one having a ‘Main Home Care Provider’.
Main Providers will deliver personal care to people and will also support their health and wellbeing. This may include helping someone to get out and about in their local community and arranging and attending health appointments. The providers will be visible in the community, with accessible local premises that people can visit to discuss their care.
If you currently receive a Home Care service arranged by the council we will have been in touch with you to talk about the service you receive and who should provide this to you.
If you have any questions about the Home Care service you, or family or friends, receive please contact Care Direct on 0117 922 2700 or visit bit.ly/Bristol-Care-Direct
Help make Home Care even better
You can help make Home Care better by joining the Retired Senior Volunteer Programme, which is looking for new Volunteer Lay Assessors to visit people receiving Home Care and provide feedback to the council. To find out how you can get involved, visit bit.ly/Bristol-RSVP-West
Are you in the picture on local HomeChoice changes?Recent changes affect who can be included on HomeChoice Bristol (the housing register or waiting list), who can bid for homes, and who gets priority.
People will need to meet one of the new qualification and suspension conditions covering:
●● Greater priority for local people – you will need to have lived in Bristol for the last two years.
●● Income – no applications accepted from people with income over £40,000.
●● Savings – no applications from people with savings over £40,000.
●● Home owners – no applications from those who own their own home.
●● Behaviour – no applications from those with a history of serious unacceptable behaviour.
Some people may qualify to be included on HomeChoice Bristol, but may be suspended from bidding for the following reasons:
●● They have a Bristol social housing debt over £500.
●● There has been a serious breach of tenancy conditions.
●● They have refused two reasonable offers.
Find out more at bit.ly/HomeChoice-Bristol
Improving care for older and disabled peopleEarlier this year we welcomed the biggest change to adult social care in the past 60 years, the Care Act.
This brings together a range of older legislation and is designed to help older and disabled people to have a higher quality of life and live independently for longer. It also aims to make sure there is a consistent approach to care, and one which meets modern standards.
Are you entitled to more support?The Care Act has introduced changes for people who care for others. If you care for someone you’re now entitled to an assessment to see if you’re eligible for financial, practical or emotional support.
Your feedback mattersDo you receive care and support services or support someone as a carer? We are looking for your feedback. If you would like to join our Care Act Panel to discuss how we embed these new changes, please get in touch [email protected]
For more information about the Care Act visit bit.ly/Bristol-Care-Act
www.bristol.gov.uk
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Could you help care for a disabled child?Could you care for a disabled child for a day, for a weekend, or maybe even full time? Bristol City Council has a variety of schemes supporting disabled children and their families. We’re very keen to hear from anyone who could consider caring for a disabled child of any age.
Current short break carers Rebecca and Steve Birkenstead tell us what it is like to care for a disabled child.
“My husband, Steve and I became short break carers four years ago.
Our children were in their late teens and we felt we would miss the hustle and bustle of a family life when they moved on.
“We presently have a six year old boy, with Cerebral Palsy, come to stay once a month for a weekend. He settled in very quickly and we look forward to him coming as the house is very quiet without him!
“It gives his mum a well-earned rest and gives him a chance to experience a different family
setting and a chance to have sleep overs, which children with disabilities don’t often get the
opportunity to do.
“There are opportunities to do training within the area of disabilities and there is always
the full support of your social worker should the need arise.”
Call us on 0117 353 4200 to request more information, visit bit.ly/Bristol-Fostering You can also email [email protected]
Do your bit in our City of ServiceBristol’s Cities of Service programme gives people the opportunity to volunteer and make a difference to local lives.
Its next project will see volunteers befriend older people whose spouse has recently passed away. We are recruiting volunteers now in partnership with CRUSE Bereavement Care. If you’d like to get involved, drop an email to [email protected]
Bristol has received £180,000 of funding over two years to help identify the challenges facing the city, recruit volunteers and measure the impact they are having.
During its first six months, the programme has seen 40 volunteers each contribute one hour a week to read with school children in a bid to improve school literacy across the city.
