Your new Lord Mayor of Bristol: Andrew Varney

Thank you!

 

We wish to say a big thank you to everyone who voted for us in the recent local elections, and we are especially grateful to the many residents who displayed our posters in their windows and gardens and helped deliver our newsletters. We are absolutely honoured and delighted to be representing the wonderful community of Brislington West once again, and we promise to keep working hard on your behalf all year round, not just at election time! 

 

A new way of governing our city: 

One of our promises in the last local elections was to campaign to scrap the position of directly elected mayor. We felt this role put too much power into the hands of one person, without sufficient scrutiny and accountability, which led to poor decision making and a waste of taxpayers’ money. We kept our promise and from this week, a new system of governance has officially commenced. The committee system will ensure all councillors are involved in the running of the city, all voices are heard, and decision-making will be public, transparent and accountable. 

 

Following negotiations between the political groups on Bristol City Council, the Bristol Liberal Democrats will chair two of the new policy committees, the Public Health & Communities Committee and the Economy & Skills Committee, plus take the Vice Chair position on the Strategy & Resources Committee. Our councillors are proud to take up these positions, as part of our pledge to work hard for our communities as well as on a cross-party basis to ensure the betterment of our city.

 

 

Cllr Jos Clark, newly re-elected as leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the Council, said, “I’m glad that we were able to work collaboratively through cross-party talks to come to a decisive conclusion for Bristol’s governance. While the Green Party will politically lead the new council, the Lib Dems are happy to play our part. Following the referendum on Bristol’s governance, local residents were clear that they wanted a cross-party collaborative committee system, which allows for the sharing of roles and policy decisions. We’re glad that we can be a constructive partner in this new system.”

 

Your new Lord Mayor:

On Tuesday 21 May, Andrew became the next Lord Mayor of Bristol. The Lord Mayor is elected annually at a mayor-making ceremony when all councillors meet and vote at the Annual Council Meeting. Bristol’s political groups take it in turns each year to fill the position. As First Citizen of Bristol the Lord Mayor carries out several hundred engagements a year; from major civic events such as the annual Remembrance Sunday parade and service to meeting, supporting and connecting local communities and organisations. The role has strong links with faith groups, the armed forces, schools and universities. Find out more about the office of Lord Mayor, and how to invite the Lord Mayor to any community events you may be having: https://www.bristol.gov.uk/council/councillors-and-the-lord-mayor/lord-mayor-of-bristol

 

Festival of Nature:

The Festival of Nature, now in its 21st year, is a free festival taking place across the West of England area from 1-9 June. This year there will be 70 free events for visitors to celebrate our region’s natural world and help audiences take action for nature, plus 25 events run by local community groups on the finale “Community Day”. If you would like to join the UK’s largest celebration of the natural world this summer, please do visit the full programme at www.festivalofnature.org.uk

 

 

Alive Dementia Plot:

Alive is a charity dedicated to improving the quality of life of older people and their carers. The new Dementia Allotment at Talbot Road is now busy with people and is looking really good. It is offering free weekly sessions every Tuesday afternoon from 1.30 to 3.30pm for anyone in the community living with dementia, including carers, relatives or friends. Refreshments andtools are provided. For more information please contact Nick on 0117 3774756 

 

communitygardening@aliveactivities.org, or aliveactivities.org.

 

Hundreds of residents have signed up to receive our regular eFocus newsletter. You can add your name here: 

 

BristolLibDems.org/local-efocus. 

 

By Andrew Varney, Liberal Democrat Councillor (Brislington West) Email: cllr.andrew.varney@bristol.gov.uk Mobile: 07584 183381 

& Jos Clark, Liberal Democrat Councillor (Brislington West) Email:  cllr.jos.clark@bristol.gov.uk 

Mobile: 07584 370429

 

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