Ita a measure of priorities that the council can’t pay it’s staff properly to organise the streets to be swept or rubbish to be collected but can hoard millions of pounds worth of art.
This is a bit of a weird one, I read the article and noticed Leeds council is 4th. Now I’m not sure about Bristol but Leeds most definitely does have an art galley that is wholly owned and operated by the council, not to mention that entrance is entirely free.
I’m sure you could also make the argument about the council owning lots of valuable land that has been hoarded and should be sold off, until you realise that this is land is actually parks.
At some point you have to follow the money and realise that the central government has been underfunding councils for many years. Remember that councils are set up to manage an area so that MPs don’t have to and can look at the bigger picture stuff (in theory).
If the council can’t pay it’s workers properly, then it’s the government that can pay it’s councils properly, either though direct funding or policy changes that put extra financial burden on the council, or both
I’m sure you could also make the argument about the council owning lots of valuable land that has been hoarded and should be sold off, until you realise that this is land is actually parks.
I don’t think anyone is asking for parks to be sold off.
Bristol council has been famous for the past sixteen years of mismanaging public finances. Yes all councils could be better funded by central government but we can’t keep excusing poor financial management like this.
Ultimately it’s about choices and if you’re sitting on millions of pounds of art assets whilst you won’t fund the care in the community you’re charged with, well that’s pretty shit.