We would highly recommend caring for a disabled child. It is hard work, but certainly very
rewarding.
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The Mayor and Cabinet (Assistant Mayors)
●● Mayor of Bristol – George Ferguson (Ind) 0117 922 2420 / [email protected]
●● Deputy Mayor with overarching role for budgetary control – Geoffrey Gollop (Con) 0117 922 2420 / [email protected]
●● Assistant Mayor for Business Change, Resources and Culture – Simon Cook (Lib Dem) 0117 903 1992 / [email protected]
●● Assistant Mayor for Place, including Transport and Regeneration – Mark Bradshaw (Lab) 0117 353 3160 / [email protected]
●● Assistant Mayor for Neighbourhoods, including Public Health and Council Housing – Daniella Radice (Green) 07769 131 097 / [email protected]
●● Assistant Mayor for People, including Education and Social Services – Brenda Massey (Lab) 0117 979 9065 / [email protected]
Stay in touch and hear the latest on the things that matter to you in Bristol.Tweet, email, watch and comment – just some of the ways in which you can have your say.
Stay up-to date with council consultations, have your say and take part in petitions and discussions: bit.ly/Bristol-Have-Your-Say
Mayor’s Question Time events, Mayor’s regular phone-in and webcasting: it.ly/Mayor-of-Bristol-Engaging-Citizens
Join the Ask Bristol e-bulletin: bit.ly/AskBristol
www.bristol.gov.uk
OurCity June 2015
Decision making in BristolBristol operates a mayoral system, meaning major executive decisions are made by Mayor George Ferguson, with advice from his cross-party Cabinet, or by senior officers of the council using delegated powers. The annual budget within which the Mayor and Cabinet operate is decided by Full Council in February.
The current Cabinet are listed opposite. Please note that Our City went to print before the council’s Annual General Meeting on 26 May, so this does not reflect any changes that might have resulted from that meeting. The Mayor is not proposing any changes to Cabinet, so it will only change if a Member or political group decides not to take part.
Some areas the Mayor does not have control over:
Setting the council’s budget, its policy framework, constitution and committee membership – Responsibility of: Full Council
Planning* – Responsibility of: Development Control Committees
Cross-border transport issues – Responsibility of: The West of England Joint Local Transport Board, made up of all four local council transport leaders and business representatives.
Bus and rail operation – Responsibility of: Private companies
Scrutiny: The council has an Overview and Scrutiny Management Board*, which oversees four Scrutiny Commissions* aligned to the main council directorates. Their role is to inform and challenge policy development and decision making, also providing input in to various plans for the Mayor, Cabinet or Full Council to consider.
The Lord Mayor: The Lord Mayor of Bristol* is sometimes mistaken for Mayor, but is actually a civic role as Bristol’s First Citizen. This passes to a different councillor each year. Among their duties are representing the city at civic occasions and chairing meetings of Full Council.
* The Lord Mayor, Deputy Lord Mayor, Chairs and members of committees and commissions were confirmed at the council’s AGM on 26 May, after Our City went to print. For the latest listings, visit bit.ly/Bristol-Councillors
Bristol’s councillors Bristol is represented by the directly elected Mayor of Bristol and 70 councillors, shown below – more information at: bit.ly/Bristol-Councillors
For information about how the council operates, its meetings and committees go to bit.ly/How-Bristol-Council-Works
(C) Conservative (G) Green(L) Labour(LD) Liberal Democrat
(I) Independent Party leader PL
In February two new Youth Mayors were elected to represent young people in the city.
Neha Mehta is 16 from Bradley Stoke and Thanushan Jeyarajah is 17 from Speedwell. The Youth Mayors are part of the Bristol City Youth Council and advise Mayor George Ferguson on issues relating to young people.
