And ending rough sleeping will require investment in mental health services, addiction services, as well as housing - all of which have a wider public benefit. (Still obviously a big 'if' it happens, but don't think it's a mad signal to send)
Luke Tryl@luketryl.bsky.social · 2w agoSo yes it benefits the people who no longer have to rough sleep the most. But it has a wider effect in terms of how people view the state of the country.
Choosing 'end rough sleeping' as your first pledge on entering Downing St is definitely A Statement - and maybe, at this point, that's what matters. But delivery will require investment in mental health and addiction services, as well as housing. Andy Burnham has all the levers now.
Refuge say domestic abuse survivors still face "gatekeeping" from some local authorities - after the local government ombudsman warned this case should be a "wake-up call" to councils everywhere: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Domestic abuse survivor told to go back to place she had fled
Woman says council's homelessness decision left her fearing a return to her abusive ex-partner.
bbc.co.uk
West of England mayor Helen Godwin is thought to be open to the idea of rent controls - if they can be shown to work. The govt says the idea is "not credible", but a certain wannabe PM by the name of Andy Burnham previously said the idea should be on the table...
Bristol is England's least affordable city to rent in - should more be done?
Data shows the average cost of rent in the city amounts to 45% of the average salary.
bbc.co.uk
"People just need to understand that this is a safe place" said 16-year-old Ryder about South Bristol's new youth zone. Great to meet these guys earlier this week - striking how they crave a safe place to go: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Metal detector checks to be introduced at new Bristol youth zone
A survey found young people wanted security checks to make the new centre feel safe.
bbc.co.uk
A case study in who holds power over Bristol's development. Councillors wanted to refuse South Bristol's tallest-ever tower block, officers said that risked a massive legal bill, so now it's going ahead. The planning committee chair says it's 'demoralizing': www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Plan for new development in Bristol approved despite concerns
The chair of Bristol's Planning Committee says councillors do not have enough control in the system.
bbc.co.uk
Bristol MP Darren Jones wrote to the council in mid-January about a constituent living with damp and mould so severe that their child has moved out. More than five weeks later, he says he's still not received a response - and accused the council of breaching the law. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Damp in Bristol council flat leaves children 'smelling like mould'
Jessica says the flats in Lawrence Weston should be demolished due to issues with damp and mould.
bbc.co.uk
The Charity commission suggested the case highlighted a gap in its powers www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Bristol Green Party councillor cleared by Charity Commission
A councillor can serve as a trustee after the Charity Commission decided not to disqualify him.
bbc.co.uk
The West of England mayor is looking to invest in a huge warehouse inspired by Gordon Brown's @themultibank.bsky.social
Bristol charities planning to open huge food warehouse
It is hoped the £4m hub could host several charities, cutting costs and helping more families.
bbc.co.uk
Bristol city council has suggested van dwellers on a Lockleaze meanwhile site will be without on-site drinking water for at least a week while it works out what's going on
Bristol van dwellers 'unwell' after drinking council site water
People living on the official site are told to get drinking water from a nearby community centre.
bbc.co.uk
EXCL: Labour mayor Helen Godwin won't fund a 24-hour bus gate on Park Street in Bristol - so the Green Party-led council is going to try to find the money itself www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Park Street plans in doubt after mayor says no
Councillors had approved the £15m plan to limit Park Street to only buses, cyclists and pedestrians.
bbc.co.uk
The Charity Commission is looking to suspend Easton mosque chair (and Green Party councillor) Abdul Malik for three years www.bbc.com/news/article...
