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Bath & North East Somerset Labour Group @bneslabourgroup.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

B&NES LABOUR CHILDREN’S CHAMPIONS WELCOME GOVERNMENT CLEARING 90% OF COUNCILS’ SEND DEBT This morning, BNES Labour councillors welcomed the news. Robin Moss, Group Leader said "this is good news - Labour's picking up the pieces left behind by 14 years of Conservative government." shorturl.at/WIWDo

Secretary of State for local government, Rt Hon Steve Reed MP, with Paulton councillor Liz Hardman and Radstock's Lesley Mansell (all Labour). Steve is in a dark suit with a white shirt. Liz has red hair and a checked dress. Lesley has short blonde hair and a pink jacket. All three smile at the camera.

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Bath & North East Somerset Labour Group @bneslabourgroup.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

While B&NES' consultation on its budget just ended, the lack of affordable housing in Bath and North East Somerset continues to hit the headlines. Labour councillors' response to the Local Plan and Bath Movement Strategy won two front pages - here's the story: www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/local-n...

Front page of Western Daily Press 22 Dec - headline reads "UNESCO STATUS NEEDS REVIEW - Labour' claims city's heritage badge is blocking house-building"

Front page of Bath Chronicle 25 Dec - headline reads "CALLS TO REVIEW HERITAGE STATUS: UNESCO listing prevents homes being built, say Labour"

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Bath & North East Somerset Labour Group @bneslabourgroup.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

Did you see Bath & North East Somerset's consultations on the Local Plan and a ten-year Movement Strategy for Bath? B&NES Labour councillors were deeply concerned. They will be following up in the months ahead... #AffordableHomes #Bath #NorthEastSomerset #HealthyCommunities #PublicTransportConnects

red and white poster that says:

UNESCO, TOURISM AND STUDENTS FIRST? LABOUR COUNCILLORS RESPOND TO LIB DEM LOCAL PLAN AND BATH MOVEMENT STRATEGY

In November, B&NES asked the public their views on 2 big issues - where to put homes and how to manage ‘movement’ in Bath.
Labour councillors scrutinised the proposals and have called on B&NES to:

* Prioritise residents’ homes before student accommodation
* Assess the true economic benefits of UNESCO across B&NES, independently
* Promise Bath the homes - and affordable homes - it needs
* Respect North East Somerset’s distinct communities, and not flood them with new homes
* Include permitted but still unbuilt homes in the new housing targets
* Work with WECA to develop reliable, frequent local bus services that connect communities
* Provide safe and appealing Park & Rides for north, east, south and west; multi-modal, open longer
* Work better as part of WECA, making the most of it potential and new government policy
* Make sure night economy staff always have access to safe public transport
* Make sure B&NES’ deprived communities can access work, leisure, green spaces, social opportunities, and education without needing a car.

from Bath & North East Somerset Labour councillors: We're asking questions, making your voice heard - every single day

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Bath & North East Somerset Labour Group @bneslabourgroup.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

🚽 FLUSHED WITH SUCCESS! Thank you! Labour proposals for a better public loo strategy passed unanimously at B&NES Council last night, seconded by Lib Dem Economic Development lead Paul Roper. Next? Solid action, so this motion doesn't just go down the pan... #BNES #Labour #PublicLoos

BNES council Labour group's public loo campaign poster with a banner across it saying, 'thank you! campaign win - council action next'. It adds, 'thanks to your support, all councillors votes yes on Thu 17 July.'

In the background is their original campaign poster, which asked the public to contact their councillors to support the proposal, saying:
'Let's all look at our public loos'
'56% drink less in case they'll need a wee'
'loo-worry limits trips out for 20% of us'
'6million visitors a year, half a billion pounds from tourism, but only 20 public toilet sites in B&NES, down from 27 n 2011, most closed by 6pm'

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Bath & North East Somerset Labour Group @bneslabourgroup.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

BNES full council vote tonight, after hearing from councillors and members of the public. Kick off is 6:30: papers and web streaming here- democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/ieListDocume...

