Protesters disrupt cabinet meeting over threats to council tax benefit

Members of a housing union in Bristol disrupted a cabinet meeting in City Hall on Tuesday to demand the mayor personally meet with them to discuss keeping a crucial council tax benefit.

Five members of housing union Acorn stood up and read nearly identical speeches at the beginning of a cabinet meeting, accusing the mayor of waging “a war on the poor”.

The council currently provides a council tax reduction scheme to help people on low-income with up to 100 per cent of their council tax costs.

But it announced in January that it would be reviewing the scheme as part of its annual budget planning.

Acorn said the scheme was a “lifeline” for over 23,000 Bristol households on low income who are already struggling to pay for food and bills.

They said the council was trying to scrap the scheme, but council chiefs insist this is a lie, and that there has never been a plan to scrap the scheme.

Despite this, Acorn members demanded a commitment from the mayor that he would meet with members of the union and keep the scheme as it is.

“It’s absolutely outrageous that you are attempting to squash it. Families rely on this benefit. You know this Marvin,” said one protester.

“23,000 families are here to demand that Marvin Rees and the cabinet keep the council tax reduction scheme.”

“We need a commitment from you today that you will keep the council tax reduction benefit as is.

Acorn also had union members stationed outside the entrance to City Hall, where they held placards with the words, “Marvin’s war on the poor” and “Stop Rees’ ridiculous reduction”.

Marvin Rees eventually responded to the protesters, after they spoke over members of the public who were invited to speak at the cabinet meeting to discuss research on a just transition to net zero.

“I don’t mind you interrupting me but when we’ve got guests here talking about something as critical as just transition, I would just ask you to show them some respect,” Rees told protesters.

“You can disrespect me all you want but please don’t disrespect members of the public that come here for a really good cause.”

Cabinet member for housing delivery and homes, Tom Renhard, also responded to protesters, saying he had already met with them and had assured them he would not be cutting the scheme.

The final protester to speak demanded Rees give her an answer as to whether or not he would meet with protesters.

The mayor responded that he would address the council tax reduction scheme at the end of the chair’s business.

“There are really important social justice voices in here that you are squashing at this moment in time,”  he added.

“Allow this really important piece of work to be heard.”

“This is not the way to do it.”

Acorn members said they would continue to protest proposals to scrap the council tax reduction scheme and would hold Rees to his word.

Main photo: Alex Seabrook

Read next:

• Scrapping council tax reduction scheme a ‘slap in the face’
• Mayor likens Acorn council meeting disruptors to Capitol Hill insurrection
• Acorn members demand justice for woman and son who fled Twinnel House fire

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