Bristol budget: backlash begins
The backlash to Bristol mayor George Ferguson's £35 million budget cuts has already begun.
Mr Ferguson announced the proposed new budget this morning.
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Sue Mountstevens
Police commissioner Sue Mountstevens has urged the city council to "think long and hard" before making any cuts to PCSOs (Police Community Support Officers).
Mr Ferguson has revealed that he proposes to cut £540,000 funding for 32 PCSOs who are paid for by the council.
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He admitted that the cut might have an impact on people's safety but said that ultimately, PCSOs are provided by the police.
There are 80 police-paid PCSOs working in the city.
Meanwhile, the council's Lib Dem leader Tim Kent has condemned the way in which Mr Ferguson has announced his budget proposals as "an embarrassing shambles".
He said: "After the Mayor leaked details to the press, allowing them to publish this morning, councillors – who are the democratically elected representatives of the public – have only learnt of his budget proposals from the media, not from the Mayor.
"This is a shambolic way to handle such an important budget and it shows real disregard for the democratic process and the city's ward councillors."The budget itself has a number of holes in it – with no figures provided next to some savings items.
"George talks about the majority of his cuts being in backroom services – 'working in a more modern, cost-effective way' – but we feel he hasn't gone far enough."More could have been done to find the extra funds for vital projects and frontline services.
"However, the Liberal Democrat group is willing to work with the Mayor to make his budget more acceptable."
Labour's acting leader Ron Stone has complained that briefings for councillors on the budget have been inadequate.
He said attempts to get the budget detail released earlier were rebuffed with suggestions that it was still being worked on.
He said: "Councillors - who collectively have tens of thousands of votes behind them - are a key part of the democratic process.
"We are increasingly concerned that the mayor's new ways of working are aimed at bypassing any input or critique we may have.
"An effective opposition is recognised as a sign of a healthy democracy."
Comments
by ChazzaB
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 8:26AM
“You need to remember - by voting for a mayoral system, you the people of Bristol voted to strip councillors of most of their powers/
Why be surprised at the consequences?”
by Drummond
Monday, January 07 2013, 11:29PM
“For anyone else who reads this piece, here is the link to a more detailed article following close on the heels of this one: http://tinyurl.com/bkx2qxo”
by Drummond
Monday, January 07 2013, 10:28PM
“This is a pretty poorly written article really. I'd like to find out what George himself has to say. Why isn't there any quote from him?”
by KBillies
Monday, January 07 2013, 7:22PM
“Smoosername.
Take a break pal.
You are becoming a bit like DM Fishponds.
Don't go there.”
by smoosername
Monday, January 07 2013, 5:56PM
“"Lib Dem leader Tim Kent said 'it shows real disregard for the democratic process'."
Surely this can't be the same hypocritical Tim Kent that disregarded the democratic process by ignoring the results of many CONsultations?
The same hypocritical Tim Kent who campaigned against un-needed traffic calming measures in his ward, only then to introduce them across Bristol.
At least the Bristol public could rely on the democratic process (voting for Mayor and then not voting for Jon Rogers) to remove him and his Lib Dem buddies from doing any more damage to Bristol.”
by PJB_1972
Monday, January 07 2013, 5:30PM
“God forbid that the dirty unwashed public should be informed before the elite!”
by PattersonG
Monday, January 07 2013, 3:27PM
“I'm pretty pi**ed off that my local councillor has not been briefed and given the wherewithal to be able to respond to either the budget cuts or queries from constituents. Why was it left for them to find out the detail (incorrectly reported) through the media?
The four people at the top table need to start communication a bit better with the elected Councillors if they want their support and maybe not use the press to do that work.
A VERY poor decision. Disappointing and disrespectful.
@ChazzaB. No, he is leader of the Lib Dem group and not on the cabinet. The cabinet is made only of four people including the mayor.”
by ChazzaB
Monday, January 07 2013, 2:51PM
“One assumes Tim Kent was part of the cabinet which set up the budget cuts proposals.”
by katachua
Monday, January 07 2013, 2:20PM
“Twice?”