A Better Plan

for Bristol

A Better Plan
for Bristol

- making Bristol a fairer city for all

Bristol is a great place to live for many.
But for too many others it is an unequal place where
their needs are not met and their voices not heard.
Bristol would be so much better if it was fair to all its
communities and listened to the voices of all its
citizens, particularly those people from groups which
are often marginalised, like Black, Asian and Minority
Ethnic and LGBT communities, disabled people,
women and those from the less affluent areas of the
city.
Labour will be the voice for all communities across
Bristol and will fight hard to make sure that those
with the greatest needs, those who have suffered
most through the governments ideological pursuit of
austerity and the Mayors focus on the frivolous, are
supported.

A fairer deal...
for all communities
In Bristol we need to revitalise local democracy and overcome
disillusionment with politics.

We will reform and strengthen Neighbourhood Partnerships so that

they are more effective voices for their local communities.
We celebrate the diversity of the Partnerships but recognise that
not enough of their democratic and other potential is being
realised.
Those which are active are increasingly frustrated with a
bureaucratic, top-down approach, which, with reduced resources,
struggles to achieve a fair system for grant allocation or priority
setting.
We therefore need a stronger, multi-agency approach to respond
effectively to the needs of our communities.
We will look at processes, structures, communications and
participation as well as longer term options so that all citizens have
their voices heard.

A fairer deal...
for the low paid
Bristol should be a Living Wage city. Working with partners and
the SWTUC, we will call for (and organise ourselves if need be) a
convention of all the major employers in the city, and work
towards a commitment from them to pay all staff the Living Wage.
The City Council will lead the way towards ensuring accredited
status. Through this approach, we will improve staff recruitment
and retention, and put more money into the local economy as well
as ensuring a fairer Bristol.
We will create a Bristol Charter for Business Social and
Environmental Responsibility through which employers will
commit to improving the economy of the city through the Living
Wage, investment in renewable energies, environmental
management systems, the creation of meaningful apprenticeships,
training places and job opportunities for local people, especially
for unemployed young people.
We will also look to use the City Councils procurement processes
to attain these aims. We will press for reform of the Local
Enterprise Partnership (LEP) so that it is more democratically
accountable and will offer economic opportunity for all
communities in Bristol.
The LEP must also play a stronger role in identifying and tackling
the skills gap so creating employment for local people. We will
become a Co-operative Council, working with other innovative local
authorities through the Co-operative Councils' Network.

A fairer deal...
for housing
Housing is in crisis in Bristol and little has been
done by national government or the mayor to resolve
this.
New house building, especially of more affordable
homes, is unacceptably low and we will introduce a
new approach to focus the City Councils resources
and work with communities to overcome this. The
private rental sector has become increasingly
important. For some, this is through choice, for
others because it is the only option available.
We will demand an Ethical Lettings Charter for the
private rented sector to be introduced in 2015.
Whilst many landlords provide an excellent service,
others do not. We will implement a crackdown on
poor landlords and ensure that they operate
ethically. And with energy bills rising, it is often
those in the private rental sector who are stuck in
cold, damp and energy inefficient homes.
We pledge to continue the Warm up Bristol
programme, working with Landlords to properly
insulate homes and to clarify and simplify energy
tariffs, opening up choice for renters and
encouraging use of smart meters within properties.

A fairer deal...
for older people and
others who need
assistance and rely
on social care
Bristol should be a great place to grow old. We will work with
partners in the NHS to treat everyone as a whole person.
To achieve better support we will demand properly funded care
and assistance in the home. We will also work towards ensuring
there are enough home care staff and community nurses to avoid
unnecessary hospital visits or residential care.
We will seek to end 15 minute care slots, and ensure that the person
needing the assistance has a say in what help is given; we will aim,
as resources allow, for a minimum of half hour contact visits.
We will ensure Home Carers are paid the Living Wage in all Bristol
Care contracts and implement respite provision to offer a fairer deal
to Carers too.
Delivery of social care should be in house by the City Council
wherever possible so that integrated care can be achieved.
In partnership with the NHS, we will establish a specialist Dementia
Home care service and prioritise protecting the independent living
and well-being of disabled adults and those with Learning
Difficulties and who are on the Autistic Spectrum.

A fairer deal...
for public transport
users
Bristol has been poorly served by public transport in the past, with
journeys across the city particularly difficult to navigate.
Currently, the complexity of ownership of public transport and
out-dated ticketing systems make using local buses or trains
challenging.
We will work to create local Travel Hubs to make such journeys
easier. These should be the focus of new investment and the
reshaping of the bus network. They will provide easy access to
comprehensive travel information and multi modal and multi
operator tickets and will encompass all modes of travel, including
rail, cycling and walking.
This will ease journeys, improve safety and reduce costs, especially
for those wanting to travel outside peak hours. Increased use of
buses and trains will reduce emissions, thereby cutting air pollution
and helping to address climate change.

A fairer deal...
for the next
generation
All Bristol Schools should be successful schools.
We will champion equality of opportunity for everyone.
We will work to ensure that educational outcomes are improved so
that everyone can have the chance to succeed wherever they live in
the city, and that all school results are above national targets.
We will work to identify gaps in achievement for all groups within
their local educational settings (e.g. boys/girls, Black, Asian or
Minority Ethnic Groups, young people in Care, those from lower
socio-economic backgrounds) and will broker swift action to address
any underperformance.
We will reinvigorate the Sure Start Programme to give children the
best possible start in life, and will commit to ensuring that the free
childcare funding gives working parents access to good value
childcare provision.

A fairer deal...
for arts and
culture
Arts and culture should be for everyone and not just the privileged.
We want to see the development of indigenous talent and decent
employment for Bristol people from all communities in this growing
sector.
We will make sure that City Council buildings, land and other assets
can be used by those in the sector wherever possible.
Libraries have played a vital role in our cultural life for many years
and the recent review was wrong to commence a refocusing of the
service by announcing a programme of closures.
We will aim to develop library facilities for the 21st century that
ensure they can act as community hubs, information points and
sites for digital access and support, as well as continuing their
traditional role.

Promoted and printed by Helen Holland on behalf of the Labour Group of councillors c/o 4 Emery Road, Bristol, BS4 5PF