Experts from Bristol’s two universities have teamed up to examine the impact of the city’s first directly-elected mayor.
In what is believed to be a world first in urban studies, the local democracy experts at UWE and the University of Bristol will jointly report on how the mayor has governed the city in their first months in office.
For the first time, the transition period before and after the election of a locally-elected mayor will be subject to scrutiny and analysis. The study – The Bristol Civic Leadership Prospects Project – will report findings next year.
Bristol City Council is participating in the study and giving researchers unparalleled access leading up to the mayoral election on November 15.
UWE professor Robin Hambleton, who is leading the study, said: “We will be asking two key questions. Firstly, what difference does a directly-elected mayor make? We will survey a segment of the local population of Bristol electors and local stakeholders about their thoughts and expectations about the governance of Bristol before the election on November 15 and then, again, in the spring of 2013.
“Secondly we will ask what steps can be taken to ensure that the introduction of a directly-elected mayor brings about benefits and avoids potential disadvantages.
“The study will throw light on whether or not the directly-elected mayor model of governance actually has the desired effects – as viewed from different vantage points. This will help local learning in the context of Bristol and the city region and it will also provide insights that could be useful to other cities or city regions contemplating moves towards a directly-elected mayor model, as well as to central government.
“By working closely with the various stakeholders we hope to learn from their experience of changing the governance of the city and to contribute ideas drawn from research on other cities.”
Dr David Sweeting, from the University of Bristol’s School for Policy Studies, added: “It is important for the universities to engage with the city of Bristol. We hope that this research will have a beneficial impact both in terms of helping the council develop policy around the elected mayor and through helping the new mayor with important insights that will inform and shape how they tackle the new role.”
It is hoped the two universities can make a useful contribution to advancing understanding of how to improve local leadership in Bristol as well as generate useful lessons for localities elsewhere in the world.
