Recycling and waste
Bristol City Council’s consultation on waste and recycling got a record number of responses, and as a result the Greens have categorically ruled out one of the options that was raised – moving to four-weekly black bin collections. The full results of the consultation will go to a committee to be looked at, and any other changes decided there.
A key reason for the consultation is that we need to increase our recycling rate. Bristol currently recycles 45% of its waste and this is falling. And while we believe that recycling more is essential, the government also has a target of 65% recycling by 2035, which we must meet. Analysis shows that over 40% of what’s in Bristol’s black bins can be recycled, and a lot of this is food waste. While we know there is a lot of room to improve as a council to help people recycle more, we are confident that we will be able to get there, together.
Our ideas to increase our rates of recycling and reuse include better separation of materials, larger recycling containers, better information on recycling, more consistent facilities and services in blocks and shared dwellings, beginning to recycle soft plastics and yes, decreasing the frequency of waste collections. This has worked in other places, and the move to fortnightly collections has been one of the only things in Bristol to boost recycling rates in the last 20 years.
The good news is that while disposing of waste costs taxpayers’ money, our recycled materials are sold to go back on the market across the UK, and this money can be reinvested in further improving the service, street cleansing and tackling fly-tipping.
Budget
On March 4, Bristol City Council set a balanced budget put forward by The Green Party, the largest ever set by Greens in administration. It covers £1.7 billion of spending across all areas and prioritises more money for adult social care, young people and social housing.
In the words of Cllr Tony Dyer, leader of Bristol City Council: “We now have a budget we can believe in and put structures in place to help us deliver the £1.3bn of revenue and £400m of capital investment over the next 12 months as we start the journey of delivering a fairer, greener city.”
Alongside a revenue budget of £1.3 billion, the budget includes £400 million of capital investment in areas such as parks and green spaces, new council housing, repairing ageing highways infrastructure, bringing new transport options online and introducing new homes for children in care.
This includes £27.8 million of vital investments in children, young people and families. Tens of millions will also be invested in improving Council housing and tackle homelessness, which will:
• Provide vital investment in council housing stock, including £21.6 million in investment in high rise blocks, £19 million in day to day repairs, and millions more to improve specific areas such as electrical testing, fire alarm, and tackling damp and mould.
• Continue to provide new social housing with 728 new units planned – 136 will be delivered in 2025/26 and 263 in 2026/27
CIL Funding Proposals
Clifton Down shares a CIL funding pot with our neighbouring wards, Clifton and Hotwells & Harbourside. Six proposals have been put forward, including for Clifton Down: Community Association Growing Space Project so that they can extend and develop the space, and Friends of Redland Library have asked for the provision of new chairs. We are happy to endorse both proposals.
The next stage is a Community Area 3 meeting including councillors of the three wards, community groups and members of the public. This is yet to be arranged. At this meeting a priority order will be decided for the six proposals. The final costing and allocating of funds will be decided by council officers with reference to this list.
Housing issues
Clifton Down Ward has some of the highest numbers of privately rented properties in the city. While many of these properties are in a decent condition, some are not. We are working hard to support those tenants living with mould, damp and other bad housing conditions to get their voices heard. We have written to landlords requesting urgent repairs and flagged problems with the council’s private housing team. We are eagerly anticipating the Renters’ Rights Bill becoming law soon which will give tenants extra protections. Our former colleague, now our MP, Carla Denyer has campaigned long and hard for renters’ rights and sat on the bill’s committee.
New university liaison officer
We have made some great new friendships through our excellent local community associations. Hosted by members of the Hampton Park and Cotham Hill Community Group, (see picture) we were very pleased to meet Mark Aston, the new Community Liaison officer at Bristol University recently. We look forward to working with Mark on student issues. His role is to lead on maintaining and promoting good community relations and proactive initiatives which integrate students with local residents. You can contact him on community-living@bristol.ac.uk
Councillor surgeries
We hold regular surgeries on the first Friday of the month from midday to 1:30 at Redland Library on Whiteladies Road.
Do speak to us about any local issues.
Or email us Cllr.george.calascione@bristol.gov.uk Cllr.serena.ralston@bristol.gov.uk We’d love to hear from you.