Helen Godwin says she won't pay for free bus travel for asylum seekers out of the WECA budget.
But she has written to the Home Sec asking her to look at whether bus tickets should be issued:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
But she has written to the Home Sec asking her to look at whether bus tickets should be issued:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
West Mayor urges Home Secretary to consider bus tickets for asylum seekers
Weca mayor says free bus travel will be
www.bbc.co.uk
October 17, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Helen Godwin says she won't pay for free bus travel for asylum seekers out of the WECA budget.
But she has written to the Home Sec asking her to look at whether bus tickets should be issued:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
But she has written to the Home Sec asking her to look at whether bus tickets should be issued:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
On Labour's youth guarantee, what does 'a guaranteed paid work placement' actually mean? A week? A month?
The Bristol pilot scheme offers a two-week placement, but there's no guarantee of a job at the end of it (and it's too soon to know the results). www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The Bristol pilot scheme offers a two-week placement, but there's no guarantee of a job at the end of it (and it's too soon to know the results). www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Youth Guarantee scheme helping young people out of unemployment
The scheme is aiming to reach 500 young people across the West of England in its first year.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 29, 2025 at 9:35 AM
On Labour's youth guarantee, what does 'a guaranteed paid work placement' actually mean? A week? A month?
The Bristol pilot scheme offers a two-week placement, but there's no guarantee of a job at the end of it (and it's too soon to know the results). www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The Bristol pilot scheme offers a two-week placement, but there's no guarantee of a job at the end of it (and it's too soon to know the results). www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Quite a shift in tone here from Barry Parsons, but also some challenges:
1. The council only has 66 meanwhile site pitches, and is aiming for 250 by April. So people in the other 350+ vehicles are going to have to go somewhere else. How many will end up stuck on a meanwhile site waiting list?
1. The council only has 66 meanwhile site pitches, and is aiming for 250 by April. So people in the other 350+ vehicles are going to have to go somewhere else. How many will end up stuck on a meanwhile site waiting list?
With more than 600 people living kerbside in Bristol, the council is asking what you think about a new plan to bring numbers down www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Van encampments should not be permanent - Bristol City Council
Bristol City Council launches a consultation on its new vehicle dwellers policy.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 11, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Quite a shift in tone here from Barry Parsons, but also some challenges:
1. The council only has 66 meanwhile site pitches, and is aiming for 250 by April. So people in the other 350+ vehicles are going to have to go somewhere else. How many will end up stuck on a meanwhile site waiting list?
1. The council only has 66 meanwhile site pitches, and is aiming for 250 by April. So people in the other 350+ vehicles are going to have to go somewhere else. How many will end up stuck on a meanwhile site waiting list?
With more than 600 people living kerbside in Bristol, the council is asking what you think about a new plan to bring numbers down www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Van encampments should not be permanent - Bristol City Council
Bristol City Council launches a consultation on its new vehicle dwellers policy.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 11, 2025 at 3:35 PM
With more than 600 people living kerbside in Bristol, the council is asking what you think about a new plan to bring numbers down www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
“The flag represents all of us in England, regardless of our original heritage”, says Tony Dyer, the Green leader of Bristol city council.
“We are an English city… we are also a city of sanctuary, those two things are not contradictory.”
“We are an English city… we are also a city of sanctuary, those two things are not contradictory.”
August 27, 2025 at 9:20 AM
“The flag represents all of us in England, regardless of our original heritage”, says Tony Dyer, the Green leader of Bristol city council.
“We are an English city… we are also a city of sanctuary, those two things are not contradictory.”
“We are an English city… we are also a city of sanctuary, those two things are not contradictory.”
Bristol’s Green council leader Tony Dyer tells BBC Bristol he's “happy" to see flags being flown across the city.
Says some people have approached the council because they feel uncomfortable, but “it's time for us to reclaim the flag”.
Says some people have approached the council because they feel uncomfortable, but “it's time for us to reclaim the flag”.
August 27, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Bristol’s Green council leader Tony Dyer tells BBC Bristol he's “happy" to see flags being flown across the city.
Says some people have approached the council because they feel uncomfortable, but “it's time for us to reclaim the flag”.
Says some people have approached the council because they feel uncomfortable, but “it's time for us to reclaim the flag”.