Youth Mayors elected for 2015–17
(UKIP) UK Independence Party
PL
PL
PL
PL
Access more council services online A year-long programme of digital improvement is making it easier for you to access services online at a time to suit you. Some of the new services to be made available online include:
●●● Applying for and renewing a residents’ parking permit
●●● Applying for an Older Persons Bus Pass
●●● Registering a birth
With more services coming online over the next few months, it’s a perfect time to find out if you can get things done more quickly and easily. Our new digital services work with smartphones and tablets as well as traditional devices and are available at: bit.ly/Bristol-Online-Services
Council contacts●● Adult social care: bit.ly/Bristol-Adult-Care
●● Bins and recycling: bit.ly/Bristol-Bins
●● Child protection and support: bit.ly/First-Response-Bristol or call First Response 903 6444. In an out-of-hours emergency call 01454 615 165
●● Community safety:
- anti-social behaviour bit.ly/Bristol-ASB - community safety officers bit.ly/Bristol-CSO - hate crime bit.ly/Bristol-Hate-Crime or call the police 101
●● Council tax: You can manage your council tax account online, register at bit.ly/Bristol-My-Account. For more information see: bit.ly/Bristol-CouncilTax-Explained
BIG Green Week is Bristol’s international festival of better living and big ideas.
This year, people are being invited to #Lovethefuture during Bristol’s Green Capital year. More than 50,000 people visited during last year’s event and 2015 is expected to be even bigger and better, with something for everyone.
Tel: 0117 329 2525 bit.ly/Bristol-Big-Green-Week
6 June #Lovethefuture of Fashion with Doug Hobbs and FareShare7pm, The Passenger Shedbit.ly/Love-the-Future-of-Fashion
6–21 June#Lovethefuture HubCascade Steps, City Centre
18 JuneInvesting in the Future with Rathbone Greenbank Investments11.30am, At-Bristol bit.ly/Invest-in-the-Future
18 June Live Earth: Road to Paris with Pharrell5–11pm, Millennium Squarebit.ly/Live-Earth-Road-to-Paris
20 JuneBristol Grand Prix 2.30pm – 8pm, City Centrebit.ly/Bristol-Grand-Prix
If the service you need isn’t listed above, please go to bit.ly/Bristol-City-Council. It’s often quicker and easier to access information and services online. If you can’t, please call us on 0117 922 2000. A text phone service for deaf people is available on 0117 357 4444.
Bristol wouldn’t be Bristol without eventsImagine a global city like Bristol without the vibrancy, the celebration of other cultures, the music, the tastes, sights and the things you’ve just never experienced before. Bristol wouldn’t be Bristol without the spectacle of the events it hosts and here are some of the highlights.
www.bristol.gov.uk
OurCity June 2015
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OurCity June 2015
What’s onJune Green Capital: Luke Jerram – WithdrawnLeigh Woods, until 6 SeptemberTel: 0117 379 0115 bit.ly/Withdrawn
Sunday 7 JuneMake Sunday Special11am–5pm, Old City Tel: 0117 922 2000 bit.ly/Make-Sunday-Special
Sunday 23 August Make Sunday Special in your community Stapleton Road, Easton Tel: 0117 922 2000 bit.ly/Make-Sunday-Special
27 August – 6 SeptemberBristol Festival of PuppetryLocations across BristolTel: 0117 929 3593 bit.ly/Bristol-Festival-of-Puppetry
MuseumsThere is plenty going on at Bristol’s museums this summer. Find out more at bit.ly/Whats-On-Bristol-Museums
Sport4Life brings fun sport and physical activity opportunities
to communities in Bristol. This summer look out for sports and activities in your local parks and community for 14–25 year olds. For more information visit bit.ly/Sport4Life-Bristol, follow @S4LBristol on Twitter or head to Sport4lifebristol on Facebook.
For more information about the range of events and festivals taking place across the city visit bit.ly/Bristol-Major-Events
in your community
in your community
* The events listed are subject to the appropriate licences and permissions being approved
For details of this years other Make Sunday Special events visit bit.ly/Make-Sunday-Special
