Clifton Lit Fest
As many of you know, alongside Paula’s work as one of your Clifton councillors, this year, she is also chairing the Clifton LitFest. It has been keeping her very busy these past months, especially August as the programme was prepared for print. She is delighted to say that, once again, the small team of volunteers has pulled together a rich and varied programme. Thanks to their hard work, and with the support of the Friends of Clifton Centre and Library, the festival continues to thrive. It will take place over the weekend of 14-16th November in venues in Clifton Village – the Library, Christ Church, The Clifton Club and Clifton High School.
This year’s line-up features a similar number of events as last year, but the day has been extended and a number of new venues have been added so audiences can enjoy more talks with fewer clashes. The programme has also been shaped more closely around the interests of the local community. International affairs are a strong theme, with speakers including Howard Amos, Peter Frankopan, Giles Milton, Caroline Eden and Joanna Lillis, alongside Jonathan Dimbleby and his revised foreword to his book, The Palestinians. The festival will be opened by Martin Parr and Caroline Lucas will be joining us as the keynote speaker to discuss her timely book Another England: How to Reclaim our National Story.
The programme also offers plenty beyond politics and history. There are events on nature, poetry, photography, and food writing, including Kate Humble in conversation with local cook and writer Jenny Chandler. Fiction is well represented too: Paula is especially looking forward to talking with Deborah Moggach about ‘love in later life’. And, to give you just a flavour of the diversity on offer, Alice Roberts (the festival patron) will be in conversation with Kevin Toolis about My Father’s Wake.
The festival is only possible thanks to the dedication of the volunteer committee, as well as more than forty volunteers who keep the weekend running smoothly. Clifton is lucky to have a lots of people who have a few hours to spare for community activity, and if you consider yourself one of them, do write to admin@cliftonlitfest.com Volunteering would just mean signing up for one or two talks, where you take tickets and signpost people to books signings, etc.
Thanks also go to the library staff at Clifton, and to the Friends of Clifton Centre and Library, whose support underpins everything that is happening at the Lit Fest.
Please come along for a stimulating, entertaining and inspiring weekend. Please do buy your tickets in advance, as events can sell out fast! The QR code below will take you straight to the full programme of events and the box office. Alternatively, tickets are available from Clifton Library each Wednesday to Saturday and from www.litfest.com. Every ticket sold helps keep this wonderful community festival alive!
This QR code will take you to the full programme of speakers for the Clifton LitFest
Nov 14-16.
Bristol City Council budget
Jerome is member of the Council’s Finance Committee which reviews and comments on the Council’s spending and income. In recent years Bristol City Council’s budget has been badly knocked by unanticipated overspends, particularly in the areas of temporary accommodation for homeless people (the cost of which are not fully met by the government), rising levels of adult social care costs and transport provision for young people with special educational needs.
Particular focus on these areas has led to better management of these costs and innovative solutions have been developed to keep these costs under control, such as buying properties where homeless people can be temporarily based, allowing the council to avoid the very high levels of rent and to avoid the use of hotels. The council’s budget for 2025/2026 remains under intense pressure because increased government support for local authorities in 2420/25 came from one off government funding and a very high level of current council funding comes from central government.
Hotwells Primary School update
The current consultation regarding the future of Hotwells Primary School closed on September 19. The proposal being put forward by Cathedral Schools Trust in response to falling numbers of primary school age children is for Hotwells to become an infant only feeder school for Cathedral Primary School, which will then become a junior/key stage two school only. Jerome has been working with local parents and community members and Bristol City Council to put forward an alternative costed proposal, retaining full primary school provision at both Hotwells and Cathedral schools. We will keep you updated with the latest developments.
Contact us
Jerome Thomas: cllr.jerome.thomas@bristol.gov.uk
Paula O’Rourke: cllr.paula.orourke@bristol.gov.uk