Conservative councillors have welcomed the formal designation of three flagship ‘Enterprise Areas’ at Filton, Emersons Green and Severnside in South Gloucestershire. At the first meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee earlier this week, councillors voted to create Enterprise Areas to drive sustainable economic growth locally in line with the council’s future development vision set out in its ‘Core Strategy’.
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First to cut “lifeline” hospital bus service
First Bus has given notice of its intention to cut the only bus service linking parts of South Gloucestershire with Frenchay and Southmead hospitals, despite passenger numbers almost doubling in the short time the service has been running. The bus company currently has a contract with South Gloucestershire Council for the 18 service which runs from Emersons Green to Southmead
Continue readingSouth Glos Council “lived within its means,” say Tories
South Gloucestershire Council “lived within its means” during the last year of the authority’s Conservative Cabinet, it was announced this week. At the first meeting of the council’s Policy and Resources Committee, the authority’s budget ‘Outturn Report’ for 2011-12 was reported as showing an under-spend of £239K, which represents 0.1 per cent of the council’s £180m approved budget. This is
Continue readingNew police district commander is on home ground
Chief Superintendent Sarah Crew has been confirmed as the South Gloucestershire Police District Commander. C/Supt Crew has been in the role since November 2011, when C/Supt Andy Francis left the post after seven years to run Avon and Somerset Police’s communications centre. Born and bred in South Gloucestershire, C/Supt Crew has 17 years’ experience in both uniformed policing and CID.
Continue readingSouth Glos Council adopts committee system
South Gloucestershire councillors have adopted a new council constitution introducing a committee system of governance and replacing the previous leader and cabinet arrangements. With effect from Thursday 24th May, the majority of council decisions will be taken by ten committees, made up of elected members drawn from the council’s political parties. Committee members will be allocated according to the political
Continue readingSparkling line-up for GLOSSFM Diamond Jubilee broadcast
Community radio GLOSSFM is back next month (June) for a special Diamond Jubilee broadcast. Many of the station’s favourite presenters will be helping to mark 60 years of The Queen’s reign, with programmes starting on Saturday 2nd June and running for two weeks until 16th June. Programme plans include a link-up with GLOSSFM presenter Nick Thornley, who will be in
Continue readingCouncillors set to approve new constitution
South Gloucestershire councillors are set to approve a new constitution, introducing a committee system of governance, at the Council’s Annual General Meeting next Wednesday (23rd May). The changes follow a majority vote at Council in March when members approved plans to move to the committee system from the current Leader and Cabinet governance model. Once approved, the changes will mean
Continue reading£640K bonus for growing communities in South Glos
Communities across South Gloucestershire are to benefit from a £640K share of the district’s £2.1m New Homes Bonus allocation. The New Homes Bonus is a Government scheme that match-funds the additional council tax raised for new homes and empty properties brought back into use, with an additional amount for affordable homes, for the following six years. At the recent council
Continue readingScience Park named South West’s “best commercial workplace”
The Bristol & Bath Science Park at Emersons Green has been named the South West’s Best Commercial Workplace at the British Council for Offices (BCO) regional awards ceremony held last week (Thursday 10th May 2012). The award was presented by Garry Richardson, sports anchor on Radio 4’s Today Programme, in front of 300 property professionals including the region’s architects, developers,
Continue readingGambian fire authority benefits from Chairman’s fundraising event
An African fire authority is £2,500 better off thanks to a charity dinner hosted by Cllr Mike Drew, Chairman of South Gloucestershire Council. The event was held at Yate Fire Station last Friday (27th April) with around 60 specially invited guests enjoying a dinner before taking part in a raffle and an auction which raised more than £600 for the
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