Question Time

Both Jay Jethwa and I put questions for answer at this afternoon's Cabinet meeting at the council house. Fat lot of good it did either of us!

Jay felt entitled to a bit of action after being at the receiving end of those racist comments in the council's budget meeting. But by now, the 'coconut' jibe from the Ashley's LibDem councillor Shirley Brown has been referred to the council's standards board, so that provides the ideal cover for her Leader Barbara Janke to justify a 'no comment' position. For the time being the LibDems are desperately peddling the myth that the Florida councillor can represent her ward in Bristol - and throw in the odd racist insult - for two more years, making flying transatlantic visits as necessary. How long can they keep that up?

My own questions, about the impact of the recession on the Parks strategy, drew a rather condescending response from the Chief Park-keeper. What it amounts to is that they have no plans, but they're keeping their fingers crossed. For the time being, while they reckon up the saleable assets, there's no money for park improvements.

Of course, rising land values will mean rising house prices. Funny old world, where increased prices are seen as a 'good'.
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All this makes you wonder what the value of 'public questions' is.

Sometimes they do get significant answers. It's two years since the (then) transport supremo Dennis Brown told me that one purpose of the South Bristol Ring Road is to '.... help reduce congestion within Bristol'. He was only echoing what the Greater Bristol Transport Strategy claimed - we need it to help relieve the congestion around Parson Street, Winterstoke Road, and the A370 (Ashton Way). The usual excuse for bypasses, in fact.

So... will it do what it sets out to do? Watch this space.....

Paying for the Parks

It's just over a year since the council adopted its Parks and Green Space Strategy, a plan to restore Bristol's parks to something to be proud of. Except, of course, those parks and green spaces that get sold off to pay for the rest.

We're more than a little nervous about this in the south east corner of the city - after all, we've got 94 square metres apiece to gambol about in, whereas residents of more deprived areas - like Henleaze and Redland - have to wedge themselves into as little 4 sq. m. Always conscious of equality issues, the Strategy wants to redress the balance, and has set quantity standards for each neighbourhood.

It could be achieved by moving a load of people from those northern inner suburbs out here into the fresh air. We've the land to build them new homes, away from the overcrowding and pollution of the city. Like the Sally Army sending the huddled masses out to the colonies. Then, the places where they used to live could be returned to nature, for the enjoyment of those who remain. Possibly that was the centralist, socialist Labour administration's plan. Let's be realistic, though; the libertarian LibDems probably won't go for it.

So it's a problem, and it's made worse by the recession. The £90 million quid that was to be raised by selling 'low value' land looks like a joke now. Does it mean they'll have to up the original estimate of 90 acres of public open space to be sold off to developers?

In search of the truth, I've put down a question for our new Chief Parkie, Gary Hopkins, to answer at the Cabinet meeting next Thursday. It asks if the Strategy will be reviewed in the light of plummetting land values, who'll be involved, and when they'll tell Joe Public what they're up to.