Bristol business supports elected mayor as consultation ends
By 
By Rob Buckland
Businesses in Bristol have thrown their weight behind the campaign to introduce an elected mayor for the city.
As the public consultation on the issue ended, business organisations GWE Business West said an overwhelming 86% of the 200 members who responded to a recent survey majority backed the idea of an elected mayor.
GWE Business West asked businesses across the city which of options to be considered by the city council they would prefer — a leader and cabinet or an elected mayor and cabinet.
The council closed public debate on the issue today. A decision will be made at a full council meeting on November 16. At the moment, Bristol councillors vote for a leader annually.
GWE Business West director of policy & strategy Tessa Coombes said: “Businesses in Bristol are sending a clear message to council leaders – we want an elected mayor.
“We believe this would give Bristol the leadership it needs to stand strong in these difficult economic times, to be innovative and ambitious about future plans and to enable us to compete better on an international stage.
“We will be writing to the leaders of all the political parties on the council, asking them to take notice of the business voice and consider carefully the decision they take on this matter.”
The two options to be discussed are:
Leader and Cabinet. Similar to the current arrangement with the full council electing a member to become leader who then appoints other councillors to form the cabinet. The only significant difference is that the new leader will be elected for four years, rather than annually.
Elected Mayor and Cabinet. Voters directly elect the mayor, who then appoints councillors to the cabinet.
In the summer a group of influential Bristol businesspeople, led by digital marketing agency Nameless founder Jaya Chakrabarti, backed an elected mayor, saying it was the only way the city could punch its weight and position itself on the national and international stages.
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