✅ As my colleague @tobywells.bsky.social points out, "franchising is such a good idea that it was universally supported by all parties" in the mayoral elections.
❌ But now she is in power, Labour's mayor is dragging her feet.
🚌 We need better buses, not more Labour delays and broken promises.
Green councillors are supporting the introduction of direct trains to Oxford, with an open letter to GWR.
“These services will offer improved connectivity to and from our city, enabling and incentivising more of our residents to make sustainable long-distance journeys,” says @tobywells.bsky.social
A graphic showing 12 councillors and 10 key organisers from Bristol Green Party who are backing Zack Polanski's leadership bid. It includes the following statement: "Bristol has shown what Greens can achieve with ambition and vision. For us to break through nationally, we now need bold leadership that will reach people everywhere. That’s why we’re backing Zack Polanski for Green Party Leader."
We've been making steady steps forward in recent years, but now we need to take a huge stride. The political stage is set for a real alternative that challenges the elites and gives power to the people. We need to grab it with both hands with @zackpolanski.bsky.social as our next Green Party leader!
Local Councillor Ellie Freeman and I were pleased to see the Festival Way reopened after a long closure (with a well signed diversion route). It’s been done to a good standard, with a bat corridor and lots of trees. Although it could have been widened beyond 3m.
"We are hearing loud and clear that one of the most pressing priorities for Bristol residents is to keep our streets clean. It's no surprise that this is a problem Labour took £700,000 out of tackling street cleansing and fly tipping in 2023. I plan to prioritise this funding to respond to concerns raised about street litter and flytipping." TONY DYER LEADER, BRISTOL CITY COUNCIL
♻️ Bristol City Council are set to spend more money on tackling street litter and flytipping. ♻️
Green Council Leader, Tony Dyer, confirms that the Green Led Council will listen to the public and inject much needed investment into tackling street cleanliness.
The world did not end when the bridge was closed for two years between 2015 & 17.
Twenty-four thousand pedestrians and cyclists use it daily; those numbers will only increase if motor vehicles are excluded.
Bonus: the bridge will need a lot less maintenance!
This would be a big improvement when walking with the kids
Agree with @tobywells.bsky.social that current layout is a poor use of space:
“Prince Street Bridge carries far more pedestrians and cyclists than it does people in private motor vehicles, but they’re squeezed into a much smaller space”
About that claim that #Bristol is selling 1200 council homes...
WECA Scrutiny meeting is coming up on Monday 27th Jan. This time we have some scrutiny specific papers on:
🚍 Bus Franchising
👩🏫 Adult skills programmes
I'd really appreciate comments and Qs from the public submitted to the meeting!
westofengland-ca.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocume...
Text from section 2.2.4 of the devolution white paper, available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/english-devolution-white-paper-power-and-partnership-foundations-for-growth/english-devolution-white-paper 2.2.4 Deepening devolution in Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities Mayoral Strategic Authorities with a strong track record of delivery, which can demonstrate exemplary stewardship of public finances, can request access to a deeper level of devolution, including the Integrated Settlement. Eligibility for Established Mayoral status As part of ending devolution by deal in favour of devolution by default, the government is setting clear criteria for accessing the Established Mayoral tier. Specifically: The Mayoral Strategic Authority (or predecessor Mayoral Strategic Authorities) have been in existence, with a directly elected Mayor in place, for at least 18 months at the point of submitting a request to move up to the Established Mayoral tier and access the Integrated Settlement; The Strategic Authority has a published Local Assurance Framework in place; In the previous 18 months the Strategic Authority has not been the subject of a Best Value Notice, a MHCLG commissioned independent review, or a statutory inspection or intervention; The Strategic Authority is not subject to any ongoing (or implementing) recommendations from an externally mandated independent review; and There are no material accounting concerns covering the current or previous financial year which relate to the Strategic Authority’s ability to manage public money.
Working my way through the devolution white paper.
It looks like the mismanagement of WECA over the past years means it won't be able to have greater control of its budget (integrated settlement) or greater levels of devolution.
Agreed. Bristol was an early adopter and was originally ahead, but we need another step change in integration and passenger info.
They all have trackers (it's a legal requirement these days) but the information systems that process the data for the boards can be flakey and the first bus app is notorious for not making it clear whether a bus is "real" or not.
It's brilliant news that more transport powers will be devolved. Local politicians know best what's needed & how to integrate the options locally. Now we need a mayor who will show leadership on this, which is something we've not seen from Labour.
Councillor Toby Wells, stood up in the benches of the council chamber in Bristol City Hall, mid speech
My maiden speech today in the council chamber was about openness and transparency. The new committee model sets us up in good stead, but we are still not getting it right all the time. Culture shift is required across the council, for both officers and elected members.
The biggest obstacle to building more homes (that people can actually afford - that part always gets left out!) is not council planning committees.
It's the systematic underfunding and weakening of local authorities, and Labour is to blame just as much as the Tories.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
In this coverage we also hear from @tobywells.bsky.social directly www.bristol247.com/news-and-fea...
Brilliant story about victory for people power pushing back against developers in Knowle. Super proud of my Green Cllr colleagues @edplowden.bsky.social who took an early stand and @tobywells.bsky.social and Cam Hayward who have worked hard for this outcome. www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
Hey UK folks, am I missing something? A transport minister with “the most compelling vision for transport that we’d seen in decades” resigns over a pretty irrelevant sounding thing in her past that was resolved and properly reported.
Why do good people resign too easily and bad people never resign?
Transport secretary announces a progressive transport agenda, then "resigns" the next day over a minor misdemeanor from a decade ago which was already known about...
There are so many questions to be asked about this. Greens asked for the meeting to be webcast as there is significant public interest in understanding whether this is incompetence, cronyism or corruption - but we were told no. I worry about the impact it is having on trust in local politicians.
What is just as worrying is that we were asked to submit our questions on this *in advance*. There is no constitutional process for this and it stinks of trying to limit scrutiny of this decision by the previous Labour administration.
Greens will be robustly challenging this in committee.
A one-page report to the Audit Committee at Bristol City Council outlines the results of its investigations into the council's 'Stepping Up' programme over the past 6 years.
Read the full story here:
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
We have an emergency protocol in Bristol when the weather gets this cold.
Being out in sub zero temperatures often results in death, here’s everything you need to know about what to do when you see someone sleeping out & rough.
Action will save lives
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
Great to see this legislation coming forward, WECA needs to be gearing up to take advantage of it ASAP.
“I’m a bit worried that as he’s subject to the parliamentary whip, his options to do the right thing for our region may be limited." (2/2)
From @edplowden.bsky.social :
“I would like to see the metro mayor do what some of the other combined authority mayors have done: announce that they’ll use their own funding to maintain the £2 fare cap." (1/2)
A pub (the shakespeare) in Totterdown, Bristol, with large purple tentacles emanating from the upstairs windows, reaching out over the road in front.
A glitch has occurred in Totterdown. Nothing to see here. Please move on.
Yes! Some more Bristol Green councillors have arrived here 😄
Please follow @lisastone70.bsky.social & @is0belrussell.bsky.social!
It doesn't end here though. We need to get to the root of it. Blame has been assigned, but *why* did it happen? What can we do to stop it happening again?
Well done to everyone involved in the investigation and the court case. I hope the families can take some comfort in knowing that justice has been done, although of course nothing can compensate for the loss of the 2 boys.
