Bristol Full Council Meeting 19 01 16 PQ 06: Recognising the International Decade for people of African descent
Question submitted by: Ade Olaiya, M.A.
Bristol's rich cultural and socioeconomic history includes the contribution made by both past and present African descendant minorities and migrant communities.
My question therefore is, what action plan does the Council have in place to recognise the International Decade, and its objectives of recognition, justice and development for people of African descent?
Reply from the Mayor:
The UN International Decade for People of African descent commenced on 1 January 2015 and ends on 31 December 2024. The theme is ‘People of African descent: recognition, justice and development. We are in the second year of the UN’s international decade.
The Council has celebrated the significant contribution of people of African descent annually with our focus on Black History Month (BHM). In planning this year’s event, officers will discuss how the International Decade can be promoted and if it could be a key theme for 2016, which is also our Year of Learning. Officers invite you to attend the meeting and to speak about the opportunities the International Decade.
In a supplementary question you referred to what you described as “cuts” to black led NGOs and in particular the situations regarding the Malcolm X community centre and St Pauls Carnival. You asked whether the Council has a responsibility to meeting its legal obligations to people of African descent, as opposed to implementing “cuts and closures”.
I have to say that what you refer to as a “cut” in management is actually a strengthening of management, in both of those cases. The whole point of what is being done is to enable a proper, healthy future for the St Pauls Carnival and a sustained Malcolm X centre. There is no other purpose for the action being taken. This is about boosting the community, not in any way undermining it.
Fourth Annual Mayor’s Lecture: A City for All 6 October 2016
Wills Memorial Building
Agenda
Introduction
Poem by Miles Chambers
Mayor’s State of the City Address
Discussion based on question submitted earlier to Bristol City Council.
Introduction by former prison chaplain and ex convict
*Marvin Rees has a passion for justice … for all peoples”.
Works with youth on housing estates who have been let down by society … there is still inequality in Bristol.
“this is Bristol; and we need to change Bristol” … it is significant for Bristol to have Marvin Rees as the elected Mayor given its history of slavery.
Extracts from Poem by Miles Chambers 1st City Poet of Bristol “I belong here … O sea of paradoxes … to make this place special … lets answer the call… right here”
Extracts from Mayor’s Speech
Mayor Bill di Blasio has been invited to speak in Bristol in 2017
The Mayor’s first 151 days in office have been a challenge but he loves it.
Amongst his achievements to date he states
he has appointed a cross party Cabinet
Frozen costs of parking permit holders
Launched an Agenda on Race and the Pay Gap
Established a BREXIT working group for the city; a delegation of which have visited Brussels to build links.
The Challenge of shifting power from Westminster to Bristol
Power must shift from London to other cities to make local institutions accountable; and bring power closer to local people; not just money but the resources to offer ourselves as the solution not the problem. This will enable change in the relationship with the governed.
The West of England is the most productive region in the country outside of London: too many people don’t share in this. Bristol is a great city but fracture by race and class; the city needs to develop in a way that is environmentally sustainable and just.
New projects launched to this end include homelessness and young people.
Key Challenges
a single One Bristol Plan: An integrated plan through which everyone in the city has a role to play over the next 50 years; the poorest areas of the city do always benefit from Bristol’s wealth.
Reduction of inequality’; 42% pf wards in Bristol are in the most socioeconomically deprived in the UK: 18000 children and 11000 older people in poverty: this encourages excessive consumption, social immobility, lack of trust, low pay and other social features which are adversely affected.
Fundamental challenge is that success cannot be measured by (economic) growth alone but what is done with that growth.
Housing is key –building homes and communities-crises can only be stopped with immediate action. To this end the Mayor and BCC is creating a housing delivery organisation to build new social housing.
Mental health is a priority commitment: mental health intervention is necessary at an early age; e.g. investment is required in mental health resilience of youth.
Mapping schools that do not provide breakfast clubs to malnourished youth thereby affecting their mental resilience.
Protecting children in difficult financial circumstances.
Connectivity: linking people to jobs; e.g. Bristol’s transport network has low resilience, inclusive growth is therefore necessary. This must link the physical city to economic city; transport must develop in a sustainable way; e.g. the Mayor is working with First Bus to provide a fleet of clean energy buses that helps towars achieving the City’s carbon target.
