Former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone was in Bristol this week to take part in a forum on whether Bristol would benefit from an elected mayor.
Businesses in the city are being urged to take part in the debate on the issue, which could have profound effects on Bristol’s future as a key business location and thriving centre for enterprise, innovation and creativity.
A referendum is likely in May next year, the outcome of which would potentially usher in the biggest change to running and managing the city since local government reorganisation in the mid-1990s.
To kickstart the debate on this crucial subject, Bristol Festival of Ideas today launched its first annual Ideas Forum with a day conference on whether an elected mayor would be good for Bristol.
Issues discussed included:
• What elected mayors could offer and what would be the downsides.
• The visions for future Bristol and the best means of delivering these.
• The powers required to deliver what the city needs and whether these are met by the current system.
• The leadership qualities needed to deliver the future Bristol and whether these could be better met by an elected mayor or by the current structure.
• Whether the current system should be revised (four-yearly all-out elections, for example) instead of electing a mayor.
• How mayors have operated in London and other places.
• The financial powers that are needed for an effective elected mayor and whether these will be available.
• Whether in the longer term an elected mayor should have an extended, regional remit, rather than just within the Bristol unitary area, to have the most beneficial impact.
Among those taking part, either as speakers or on one of the discussion panels, were:
Councillor Peter Abraham, Leader of Conservative Group, councillor’s panel
Lord Andrew Adonis, Institute for Government on the Future Leadership Needs of the City
Joanna Averley, Director, Centre for Cities on Elected Mayors and Economic Development
Marti Burgess, business and community panel
Sir Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham, on How Mayors Work in London
Jaya Chakrabati, Nameless and Campaign for Bristol Mayor, business and community panel
Councillor Tess Green, Leader of Green Group, councillor’s panel
Professor Robin Hambleton, University of the West of England on Place-based Leadership in a Globalising World
Councillor Peter Hammond, Leader of Labour Group, councillor’s panel
Councillor Barbara Janke, Leader of Bristol Liberal Democrats and Bristol City Council, councillor’s panel
Charlotte Leslie MP, MPs panel
Ken Livingstone on the Difference a Mayor can Make
Kerry McCarthy MP, MPs panel
Ben Rogers, Centre for London on London Mayors and the Development of the City
Colin Skellett, Wessex Water, business and community panel
Stephen Williams MP, MPs panel.
