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Campaigners told a public debate last night that an elected mayor for Bristol should be just the first step towards a regional ‘metro mayor’.In front of more than 250 people at the Council House last night, architect and Tobacco Factory owner George Ferguson said it was wrong that Bristol was limited by its current boundaries.
If people in the city vote in favour of a directly elected mayor at a referendum in May, the new mayoral system should be a first step towards having a mayor with wide-ranging powers beyond the city’s limits.
Conservative councillor Mark Weston backed the call, saying a metro mayor could deal with strategic issues such as the wider transport network in the Greater Bristol region.
Their call came after business leaders in the city said yesterday that a city mayor would distract from the work done by neighbouring authorities via the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), and would prefer a ‘metro mayor’.
The debate, held in the conference hall of the Council House, heard from council leader Barbara Janke, who said there was a “strong argument” for a metro mayor but that the city did not need an “unrealistic” figure head who could “magically” solve all Bristol’s problems.
“In an ideal world, we would have a metro mayor who could deal with strategic issues such as transport,” said Cllr Weston. “Let’s get the good now and push for the excellent later.”
A poll of the audience revealed nearly half were in favour of directly electing a mayor every four years. Some 47% voted in favour at the end of the debate, with 36% voting no and 17% saying they were still undecided.
Cllr Weston and Mr Ferguson spoke of the need for “responsibility and democracy at the heart of the city.
“A good mayor is a unifying force who will raise the profile of the city nationally and internationally,” said Mr Ferguson.
“Councillors in Bristol bat for Bristol,” he added, “but they are doing that with their hands tied behind their backs. We need someone to give pride to citizens and act as a true ambassador.
But Cllr Janke asked the audience if “an all-powerful ‘tsar’ was really what they wanted for Bristol”.
“An elected mayor would have the same problems that we face now. It is unrealistic to expect one person to answer the expectations of nearly half a million people.
“Issues such as the Ashton Vale stadium and Gloucestershire County Cricket Club’s stadium split the city’s opinion. But we have true debate and an elected mayor could not distance themselves from these split opinions.”
Her fears were backed by Deborah Hallett, strategy consultant and recent adviser to the London Development Agency.
She warned that a city-wide mayor would mean Bristol would become an insular, city-centric area that would cause problems with its regional neighbours, and would lose out with the economic development a body such as the LEP already provides.
“Think very carefully about how you talk on this with your neighbours,” she said. “An elected mayor would not think of the city. They would only think of their own re-election.”
One of the most popular points raised by the audience was the lack of information over what an elected mayor would actually mean for the city.
Cllr Janke said she had been “astounded” by the lack of information but pledged to ensure the council website will contain a briefing for voters with “as much information as we can find”.
The referendum on an elected mayor takes place on May 3. Should voters decide for the proposal, a vote will take place in November to decide who will lead the city.
“Councillors in Bristol bat for Bristol,” he added, “but they are doing that with their hands tied behind their backs. We need someone to give pride to citizens and act as a true ambassador.
But Cllr Janke asked the audience if “an all-powerful ‘tsar’ was really what they wanted for Bristol”.
“An elected mayor would have the same problems that we face now. It is unrealistic to expect one person to answer the expectations of nearly half a million people.
“Issues such as the Ashton Vale stadium and Gloucestershire County Cricket Club’s stadium split the city’s opinion. But we have true debate and an elected mayor could not distance themselves from these split opinions.”
Her fears were backed by Deborah Hallett, strategy consultant and recent adviser to the London Development Agency.
She warned that a city-wide mayor would mean Bristol would become an insular, city-centric area that would cause problems with its regional neighbours, and would lose out with the economic development a body such as the LEP already provides.
“Think very carefully about how you talk on this with your neighbours,” she said. “An elected mayor would not think of the city. They would only think of their own re-election.”
One of the most popular points raised by the audience was the lack of information over what an elected mayor would actually mean for the city.
Cllr Janke said she had been “astounded” by the lack of information but pledged to ensure the council website will contain a briefing for voters with “as much information as we can find”.
The referendum on an elected mayor takes place on May 3. Should voters decide for the proposal, a vote will take place in November to decide who will lead the city.
