News / Politics
Green Capital books finally opened
Six hundred invoices have been made public from the European Green Capital 2015 project after a campaign for transparency.
New mayor Marvin Rees went through with a promise to open up the books after the previous administration was criticised for the way it handled the spending of public money.
The invoices account for about £7 million of central government funding which caused a row when former Lib Dem MP Stephen Williams demanded the city council’s chief executive Nichola Yates release the full accounts. Previous mayor George Ferguson also came under fire for the level of transparency.
is needed now More than ever
You can view all of the invoices in three parts here, here and here.
The invoices reveal that £70,000 was spent on creating a giant wicker whale and £49,200 was spent on an art project to make Pero’s Bridge foggy.
They also show the Bristol 2015 project paid a total of £129,000 to circus performers for various events across the year, including the launch party.
Among the invoices were also:
- £5,000 for Sir Ranulph Fiennes to appear at a summit
- £3,802.47 for pies from Pieminister for an event in January 2015
- £3,000 on hospitality at the 100 Club of the Bristol Balloon Fiesta
- £7,021 on hotel rooms at the Royal Marriott
The invoices were released following a two-year campaign aided by former Lib Dem councillor Christian Martin, who complained to the information commissioner after access to the accounts were initially denied by the council.
After the accounts were finally released on Monday night, Rees said: “I am committed to demonstrating openness and transparency in projects which the council is a part of.
“Whilst I know this financial information isn’t about council spending but that of a private company (Bristol 2015), the fact is the council holds the information and it is right to make it available.
“Not to do so only fuels rumour and assumption, when it is much better to let the facts speak for themselves.”
He added that he was commissioning an independent report on the “inclusivity, impact, legacy and finances” of European Green Capital 2015.
The invoices also show payments to the Bristol Post and Bristol24/7 for adverts taken out in the newspaper and magazine, and media partnerships.
Read more: Bristol Green Capital: success or flop?