Draft three-year plan promises boost for key front line services, say Cabinet

A £21 million investment plan that aims to boost delivery of key front line services including libraries, street cleaning, recycling and care for some of Bristol's most vulnerable residents is published by the city council's Cabinet tonight (Thursday, October 26th 2006).

The draft three-year Medium Term Financial Plan sets out how the Cabinet believes budgets should be used over the period from 2007/08 to 2009/10 to strengthen delivery of its top priorities and tackle the issues of greatest concern to the people of Bristol.

If adopted, the Cabinet's three-year plan would provide:
- £380,000 to enable at least two new libraries to be opened, purchase more books and other items for customers to borrow and increase opening hours;
- £250,000 to deliver new 24/7 street cleaning services across the city;
- £1.7 million for more recycling services and new state-of-the-art waste treatment facilities
- £1.2 million to deliver more home care to enable frailer older people to live as independently as possible;
- £3.5 million to meet increasing demand for intensive packages of care needed by adults with severe learning difficulties;
- £400,000 to support families and help reduce the number of children coming 'into care';
- £850,000 to maintain park and ride schemes, supported off-peak bus services and the popular free concessionary bus fare scheme - all under pressure as a result of increasing charges by bus operators and a shortfall in government funding;
- £470,000 to maintain current levels of grounds maintenance, including grass cutting and weed treatment, in the face of rising costs.

In addition, there would be some new money to improve community access to sports facilities in schools, boost the arts and work with the business sector to market the city to potential investors. The council would also find resources to help host the UK School Games in Bristol and Bath in 2008 or 2009, if the city's bid was successful.

A further £3 million, freed up through efficiency savings and productivity improvements introduced by the Cabinet over the past year, would be used during 2008/09 and 2009/10 to introduce the latest digital technologies to improve front line service delivery and to support locally led initiatives to improve the environment and create cleaner and safer neighbourhoods.

The Cabinet aims to ensure that all this new investment would be delivered while keeping council tax rises within the government's target levels.
Current projections suggest increases of 4.5% in 2007/08, 4% in 2008/09 and just 3.5% in 2009/10.

The new investment would be on top of the council's commitment to a multi-million pound capital building programme that will deliver a new-look Colston Hall by 2008; a new Museum of Bristol by 2009; the privately financed Building Schools for the Future programme to transform most secondary schools by 2010 and the Healthplex at Hengrove, which will provide a new leisure centre integrated with local health services by 2010.

Now councillors want to hear residents' views about the draft plan, which they will consider alongside the detailed budget for next financial year
(2007/8) at a Cabinet meeting in February next year. The three year plan wil be discussed at the council's Resources Scrutiny Commission on Friday, November 3rd 2006 and there will are expected to be extensive discussions about the plan and a more detailed specific proposals for next year's budget
(2007/08) at Scrutiny Commissions in January 2007. All these meetings will be open to the public.

A final version of the three year plan and a budget for next year will be agreed at the full council meeting on February 27th 2007.

Full details of the draft three-year plan are published online at www.bristol-city.gov.uk/budgetconsultation or call 0117 922 4420 for a copy.
Comments should be made in writing by January 15th 2007 to Carew Reynell, Director of Central Support Services, The Council House, Bristol BS1 5TR or by emailing carew_reynell@bristol-city.gov.uk

Cllr Barbara Janke, Leader of the Council, said: "Thanks to the significant changes this Cabinet has made to the way the council manages and plans its finances, we are able to publish an outline three-year plan that will deliver real investment in front line services for the people of Bristol. It promises better libraries; cleaner streets; help for older people and adult with learning difficulties; support for children and families in need and protection for local bus and grounds maintenance services. This is the first time that the council has been able to publish its ideas this early and gives the public time to comment before we start to discuss the detailed budget for next year. I look forward to hearing the views of as many local people as possible."

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