Bristol could elect its first London-style mayor in May 2012
BRISTOL could elect its first London-style mayor on May 3, 2012, documents slipped out by the Government have revealed.
If all goes according to plan, voters will pick an executive figurehead for the city with powers similar to the capital's Boris Johnson.
-
Bristol could elect its first London-style mayor next May. Pictured is the Mayor of London Boris Johnson
That could include control over Bristol's most pressing issues such as transport, housing, regeneration and planning.
The Conservatives were committed to holding a speedy "referendum day" in Bristol and England's other 11 major cities, giving residents the chance to decide if they were for or against creating the powerful positions.
After the election, however, they appeared to row back from that pledge, explaining they would have to take account of the costs.
But in the Department for Communities and Local Government draft structural reform plan the timetable for actually electing someone to the post is set at May 2012.
That, however, is "subject to confirmatory referendums and full scrutiny by elected councillors", it adds – although officials refused to say when that process will take place.
The plans are part of the Government's bid to "shift power back to the people".
It comes as Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles announced proposals to allow the public to veto excessive council tax rises – something Bristol pioneered nine years ago.
He revealed council tax bills across England had doubled since 1997, pushing the average bill to £120 a month on a Band D home.
Coalition ministers have already pledged to work with councils to freeze council tax next year but Mr Pickles said he wants to prevent bills skyrocketing down the line by giving local people the final say in a vote on excessive increases.
That means an end to the central government system of council tax capping.
Instead any increases planned above a set ceiling – expected to be the rate of inflation – would trigger an automatic referendum of all registered electors in their area.
In 2001 residents in Bristol voted against a council tax increase to help pay for additional services in a "budget referendum".
No one at the city council was available for comment on the Government's plans yesterday, but city council leader Barbara Janke has previously said that an elected mayor was not needed.
In 2006 she and the then leaders of the three other councils in the former Avon area, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath & North East Somerset, issued a joint statement declaring that they did not believe an elected mayor "would necessarily improve matters" in the area.
The opinion of Evening Post readers on the need for an elected mayor has swung from one extreme to another since the idea was first mooted nine years ago.
In 2001 a Post phone poll found two-thirds of readers were against the idea.
By 2008, a poll on the Post's website, www.thisisbristol.co.uk, found more than 80 per cent of respondents in favour of the idea.
The post of elected mayor should not be confused with the current Lord Mayor, which is a ceremonial role without any direct powers.
Even if Bristol had an elected mayor, the role of Lord Mayor would continue.
29 Comments
View all
by JC, Near Bristol
Friday, July 30 2010, 10:10PM
“One thing is certain, it won't be one of those useless, spineless Lib Dem muppets. Clegg and the Four Stooges have done for them.”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Friday, July 30 2010, 9:14PM
“:| @Sam, Bristol
Quote:- "I would welcome an elected mayor for the Greater Bristol area. It would enable important large decisions to be made on issues such as Bristol's transport which have been held back in the past by self-aggrandising and parochial councillors of North Somerset and South Gloucestershire such as Elfan ap Rees and Pat Hockey."
Well you must like the sight of blood Sam, because there will be alot of dead bodies around before we ever return to anything that even remotely resembles the old Avon County Council.
However a 'Ray Mallon' for Bristol might just rid the city of it's lawlessness. And I'm not referring to parking on Double Yellow Lines.”
by Jamie E, Stokes Croft
Friday, July 30 2010, 7:20PM
“Hargreaves?
Nah. You run offshore and carry my support along with you.”
by David, briz
Friday, July 30 2010, 6:17PM
“Peter Hargreaves for Mayor of Bristol”
by Jamie E, Stokes Croft
Friday, July 30 2010, 6:12PM
“Not a bad pitch Tobias, but my money is staying with Sapphire. I like the boxing angle, but can't see how you can beat his feather boa. ..shrugs..”
by Tobius, Afri Can Prince for Bristol
Friday, July 30 2010, 5:59PM
“What Bristol needs is a bit of glamour & charisma at the top - not some grey uber councillor. London has the Queen(forget about bendy-bus-bashing-blondy-boy Denis). Bristol should have a touch of Royalty too. As Bristol's very own African Prince , I'm prepared to step up to the plate if urged to do so by overwhelming public support. Believe me the tourists would come flocking! As I always insist my wives cycle everywhere to keep them in shape my green credentials will be impeccable & I can, and frequently do, drive a bus, so the cost of ferrying around my entourage would be bargain basement cheap. I would wear my traditional dress in council meetings and insist all disputes are settled in gentlemanly fashion by boxing match outside Blaise Castle - to be my winter home. In summer, of course, I'd ship over my palatial tent and erect it on the Downs and live there.”
by Jamie E, Stokes Croft
Friday, July 30 2010, 4:38PM
“Sam, isitoveryet,
You've raised good points around the conflict of intrests between the Unitary Authority of Bristol and surrounding councils, but the argument boils down to one factor...
The salient point to remember is that the boundry lines are drawn by us and us alone. No government body, regardless of size or power can withstand a majority popular vote and still retain their democratic mandate.
The reason why folks choose to remain outside the BCC line is because Bristols council taxes are higher than the surrounding authoritys. If we asked folks within the metropolitan area to choose between South Glous et al *or* a unified BCC complete with strong elected leadership that is cheaper than who they're with at the moment, who would fancy the chances of the other guy?
So the one factor is: How can we reduce council tax to make the leadership and value-on-tax argument unassailable?
As a footnote, in this scenario we start seeing local authoritys competing for power through an odd kind of price war, which although would breath all the beautiful benefits of competition on long suffering Bristolians, would need responsible management and consideration from all Bristolians avoid a 'race to the bottom' scenario.
Paying £200 per year in tax would have us living in a slum, that much we can all agree.”
by isitoveryet, Bristol
Friday, July 30 2010, 3:47PM
“Won't that be the sticking point though - it will only be worth having a mayor if they have control of all of greater Bristol - are South Glos, Banes or North Somerset going to give up their interests in the bits of Bristol they control?”
by Sam, Bristol
Friday, July 30 2010, 3:26PM
“I would welcome an elected mayor for the Greater Bristol area. It would enable important large decisions to be made on issues such as Bristol's transport which have been held back in the past by self-aggrandising and parochial councillors of North Somerset and South Gloucestershire such as Elfan ap Rees and Pat Hockey.”
by derek, No longer in Briz.
Friday, July 30 2010, 1:27PM
“Why oh why,no matter what the news,be it the Mayor,open spaces,roads etc,etc,are there always people who want to
air their petty grievences re cars and bikes which have nothing to do with the original story? It`s an arguement that seems to never end.Stick with the story!”