State of the City Conference 2008

Release Date:  27-Nov-2008

A high-profile conference exploring how Bristol’s prosperity can grow and be shared by everyone in our city is to take place next week.

The State of the City Conference 2008 is being hosted by the new-look Bristol Partnership and will bring together public, private and voluntary sector stakeholders and agencies from across the city to focus on what’s important for the future of Bristol.

The event, to be held at the Council House on December 2, will be based around a series of eight workshops asking questions such as: “How can Bristol have an economy that matches the best in Europe?” and “How can we ensure that every citizen enjoys a healthy lifestyle?”

The morning workshops will be followed by a State of the City debate, which will take place in the council chamber. The debate – which will also be webcast live through the council’s website www.bristol.gov.uk/webcast  – will see the chairs of each of the workshops summarising the outcomes from the morning conference. The debate will then be opened up to all Bristol City councillors. The Full Council meeting will follow the debate.

Around 200 specially-invited guests are expected to attend the conference and sit in on the debate. Delegates will represent a range of different organisations, including the Government Office for the South West (GOSW), the voluntary sector, the business sector and local residents drawn from the Neighbourhood Partnership Conference.

The outcomes of the workshops and the debate will be forwarded to the Bristol Partnership Executive Board for consideration in the development of the City Strategy. The City Strategy 2008 – 2011 (the city’s sustainable community strategy) provides the overarching strategic framework within which all partners work to deliver visible and long term benefit for the city.

Helen Holland, Leader of Bristol City Council, said: “The State of the City conference and debate builds on our commitment to work with and listen to partners around the city.  We have an ambitious agenda for our city, that can only be delivered if we work together, making a difference which will be felt in every neighbourhood.  We are thrilled that so many people and organisations want to join the debate."

John Savage, Chair of the Bristol Partnership, said: “The conference comes in a most timely way both because of the productive restructuring of the Bristol Partnership and also because of the economic challenge we face. I'm confident that by listening to the voice of the public and of our partners we can overcome the worst of the challenges and plan for a better Bristol in the future."

People throughout Bristol can submit statements to the Full Council debate through the council’s website – www.bristol.gov.uk/councilanddemocracy

This event follows the successful State of the City debate which took place in January this year to help define the council’s top priorities for the future and shape its Corporate Plan.

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