Interesting campaign for a Bristol mayor.
A striking aspect of Bristol is that the City Council is not very visible in daily life; in big northern cities like Sheffield, Nottingham and Leeds, the presence of a council identity is visible in the street furniture, signs and vehicles; in advertising and buildings; in press and post, and posters. For better or worse there’s a clear municipal culture, the sense of an authority overseeing the city that contributes to the perception of these cities as big powerful machines for living.
By contrast you can pass days at a time in Bristol and barely be aware of the city council. I can’t be sure if that’s good or bad: the lack of leadership might be the reason Bristol has such a distinct and appealing culture, that do-it-yourself, grow-your-own mentality. On the other hand, lack of leadership might be why we have such shocking state schools, inadequate transport, and a weak city identity (we really don’t seem to understand how good we are at so many things).
I’ll be supporting the campaign for a mayor; it’s worth trying, and growing our own is completely the Bristol way to do it.
Bristol is under-sold. It is a successful city despite the like of civic leadership. Imagine what we could achieve with some visionary leadership – and sales skills.
I’m still very unsold on this idea. Perhaps Bristol could achieve more with a Mayor, but would to do more be to kill the goose that laid the golden egg? Historically, Bristol’s never taken well to authority or leadership, much like the South West as a whole. Doing more implies there’s a set vision for this, when Bristol’s successes have generally come from areas where things have been allowed to grow more organically.
Having a fair old knowledge the current set up, i really don’t think a radically new mechanism for authority will lead to any significant difference, and it’s odd to think that it would. The problem isn’t inertia or gridlock (apart from more literally in the Bristol transport sector), it’s ability and convergence between what people want and what authority attempts to deliver.
I really don’t see how reducing accountability to a single point with yet more numerous advisors and inscrutable behind the scenes elements is going to achieve what is actually wanted.
Reducing the number of councillors to one per ward (35 for the city) and paying them double would be a far better means of developing more locally based responsiveness/accountability and driving up quality through allowing people to take on the role full time.
Don’t confuse the fact something needs to be done with this being it.
I’m not sure about this either. But Gez’s last point was very persuasive:
“Don’t confuse the fact something needs to be done with this being it.”
I like Gez’s idea of reducing the number of councillors to one per ward.
I think they’d have to have some teeth to go with the ermine collar, I wonder what powers they’d wield?
Could you put aside part of the Council Tax & business rates to a Mayoral fund to invest in transport, marketing, innovation (with the wards obligated to participate)? That might be fun to see.
Yeah, the halving of councillors idea keeps on being suggested and then rejected, both in Bristol and nationally (think the new govt white paper has just rejected it again recently).
Not sure about giving the Mayor a devolved budget for marketing, as when Red Ken had one there were accusations he just used it for promoting himself. Indeed i think one of Boris’s first acts was to abolish the Mayor’s free newsletter/newspaper.
This is a debate that needs to be had though, and perhaps it might be better if there were other options on the table, rather than just a petition to hold a referendum on a mayor. Perhaps run a campaign for halving the number of councillors, doubling their salary and making them full time?
Anyone know how to build a website?
Why, if the city has been running so well, do we have to have an Elected Mayor… especially when everyone is supposed to be tightening their belts and saving money… seems that the Conservatives are hell bent on getting some control on our city and possibly running it into the ground.
I say leave it as it is… everyone seems to be blind to all the events that are already held in Bristol that are supported by the Council. After all, you’d need a Mayors Residence, Chauffer and all the hangers on to finance… the money would be better spent elsewhere!
Well, that’s my view…