Council meetings

Council meeting dates, membership, agendas, reports, minutes and webcasts.

Covid-19: changes to how we hold public meetings

Following changes to government rules, we’ll use video conferencing to hold all public meetings, including:

• Cabinet
• Full Council
• regulatory meetings, where planning and licensing decisions are made
• scrutiny

Councillors will use Zoom or Skype for Business to:

• take part in the meetings
• vote on agenda items

We’ll stream the meetings live on YouTube.

For meetings taking place on or after 21 May 2020 the Chair will have discretion to allow members of the public to join the meeting using video conferencing to:

• present their statement
• ask a supplementary question

You must register your interest at least two clear working days before the meeting, to participate remotely. Email democratic.services@bristol.gov.uk.

Additional information about remote participation can be found in the public information guidance produced for each meeting.

You can also submit statements, questions and petitions ahead of meetings in the same way as usual. We’ll:

• send all public forum submissions to participating Councillors in advance and publish them on our website
• try to remove personal and identifiable information. However, because of time constraints we cannot guarantee this, so please consider if your statement contains information that you'd prefer not to be in the public domain

Responses to questions will be provided in writing or verbally at the meeting. If you wish to participate in the meeting and ask a supplementary question a verbal reply will be provided.

Email democratic.services@bristol.gov.uk if you have any questions.

When you register to speak

Make sure the name written on your Public Forum submission matches the name on your Zoom account.

We'll match your name in the waiting room with the submitted Public Forum item to let you into the meeting.

Read our guide on how to download Zoom and join a meeting. (pdf, 363KB) (opens new window)

Find council meetings and documents

Find council meeting

Documents including agendas for a meeting are available five clear working days before a meeting not including despatch day and meeting day.

You can also download the mod.gov app to see details of meetings and set up automatic alerts that will let you know about items on meeting agendas in your ward and committees of interest.

Download at:

• Apple website: IPad app
• Google Play: Android app
• Windows App Store:Windows app

Have your say at council meetings

The 'How to have your say at meetings'  reference guide (pdf, 416KB) (opens new window)  explains the different council meetings and what they're for.  It includes guidelines for presenting a petition, statement or question at a meeting and how you will get a response.

How to have your say at Development Control Committees (pdf, 96KB) (opens new window) explains the need to make written statements before the meeting and how you can speak at the meeting.

Hard copies of documents

You can see hard copies of previous agendas, reports, minutes and decision sheets at:

Bristol Archives
B Bond Warehouse
Smeaton Road
Bristol BS1 6XN
Tel: 0117 922 4224
Email: archives@bristol.gov.uk

You can see hard copies of agendas for future meetings at:

City Hall Reception
College Green
Bristol
BS1 5TR

Webcasts of council meetings

Some meetings are video streamed to improve openness, understanding and accountability of local decision making. These meetings are streamed live and are also available on-demand within 48 hours of the meeting.

See live and on-demand webcasts  on our YouTube page.

Videos are made available for public viewing for four years after the date of the meeting.

Photography, filming and social media use in meetings

People coming to open meetings can:

• film
• audio record
• take photographs
• use social media.

Commentary to filming is not allowed during meetings.  If you're going to a meeting you may be filmed by others at the meeting.

 

Read 'A guide for the press and public on attending meetings of local government'  from GOV.UK.