All-out elections in Bristol on the cards for 2016
Bristol's political leaders are moving towards agreement over all-out local elections in the city.
The most likely outcome is for them to be held on the same day as the next mayoral election in 2016.
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Polling station at Newton Street, Easton
The current system sees one-third of the city's 70 councillors stand for election every 12 months.
But this system is seen as confusing for voters and prevents wholesale change.
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It has lasted so long because the party in power has usually favoured "one-third" elections because they are less likely to lose control of the council.
If councillors decide to hold local elections on the same day as choosing a city mayor, then it could save council taxpayers upto £800,000 in organising costs.
But council officers are worried that voters might be confused by two types of elections using different voting systems being held on the same day.
Another option would be to hold local elections at the midway point in the mayor's term of office.
But this is fraught with even more difficulties because depending on the outcome, the mayor might be forced to make sweeping cabinet changes and lose the momentum of their leadership.
The move towards all-out elections is being promoted by Peter Abraham, leader of the Tory group, who said change is desperately needed.
He said: "When you've got upto three-quarters of voters not taking part in local elections, then clearly the system is not working and something needs to be done.
"It goes without saying that saving money is important but it is vital that we have a voting system which is popular and engages people in the decision-making process."
Mr Abraham is also keen for people to be able to vote online or by using their mobile phones.
The Liberal Democrats are understood to be coming round to the idea of all-out elections.
But they are keen on a review of ward boundaries because some councillors are serving more than 10,000 people while others represent less than 6,000.
Labour councillors are also believed to be moving towards supporting a change although they will not make a decision until a private meeting on Monday night.
City mayor George Ferguson was elected in November for a three-and-a-half-year term of office until May, 2016.
If the council decides on all-out elections to coincide with the mayoral election, then the current "one-third" system would remain until 2015.
Mr Abraham said there was a case for asking the Government to scrap "one-third" elections in 2015 in order to prepare properly for all-out elections in the following year.
He said: "I hope we don't see a political row over the issue of all-out elections.
"I'm hoping we will begin to see a more consensual approach to local politics where we can agree things through discussion and compromise."
A private meeting of party leaders will be held during the next two weeks to see if they can reach agreement.
If they do, then proposals will be put to a specially-convened meeting of the full council in February because a two-thirds majority is required on constitutional changes.
South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset councils have all had all-out elections since the former Avon County Council was scrapped in the mid 1990s.
It means that voters in these areas have the opportunity every four years to force wholesale change.
Comments
by Buck_Jones
Wednesday, January 09 2013, 12:13AM
“The only reason we have a mayor in the first place is because, unlike other cities, we did not have the referendum and local elections at the same time.
Lets have a one off election so we can get rid of this expensive elected mayor and the elected council can then run for the full term without the problem of annual elections.
The local electorate may not like this but will put it on the same footing as national elections.
If people can't cope with having two different item to vote on, then they shouldn't be voting at all.”
by DM_Fishponds
Sunday, January 06 2013, 9:26AM
“"A private meeting of party leaders will be held during the next two weeks to see if they can reach agreement. If they do, then proposals will be put to a specially-convened meeting of the full council in February because a two-thirds majority is required on constitutional changes."
Easy questions for the Party Leaders:
1. Do you want to save council taxpayers up to £800,000 in organising costs.
2. Or, do you favour "one-third" elections because you are less likely to lose control of the council.
What will be more difficult is justifying the answer if option 2 is chosen.”
by J12345678
Sunday, January 06 2013, 12:53AM
“@DennisB2012
It's a nice theory but 'fine-tuning' is hardly needed in a city. What are all these factors which crop up out of the blue every year that give voters a need to change a third of councillors? Surely it's better to get things done, which incidentally has most definitely not been happening in Bristol so I argue the current cosy 'fine-tuning' system prevents progress.
I also note the article says the neighbouring authorities have 'all-out' elections. (Also of course, so does Westminster for General Elections.)”
by DennisB2012
Saturday, January 05 2013, 10:02AM
“The current electoral sequences enables residents to "fine tune" the behaviour of those councillors who are "in power" and better reflect the current feelings of residents.
Elections held once every four years means you are stuck with one mix of councillors (perhaps either good ones or bad ones) during a period when local events and circumstances or legislation from Westminster etc. will certainly alter. What happens if the mix of councillors, who should be holding the Mayor and executive to account, don't react as residents might wish? Just hold you breath and hope it can be put right at the end of the four year period?
"A year is a long time in politics" and four years is four times longer. Which would you really prefer - holding your breath for four years or fine tuning your ward representation twice in that period?”
by Phurr
Friday, January 04 2013, 3:06PM
“@Joke, 'Labour councillors are also believed to be moving towards supporting a change although they will not make a decision until a private meeting on Monday night.'
What a surprise. I wonder who'll be the person ringing them from London with the decision?"
Its called political debate, they are members of a party so they need to discuss and think about it before they make a decision. Unlike your mate George who makes any flakey decisons then doesn't think.”
by SCHRIS
Thursday, January 03 2013, 8:09PM
“Am I right in thinking that some wards have two councillors? So just have one councillor per ward, reduce the number of council seats from 70 to 40-50 and have the elections every 4 years. Whoever wins the 2015 general election could be favourites to get the most seats as governments usually have a honeymoon period of a year.”
by nickthompson
Thursday, January 03 2013, 7:57PM
“FromMendip: "Are voters so thick that they would be confused by two types of elections using different systems on the same day"-------------------------------------------YES.”
by FromMendip
Thursday, January 03 2013, 4:31PM
“I've been banging on about changing to this system for years. Ironically, now we have a mayor the power of the council as a whole is diminished.
Are voters so thick that they would be confused by two types of elections using different systems on the same day?”
by Phurr
Thursday, January 03 2013, 4:27PM
“Shouldn't this have been sorted out BEFORE the mayor was in place? Didn't the people who thought out, I use the term loosely, the silly idea of mayor, think about its impact elections on the counsellors and vice versa? Another ConDem Omishambles.”
by Bristol1978
Thursday, January 03 2013, 4:09PM
“by charliecycleThursday, January 03 2013, 3:08PM
"Here endeth democracy"
How exactly? Do please explain how allowing people to vote for all councillor positions in one fell swoop instead of the current shambles of a few at a time is sounding the death knell for the democratic system.”