Bath and North East Somerset Labour Group Campaign poster calling for a review of the Council’s public toilet strategy

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Bath & North East Somerset Labour Group @bneslabourgroup.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

Only 20 public loo sites for the whole of Bath & NE Somerset. Local? Ask your councillor if they're voting to sort out the out of date public loo strategy on Thu 17th. Contact them here - democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/mgFindMember... and read the Labour Group motion here - shorturl.at/W6Gdi

A campaign poster, calling on residents of Bath & North East Somerset to contact their local councillor before the vote on a public loo strategy on 17 July. It says there are 6 million visitors a year, that tourism brings in half a billion pounds, but loo-worry limits trips out for 1 in 5 and 56% drink less, in case they'll need the loo when they're out. It has links to the 'find your councillor' pages on BNES' website and a link to the motion, which is from BNES Labour Group. The links are https://democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/mgFindMember.aspx and https://shorturl.at/W6Gdi

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Bath & North East Somerset Labour Group @bneslabourgroup.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

Big win for BNES families - from Sept 25, all eligible families will be auto-enrolled for #FreeSchoolMeals, thanks to @BNESLabour. From Sep '26, all families on Universal Credit qualify - almost 6,000 local families. Labour locally, working with Labour nationally. #LabourDelivers

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Bath & North East Somerset Labour Group @bneslabourgroup.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

🚆 Big news for the West of England! Labour Metro Mayor Helen Godwin is working with the new government to deliver £800m for better #transport—buses, trains, trams & more. “It’s time for a mass transit system people can rely on.” 🔗 www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/local-n...

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Bath & North East Somerset Labour Group @bneslabourgroup.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

... PLUS.......safety for council staff & councillors AND... challenging council decisions on: Charlton House HCRG contracts Newton House respite care LTN decisions & more. >> Labour councillors delivering for our communities #CommunityImpact #LocalDemocracy 📸 Bath & NE Somerset Labour Group

Bath & NE Somerset Labour Group gathered together in the council chamber, Bath

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Bath & North East Somerset Labour Group @bneslabourgroup.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

🚨 Historic day in #BATHNES! 👏 Cllr Liz Hardman - 1st ever Chair from Paulton, she'll focus on mental health. 🎉 Cllr Robin Moss 10y as leader + 2y of big impact as Official Opposition: free school meals auto-enrolment; night-worker safety; S106 clarity; plus..... 1/2 📸Cllr Liz Hardman

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Bath & North East Somerset Labour Group @bneslabourgroup.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

It's BNES council annual meeting this evening at 6:30. Here's the link to papers + webcast. Business is normally not too lengthy, then it's public statements. Labour's Liz Hardman is nominated to become Paulton's 1st ever BNES Chair - more on that later.... democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/ieListDocume...

Smiling Cllr Liz Hardman, in a blue dress, with red hair and her Vice Chair chain of office.

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Bath & North East Somerset Labour Group @bneslabourgroup.bsky.social · 01/02/2025

During LGBT+ History Month, we celebrate the heritage and contribution of LGBT+ communities across the UK and the world. Labour will always stand with LGBT+ people.

A rainbow-coloured background, with words in white that say “LGBT+ history month” and then “Labour” underneath.

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Bath & North East Somerset Labour Group @bneslabourgroup.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

Next agenda item - related items in the proposed BathNES budget which goes to Council on Feb 25th. In short, the panel were not pleased at the lack of information given to them to scrutinise - officer says councillors don't have the latest numbers but will get them at the end of the month.

Screenshot of tweets made live, reflecting the text above

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Bath & North East Somerset Labour Group @bneslabourgroup.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

The cabinet member Matt McCabe adds that Aequus commercial margins are lower than profit-led alternatives - they can deliver more. This subsidises affordable homes. It uses the market to sell market houses that generates £ to deliver affordable/social homes.

screenshot of live tweets reflecting the text above

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Bath & North East Somerset Labour Group @bneslabourgroup.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

"It's baffling". Labour's Grant Johnson asked why 60% of their homes are "non-affordable" when we just heard about massive housing waiting lists in BNES. He's told that social homes have to be paid for this way.

screenshot of the live tweets reflecting the text of our post here

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Bath & North East Somerset Labour Group @bneslabourgroup.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

Labour's Cllr Grant Johnson (Paulton) asked about infrastructure needs - too often, homes come without infrastructure or it's promised and isn't delivered. That's been a big issue in Paulton. The cabinet member says he agrees and something must be done.