Technology and Creative sectors do the city proud; other sectors need to also be developed to reduce inequality.
The City of Sanctuary status is to be protected.
Local Bristol Plan: Strategic Partnership with BCC to channel ethically motivated investment e.g. into housing, employment and other city priorities.
Emerging City Plan: outlines 40 to 50 year objectives for the city. Planning is require as a key tool for Bristol. An overhaul of local policies is needed to ensure this plan and BCC delivers to Bristol: this must be cost effective and have sustainable development integrated into it, e.g. clean city through behaviour change.
Post BREXIT
We must be proactive and clear in international relations.
How can we work together to present ourselves on the international stage.
The mayor is keen to meet with the EU and other international concerns.
BREXIT sets national government another hoop to negotiate; centralises government in Whitehall.
Cultural impact exceeds economy; inclusive cultural offer is needed
City Council
Budget is challenging; there will be a £90mn gap by 2022.
BCC has launche an independent review to learn lessons and ensure resilience for the future.
City Government
Is becoming poorer but can only be effective if national government provides the resources for it to do so.
Bristol has a duty to leave a city for all. At the moment it is 5th nationally for diversity in jobs; Bristol has lots of things that make a city successful; it is not good enough at providing affordable housing; there is too much congestion, too few people use public transport, etc.
Bristol needs to find a way to expand in a way that works and is inclusive of all.
Decisions will continue to be made in Whitehall; they do not know local challenges.
Bristol is not as good as it could be given all that its got. It is doing well but not well enough…. It has a lot of the right ingredients for a successful 21st century city (other cities want the stuff Bristol has got e.g. creativity and culture).
More people work in the City proportionally than the national average; there are lots of graduates here
Major failings
INEQUALITY: is a massive problem here; child poverty is the worst in the UK; educational inequality is worst; only 13% of secondary school leaders make it to university (this needs to be shifted). Empirical evidence of low pay with 1 in 5 jobs paying poverty wages. Inequality will undermine sustainability; we need clear racial justice e.g. on environmental issues driving migration, and poor housing in Bristol must be addressed.
PRODUCTVITY: historically very good; since the crash productivity in Bristol has fallen significantly; although it has a skills base closer to London than other cities in the UK, productivity is closest to Lincolnshire.
HOUSING: since 2010 there has been a 50% increase in houses prices which has created huge misery; it is one of the worst places to live outside London in terms of rent and affordability. Housing is not just new homes but also about infrastructure; e.g. G.P.s parks, hospitals etc. The Mayor wants to support housing associations; e.g. at least one has committed to building 500 homes by 2020.
YOUTH & CHILDREN: education is needed to tackle social mobility.56% OF YOUNG PEOPLE DO NOT GET THE WORK EXPERIENCE THEY WANT.
Need for major stakeholders to rally around share opportunities to have impact through strategic partnerships …. Developing a broader base is alos needed for culture change in the city and its institutions. A LIVING WAGE MUST BE PAID TO REDUCE POVERTY See Elitist Britain Report See also Professor Hambleton at UWE Manchester is an example of good practice in UK cities: apply specific and measurable outcomes; publicly measure impact of projects e.g. in addressing inequality, homelessness, etc.
WAYS UK CITIES ARE COPING WITH BREXIT
BREXIT should be about returning power to local cities from Brussels.
Fostering international relationships.
Uncertainty – just getting on with what they are doing; and letting national government know about it. “the government must find a way of talking to the poor white people without sounding like the far right” e.g. mention of national sovereignty by Rees Mogg in the media.
How do we make the best use of immigrant talent in Bristol ?
Stop talking of refugees as people who come here wanting something; that feeds into their mental health and well being.
Millenials have taken a leap back by approximately 20 years in terms of their pay earnings. They will work longer and have less support when they have kids than Generation X. There has also been a shift in attitudes amongst baby boomers: struck by dramatic shift towards building homes in the community they are from, this big shift is because people are seeing their children can’t own or rent their own homes.
DEVOLUTION as an investment journey.
Bristol needs to provide evidence that it can be run efficiently and effectively by a Metro Mayor.
Success of the city will be achieved when it is matched with reduced inequality beyond schools.
It must be a city that works for everyone ion Bristol; set a standard and deliver it on a global stage.
