News / Politics
Greens accused of ducking budget responsibilities
The Greens have been accused of “political cowardice” for failing to propose any changes to Marvin Rees’ final budget, which is due to be agreed at a full council meeting on Tuesday.
Bristol City Council’s Conservative leader, Mark Weston, said the lack of any amendments tabled by the Green group to the authority’s annual spending plans was a “sign of immaturity” while Labour branded the decision a “total abdication of their responsibility as elected councillors”.
But Emma Edwards, leader of the Greens, who have the most councillors in City Hall but are in opposition under the soon-to-be-scrapped mayoral system, defended her group’s decision.
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Edwards said they could not take part in a “cuts budget proposed by an administration that excluded opposition parties in the process”.
She added that Rees would not be mayor after May to see the budget through and that Labour had not introduced many of the few amendments that had been approved.
Bristol’s Green group leader, Emma Edwards, says they could not take part in a “cuts budget proposed by an administration that excluded opposition” – photo: Martin Booth
Weston said it is “remarkable that the Green Party felt unable or unwilling to put forward their own amendments to mayor Rees’ swansong budget”.
“Refusing to take part in this difficult annual process is a sign of immaturity and by failing to rise to the challenge, reveals a kind of political cowardice.”
Labour group leader, Tom Renhard, one of the few cabinet members standing for re-election in May, said: “The Green Party’s failure to put forward their own solutions to Bristol’s challenges is a total abdication of their responsibility as elected councillors.
“Their excuses don’t hold up. Ccouncillors have been meeting to discuss the budget since August, they’ve been given full access to information, and all parties have been given ample time and support from finance officers to draft their own budgetary proposals.
“They’ve had the same opportunities and involvement as the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, yet they’re the only ones making excuses for their own inability to make tough decisions and come up with alternative solutions to the challenges facing Bristol.
“They’ve promised everything to everyone yet given the chance to put some of their policies into action, they’d rather opt out.
“However, it could well be for the best. They proved they shouldn’t be trusted with the public purse when in 2022, they proposed cutting the Flood Defence Scheme budget with no plans to replenish it.
“And just look at what the Green Party administration did to Brighton. Bin bags piling up on the streets, asylum seekers forced to sleep rough during Covid and mammoth budget deficits left for Labour to sort out.
“As the Green Party are not tabling their own alternative, we look forward to their support for our proposals at full council.”
The Greens have the most councillors at City Hall but remain in opposition due to the mayoral model, which is being replaced by the committee system from May – photo: Green Party
Edwards said: “Unlike the Conservative group, whose amendment to cut the Council Tax Reduction Scheme demonstrates that austerity is second nature to them by now, we felt that we could not take part in a cuts budget proposed by an administration that excluded opposition parties in the process.
“Eespecially an administration led by a mayor who will not be around to see it carried out, and considering that very few amendments put forward by all parties have not been put in place.
“We look forward to working with all parties in the near future to set a collaborative budget for the people of Bristol.”
The Greens say projected savings in adult social care and children’s services, especially support for youngsters with special needs and disabilities (SEND), are “unrealistic and will result in cruel service cuts”.
They criticised the outgoing mayor for not involving opposition members in producing the budget despite the fact the authority will be run by a series of cross-party committees from May.
This claim has been vehemently denied by Labour, however, which says the administration was thanked by Green leaders for including them in budget scrutiny meetings.
The Greens are hoping to win a majority of council seats on May 2 – photo: Bristol24/7
Green shadow cabinet member for finance, Heather Mack, added: “Whilst the mayor has previously promised to be more collaborative, opposition councillors have continually been kept out of the budget-setting process.
“On top of this, the mayor is proposing a budget that neither he, nor many of his cabinet, will be around to see carried out.
“The reality is that councillors were given less time this year than ever before to amend this Labour budget.
“But from May, the new committee-led administration will be expected to work together to enact it, when they will finally have access to all the information available, not to mention the fact that very few of the amendments that Green councillors have proposed and been successfully passed by full council over this administration have actually been put in place.
“So the limited influence we are granted on the current budget process has been diminished even further…
“I do not rule out the need for a future administration to amend this budget to make it work and deal with the unrealistic savings claimed here.”
Renhard added: “We’re proud to put forward an ambitious, balanced budget for Bristol.
“This budget continues to protect front line services from Tory austerity, will see over 3,000 more council homes in the next five years, and protects Bristol’s worst-off by giving them up to a 100 per cent discount on their council tax bills.
“Despite repeated Tory efforts to decimate the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, under Labour leadership Bristol remains the only major UK city to offer this level of support.
“We’ve also kept our libraries open, invested in support for vulnerable children and adults, supported campaigns to bring NHS dentists back to parts of Bristol, invested in community organisations through the community resilience fund, and are country-leading in our work to tackle climate issues.
“We are achieving all of this in spite of the impact of Tory mismanagement of the country, which is seeing local councils facing a shortfall running into the billions.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
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