Bath & NE Somerset Labour Group
@bneslabourgroup.bsky.social
Official Opposition on Bath & North East Somerset Council. We're here, & we used to be 'there'. We like live-posting from council/cabinet/scrutiny meetings when possible. We also live at https://www.facebook.com/BANESCllrs.
🚽 FLUSHED WITH SUCCESS! Thank you!
Labour proposals for a better public loo strategy passed unanimously at B&NES Council last night, seconded by Lib Dem Economic Development lead Paul Roper. Next? Solid action, so this motion doesn't just go down the pan...
#BNES #Labour #PublicLoos
Labour proposals for a better public loo strategy passed unanimously at B&NES Council last night, seconded by Lib Dem Economic Development lead Paul Roper. Next? Solid action, so this motion doesn't just go down the pan...
#BNES #Labour #PublicLoos
July 18, 2025 at 9:23 AM
🚽 FLUSHED WITH SUCCESS! Thank you!
Labour proposals for a better public loo strategy passed unanimously at B&NES Council last night, seconded by Lib Dem Economic Development lead Paul Roper. Next? Solid action, so this motion doesn't just go down the pan...
#BNES #Labour #PublicLoos
Labour proposals for a better public loo strategy passed unanimously at B&NES Council last night, seconded by Lib Dem Economic Development lead Paul Roper. Next? Solid action, so this motion doesn't just go down the pan...
#BNES #Labour #PublicLoos
BNES full council vote tonight, after hearing from councillors and members of the public. Kick off is 6:30: papers and web streaming here- democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/ieListDocume...
July 17, 2025 at 3:21 PM
BNES full council vote tonight, after hearing from councillors and members of the public. Kick off is 6:30: papers and web streaming here- democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/ieListDocume...
Only 20 public loo sites for the whole of Bath & NE Somerset. Local? Ask your councillor if they're voting to sort out the out of date public loo strategy on Thu 17th. Contact them here - democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/mgFindMember... and read the Labour Group motion here - shorturl.at/W6Gdi
July 10, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Only 20 public loo sites for the whole of Bath & NE Somerset. Local? Ask your councillor if they're voting to sort out the out of date public loo strategy on Thu 17th. Contact them here - democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/mgFindMember... and read the Labour Group motion here - shorturl.at/W6Gdi
Big win for BNES families - from Sept 25, all eligible families will be auto-enrolled for #FreeSchoolMeals, thanks to @BNESLabour. From Sep '26, all families on Universal Credit qualify - almost 6,000 local families. Labour locally, working with Labour nationally. #LabourDelivers
June 5, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Big win for BNES families - from Sept 25, all eligible families will be auto-enrolled for #FreeSchoolMeals, thanks to @BNESLabour. From Sep '26, all families on Universal Credit qualify - almost 6,000 local families. Labour locally, working with Labour nationally. #LabourDelivers
🚆 Big news for the West of England!
Labour Metro Mayor Helen Godwin is working with the new government to deliver £800m for better #transport—buses, trains, trams & more.
“It’s time for a mass transit system people can rely on.”
🔗 www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/local-n...
Labour Metro Mayor Helen Godwin is working with the new government to deliver £800m for better #transport—buses, trains, trams & more.
“It’s time for a mass transit system people can rely on.”
🔗 www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/local-n...
June 4, 2025 at 10:17 AM
🚆 Big news for the West of England!
Labour Metro Mayor Helen Godwin is working with the new government to deliver £800m for better #transport—buses, trains, trams & more.
“It’s time for a mass transit system people can rely on.”
🔗 www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/local-n...
Labour Metro Mayor Helen Godwin is working with the new government to deliver £800m for better #transport—buses, trains, trams & more.
“It’s time for a mass transit system people can rely on.”
🔗 www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/local-n...
... PLUS.......safety for council staff & councillors
AND... challenging council decisions on:
Charlton House
HCRG contracts
Newton House respite care
LTN decisions & more.
>> Labour councillors delivering for our communities
#CommunityImpact #LocalDemocracy
📸 Bath & NE Somerset Labour Group
AND... challenging council decisions on:
Charlton House
HCRG contracts
Newton House respite care
LTN decisions & more.
>> Labour councillors delivering for our communities
#CommunityImpact #LocalDemocracy
📸 Bath & NE Somerset Labour Group
May 22, 2025 at 7:01 PM
... PLUS.......safety for council staff & councillors
AND... challenging council decisions on:
Charlton House
HCRG contracts
Newton House respite care
LTN decisions & more.
