Newly-elected mayor George Ferguson was sworn in this week with representatives of the city’s business community pledging to help him boost Bristol’s image and attract new jobs and investment.
Mr Ferguson, an entrepreneur and architect, is already well known by many businesspeople in the city and during his campaign he said he would work with them to make sure Bristol was seen as open for business while boosting the city’s independent traders.
And in a new development today, former leader of the Labour group Cllr Helen Holland is set to be deputy mayor. As coucil leader ms Holland was widely respected by the business community as a pragmatic politician.
Tessa Coombes, director of policy at Business West, which runs Bristol Chamber of Commerce, said: “With no party machine behind him, and few friends on the council, George Ferguson takes over the reigns as Mayor for Bristol leading the council and the city.
“His first challenge will be to organise a cabinet, made up of colleagues from different parties. The second will be to decide a budget, with £25m of cuts – not a task any of us would envy him.
“His next task from our point of view will be to address our 11 business challenges to provide certainty and confidence to Bristol’s business community that things will change.
“Business West will be knocking on the mayor’s office door to discuss business issues at the earliest opportunity and to offer our support and help in promoting Bristol as a city to be proud of.”
Chamber of Commerce & Initiative president Michael Bothamley added: “We want Bristol to be successful and a good place in which to live and do business because all Bristolians benefit if that happens.
“Our businesses have consistently told us they want the city to have strong leadership focusing on the issues which really matter – and for long enough to be able to make a difference.
“We worked hard to ensure that Bristol voted to have an elected mayor, because the business community believes Bristol will thrive if it has good unifying leadership and a strong voice with Government. All through the election period we challenged the candidates to say where they stand on the issues that determine our success and sustainable growth for our economy.
“We are very much looking forward to working with George. He shares our vision and passion for Bristol and has put so much in to the city already, through the businesses he has created and his place leadership in our community.”
Tom McCarthy, chairman of the Bristol Institute of Directors, said: “We firmly believe that with strong leadership and a collaborative approach that the Mayor will be able to help Bristol fulfil its potential – that after so many disappointments Bristol can be established as a leading city in Europe and beyond.”
David Mace, regional senior director of property adviser GVA in Bristol, said Mr Ferguson must put promoting and developing the economic strength of the city at the top of his agenda.
“With the election of Bristol’s first mayor, there’s a huge opportunity to be grasped to put politics to one side and put the Open for Business sign firmly on the city’s gates,” he said.
“Bristol has made great strides from those dark old days when developers and investors were simply shown the door. However there is still more that can be done in promoting the strengths of our city-wide region and our diverse economic base.
“We cannot forget that Bristol has to compet not only in a national but a global market where ‘he who shouts loudest wins’.
“To do this most effectively Mr Ferguson will need to forget about the artificial boundaries of the unitary authorities and be strong in his vision for the city region.
“I would urge Mr Ferguson to listen carefully to what business in Bristol has to say. Improvements in infrastructure, an integrated transport plan, together with a clear vision for growth that includes embracing inward investment should all be seen as priority.”
Menawhile, Labour councillors in Bristol have finally agreed to join George Ferguson’s cabinet, after criticism from the public, writes Bristol 24-7 (www.bristol247.com)
The leader of the party’s councillors, Peter Hammond, revealed the news live on BBC Radio Bristol this morning during an interview with the mayor.
Cllr Hammond said the decision to join the cabinet had been taken last night, leaving the mayor bemused but delighted on air.
Joining Cllr Helen Holland in the Mayor's Cabinet will be Cllr Mark Bradshaw who is expected to take the transport brief. The third place set aside for the Labour group on the cabinet will be chosen by the party in the next few days.
Mayor Ferguson’s cabinet is expected to be announced in full on Wednesday. A Green Party source this morning revealed that Cllr Gus Hoyt is expected to be named in cabinet until next May.
Daniella Radice, the Greens’ candidate for Bristol mayor, is expected to take over from Cllr Hoyt in May if she is elected as councillor for Bishopston ward.
Cllr Holland revealed this morning her appointment was “news to her” as she was not at the party’s meeting last night.
On Twitter, she wrote: “Thank you for messages, but news of this job is all news to me, as was not at meeting last night,and have not had any conversation with George [Ferguson] … or Pete [Hammond]. I need to have those conversations and to consider this properly.”
The U-turn by Labour led to Mr Ferguson revealing his disappointment at the Labour Party’s delay in deciding whether or not to join his cabinet.
Mr Ferguson, who is attempting to create a rainbow cabinet of all parties in Bristol City Council, wrote on Twitter late last night: “A good day but disappointed to arrive home to hear Labour turned down excellent offer to join my #BristolMayor cabinet”.
With reference to his speech on Monday when he was inaugurated, in which he said he would be “adjusting the sails” on a daily basis to navigate the challenges ahead, he said there was a “need to adjust sails” now.
Reports yesterday suggested Labour councillors had turned down the chance to join the cabinet. Last weekend, the chair of the Bristol Labour Party Darren Lewis said he personally would not recommend his party’s councillors joining the cabinet – instead suggesting they should form a “constructive opposition”.
But a statement from the Labour South West group yesterday scotched the rumours.
“The appropriate procedures are being followed and a decision will be made in good time as to whether Labour councillors in Bristol take up places in Mayor Ferguson’s Cabinet,” the group said.
