News / Politics
Cash for Concorde museum among budget grants
The proposed museum to house Bristol’s Concorde in Filton is in line for a £500,000 grant from Bristol City Council under plans laid out in mayor George Ferguson’s budget.
The 2016/17 budget, which is open to public consultation, sees a total of £1.1 million released for capital projects, one-off developments ring-fenced from the day-to-day costs of running services.
Almost half of the money will go towards the £16 million aerospace museum on Filton Airfield which was given planning permission in July.
The mayor said he hoped the funding would get the museum, which will be situated in South Gloucestershire, “off the ground”.
Matthew Riddle, leader of South Gloucestershire council welcomed the move. “This museum will provide a valuable experience for all across the region and indeed the whole country. I always welcome the opportunity to work with our partners in the West of England where there are projects that benefit us all,” he said.
Another quarter of a million pounds from the budget is being earmarked for an employment Engagement Hub in the Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone to help link schools with businesses.
Three other projects – two of which were demanded by the Labour and Conservative groups, respectively – will also get grants under the plans, in concessions to the two biggest parties on the council.
Ferguson must get the budget through a vote of full council in February, after the public consultation has ended.
Ferguson has suggested £250,000 for Early Years Children’s Centres, following Labour leader Helen Holland’s request that the council ring-fence money for early year services.
A grant of £50,000 has also been mooted to create a business case for a new station at Ashton Gate, a key demand for the budget from the Conservative Party.
The mayor has also suggested spending £50,000 to help attract match-funding for the Campus skate park in Bishopsworth to develop community rooms at the facility.
This year’s budget is the last of three which fall under the council’s Medium Term Financial Plan, under which the day-to-day revenue spending for services is planned.
This means that a proposed 1.95 per cent increase in council tax, worth about 50p per year for a Band D home, will not be included in the consultation.
Ferguson would have been under additional pressure to save £635,000 after choosing earlier this year to keep open libraries on limited hours instead of close them.
But the funding gap has been covered for a year – until after next May’s election – using a reserve for the libraries service.
Ferguson said the council was facing unprecedented financial pressure due to central government cuts. “The hard truth is there is no end in sight for cuts in the funding by the government, and there will be more difficult decisions ahead next year” he said.
You can contribute to the budget consultation here.
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