Forum Update Number 31
Dear Resident / Residents' Group
Please remember that the next Meeting of the Westbury Community Forum will be held at the Coombe Dingle Sports Complex (Old Pavilion) on Tuesday 8 October 2019, commencing at 7.00pm.
Please remember that the next Meeting of the Westbury Community Forum will be held at the Coombe Dingle Sports Complex (Old Pavilion) on Tuesday 8 October 2019, commencing at 7.00pm.
Library Update
Two snippets of news from the recent Council Meeting on 10th September emphasise that, whilst we are in a period of calm and stability for our libraries, this is likely to be short lived...
Question(s) to the Mayor from Councillor John Goulandris (Stoke Bishop ward) - Subject: Bristol’s Library Service
Q1. The Mayor’s Damascene conversion to becoming a supporter of Bristol‘s libraries is very welcome and a great relief to the many users of our local libraries. Will he give the people of Bristol his cast iron assurance that as long as he is Mayor no library in Bristol will close?
Q2. There is no branch library in my ward, so residents mainly use three neighbouring libraries - Sea Mills, Westbury and Henleaze. These are all very popular and well used. Will the Mayor promise to keep current opening hours for these specific libraries?
Reply:
1. Despite Conservative attempts to decimate public services by passing budget reductions to local authorities. I am incredibly proud we have been able to keep ALL our libraries (and children’s centres) open despite your government continued austerity programme. The guarantee I give you is that no library has closed under my administration, and will continue to be funded as alternative models come forward.
2. There is no question that the current library model is outdated and unsustainable. The situation has to become financially sustainable and we need a model of libraries fit for the 21st century.
Question(s) to the Mayor from Councillor John Goulandris (Stoke Bishop ward) - Subject: Bristol’s Library Service
Q1. The Mayor’s Damascene conversion to becoming a supporter of Bristol‘s libraries is very welcome and a great relief to the many users of our local libraries. Will he give the people of Bristol his cast iron assurance that as long as he is Mayor no library in Bristol will close?
Q2. There is no branch library in my ward, so residents mainly use three neighbouring libraries - Sea Mills, Westbury and Henleaze. These are all very popular and well used. Will the Mayor promise to keep current opening hours for these specific libraries?
Reply:
1. Despite Conservative attempts to decimate public services by passing budget reductions to local authorities. I am incredibly proud we have been able to keep ALL our libraries (and children’s centres) open despite your government continued austerity programme. The guarantee I give you is that no library has closed under my administration, and will continue to be funded as alternative models come forward.
2. There is no question that the current library model is outdated and unsustainable. The situation has to become financially sustainable and we need a model of libraries fit for the 21st century.
Reporting Issues to the Council
Most issues/problems can be raised directly with the Council online at www.bristol.gov.uk
Reporting online can get a quicker response than trying to phone as the reports go directly to the teams on the ground. Some of the most useful direct links
are:
Fly Tipping
Park/Green Space Problems
A Street Issue
Suggest Improvements to Local Roads
If you have issues that can't be reported online, or where the Council is failing to resolve them, then you should contact the Westbury & Henleaze councillors, currently:
Geoff Gollop: Cllr.Geoffrey.Gollop@bristol.gov.uk
Liz Radford: Cllr.Liz.Radford@bristol.gov.uk
Steve Smith: Cllr.Steve.Smith@bristol.gov.uk
Fly Tipping
Park/Green Space Problems
A Street Issue
Suggest Improvements to Local Roads
If you have issues that can't be reported online, or where the Council is failing to resolve them, then you should contact the Westbury & Henleaze councillors, currently:
Geoff Gollop: Cllr.Geoffrey.Gollop@bristol.gov.uk
Liz Radford: Cllr.Liz.Radford@bristol.gov.uk
Steve Smith: Cllr.Steve.Smith@bristol.gov.uk