Balancing the budget

The full impact of the unprecedented national cost of living and social care crises on the council’s finances are due to be shared in a report to be released on Tuesday 27 September.

The report, due to be considered by Cabinet on Tuesday 4 October, estimates that the council must seek to find an extra £31.1million in 2023/24 to set a balanced and legal budget.

Significant growth in inflationary pressures affecting the costs of goods, energy and services has combined with increasing demand on services, particularly in social care, means the council faces a difficult financial challenge in the coming years. Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, said: “During our administration we've prioritised solid fiscal management, delivering annual balanced and legal budgets that have protected frontline services despite national austerity, growing demand, increased costs, and a global pandemic. We forecast back in 2018 that the shifting focus of national government priorities and the changing role of local government would mean the council would have to change to preserve essential services. The Corporate Strategy developed at that time set out the journey we would go on to meet the changing role of the council. Whilst we remain on the path laid out in our Corporate Strategy, the impact of forces beyond our control mean that we must accelerate that change to ensure we can continue to do the things we must, to keep being there for those who need us most.

“The core function of local government is to deliver the essential services that protect the health and wellbeing of its residents, invest in the infrastructure needed to promote sustainable growth, and secure investment in creating opportunities for prosperity. These are things we will keep doing. In some core services we will need to change the way we do things to focus our attention on those who need support most.

There are also some other things we won't be able to continue to do, and, in many cases, we will have further conversations with our partners on how the city can, collectively, support those services, actions, and activities we can no longer sustain.

“I recognise the pressure this puts on already stretched sectors across our communities. I meet regularly with leaders in health, education, police, creative, business, religious, community and voluntary sectors and we openly share the challenges we face. Our challenge is a collective one, and one that can only be met with the kind of collaboration we've fostered across our city's leadership. It's in that spirit of collaboration that I will work with city partners to find ways to minimise the impact of this financial pressure on the people of Bristol.” The report to Cabinet sets out the income and expenditure the council forecasts over the coming medium term (2023-2028). In addition to the council’s core revenue budget (called the General Fund), the report also provides forecasts for a number of other budgets which are set out separately. These include providing an update on the Dedicated Schools Grant, Housing Revenue Account and Capital Programme*.

Running in parallel with the financial forecasting underway, departments across the council are working with the Mayor and his Cabinet to identify areas where costs can be reduced, and savings made to meet the legal duty to deliver a balanced budget in the 2023/24 financial year. Councillor Craig Cheney, Deputy Mayor with responsibility for Finance, Governance, and Performance, said: “Across the city we’re seeing the impact of the current national cost of living crisis and the ongoing challenge of recovering from a global pandemic. Households, businesses and charities are feeling the pressure of rising costs and unfortunately the council and city economy are not immune from these pressures. The scale of the challenge we face is being replicated in local authorities across the country, with councils losing funding equivalent of 60p in the pound between 2010 and 2020 and the Local Government Association warning that at least £13billion is required to tackle the crisis in adult social care. In the absence of Westminster reversing more than a decade of austerity towards local government, we’re left with little option but to hone down our spending and in many cases bring forward the changes we expected to make in future years to make immediate savings. “We’re not approaching this from a standing start and have been forecasting the need to reduce the amount the council delivers since 2018. We know where our legal duties lie and where we must prioritise our resources to support those in greatest need and deliver sustainable and inclusive growth. Now we’re clearer on the size of the challenge, our next task is to put forward the options for meeting it. We will soon publish our proposals for finding the savings and the income needed to balance the budget and encourage all in the city to engage with this challenge, so our final plan is fully informed.”

Draft proposals for meeting the budget challenge will be published shortly as part of a public consultation ahead of a budget being recommended by Cabinet in January 2023. The final decision on setting a budget for 2023/24 rests with Full Council who will meet in February 2023 to discuss and decide on the proposals put forward by Cabinet. Bristol’s Cabinet will meet on Tuesday 4 October at 4pm to discuss this report and other key items of business. A full copy of the Medium Term Financial Plan report will be available on the council’s website along with the meeting agenda and associated papers.

NHS COVID HERO WINS WORLD TITLE IN MARTIAL ARTS

An NHS physiotherapist who turned to martial arts to deal with the stress during the pandemic has gone on to win a world title in a combat sport. Becky Sheppard, 25, graduated in 2020 and started her first job working on respiratory conditions in intensive care after Covid-19 broke out - witnessing first-hand the devastating impact of the disease.