Comments
Bristol Full Council Meeting 19 01 16 PQ 06: Recognising the International Decade for people of African descent
Question submitted by: Ade Olaiya, M.A.
Bristol's rich cultural and socioeconomic history includes the contribution made by both past and present African descendant minorities and migrant communities.
My question therefore is, what action plan does the Council have in place to recognise the International Decade, and its objectives of recognition, justice and development for people of African descent?
See http://www.un.org/en/events/africandescentdecade/
Reply from the Mayor:
The UN International Decade for People of African descent commenced on 1 January 2015 and ends on 31 December 2024. The theme is ‘People of African descent: recognition, justice and development. We are in the second year of the UN’s international decade.
The Council has celebrated the significant contribution of people of African descent annually with our focus on Black History Month (BHM). In planning this year’s event, officers will discuss how the International Decade can be promoted and if it could be a key theme for 2016, which is also our Year of Learning. Officers invite you to attend the meeting and to speak about the opportunities the International Decade.
In a supplementary question you referred to what you described as “cuts” to black led NGOs and in particular the situations regarding the Malcolm X community centre and St Pauls Carnival. You asked whether the Council has a responsibility to meeting its legal obligations to people of African descent, as opposed to implementing “cuts and closures”.
I have to say that what you refer to as a “cut” in management is actually a strengthening of management, in both of those cases. The whole point of what is being done is to enable a proper, healthy future for the St Pauls Carnival and a sustained Malcolm X centre. There is no other purpose for the action being taken. This is about boosting the community, not in any way undermining it.
Fourth Annual Mayor’s Lecture: A City for All 6 October 2016
Wills Memorial Building
Introduction by former prison chaplain and ex convict
*Marvin Rees has a passion for justice … for all peoples”.
Works with youth on housing estates who have been let down by society … there is still inequality in Bristol.
“this is Bristol; and we need to change Bristol” … it is significant for Bristol to have Marvin Rees as the elected Mayor given its history of slavery.
Extracts from Poem by Miles Chambers 1st City Poet of Bristol
“I belong here … O sea of paradoxes … to make this place special … lets answer the call… right here”
Extracts from Mayor’s Speech
Amongst his achievements to date he states
Power must shift from London to other cities to make local institutions accountable; and bring power closer to local people; not just money but the resources to offer ourselves as the solution not the problem. This will enable change in the relationship with the governed.
The West of England is the most productive region in the country outside of London: too many people don’t share in this. Bristol is a great city but fracture by race and class; the city needs to develop in a way that is environmentally sustainable and just.
New projects launched to this end include homelessness and young people.
Technology and Creative sectors do the city proud; other sectors need to also be developed to reduce inequality.
The City of Sanctuary status is to be protected.
Post BREXIT
City Council
City Government
Major failings
Need for major stakeholders to rally around share opportunities to have impact through strategic partnerships …. Developing a broader base is alos needed for culture change in the city and its institutions.
A LIVING WAGE MUST BE PAID TO REDUCE POVERTY
See Elitist Britain Report See also Professor Hambleton at UWE
Manchester is an example of good practice in UK cities: apply specific and measurable outcomes; publicly measure impact of projects e.g. in addressing inequality, homelessness, etc.
WAYS UK CITIES ARE COPING WITH BREXIT
How do we make the best use of immigrant talent in Bristol ?
Millenials have taken a leap back by approximately 20 years in terms of their pay earnings. They will work longer and have less support when they have kids than Generation X. There has also been a shift in attitudes amongst baby boomers: struck by dramatic shift towards building homes in the community they are from, this big shift is because people are seeing their children can’t own or rent their own homes.
DEVOLUTION as an investment journey.
Bristol needs to provide evidence that it can be run efficiently and effectively by a Metro Mayor.
Success of the city will be achieved when it is matched with reduced inequality beyond schools.
It must be a city that works for everyone ion Bristol; set a standard and deliver it on a global stage.
Tune in to a Q & A with Mayor Marvin Rees 20 05 20 in which he makes a commitment to engaging with the SDGs and IDPAD as a part of the recovery plan for the city post Covid-19
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=1097780353954785&ref=watch_permal...
Tune in to a Q & A with Mayor Marvin Rees 20 05 20 in which he makes a commitment to engaging with the SDGs and IDPAD as a part of the recovery plan for the city post Covid-19
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=1097780353954785&ref=watch_permal...