A screenshot of the live tweets of this part of the meeting, reflecting what is written in the text

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Bath & North East Somerset Labour Group @bneslabourgroup.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

This one's a gulp moment: if you are on the waiting list (5,000 households are) and not a priority and want a 4-nbed home, you will wait 200 years. Not a typo: 200 years.

screenshot of the meeting live tweets, reflecting the text of this post

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Bath & North East Somerset Labour Group @bneslabourgroup.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

They looked at the new #Housing Plan. 25% of homes are private rental in Bath & NE Somerset - levels that are akin to a London borough & there isa lot of substandard stock. Papers for you to see are here - democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/ieListDocume...

Screenshot of live tweets reflecting the text

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Bath & North East Somerset Labour Group @bneslabourgroup.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

If you followed Monday's live tweets in BNES scrutiny panel, you'll have heard heart-wrenching stories of families who heard at Christmas that Newton House the only respite care they get will end. The story has just landed in the Chronicle, Echo and Journal: buff.ly/4h2hnLV

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Bath & North East Somerset Labour Group @bneslabourgroup.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

One of the ideas is to pay less for SEND home-chool transport (echoing a Labour proposal last year). The officer says the Chief Exec's friend did a free analysis. They'll also save large amounts by reunifying children with families, from care. Councillors seem to think the numbers are v ambitious.

Image showing that tweet thread, which was live.

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Bath & North East Somerset Labour Group @bneslabourgroup.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

The next agenda item was the budget. A £14m gap overall with very big cuts on social care - councillors quiz on how new cuts can achieve greater efficiencies that they didn't achieve last year. The officers say care will not be affected by the cuts.

An image of that live tweet exchange, as in the text above

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Bath & North East Somerset Labour Group @bneslabourgroup.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

Councillor keep asking - when did the council know? They told families in December, but when did they know about this? It's a wghile before the answer cmoes - the depatrmetn - not she - knew in January 20204.

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Bath & North East Somerset Labour Group @bneslabourgroup.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

In reply, the service director says the facility won't close but it's a pause and they will have a meeting with user families. She offers to answer more questions afterwards.

a screenshot live-tweet of what's in the text

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Bath & North East Somerset Labour Group @bneslabourgroup.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

There are big Qs here, asid Opposition Leader Robin Moss: there are big cuts to social services in the budget - using the same language as last year. He asks when BNES were told by supplier Dimensions that this would close - there are questions to answer, he says:

Images of the live tweet feed which says the same as the text above

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Bath & North East Somerset Labour Group @bneslabourgroup.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

Here's another dad's statement: 'without it we're in big trouble...we're completely lost. I can't begin to explain how I feel'

comments from a Newton House dad saying he and his wife are ageing; they need this respite care; 'without it we're in big trouble...we're completely lost. I can't begin to explain how I feel'

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Bath & North East Somerset Labour Group @bneslabourgroup.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

The families feel there was no consultation on the council's plans and politely challenged the provider/council narrative that there's not enough demand - they say they've been refused extra respite care & many other local families are never told it exists.

live tweet screengrab reporting that families say there has been no consultation on Newton House's closure

Live tweets reporting that families ask for respite care & are told there's no spare capacity

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Bath & North East Somerset Labour Group @bneslabourgroup.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

The cost to the council will be much greater if the young people with complex needs have to go into full time care, say the speakers. They report having no social work visits, a lack of understanding, report being offered inappropriate help and no assessment since 2017.

tweets setting out what the text said above, live from the meeting on Monday.

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Bath & North East Somerset Labour Group @bneslabourgroup.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

...sleep or holiday. The provider contracted by the council wrote to users just before Xmas, saying it will close to them in Feb. Another speak talked about SEND assessment tribunals; her family had to go through two.

a picture of the live tweets etlling the story of a parent who needs respite care - they had no hliday for 17y

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Bath & North East Somerset Labour Group @bneslabourgroup.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

Busy times at Bath & NE Somerset Council: a Budget consultation til 20 Jan, ahead of the budget meeting on 25 Feb. Next week, two scrutiny panels examine budget plans & more: adult health & wellbeing on Mon; corporate scrutiny on Tue. Details + links: buff.ly/3WbVQYU

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