And the Brentry Tang Soo Do Club member then upped her training in the Korean-based art as a physical and mental outlet.

Becky has gone on to compete in world championships in the USA – taking home two gold medals and a silver - for weapons, sparring and forms respectively.

Becky, who rotates around hospitals offering support for conditions varying from stroke or injury rehabilitation, said: “Working in the NHS during the pandemic was a particularly stressful time and it could take its toll emotionally. “It is a very rewarding role and we often see people make recoveries over time. But we also saw young, healthy people become very poorly and some would not make it. It was hard. I found Tang Soo Do helped me to focus on the moment, release physical and mental stress and generally sleep better at night.” PUSHING PHYSICAL AND MENTAL BOUNDARIES

Becky, from Warmley, started training in Tang Soo Do with her sister, Alice, at the age of six. Her parents, who later took up the sport themselves, found it helped to improve their ‘high-energy’ daughter’s concentration at school.

But she took a break as a teenager when her parents divorced and she started studying for her GCSEs. She returned to the martial art four years later, more focused and mature. Becky, Alice and their mum have all now gained their black belts.

The former Oldfield School pupil said: “I was more serious and focused when I went back. I’ve learned now that during times of stress it’s tempting to put things you enjoy aside - but perhaps that’s when you most need it most.”

Becky, who has reached the rank of E Dan, 2nd degree, qualified for the world championships during a UK competition in the spring. She won trophies but did not perform as well as she had hoped due to a ‘mental block’.

She said: “Sometimes life gets in the way and we all have our ups and downs. I remember I’d had a particularly difficult week at work and didn’t concentrate fully or perform at my best. But that’s life and it was a motivation to pick myself up, make more time for myself and make sure I would be better next time.”

She worked with her instructor, Master Kristian Reed, to improve her technique over several months before heading off to North Carolina with over 100 members from Team GB. She competed in the Female 2nd Dan Black Belt category and the team brought back the overall male and female Grand Champion trophies. Fellow club member Mitch Hopes, 31, won two gold medals for forms and sparring in the Male 1st Dan Black Belt category.

Becky, an assistant instructor at the club, said: “I enjoy competing as it gives me a goal to work towards and winning a world title has certainly been a highlight. Competing encourages you to push yourself physically and mentally, as well as providing an opportunity to travel and meet new people.

“But I also enjoy the art itself, which promotes respect, discipline and self-defence. The club is massively family orientated and a very supportive group, with everyone working to help each other improve. “I’ve trained with great instructors who are passionate about the art and their enthusiasm is contagious. I first trained with Master Rob Wootton, who would do a 120-move pattern, with a forward roll, to keep me motivated. I looked up to him and wanted to be able to do the same when I grew up. “Master Reed cares about his students and is keen to share his knowledge with others. He has been successful in competitions as well and he found the techniques which worked for me.” COBRA KAI AND TANG SOO DO

Master Reed, 29, a 4th Dan Master and European champion in weapons, forms and sparring, said: “Becky worked hard and we are all really proud of her at the club. It’s a pleasure to instruct people who want to improve, not just for competitions, but personal development as well.”

Tang Soo Do is one of the oldest martial arts systems and it promotes self-defence, physical and spiritual health and all-round personal development. Martial arts film star Chuck Norris is a student of the art and he displayed his techniques in films such as Way of the Dragon with Bruce Lee. And it is the same style that Kreese’s captain teaches him in Vietnam in the Netflix Cobra Kai series, which is a sequel to the 1980s Karate Kid films. Grandmaster Pat E Johnson was the martial arts choreographer for the original films and holds a 9th degree black belt in the art of Tang Soo Do. Johnson rose through the ranks to chief instructor at Norris’ school and captain of the Chuck Norris black belt competition team. Students of Tang Soo Do have credited it with developing focus, clarity, greater flexibility and strength. Master Reed, who started training at the age of seven and teaching at the age of 18, said: “It’s great that popular culture is raising awareness of martial arts. It’s more than just kicking and punching - it’s about following a code of conduct, developing focus, confidence and resilience. “I’ve seen how people have been struggling during a difficult time in life and it’s helped get them unstuck. I believe it can and does change lives.”