News / mayoral referendum
Bristol’s mayoral model debate: The battle for and against
Accountability, commerce, cost, democracy and decision-making are among some of the hot topics as the debate over the future of governance in Bristol rages.
In what will no doubt be among the first of many verbal battles before the citywide referendum in May, four representatives for and against the current mayoral model set out their arguments in a Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast special.
Triggered by a council vote earlier this month, the referendum will ask voters to decide whether to stick with the existing model or scrap it in place of a committee system.
is needed now More than ever
It will see people head to the polls just a decade after a referendum vote brought in the position of elected mayor in Bristol, a role that has so far been held by two men: independent George Ferguson and Labour’s Marvin Rees.
If Bristol chooses a committee system, the role of city mayor will end following the conclusion of Rees’ second term of office in 2024. The mayor has already confirmed that he will not stand for a third term.
Listen to the debate in full:
In the debate hosted by Bristol24/7 Deputy Editor Ellie Pipe, Tim Kent, a Lib Dem councillor for Hengrove & Whitchurch Park, and Heather Mack, Bristol’s Green group leader and a councillor for Lockleaze, make the case for switching to a committee system of governance.
While Nicola Beech, Labour’s cabinet member for climate, ecology, waste & energy, and Jaya Chakrabarti, president of the Bristol Chamber of Commerce & Initiative, argue in support of the mayoral model.
Main photo by Ellie Pipe
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