Bristol City Council
Bristol City Council | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms | |
 Council logo | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 70 councillors[5] |
 | |
Political groups |
|
Joint committees | West of England Combined Authority |
Length of term | 4 years[4] |
| Elections | |
| Plurality-at-large | |
Last election | 2 May 2024 |
Next election | 4 May 2028 |
| Motto | |
| Virtute et Industria (By Virtue and Industry) | |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| City Hall, College Green, Bristol, BS1 5TR | |
| Website | |
| www | |
Bristol City Council is the local authority for the city of Bristol, in South West England. Bristol has had a council from medieval times, which has been reformed on numerous occasions. Since 1996 the council has been a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council. Bristol has also formed its own ceremonial county since 1996. Since 2017 the council has been a member of the West of England Combined Authority.
The council has been under no overall control since 2021. Following the 2024 election the Green Party was the largest party. Green councillor Tony Dyer was appointed leader of the council, and committee chairmanships were shared amongst the Greens and Liberal Democrats. The council is based at City Hall on College Green.
History[edit]
The council was formed by the Local Government Act 1972. It was first elected in 1973, a year before formally coming into its powers and prior to the creation of the non-metropolitan district of Bristol on 1 April 1974.
Under the Local Government Act 1972 Bristol as a non-metropolitan district council would share power with the Avon County Council. This arrangement lasted until 1996 when Avon County Council was abolished and Bristol City Council gained responsibility for services that had been provided by the county council.
In 2012, Bristol voted to change to a mayor run council, but in 2022 voted to return to a councillor committee run council to spread power and decision making. Following the 2024 Bristol City Council election, eight policy committees will take charge of different parts of the council. Policy committees will have about nine councillors from different political parties, with the committee chairs having a similar role to the previous cabinet members under the mayoral system. There will also be nine area committees to provide more district direction.[6] The Green Party formed an executive for the first time.[7] Over half the Labour cabinet stood down at the 2024 election.[8]
Political composition[edit]
Mayor[edit]
The mayor of Bristol following the 2021 mayoral election is Marvin Rees for the Labour Party. Originally intended to serve for four years from 2016, his first term was extended by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was re-elected for a shortened three-year term in 2021.[9]
Rees previously ran in the first Bristol mayoral election, coming second place to the independent George Ferguson.
On 7 December 2021, the majority of opposition councillors backed a legally binding motion to hold a referendum on the future of the role of the Elected Mayor of Bristol. The referendum in May 2022 offered Bristolians the choice of keeping an elected mayor or reverting to a committee system of governance.[10][11] The result was to abolish the role of mayor from May 2024.[12]
Councillors[edit]
Following the 2021 Bristol City Council election, no party held a majority in the chamber, with both the Green Party and Labour holding the same number of seats. The council had previously been controlled by the Labour Party since 2016, and the council continues to be led by the directly-elected executive Mayor.
The Liberal Democrats gained eight seats in the election. However, on 13 December 2021, former Lord Mayor Chris Davies and former Lib Dem Bristol group leader Gary Hopkins defected from the party to form the Knowle Community Party.[13]
On 24 December 2021, the Labour councillor for Southmead, Helen Godwin, announced she would be resigning, triggering a by-election for 17 February 2022,[14] at which Kye Dudd (former councillor for Central until May 2021) of the Labour Party was elected to replace her.[15]
The Green Party became the largest party in 2023 following the Hotwells and Harbourside by-election, gaining a seat from the Liberal Democrats.[16]
On 12 December 2023, Labour councillor for Filwood, Zoe Goodman resigned from the Labour Party over its response to what she called "the genocide in Gaza", becoming an Independent councillor.[17]
In March 2024, the Green party suspended one of their councillors for Ashley, Jude English, pending investigation of a complaint against her.[18]
Labour councillor Deborah Vittori was disqualified from holding office following the 2024 election.[19]
| Party | Councillors | |
|---|---|---|
| Green | 34 | |
| Labour | 21 | |
| Liberal Democrats | 8 | |
| Conservative | 7 | |
Cabinet (since 2024)[edit]
The new Green cabinet was revealed on 21 May 2024.[20] They are in coalition with the Liberal Democrats.[21]
| Position | Party | Person | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Council Leader | Green | Green | Tony Dyer[22] | |
| Deputy Council Leader | Green | Green | Heather Mack | |
Cabinet (until 2024)[edit]
The cabinet was led by Mayor Marvin Rees and consisted of nine members (including Rees). All cabinet members were members of the Labour Party.[23]
