News / Politics
Balancing Bristol’s budget – over to you
“This has been a dark week for me,” Bristol mayor Marvin Rees admits, as on screens behind him in a small room at City Hall, spreadsheets and graphs indicate the true scale of the city council’s challenges to balance the books in the months and years ahead.
From lollipop ladies to leisure centres, museums to mental health provision, nothing is safe from the savage cuts on the horizon.
Money will still go towards building Bristol’s long-awaited arena, but savings proposals so far include:
is needed now More than ever
– Trusts or other community groups to run some parks
– No more meals on wheels
– Reduce funding to Destination Bristol
– End subsidies for bus routes with low passenger numbers
– Reduce the number of council-run library services
– Fewer Police Community Support Officer posts funded
– Reduce funding to Bristol Music Trust and Key Arts Providers
– Close Bristol Museum and M Shed on Mondays
The city has to close a budget gap of at least £92m from April 2017 to March 2022, and Rees is now asking us all to help balance the city council’s books.
“In launching this strategy I am really conflicted,” he said.
“On one hand it sets out an ambitious vision for a more equal and inclusive city, including many ways to make life better. On the other this has to be done in the context of a mountainous budget challenge.”
A consultation will last for the next 12 weeks billed as one of the biggest ever undertaken in Bristol, with Rees, members of his cabinet and senior council officers taking part in events across the city to find feedback and ideas.
To find out the full details of the proposals, visit www.bristol.gov.uk/corpstrategy.
The consultation is open until January 5, 2017, with the budget needing approval of a full council meeting on February 21.
Read more: Bristol Arena delayed – again
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