News / Politics
Tories team up with Labour to try to pass Rees’ final budget
Marvin Rees has urged all councillors at City Hall to work together ahead of a meeting that will see next year’s budget debated for the second time after no agreement was previously reached.
The amended draft budget comes after Bristol’s Conservative group leader, Mark Weston, said there have been “very difficult negotiations to get us to change our stance”.
Weston highlighted the removal of “a deeply unpopular raft of new allotment charges”, extra investment in parks and children’s play equipment, and more CAZ income being spending on road maintenance as a trio of concessions that the Tories have secured from Rees’ ruling Labour administration before Wednesday’s full council meeting.
is needed now More than ever
The collaborative work between the Tories and Labour at City Hall comes after Bristol’s Green group of councillors have been accused of “political cowardice” for failing to propose any changes to Rees’ final budget as mayor.
Rees said: “We listened to the debate in the chamber and have discussed the ideas presented by others.
“I welcome the input from those who have sought to find practical solutions by tabling amendments to the originally proposed budget. It is now for all councillors to decide the next steps for this budget for Bristol.”
Weston, councillor for Henbury & Brentry, added: “My colleagues could not support the original budget report, and these have been very difficult negotiations to get us to change our stance.
“We are also very conscious of the responsibility placed on all members to set a legal budget. This obligation is not something we can simply abandon, avert, or avoid.
“However, I believe we have managed to secure just enough of our own spending priorities to make the mayor’s altered budget recommendations more palatable.
“These include more spending on our roads, buses, reversing damaging car park charges and increased costs on allotment holders.
“Of course, it is in the nature of compromise that parties do not get everything they wish for but the changes that have been made by the Labour administration should be enough to get this new submission through the full council.”
Main photo: Rob Browne
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