School uniform funding

Another round-up of local news from your hardworking Lib Dem team.

School uniform funding:

Families who need help purchasing school uniforms can now apply for support via the council’s Local Crisis Prevention Fund. Payments will be made in the form of supermarket vouchers to help with making budgeting for uniforms easier. Vouchers can be spent on food, shoes, stationery and school uniforms. This grant aims to help families struggling with the rising cost of living and enable children across Bristol to overcome barriers to learning and improve school attendance. Details on how to apply and information on other support: https://www.bristol.gov. uk/residents/benefits-and-financial-help/ local-crisis-prevention-fund-emergency-payments-and-household-goods/apply-for-an-emergency-payment Applications close 9 October.

Council tax rebate:

The deadline for people to apply for the £150 council tax rebate has now passed. If you did not made a claim, the £150 will be credited to your council tax account and evenly distributed across your remaining instalments for the year. If you have no council tax balance to pay, you will receive a Post Office voucher in the post to claim the money. Almost 80% of citizens in properties Band A-D (143,800 residents) have so far been paid this sum. A discretionary fund was also allocated as part of the council tax rebate scheme to support those who are not eligible for the £150 payment. All payments for the discretionary scheme have to be made by the council before the end of November 2022 but residents are encouraged to apply as early as possible. You can apply if you are in: • A property in bands E to H and are of state pension age OR living in shared accommodation or a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO), or • A property in bands A to D in shared accommodation or HMO and your landlord is liable for the council tax on your home

Please check your council tax bill if you’re unsure what council tax band your property is in. Full eligibility criteria and application form is here: https://www.bristol.gov.uk/ residents/council-tax/council-tax-rebate

Bus service cuts:

We recently reported the huge cuts to bus services coming into force this October, including three services, the 36, 96 and 178 here in Brislington. The Metro Mayor, Dan Norris, has highlighted the national and regional shortage of bus drivers as the principal reason for these cuts. In addition, passenger numbers are still below prepandemic levels, meaning a loss of revenue for bus operators. Several years ago, there was a huge campaign for more public control of our buses via ‘bus franchising’, meaning we control the routes, timetables and tickets for the benefit of the travelling public and not private shareholders. We were at City Hall when the petition, signed by thousands of Bristolians, was presented to the Council. Unfortunately, the administration at the time declined to support the idea. More recently, we asked Metro Mayor if he would back ‘bus franchising’. He told us he preferred an ‘enhanced partnership’ approach with our bus operators, but that still leaves too much decision-making power in the hands of profit-driven, private companies. ‘Bus Franchising’ is the system operated in London and shortly in Manchester. We have the power to introduce such a system here in Bristol. Maybe it’s time we did so. Avon Fire and Rescue:

Avon Fire & Rescue Service are about to launch their new website. To ensure that they create the most useful and successful website, they are asking local residents to complete a short survey to better understand what is needed. If you have 5 minutes to spare, please complete the survey: https:// www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/afrs-email Engaging with local residents is a key part of the work of Avon Fire and Rescue and the Risk Reduction Team have been conducting a number of fire safety talks during August. These targeted talks are always well received and they adapt their presentation style accordingly dependent on the audience. Highlights of this busy month include talks for: • The Memory Café, Longwell Green • Parents & Carers with children under 5 in Filton and Speedwell

• Vulnerable adults in Whitchurch

• The After Stroke Group, Speedwell

• Age UK, Withywood These talks are targeted towards the more vulnerable groups in our communities. If you know a specific group that may suit one of these talks, please contact Risk Reduction Manager Nikki Rice to organise a visit: Nikki. Rice@avonfire.gov.uk Bushes trimmed:

It has taken some time and several emails, but we want to thank Sovereign Housing for finally trimming the bushes which were overhanging the pavement alongside their Lynwood Park development on the Bath Road. The bushes were an obstacle to those with a visual impairment and were forcing people to walk closer to the edge of the narrow pavement nearer to heavy, polluting traffic.

By Jos Clark, Liberal Democrat Councillor (Brislington West) Email: cllr.jos.clark@bristol.gov.uk Mobile: 07584 370429

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