Bristol is going to elect another mayor

Bristol is on the brink of a new system of governance under a “metro mayor” after three out of the four councils in the former Avon area agreed to a package of new powers and investment from central Government.

The new regional mayor will oversea a combined umbrella authority over Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Bath & North East Somerset (BANES) with new powers and more than £1 billion of investment promised for transport, housing and skills.

Provided the Government sticks to its pledges, the deal could be signed off by the Treasury in October, paving the way for elections in 2017 and at least £900 million released over the next three decades.

Bristol, BANES and South Gloucestershire have now all voted in favour, with the region now likely to follow in the footsteps of Manchester which is due to elect its own metro mayor next year.

Councillors in Bristol voted through the deal despite concerns that a metro mayor would be costly and undemocratic. Even city mayor Marvin Rees, who had the final veto, had concerns, admitting the system wasn’t perfect, but “the only game in town”.

The debate in Bristol was held simultaneously with the two other councils over seven hours on Wednesday afternoon and evening, after North Somerset ruled itself out of the proposals in May.

Opening the debate in Bristol, Rees said: “The path we choose today will effect everyone who lives in Bristol for a long time to come.”

He added that his priority of creating more housing would become more realistic with the money and transport could become more interconnected with new powers, much like with Transport for London.

But he said the metro mayor system was not the model he would have chosen.

Rees will remain mayor of Bristol, but will have another elected mayor working at a level above him and with more extensive powers. He has not indicated whether he will stand for the metro mayor position.

Conservative group leader Mark Weston shared Rees’ concerns about a metro mayor, but argued this was a “warts and all deal” where the money and power only comes with a mayor.

Green supremo Charlie Bolton said he had dreamed much of his life as a councillor of getting combined transport planning across neigbouring councils, but he added he was concerned about the public consultation for a metro mayor being launched after the vote.

Gary Hopkins, Lib Dem leader, said he was skeptical of a deal offered by Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, who promised new powers which were not delivered when Bristol chose to have its first elected mayor in 2012.

“This is a mess of a deal as far as I’m concerned,” said Hopkins, who rejected the costly metro mayor model at a time when resources are scarce. 

But all councillors agreed that although the model was not what they wanted, they had to unite to seize the opportunity for more control and investment.

Summing up the meeting, Rees said: “If we don’t go for it we get nothing, we stay where we are with the resources we have and become a city on the back burner.”

Rees’ cabinet voted unanimously to accept the deal and was shortly followed by BANES before South Gloucestershire council also declared their support. 

Read more: The lingering legacy of Avon