Liverpool recently made the news by choosing to bypass a referendum on whether the city should have an elected mayor, instead opting to go straight for an election.
The question of whether there should be an elected mayor is one that creates lively debate in itself and the fact that the people of Liverpool have not been given the chance to have their say has been been controversial.
Cities, regions and businesses are having to compete as never before and some critics have argued that the lure of a potential funding pot has been the chief driver behind Liverpool council’s decision to press on.
In doing so, one cannot deny that Liverpool has stolen a march on its North West rivals but surely a starting point for having a democratically elected mayor is to have a democratic process to see if that is what the people want?
The Localism bill has had a good deal of support in the business community and the option of an elected mayor as part of the process of letting regions have more say over their future strikes a chord with many who want to have a local champion.
The IoD is broadly supportive of the Localism Bill but as an organisation has not taken a position on whether there should be elected mayors in the 12 chosen cities. So, in the spirit of democracy denied to the people of Liverpool, the Bristol IoD asked our members to vote on the issue.
The results are unequivocal: 88% of our members would like an elected mayor. This result shows an overwhelming statement of desire, but what would a Mayor mean in practice? How would they be connected to the Council structure? Would the Mayor have the kind of influence our members are hoping for?
We asked a second question that produced a more nuanced response. ‘If yes, should the elected mayor cover just Bristol or the four local authorities of the whole West of England?’ 48% of our respondents felt that the mayor should just cover Bristol with 52% believing the role should cover the West of England.
So, while our members are clear on the answer to the main question, there are several supplementary questions that need to be debated. The Bristol IoD is therefore delighted to support a public debate on the issue of whether there should be an elected mayor. Should Bristol Have an Elected Mayor? will be held on February 22 at 7pm at the Council House and is being hosted by The RSA, the University of Bristol , the Bristol Festival of Ideas and the IoD.
The event is free to attend but guests must register via the link above to reserve a place. The event will be a formal debate with two speakers agreeing with the motion and two against. The audience will be given the opportunity to vote and to take part with both questions and opinions.
Our members have given their views in advance, please join us to give your opinion so that the people of Bristol as a whole can give their view.
Tom McCarthy advises on Mergers & Acquisitions for www.avondale.co.uk and is Chairman of the Bristol Institute of Directors www.iod.com
The IOD can smell big profits and easy 'development' processes with wining and dining a new mayor.
I'm sure the IOD offer excellent business advice in their exclusive club but maybe they live in a different world to us ordinary folk. They promote a reduction in the higher rate of tax for instance.
' 88% of their members would like a mayor'
Take a look at my stats Tom….
The polls already indicate that 50% of Bristolians think the new mayor should offer free scrumpy to all including children with school meals.
Also to date 42.86% believe the new mayor should wear no trousers at all. Thats all the IOD's pinstripe suits binned before we start!
Yet another blog post from someone from the Bristol Business Community backing an elected Mayor.
Now I wonder:
a. which community would have most to gain by getting their man elected
b. which community has the funds to get their man elected
Hello arry,
I'd be more than happy to take a look at a blog post from someone like yourself who is not backing the idea of an elected mayor – Bristol24-7 is independent and welcomes both sides of the debate.
Don't worry. I accept 24-7 is independent.
It was more a remark on the relentless promotion of the Mayor by the City's business interests.