Hamas post leads to mosque chair facing three-year suspension
Supporters of Green party councillor Abdul Malik say his treatment is "disproportionate".
bbc.com
Helen Godwin says she won't pay for free bus travel for asylum seekers out of the WECA budget. But she has written to the Home Sec asking her to look at whether bus tickets should be issued: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
West Mayor urges Home Secretary to consider bus tickets for asylum seekers
Weca mayor says free bus travel will be
bbc.co.uk
On Labour's youth guarantee, what does 'a guaranteed paid work placement' actually mean? A week? A month? The Bristol pilot scheme offers a two-week placement, but there's no guarantee of a job at the end of it (and it's too soon to know the results). www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Youth Guarantee scheme helping young people out of unemployment
The scheme is aiming to reach 500 young people across the West of England in its first year.
bbc.co.uk
Quite a shift in tone here from Barry Parsons, but also some challenges: 1. The council only has 66 meanwhile site pitches, and is aiming for 250 by April. So people in the other 350+ vehicles are going to have to go somewhere else. How many will end up stuck on a meanwhile site waiting list?
Hannah Miller@hanrmiller.bsky.social · 11mo agoWith more than 600 people living kerbside in Bristol, the council is asking what you think about a new plan to bring numbers down www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
With more than 600 people living kerbside in Bristol, the council is asking what you think about a new plan to bring numbers down www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Van encampments should not be permanent - Bristol City Council
Bristol City Council launches a consultation on its new vehicle dwellers policy.
bbc.co.uk
“The flag represents all of us in England, regardless of our original heritage”, says Tony Dyer, the Green leader of Bristol city council. “We are an English city… we are also a city of sanctuary, those two things are not contradictory.”
Bristol’s Green council leader Tony Dyer tells BBC Bristol he's “happy" to see flags being flown across the city. Says some people have approached the council because they feel uncomfortable, but “it's time for us to reclaim the flag”.
Despite the focus on hotels, most asylum seekers are accommodated in housing - often HMOs. But the pushback against HMOs is growing, esp in the north. A series of councils has moved in the last 6 months to tighten restrictions, while Reform bang the drum locally and nationally on.ft.com/41J5aGk l
Councils move to close off key alternative to asylum hotels in England
[FREE TO READ] Local authorities tighten controls on houses in multiple occupation amid fears for community cohesion
on.ft.com
"It's being used as a tool to whip up people’s anger" Council of Sanctuary status is being put under the spotlight in towns and cities across the country. In Weston-super-Mare, plans to join the scheme could be scrapped.
Weston-super-Mare council of sanctuary plan could be scrapped
A final decision on the plan, which has divided opinion in the coastal town, will be made in September.
bbc.co.uk
Helen Godwin told @johndarvall.bsky.social that a new Comms Director, paid more than her, will help WECA tell its story to residents and government
West of England mayor defends hiring comms director on up to £138,000
Helen Godwin said the new role was a “really important job” in order to “tell our story better”.
bbc.co.uk
Bristol set itself a target to be net zero by 2030, and it looks unlikely to meet it. But the city has made faster progress than others since declaring a Climate Emergency, according to a council report. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Bristol not expected to meet its own 2030 net zero target
After declaring a climate emergency, the council set a goal for the city to be carbon neutral by 2030.
bbc.co.uk
Chaminda's work on the disability cuts has been invaluable. This shows that contrary to many media assumptions that PIP cuts are primarily around mental health - they would affect lots of people with cancer, heart disease, and numerous other physical illnesses and disabilities.
Chaminda Jayanetti@cjayanetti.bsky.social · last yr.NEW: Labour's planned disability benefit cuts could affect the majority of current working-age claimants with ischaemic heart disease, inflammatory arthritis, hip and knee disorders and Crohn’s disease, according to analysis of new DWP data By me, for the Big Issue: www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
People in Bristol voted to move to a committee system in 2022 - and the change only happened last year. Now the government is telling councils they have to move to a leader-and-cabinet model, describing the committee model as 'unclear, duplicative, and wasteful'.
Away from the politics of it all, what actually are the welfare plans that the government is trying to get through? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
What are the Pip and universal credit changes and who will be affected?
More than 130 MPs are trying to block the government's planned changes to the benefits system.
bbc.co.uk