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| Bristol local election sees councillors forced to redefine their role | Bristol local election sees councillors forced to redefine their role |
| (14 days later) | |
| Many of the themes aired on the doorstep and at public meetings are familiar: potholes, refuse collection, transport problems, school places. | Many of the themes aired on the doorstep and at public meetings are familiar: potholes, refuse collection, transport problems, school places. |
| But a much more fundamental issue is also on the agenda during this local election campaign in Bristol: what exactly is the point of a councillor here these days? | But a much more fundamental issue is also on the agenda during this local election campaign in Bristol: what exactly is the point of a councillor here these days? |
| The city has a new directly elected independent mayor – the red-trousered architect George Ferguson – who has ultimate responsibility for all major policy decisions. So this time the tendency has been for candidates not to back ambitious city-wide initiatives or glossy party manifestos (their parties cannot deliver on them) but to pledge to lobby on behalf of communities and to become "ward champions". | The city has a new directly elected independent mayor – the red-trousered architect George Ferguson – who has ultimate responsibility for all major policy decisions. So this time the tendency has been for candidates not to back ambitious city-wide initiatives or glossy party manifestos (their parties cannot deliver on them) but to pledge to lobby on behalf of communities and to become "ward champions". |
| During a hustings this week in one of the most deprived areas of the south-west, candidates for the Easton and Lawrence Hill wards agreed that the role of the councillor had to change. | During a hustings this week in one of the most deprived areas of the south-west, candidates for the Easton and Lawrence Hill wards agreed that the role of the councillor had to change. |
| John Kiely, the Liberal Democrats' longest-serving Bristol city councillor, put a positive spin on the situation. "There's a fantastic opportunity for councillors to represent their local communities for a change, as opposed to going to the council house and sitting on endless committees," he said. | John Kiely, the Liberal Democrats' longest-serving Bristol city councillor, put a positive spin on the situation. "There's a fantastic opportunity for councillors to represent their local communities for a change, as opposed to going to the council house and sitting on endless committees," he said. |
| Kiely promised – if he retains his seat – to talk to the mayor about reinvigorating neighbourhood partnerships, which are made up of residents, councillors, community groups and other agency representatives. | Kiely promised – if he retains his seat – to talk to the mayor about reinvigorating neighbourhood partnerships, which are made up of residents, councillors, community groups and other agency representatives. |
| Budgets for neighbourhood transport schemes and schools should be passed down to the partnerships, he said, adding: "Let's get the decisions made here." | Budgets for neighbourhood transport schemes and schools should be passed down to the partnerships, he said, adding: "Let's get the decisions made here." |
| Labour, currently the second-biggest party on the council behind the Lib Dems, is hoping to do well in Bristol. It was bitterly disappointed that its mayoral candidate, Marvin Rees, lost and refused to allow its councillors to sit on Ferguson's cabinet. | Labour, currently the second-biggest party on the council behind the Lib Dems, is hoping to do well in Bristol. It was bitterly disappointed that its mayoral candidate, Marvin Rees, lost and refused to allow its councillors to sit on Ferguson's cabinet. |
| Hibaq Jama, the Labour candidate for Lawrence Hill, told the hustings that she valued the idea of political differences and found the idea that everyone had to get behind the mayor "frightening". | Hibaq Jama, the Labour candidate for Lawrence Hill, told the hustings that she valued the idea of political differences and found the idea that everyone had to get behind the mayor "frightening". |
| The Green party is also optimistic, fielding candidates in all 23 seats that are up for grabs. Its Easton candidate, Anna McMullen, told the hustings: "We should take decision-making back to a local level, listen to people, bring about change." | The Green party is also optimistic, fielding candidates in all 23 seats that are up for grabs. Its Easton candidate, Anna McMullen, told the hustings: "We should take decision-making back to a local level, listen to people, bring about change." |
| Another interesting phenomenon in Bristol is the rise of the independent candidate at these elections. An umbrella group, Independents for Bristol (IfB) is helping eight candidates take on the main party machines. | Another interesting phenomenon in Bristol is the rise of the independent candidate at these elections. An umbrella group, Independents for Bristol (IfB) is helping eight candidates take on the main party machines. |
| Speaking after the hustings, one of the independents, educationalist Christine Townsend, said she decided to stand in Lawrence Hill because the young people she worked with felt alienated from the main parties. | Speaking after the hustings, one of the independents, educationalist Christine Townsend, said she decided to stand in Lawrence Hill because the young people she worked with felt alienated from the main parties. |
| A second independent, apprenticeships officer Jane Westhead, who is fighting for the Easton seat, admitted she was naive and did not have a clue about basic electioneering, such as leafletting. | A second independent, apprenticeships officer Jane Westhead, who is fighting for the Easton seat, admitted she was naive and did not have a clue about basic electioneering, such as leafletting. |
| She stumbled during the hustings when the candidates were asked to name two key issues for the ward. Westhead named community engagement as her first – but then had to admit she had forgotten her second. | She stumbled during the hustings when the candidates were asked to name two key issues for the ward. Westhead named community engagement as her first – but then had to admit she had forgotten her second. |
| "I was so interested in listening to what the other people were saying that I forgot what I was going to say. It was embarrassing." | "I was so interested in listening to what the other people were saying that I forgot what I was going to say. It was embarrassing." |
| But it did show she is no slick political operator. "Someone came up afterwards and said I had come over as honest," Westhead added. "That's massively important." | But it did show she is no slick political operator. "Someone came up afterwards and said I had come over as honest," Westhead added. "That's massively important." |
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