Election night was a mixed experience. Despite bad news nationally for the country, we had a very successful election day here in Bristol.  Continue reading Now we are 13, no 14! →

It’s hard to imagine that one year ago as I write I was in the middle of an election campaign. Now I’ve been representing Redland ward as part of the Bristol Green Group for twelve months. So what’s it been like?  Continue reading Reflections: one year on the council →

I met with Sara Zaltash of the one day : Day One – Resilience project in the city to talk about some current projects I’m involved in.

In the first video Continue reading My Bristol 2015 European Green Capital energy project work →

Case work is, as previously stated, a key role for local councillors.

Often this is a matter of helping people through the system; frequently it’s about unblocking delays to getting action or sorting an issue out.

Reviewing the first half year of my time as a councillor, I discovered just how many residents  I’d been contacted by. Continue reading Working for local residents in the ward →

Taking part in the city council’s budget-setting process for the first time was a revealing political process, if lengthy ordeal.

We spent almost 7 hours arguing over a few crumbs in the corner of the budget: an unexpected windfall, £3.9m of capital available for the next year only.

The meeting was also characterised by the spectacle, yet again, of a Labour-Conservative alliance, with each group clearly having made prior agreements with the other to support a couple of amendments, and thus ensure they each get a few headlines.

Most councillors made little reference to the harsh cuts to local government spending, Continue reading Reflections on the annual budget meeting, 2015 →

The start of 2015 is a landmark year for our city. 

As our year as European Green Capital (EGC) gets underway we may need reminding that this is the first international title Bristol has ever won. It’s a time, therefore, for making the best of such an opportunity. Continue reading Thoughts on Bristol being the European Green Capital for 2015 →

One role for local councillors is to question, scrutinise, and influence the city’s elected Mayor. Since the Mayor makes most decisions of the authority now this has to be a very significant role. Continue reading Questioning the Mayor →

I serve on one of the city’s two Development Control Committees. This means a formal, regulatory role as part of the Local Planning Authority.

We have a the role of deciding the most contentious development proposals in the city, Continue reading Controlling development in the city →

I’m often asked what I have been doing as a city councillor.

This is a good question as the role has many aspects, not all of which are obvious:

case work for the ward; committees; council meetings, ….

Continue reading So what does a councillor do? →

One of Bristol’s most unusual areas is the famous Downs. In fact,  strictly speaking, there are two areas of Downs that are jointly managed under a unique legal basis by both the city council and the Society of Merchant Venturers.

There is specific legislation from Parliament that created the Downs Committee in 1861 and one of my more unusual roles as a councillor has been to serve on this committee.
Continue reading What’s happening on the Downs? →