| Position | Party | Person | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor, lead on City Policy, Strategic Planning and Communications, Council Plan | Labour | Marvin Rees | |
| Deputy mayor, cabinet member for City Economy Finance and Performance | Labour | Craig Cheney | |
| Cabinet member for Children Services, Education and Equalities | Labour | Asher Craig | |
| Cabinet member for Waste, Climate, Ecology and Just Transition | Labour | Marley Bennett | |
| Cabinet member for Public Health and Communities | Labour | Ellie King | |
| Cabinet member for Adult Social Care and Integrated Care System | Labour | Helen Holland | |
| Cabinet member for Strategic Planning, Resilience and Floods | Labour | Nicola Beech | |
| Cabinet member for Housing Delivery and Homelessness | Labour | Tom Renhard | |
| Cabinet member for Transport | Labour | Don Alexander | |
| Cabinet member for Housing Services and Energy | Labour | Kye Dudd | |
Bristol City Youth Council[edit]
The Bristol City Youth Council (BCYC) are an elected group of young people aged 11 to 18. Members are voted for in the Bristol Big Youth Vote, which takes place in schools, with students voting. The constituencies for Youth Council are divided into Bristol North, Bristol East Central, and Bristol South, with each area having eight members. This is in addition to several co-optees from special representation groups such as Young Carers, Unity Youth, and the Children in Care Council.
The purpose of the Youth Council is express young people's views on the decisions that are important to them and that their opinions are voiced and heard. They also run internal and external campaigns
The Youth Council also internally elects two members of youth parliament (MYP), and two youth mayors. The youth mayors act as advisors to the mayor, Marvin Rees, and attend meetings and accompany him to events.[24] As of February 2023, the Youth Mayors are Mya Parker and Felix Massey.[24]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Bristol City Council Senior Leadership".
- ^ "New committees era begins at Bristol City Council". BBC News. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ Postans, Adam (20 September 2023). "Bristol City Council chief executive has contract extended to oversee move to committee system". Bristol Live. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
- ^ Bristol City Council
- ^ "Open Council Data UK - compositions councillors parties wards elections". Opencouncildata.co.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- ^ Seabrook, Alex (29 December 2023). "The huge political switch happening in Bristol in 2024 that will completely change how the city is run". Bristol Post. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
- ^ "Bristol City Council's new committee roles are approved". BBC News. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ Cork, Tristan (11 September 2023). "More than half of Labour's ruling cabinet to step down in May". Bristol Live. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ "Mayoral election results". Bristol City Council. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
- ^ Cameron, Amanda (7 December 2021). "Bristol mayoral referendum to be held in 2022". Bristol Post. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- ^ "Bristol mayoral referendum to be held in 2022". BBC News. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- ^ "Bristol Mayor Vote: Voters Decide to Abolish Mayor Post". BBC News. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
- ^ Booth, Martin (13 December 2021). "Longstanding Lib Dem Councillors' resignations throw party into turmoil". Bristol24-7. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ Cork, Tristian (24 December 2021). "Southmead councillor quits triggering by-election in the new year". Bristol Post. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- ^ Adam Postans (18 February 2022). "Labour wins Southmead by-election despite Green surge". Bristol Live.
- ^ Seabrook, Alex (3 February 2023). "Bristol by-election: Green Party becomes largest on council". BBC News. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ Booth, Martin (13 December 2023). "LABOUR COUNCILLOR RESIGNS OVER PARTY'S PALESTINE POLICY". Bristol24/7. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
- ^ Pipe, Ellie (20 March 2024). "GREEN COUNCILLOR SUSPENDED FROM PARTY". Bristol 24/7. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ "Bristol City councillor disqualified weeks after local election". BBC News. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ "Bristol City Council's new committee roles are approved". BBC News. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ Postans, Adam (15 May 2024). "Greens to lead Bristol City Council in 'coalition' with Lib Dems". Bristol Live. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ Seabrook, Alex (21 May 2024). "'With great power comes great responsibility,' says new council leader". Bristol Live. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ "The Mayor and Cabinet". Bristol City Council.
- ^ a b "Bristol City Youth Council and Youth Mayors". Bristol City Council. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
External links[edit]
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| National | |