An explanation of the funding, the evaluation of performance and the reason why Playing Out is receiving so much money from Bristol City Council but its 100% immune from any austerity cuts.

The request was partially successful.

Dear Bristol City Council
Since November 2012 Playing Out has become an important partner for Bristol City Council receiving a lot of council tax payers money. How much precisely since November 1 2012? (answer to be broken down by month + what budget line the cash came from).

I'd then like to know the Minutes, emails and meetings at which Playing Out has been discussed. Particularly with regard to its funding and to any discussion on whether any form of conflict of interest with the mayor had occurred (this 'conflict' discussion you'll find in March/April period 2014). But that's specific to one incident. What I'd like is each and every meeting where it has been discussed - who was present, what was decided and why.

Next I would like to know the method the council uses to evaluate the performance of Playing Out - how it evaluates whether its cash has been well spent and measures whether it should then carry on handing Playing Out even more.

I'd also like to better understand how it has gone from an organization receiving a small amount of cash to one where the amount is now closer to £200K since 2012.

What is the rationale behind the growing importance and investment in such a small and (to an outsider) seemingly irrelevant organization at a time of harsh cuts to all services.

Therefore please add an explanation as to why Playing Out has been protected from any cuts and the axe has fallen elsewhere on essential services such as Care homes, libraries etc

Yours faithfully,

steve virgin

Freedom of Information, Bristol City Council

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[1]Bristol 2015 - European Green Capital – an initiative of the European
Commission

References

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1. http://www.bristol2015.co.uk/

Robert Gardner, Bristol City Council

1 Attachment

Dear Steve Virgin [1][FOI #256850 email]

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request and I apologise for the
slight delay in responding.

Since November 2012 Playing Out has become an important partner for
Bristol City Council receiving a lot of council tax payers money. How much
precisely since November 1 2012? (answer to be broken down by month + what
budget line the cash came from).
I'd then like to know the Minutes, emails and meetings at which Playing
Out has been discussed. Particularly with regard to its funding and to any
discussion on whether any form of conflict of interest with the mayor had
occurred (this 'conflict' discussion you'll find in March/April period
2014). But that's specific to one incident. What I'd like is each and
every meeting where it has been discussed - who was present, what was
decided and why.
Next I would like to know the method the council uses to evaluate the
performance of Playing Out - how it evaluates whether its cash has been
well spent and measures whether it should then carry on handing Playing
Out even more.
I'd also like to better understand how it has gone from an organization
receiving a small amount of cash to one where the amount is now closer to
£200K since 2012.
What is the rationale behind the growing importance and investment in such
a small and (to an outsider) seemingly irrelevant organization at a time
of harsh cuts to all services.
Therefore please add an explanation as to why Playing Out has been
protected from any cuts and the axe has fallen elsewhere on essential
services such as Care homes, libraries etc

Please see the attached information in response to your request.

In addition the Green Capital Strategic Grants funding 2015 was discussed
at Cabinet on 15/12/2014. This information is already publically
available. The mayor declared an interest and took no part in the
discussion of this item and formally delegated the taking of this decision
to Cllr Geoff Gollop, as Deputy Mayor (
[2]https://www.bristol.gov.uk/committee/201... ). The
report can also be seen on the councils website
([3]https://www.bristol.gov.uk/committee/201... ).

This response should answer your request in full, however if you are not
satisfied with this response or wish to lodge an appeal against any
exemptions that may have been applied, you can do so by writing to the
Data Protection Officer at Bristol City Council Legal Services, City Hall,
College Green, Bristol, or [4][Bristol City Council request email]. Details of the
complaints procedure can be found at
[5]http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/complaints

If, after you have exhausted the council's complaints procedure, you are
still not satisfied with the response you have received you have the right
to complain to the Information Commissioner, details of your right to
complain can be found at [6]http://www.ico.gov.uk/complaints.aspx

Copyright notice
The provision of information by Bristol City Council under this scheme
does not imply a right to reproduce or commercially exploit such
information without the Council's express prior written permission.
Reproduction or commercial exploitation of materials supplied under this
scheme without the express permission of Bristol City Council may be an
infringement of copyright. The Council is unable to grant permission to
reproduce or re-use any material accessed through this scheme that is the
property of third parties. Permission to reproduce or re-use such material
must be obtained from the copyright holders.

 

[7]Bristol 2015 - European Green Capital – an initiative of the European
Commission

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References

Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #256850 email]
2. https://www.bristol.gov.uk/committee/201...
3. https://www.bristol.gov.uk/committee/201...
4. mailto:[Bristol City Council request email]
5. http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/complaints
6. http://www.ico.gov.uk/complaints.aspx
7. http://www.bristol2015.co.uk/