>> Labour councillors delivering for our communities
#CommunityImpact #LocalDemocracy
📸 Bath & NE Somerset Labour Group
AND... challenging council decisions on:
Charlton House
HCRG contracts
Newton House respite care
LTN decisions & more.
>> Labour councillors delivering for our communities
#CommunityImpact #LocalDemocracy
📸 Bath & NE Somerset Labour Group
🚨 Historic day in #BATHNES!
👏 Cllr Liz Hardman - 1st ever Chair from Paulton, she'll focus on mental health.
🎉 Cllr Robin Moss 10y as leader + 2y of big impact as Official Opposition: free school meals auto-enrolment; night-worker safety; S106 clarity; plus..... 1/2
📸Cllr Liz Hardman
👏 Cllr Liz Hardman - 1st ever Chair from Paulton, she'll focus on mental health.
🎉 Cllr Robin Moss 10y as leader + 2y of big impact as Official Opposition: free school meals auto-enrolment; night-worker safety; S106 clarity; plus..... 1/2
📸Cllr Liz Hardman
May 22, 2025 at 7:01 PM
🚨 Historic day in #BATHNES!
👏 Cllr Liz Hardman - 1st ever Chair from Paulton, she'll focus on mental health.
🎉 Cllr Robin Moss 10y as leader + 2y of big impact as Official Opposition: free school meals auto-enrolment; night-worker safety; S106 clarity; plus..... 1/2
📸Cllr Liz Hardman
👏 Cllr Liz Hardman - 1st ever Chair from Paulton, she'll focus on mental health.
🎉 Cllr Robin Moss 10y as leader + 2y of big impact as Official Opposition: free school meals auto-enrolment; night-worker safety; S106 clarity; plus..... 1/2
📸Cllr Liz Hardman
It's BNES council annual meeting this evening at 6:30. Here's the link to papers + webcast. Business is normally not too lengthy, then it's public statements. Labour's Liz Hardman is nominated to become Paulton's 1st ever BNES Chair - more on that later.... democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/ieListDocume...
May 22, 2025 at 1:16 PM
It's BNES council annual meeting this evening at 6:30. Here's the link to papers + webcast. Business is normally not too lengthy, then it's public statements. Labour's Liz Hardman is nominated to become Paulton's 1st ever BNES Chair - more on that later.... democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/ieListDocume...
During LGBT+ History Month, we celebrate the heritage and contribution of LGBT+ communities across the UK and the world.
Labour will always stand with LGBT+ people.
Labour will always stand with LGBT+ people.
February 1, 2025 at 7:00 PM
During LGBT+ History Month, we celebrate the heritage and contribution of LGBT+ communities across the UK and the world.
Labour will always stand with LGBT+ people.
Labour will always stand with LGBT+ people.
Next agenda item - related items in the proposed BathNES budget which goes to Council on Feb 25th. In short, the panel were not pleased at the lack of information given to them to scrutinise - officer says councillors don't have the latest numbers but will get them at the end of the month.
January 23, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Next agenda item - related items in the proposed BathNES budget which goes to Council on Feb 25th. In short, the panel were not pleased at the lack of information given to them to scrutinise - officer says councillors don't have the latest numbers but will get them at the end of the month.
The cabinet member Matt McCabe adds that Aequus commercial margins are lower than profit-led alternatives - they can deliver more. This subsidises affordable homes. It uses the market to sell market houses that generates £ to deliver affordable/social homes.
January 23, 2025 at 2:09 PM
The cabinet member Matt McCabe adds that Aequus commercial margins are lower than profit-led alternatives - they can deliver more. This subsidises affordable homes. It uses the market to sell market houses that generates £ to deliver affordable/social homes.
"It's baffling". Labour's Grant Johnson asked why 60% of their homes are "non-affordable" when we just heard about massive housing waiting lists in BNES. He's told that social homes have to be paid for this way.
January 23, 2025 at 2:09 PM
"It's baffling". Labour's Grant Johnson asked why 60% of their homes are "non-affordable" when we just heard about massive housing waiting lists in BNES. He's told that social homes have to be paid for this way.
Labour's Cllr Grant Johnson (Paulton) asked about infrastructure needs - too often, homes come without infrastructure or it's promised and isn't delivered. That's been a big issue in Paulton. The cabinet member says he agrees and something must be done.
January 23, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Labour's Cllr Grant Johnson (Paulton) asked about infrastructure needs - too often, homes come without infrastructure or it's promised and isn't delivered. That's been a big issue in Paulton. The cabinet member says he agrees and something must be done.
