News / Bristol 2015 Ltd
Potential audit over green capital finances
The leader of Bristol’s Liberal Democrats has threatened to bring in official auditors to examine Bristol’s role as European Green Capital next year.
Cllr Gary Hopkins has written an open letter to the mayor George Ferguson, published today, saying there was “no sustainable financial plan” in place.
He said the lack of a transparent financial plan or a programme of events meant the year that aims to help celebrate Bristol’s environmental credentials was under threat.
is needed now More than ever
Meanwhile, he questioned why community groups were only now being given the chance to bid for up to £2million in grants from the Bristol 2015 Ltd company.
A £1.5million fund for not-for-profit organisations was released by the managers of Bristol’s European Green Capital team to deliver “long-lasting, fundamental change” in the city.
The Bristol 2015 company released the cash yesterday to mark 100 days until the city takes over its green capital mantle in January.
It followed from the launch of the Bristol 2015 Neighbourhood Partnerships Fund in June and the Bristol 2015 Small Grants Fund released earlier this month.
But critics have said businesses and the public had been “kept in the dark” over the programme for the year, while a reshuffle of the key organisations charged with delivering Bristol’s year as European Green Capital took place after a “summer of tension” in which communications broke down between groups involved in showcasing the city’s green credentials.
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