Mayoral referendum: what do people in Hillfields think?

With the mayoral referendum just days away, Bristol24/7 is visiting different areas of our city to find out how people will be voting, if they are voting at all.

The question that the referendum on May 5 will be asking is whether Bristol wants to retain the current mayoral model, or replace it with a committee system.

Here is what people in Hillfields think:

Claire Ramsden, 60, a civil servant from Hillfields

Claire is a civil servant from Hillfields

“There’s part of me that would be tempted to go with that with scrapping the mayoral role.

“A lot of people criticise Marvin Rees, but personally, I quite like him. I feel as though he has achieved lots of things for Bristol, he’s got a lot of good ideas and it’s quite nice to have somebody who’s a little bit charismatic.”

“But on the other hand, I do wonder if a committee system would be better. Having an individual mayor makes people see local politics as something more personal – people either like them, or they don’t.”

“With George Ferguson too, it all seemed to come down to whether Bristol actually liked him or not – and I think that’s one of the problems with it.”

“I like the idea of more discussion.”

Richard Whiting, 53, a postman from Staple Hill

“You need somebody to be the face of the city,” said a postman from Staple Hill

“I was surprised to hear they were holding the mayoral referendum, to be honest.

“I’d vote for the mayor to stay because he’s representing Bristol. Bristol is so expensive in every way a lot of people are having trouble finding housing and things like that – so we need representation to fix that.

“If there was a committee system, councillors would never agree on anything. I think Bristol Rovers have been trying to get a stadium in Bristol for about 40 years, and that’s not happened.

“You need somebody to be the face of the city.”

Julie Poulston, 63, retired from Fishponds

Julie wants to scrap the role of a city mayor

“I am not going to vote to keep the mayor. I didn’t agree with George Ferguson and I don’t think he did a lot of good. I think the position as a whole is a waste of money and I don’t think one person should have all the get go. I just think it’s a waste of taxpayers’ money.”

Truida Mutare, 69, retired from Fishponds

Trued said that having a mayor in Bristol will ensure decisions are made

“I have already voted to keep the mayor. When councillors come together, they don’t have as many solutions. With the mayoral role, he will listen to what councillors have to say and their challenges open up a dialogue.

“Under the councillors, you find that it’s too difficult to come up with solutions – it’s all talking without implementing. If there is a mayor, decisions will be made.

“Imagine we don’t have a prime minister and members of parliament only – no one would make any decisions, would they?”

Joseph Carter, 30, a sales person from Hillfields

Joseph, 30, works in sales

“I’ve heard about the mayoral referendum and I’m familiar with the mayor in the city of Bristol. I don’t really know enough yet, that’s something that I need to go and actively research before I’m going to kind of cast my vote.

“But I think my understanding is that I’m not a massive fan of having a mayor in the first place and I think I will probably vote to scrap the role.

“To be completely honest, a lot of people smarter than me have said that they are not a fan of the mayoral system – so I kind of need to look at that myself.”

Maritza, 38, a mum from Speedwell

Maritza likened the committee model of governance to systems used by indigenous communities

“The thing is that I just, I wasn’t a British citizen, so I wasn’t ever informed about these things but I just got my passport – and I think the idea of a committee system would be great.

“In the long term, I think it could be the most efficient way to deal with matters. Mayors serve for a certain period of time. If that was a committee of councillors, where there’s no personal agenda, I think it would work better.

“I know in other parts of the world, there are communities, like indigenous communities that use that kind of system. It’s more equal.

“I think having more people, there are more ways to see things and more perspectives and ideas on how to solve things – maybe this is a bit more democratic.

Chris Price, 43, a software asset manager from Hillfields 

Chris said that mayors are the “focal point” of cities

“I would vote to keep the mayor position. If you have a committee it’s just going to lead to more bureaucracy. Retaining the mayor will at least represent Bristol and be a focal point for the city – although a committee would probably be more inclusive.”

Keith Glasspole, 69, retired from Fishponds

“Maybe a committee of councillors might actually listen to the people of Bristol and their wants?”

“I think we should scrap the mayor because we need a consistency of policy.

“We had a big arena to be built in town and now it’s going to be in Filton. All the infrastructure has been done, and now it’s changed. I didn’t necessarily like where it was going to be, but at least it was in Bristol – where Rees is mayor of.

“Without a mayor, there won’t be the inconsistencies of changes. I used to work for the council a long time ago, and the committee system is not wonderful. But it’s not bad, either. At least now in Bristol, we tend to have a consistent party in charge which helps with long term planning.

“Maybe a committee of councillors might actually listen to the people of Bristol and their wants?”

Bristol24/7 will be hosting a Twitter Space on Tuesday, May 3 at 7pm where people in favour of retaining the mayoral system and people who want to change to a committee system will be invited to speak

All photos: Betty Woolerton

Read more: Mayor vs Committee: What do Bristolians think?

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