Scrap the Mayor

Next week, Bristolians will have the chance to give their verdict on ten years of mayoral failure in a referendum on the governance of Bristol.

At the recent campaign launch of It’s Our City, it was great to hear from every political party in Bristol, including many Labour Party members, on why the current system of local governance is bad for Bristol and bad for democracy. The referendum, which was proposed by the Bristol Liberal Democrat group and supported by Green and Conservative councillors, will give voters a chance to have their say on 5 May.

The mayoral system in Bristol has a record of shame with £50m of taxpayers’ money thrown down the drain on Bristol Energy, £12m wasted on two bridges to nowhere at Arena Island, parks’ budgets slashed and playgrounds left with no swings, disabled children’s education neglected with hundreds of special school places not provided, and millions more to be cut from the city’s adult social care budget. Because of the over-centralisation of power in the hands of one person, decisions have been made behind closed doors with overpaid, unaccountable advisers and unelected city elites, while local residents and councillors from every party have been ignored and have been unable to stop the waste. The alternative system of governance, the Modern Committee System, is being adopted by councils all over the country, from Glasgow to Sheffield and from Nottingham to Brighton, and it’s easy to see why. The Committee System is a much fairer, more cooperative way of making decisions, ensuring every voice is heard, not just one! On 5 May you can vote to end the waste and restore local democracy. Please vote for a better Bristol. Vote for change. Vote to scrap the Mayor! Hundreds of Brislington West residents have signed up to receive our monthly newsletter via email. You can register using this link: http://www.bristollibdems.org/efocus. By Jos Clark, Liberal Democrat Councillor (Brislington West) Email: cllr.jos.clark@bristol.gov.uk Mobile: 07584 370429 & Andrew Varney, Liberal Democrat Councillor (Brislington West) Email: cllr.andrew.varney@ bristol.gov.uk Mobile: 07584 183381