Reposted by Hannah Miller
Despite the focus on hotels, most asylum seekers are accommodated in housing - often HMOs. But the pushback against HMOs is growing, esp in the north. A series of councils has moved in the last 6 months to tighten restrictions, while Reform bang the drum locally and nationally
on.ft.com/41J5aGk l
on.ft.com/41J5aGk l
Councils move to close off key alternative to asylum hotels in England
[FREE TO READ] Local authorities tighten controls on houses in multiple occupation amid fears for community cohesion
on.ft.com
August 21, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Despite the focus on hotels, most asylum seekers are accommodated in housing - often HMOs. But the pushback against HMOs is growing, esp in the north. A series of councils has moved in the last 6 months to tighten restrictions, while Reform bang the drum locally and nationally
on.ft.com/41J5aGk l
on.ft.com/41J5aGk l
"It's being used as a tool to whip up people’s anger"
Council of Sanctuary status is being put under the spotlight in towns and cities across the country.
In Weston-super-Mare, plans to join the scheme could be scrapped.
Council of Sanctuary status is being put under the spotlight in towns and cities across the country.
In Weston-super-Mare, plans to join the scheme could be scrapped.
Weston-super-Mare council of sanctuary plan could be scrapped
A final decision on the plan, which has divided opinion in the coastal town, will be made in September.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 19, 2025 at 2:49 PM
"It's being used as a tool to whip up people’s anger"
Council of Sanctuary status is being put under the spotlight in towns and cities across the country.
In Weston-super-Mare, plans to join the scheme could be scrapped.
Council of Sanctuary status is being put under the spotlight in towns and cities across the country.
In Weston-super-Mare, plans to join the scheme could be scrapped.
Helen Godwin told @johndarvall.bsky.social that a new Comms Director, paid more than her, will help WECA tell its story to residents and government
West of England mayor defends hiring comms director on up to £138,000
Helen Godwin said the new role was a “really important job” in order to “tell our story better”.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 12, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Helen Godwin told @johndarvall.bsky.social that a new Comms Director, paid more than her, will help WECA tell its story to residents and government
Bristol set itself a target to be net zero by 2030, and it looks unlikely to meet it.
But the city has made faster progress than others since declaring a Climate Emergency, according to a council report.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
But the city has made faster progress than others since declaring a Climate Emergency, according to a council report.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Bristol not expected to meet its own 2030 net zero target
After declaring a climate emergency, the council set a goal for the city to be carbon neutral by 2030.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 1, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Bristol set itself a target to be net zero by 2030, and it looks unlikely to meet it.
But the city has made faster progress than others since declaring a Climate Emergency, according to a council report.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
But the city has made faster progress than others since declaring a Climate Emergency, according to a council report.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Hannah Miller
Chaminda's work on the disability cuts has been invaluable.
This shows that contrary to many media assumptions that PIP cuts are primarily around mental health - they would affect lots of people with cancer, heart disease, and numerous other physical illnesses and disabilities.
This shows that contrary to many media assumptions that PIP cuts are primarily around mental health - they would affect lots of people with cancer, heart disease, and numerous other physical illnesses and disabilities.
NEW: Labour's planned disability benefit cuts could affect the majority of current working-age claimants with ischaemic heart disease, inflammatory arthritis, hip and knee disorders and Crohn’s disease, according to analysis of new DWP data
By me, for the Big Issue:
www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
By me, for the Big Issue:
www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
Majority of PIP claimants with heart disease, arthritis and Crohn's at risk of cuts
DWP data obtained by Big Issue shows that the majority of people with heart failure, HIV and arthritis are at risk of losing their benefits.
www.bigissue.com
June 25, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Chaminda's work on the disability cuts has been invaluable.
This shows that contrary to many media assumptions that PIP cuts are primarily around mental health - they would affect lots of people with cancer, heart disease, and numerous other physical illnesses and disabilities.
This shows that contrary to many media assumptions that PIP cuts are primarily around mental health - they would affect lots of people with cancer, heart disease, and numerous other physical illnesses and disabilities.
People in Bristol voted to move to a committee system in 2022 - and the change only happened last year.
Now the government is telling councils they have to move to a leader-and-cabinet model, describing the committee model as 'unclear, duplicative, and wasteful'.
Now the government is telling councils they have to move to a leader-and-cabinet model, describing the committee model as 'unclear, duplicative, and wasteful'.
June 25, 2025 at 11:10 AM
People in Bristol voted to move to a committee system in 2022 - and the change only happened last year.
Now the government is telling councils they have to move to a leader-and-cabinet model, describing the committee model as 'unclear, duplicative, and wasteful'.
Now the government is telling councils they have to move to a leader-and-cabinet model, describing the committee model as 'unclear, duplicative, and wasteful'.
Away from the politics of it all, what actually are the welfare plans that the government is trying to get through?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
What are the Pip and universal credit changes and who will be affected?
More than 130 MPs are trying to block the government's planned changes to the benefits system.
www.bbc.co.uk
June 25, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Away from the politics of it all, what actually are the welfare plans that the government is trying to get through?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...