Bristol Labour proposes fixing potholes and opening community centres

Ahead of a full council vote on February 12, Labour has tabled budget amendments that would fund community hubs, extend library hours and redirect transport money toward pothole repairs and drain unblocking.

Bristol City Council will vote on its budget at full council on February 12. The Green-led administration has proposed a multi‑hundred million pound budget for day-to-day services and longer-term infrastructure. Labour has submitted five cost‑neutral amendments that would reallocate funds toward local services and repairs. Finance officers have assessed the proposals and noted implications for existing support and projects. Key proposals: - Allocate about £1.7 million to create three community hubs and a grants programme, including refurbishing Avon Youth Hub and Eagle House and covering a shortfall at the former Tenants Hall site. - Redirect roughly £8 million planned for a Park Street traffic restriction scheme toward transport maintenance, including pothole repairs, unblocking drains and other local transport improvements. - Move £900,000 of developer contributions (SCIL) from a proposed pontoon at Cascade Steps to refurbish the Downs football changing rooms and support grassroots sport projects. - Extend library opening hours and increase council-owned children's home capacity, funded by merging some committee roles and reducing certain member extras and senior pay costs. - Remove £800,000 intended for the full business case on parts of the South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood, dropping modal filters while allowing match‑day parking and other traffic‑calming measures in BS3. - Finance officers warned the withdrawal of policy chair support would reduce administrative help for committee chairs, and noted the Cascade Steps landing stage may be at risk of closure if its pontoon is not delivered. Summary: The Labour amendments would shift spending toward community centres, maintenance and local services while requiring offsetting savings or borrowing to remain cost‑neutral. The proposals have been reviewed by finance officers and will be decided at the full council vote on February 12; the outcome is undetermined at this time.