City councillors vote to switch from electing by "thirds" to "all-out" council elections from 2016

BRISTOL residents will vote once every four years in council elections from 2016.

The decision to bring an end to the system of "one-third elections" - where one third of the council’s 70 seats are contested every year - was made tonight at an extraordinary meeting of full council.

For the proposal to be passed two thirds of the city’s councillors needed to vote in its favour.

While the Tory and Labour groups had previously voiced support, there was uncertainty about which way the city’s Lib Dem councillors, who had a free vote, would vote.

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After around an hour of debate the motion was carried by 46 councillors in favour, 12 against and three abstentions, of the 61 councillors who turned out.

It means that polling day will see elections for councillors as well as for the elected mayor.

This will mean voters will have the chance to force a clean sweep at City Hall if they are not satisfied they are being properly served.

The new format will be introduced in 2016, the same year as the next mayoral election.

In the meantime, “one-third” elections will be held this year, next year and in 2015.