The fact that Bristol is one of just a handful of cities in the country to have its own elected mayor could be a key factor in its future economic development, according to a leading business commentator.
The Coalition Government has long called for devolution of power away from Whitehall and David Cameron gave his personal backing for an elected mayor in Bristol. Since being elected to the role in November 2012, George Ferguson has had a major say on economic policy and strategies for the city.
Philip Morton, Head of Agency & Development at the Bristol office of leading property firm CBRE, believes that having an elected mayor could give the city a distinct advantage ahead of other main regional cities moving forward.
He said: “The economy is firmly in recovery mode and in Bristol we are seeing a real upturn in activity. However, the next two to three years will be crucial, with major regional areas looking for ways to establish themselves as leading economic centres. Bristol has plenty of advantages to exploit; a higher than average GDP, close geographical links to London and a highly trained and educated workforce.
“But another advantage that could be capitalised on is the role of the elected mayor. The current Government has made it clear that it favours the elected mayoral system and prefers to deal directly with one individual who really can make a difference and get things moving in the right direction. The mayor offers a single unified voice who can deal directly with officials and policy makers in London and help means that party politics do not slow down policies and strategies.”
Philip Morton added: “It is also important not to underestimate the PR value of having an elected mayor. The role has certainly raised the profile of the city on the national stage and that can only be a positive thing. Bristol has built up an identity and a distinct brand in recent years and the office of elected mayor has played an important part in that process.”
