22 February 2012, 7 pm

Bristolians will be asked to vote for or against the idea of a directly elected Mayor in May 2012, in a local referendum proposed in the Government’s Localism Bill. Replacing the present Councillors plus Cabinet system in the City Council with a directly elected Mayor would represent the biggest upheaval to local democracy since the dissolution of Avon County Council.

But would it be change for the better?

• What problems would an elected Mayor solve?
• What would reorganising the Council cost?
• Would an elected Mayor ensure stronger leadership and better management of the city?
• Would a Mayor and local assembly enhance or damage local democracy?
• Is there enough scope for a Bristol Mayor to make a difference, without more influence on surrounding councils, or more power to raise and spend revenues?
• Should mayoral candidates be party politicians, or independents?
• How long should Mayors and Councillors serve between elections?
• Would a Mayor make Bristol greater?

The debate will feature voices from both sides, for and against a directly elected mayor, in the Conference Hall of Bristol City Council. Join Professor Alex Marsh from the University of Bristol School for Policy Studies and panellists chaired by Bristol-based broadcaster Chris Serle to debate the issues for and against a directly elected mayor. Panellists include:

• Mark Weston, Conservative councillor for Henbury and Deputy Leader of the Bristol Conservative Party
• George Ferguson CBE, owner and founder of Bristol’s Tobacco Factory Theatre, and Past President of the Royal Institute of British Architects
• Deborah Hallett, strategy consultant and recent adviser to the London Development Agency
• Barbara Janke, Liberal Democrat leader of Bristol City Council

Doors open at 6.30 pm and the event begins at 7 pm. This event is free but, but booking is required; please visit: bristolmayordebate.eventbrite.co.uk. For further information or to submit a question, please contact Amanda Edmondson by email: cpe-info@bristol.ac.uk or tel: +44 (0)117 33 18313. Please submit your question together with:

• your full name
• email address
• phone number
• home postcode

This joint event is organised by the RSA, University of Bristol, Bristol Festival of Ideas, and the Bristol branch of the Institute of Directors. A poster of the event is available to download (1 page, PDF 892 kB).