During an Extraordinary Meeting of the Economy and Skills Committee on Friday 8 May, the Green-led Council performed a screeching u-turn on its decision to scrap the landmark Bristol Nights partnership.
Following the Council's decision to end the partnership and abolish the position of Nighttime Economy Advisor, Labour Councillors called an Extraordinary Meeting to hear their justification for the poorly-thought-out decision and attempt to force a u-turn. Labour's efforts were successful; the Committee unanimously endorsed their amendment to the paper to authorise the Chief Executive to find funding to reinstate the post.
During the meeting, It transpired that the Green Party Leader of the Council was consulted on the decision to scrap Bristol Nights and abolish the position of Night Time Economy Advisor, alongside their Liberal Democrat coalition partners. Despite the Greens' most senior politician endorsing the decision to scrap Bristol Nights and abolish the position of Night Time Economy Advisor, Green Party Councillors attempted to throw the Liberal Democrats under the bus regardless.
Councillor Tom Renhard, Leader of Bristol Labour, said:
"This whole saga has been a shambles, totally emblematic of the way the Greens are running the Council. They tried to throw their coalition partners under the bus by blaming Lib Dem Policy Chairs for this decision, but it won't wash. The Green Party Leader of the Council was consulted and is complicit in this decision too.
"The Greens repeatedly expressed frustration that this decision came to pass. They are leading the council - they need to act like it. Step up and show some leadership. It is fully within their power to stop decisions they don't like from proceeding.
"In the Greens' absence of leadership, the council is totally rudderless. Nobody is captaining the ship. Something needs to change."
Fabian Breckels, Labour Councillor for St George Troopers Hill, said:
"We are delighted to force this u-turn. Labour councillors are immensely proud of Bristol Nights and the work of the city's first Nighttime Economy Advisor. The Bristol Nights Programme has been exemplary. It has been cited as a case study of good practice in how a council can go promote the night time economy and introduce safety at night initiatives.
"We were unconvinced that Bristol Nights vital public health work was set to continue in any meaningful sense. This u-turn is welcome news for the 116,000 people who work in Bristol's nighttime economy, alongside anyone who enjoys a night out.
"Cities around the world are establishing Nighttime Economy Advisors - sometimes called Night Czars - the Green-led Council abolishing Bristol's would have been a regressive, harmful move. I still don't fully understand why the chose to go down this route, but nevertheless, this u-turn is still welcome."
Kye Dudd, Labour Councillor for Southmead, said:
"I'm pleased all parties supported our amendment to re-establish the position of Nighttime Economy Advisor. We also secured a commitment to set up a board comprised with sector representatives and cross-party councillors, chaired by someone independent of the Council.
"We said that a talking shop wouldn't be good enough. I'm glad that we've forced the Council to take action."
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