Shaping Bristol’s economic future: a Distinctive discussion with Cllr Andrew Brown
Andrew Brown holds an important role in Bristol at a time of significant change for the city.
Since May, the Liberal Democrat councillor has chaired Bristol City Council’s Economy and Skills Committee, overseeing a broad range of responsibilities. His multi-faceted portfolio includes strategic planning, several major developments, apprenticeships, and lifelong learning.
We were delighted to host a discussion with him in our latest Distinctive Discussion webinar on 4 September, when he shared insights into his first few months in office and the council’s priorities.
Changes in local governance
We reflected that change at Bristol City Council sits against a backdrop of a national shift, including a new government focused on planning reform.
Bristol’s residents now have more touchpoints to interact with the council since the switch from a mayor and cabinet led model of leadership. There are now eight committees meeting regularly, all taking representations and public questions. It seems the city has made the most of this already. A recent committee meeting about the Harbour received more than 50 representations from members of the public, he said.
A key part of Andrew’s remit is being the committee’s public face and engaging residents and stakeholders, as well as monitoring and scrutinising plans. He said he’s received positive responses from businesses, and has met business owners, residents, and civic groups since taking up the role.
The Local Plan – an ongoing task
Submitted to the Secretary of State in April this year, Bristol City Council Local Plan setting out how the city will develop up to 2040 is in advanced stages. However, the new National Planning Policy Framework gives a new standard method, which may mean re-starting the Local Plan process again soon after this phase complete.
“The Local Plan ultimately has to provide homes and balance that with the need to provide employment land. That underpins economic growth,” Andrew said.
The Local Plan encompasses key major development sites in the city, including Temple Quarter, Western Harbour and Frome Gateway, where material change to the city is starting to be seen on the ground.
“Those regeneration areas are going to experience a real change in character over the coming years and need to be treated more carefully than individual sites elsewhere,” Andrew said.
Attendees raised student accommodation and the right public transport as important items to consider with strategic planning too.
And on the Harbourside, opportunities for different user groups are being considered as the council develops the Bristol Harbour Place Shaping Strategy.
Developing people and skills
Skills is a key challenge for Bristol and Andrew shared that this element of his brief presents an opportunity for boosting the city.
Key to the approach, Andrew says, is considering “how we ensure that the right jobs are in the right places for the people with the skills for those jobs.”
In a city with two brilliant universities and tens of thousands of undergraduates, apprenticeship provision and connecting employers with talent are key levers for the council and its partners.
Future of One City
Andrew encouraged those interested in the future of Bristol to engage in the One City approach, which brings together hundreds of partners to discuss and deliver solutions to pressing challenges.
We’ve been proud to volunteer communications support for the council’s Just Transition campaign to encourage employers to engage positively on the city-wide journey to Net Zero.
Council committee chairs meet with counterparts on the One City Boards, and there is a new One City plan scheduled for next year that builds on these relationships.
Promoting collaboration
Bristol isn’t operating in isolation. With finite space to support its growth ambitions, a more strategic regional approach will be key to providing decent housing, transport and opportunities for everyone.
Collaboration and partnership working remain key to this. We’ve been pleased to see the appetite for this in the committee system. But delivery matters too, as the challenges aren’t going away.
“If Bristol is successful and has its housing needs met, that benefits the surrounding areas as well,” Andrew said.
As we’ve mentioned before, our city and our region has faltered on the collaboration front at times. If all partners can work together to create a city with the right types of housing, quality jobs and opportunities, there’s more reason for optimism.
Thanks to everyone who attended the session and asked questions.
Watch a full recording of the webinar online here or below – and follow us on LinkedIn to hear about the next Distinctive Discussion.
Written by Ben Lowndes and Arianne Smart.
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