This one's a gulp moment: if you are on the waiting list (5,000 households are) and not a priority and want a 4-nbed home, you will wait 200 years. Not a typo: 200 years.
January 23, 2025 at 2:09 PM
This one's a gulp moment: if you are on the waiting list (5,000 households are) and not a priority and want a 4-nbed home, you will wait 200 years. Not a typo: 200 years.
They looked at the new #Housing Plan. 25% of homes are private rental in Bath & NE Somerset - levels that are akin to a London borough & there isa lot of substandard stock. Papers for you to see are here - democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/ieListDocume...
January 23, 2025 at 2:09 PM
They looked at the new #Housing Plan. 25% of homes are private rental in Bath & NE Somerset - levels that are akin to a London borough & there isa lot of substandard stock. Papers for you to see are here - democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/ieListDocume...
If you followed Monday's live tweets in BNES scrutiny panel, you'll have heard heart-wrenching stories of families who heard at Christmas that Newton House the only respite care they get will end. The story has just landed in the Chronicle, Echo and Journal: https://buff.ly/4h2hnLV
January 16, 2025 at 10:58 AM
If you followed Monday's live tweets in BNES scrutiny panel, you'll have heard heart-wrenching stories of families who heard at Christmas that Newton House the only respite care they get will end. The story has just landed in the Chronicle, Echo and Journal: https://buff.ly/4h2hnLV
One of the ideas is to pay less for SEND home-chool transport (echoing a Labour proposal last year). The officer says the Chief Exec's friend did a free analysis. They'll also save large amounts by reunifying children with families, from care. Councillors seem to think the numbers are v ambitious.
January 15, 2025 at 2:38 PM
One of the ideas is to pay less for SEND home-chool transport (echoing a Labour proposal last year). The officer says the Chief Exec's friend did a free analysis. They'll also save large amounts by reunifying children with families, from care. Councillors seem to think the numbers are v ambitious.
The next agenda item was the budget. A £14m gap overall with very big cuts on social care - councillors quiz on how new cuts can achieve greater efficiencies that they didn't achieve last year. The officers say care will not be affected by the cuts.
January 15, 2025 at 2:38 PM
The next agenda item was the budget. A £14m gap overall with very big cuts on social care - councillors quiz on how new cuts can achieve greater efficiencies that they didn't achieve last year. The officers say care will not be affected by the cuts.
Councillor keep asking - when did the council know? They told families in December, but when did they know about this? It's a wghile before the answer cmoes - the depatrmetn - not she - knew in January 20204.
January 15, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Councillor keep asking - when did the council know? They told families in December, but when did they know about this? It's a wghile before the answer cmoes - the depatrmetn - not she - knew in January 20204.
In reply, the service director says the facility won't close but it's a pause and they will have a meeting with user families. She offers to answer more questions afterwards.
January 15, 2025 at 2:38 PM
In reply, the service director says the facility won't close but it's a pause and they will have a meeting with user families. She offers to answer more questions afterwards.
There are big Qs here, asid Opposition Leader Robin Moss: there are big cuts to social services in the budget - using the same language as last year. He asks when BNES were told by supplier Dimensions that this would close - there are questions to answer, he says:
January 15, 2025 at 2:38 PM
There are big Qs here, asid Opposition Leader Robin Moss: there are big cuts to social services in the budget - using the same language as last year. He asks when BNES were told by supplier Dimensions that this would close - there are questions to answer, he says:
Here's another dad's statement: 'without it we're in big trouble...we're completely lost. I can't begin to explain how I feel'
January 15, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Here's another dad's statement: 'without it we're in big trouble...we're completely lost. I can't begin to explain how I feel'
The families feel there was no consultation on the council's plans and politely challenged the provider/council narrative that there's not enough demand - they say they've been refused extra respite care & many other local families are never told it exists.
January 15, 2025 at 2:38 PM
The families feel there was no consultation on the council's plans and politely challenged the provider/council narrative that there's not enough demand - they say they've been refused extra respite care & many other local families are never told it exists.
The cost to the council will be much greater if the young people with complex needs have to go into full time care, say the speakers. They report having no social work visits, a lack of understanding, report being offered inappropriate help and no assessment since 2017.
January 15, 2025 at 2:38 PM
The cost to the council will be much greater if the young people with complex needs have to go into full time care, say the speakers. They report having no social work visits, a lack of understanding, report being offered inappropriate help and no assessment since 2017.
