FFPT for Bristol? 26.2.21

 Dear Tim,

 

Thank you for your question on my Facebook Live Q&A and for your follow up email.

 

I appreciate you taking the time to share your views. We have made improving connectivity through public transport in Bristol a priority, after years of successive administrations failing to deliver the transformation of our transport network that is needed. This includes improving priority for buses, cyclists and pedestrians across our city and bringing forward plans for a sustainable mass transit system that will connect people to people, people to jobs, and people to opportunity.

 

We do this, however, in a context of limited powers. Since the deregulation of bus services in the 1980s, local authorities do not have powers to compel bus services to reduce fares or to franchise bus services locally. Nevertheless we continue to expand provision to public transport for residents of all ages across the city, and to ensure this is affordable for all.

 

Kind regards

 

 

Marvin Rees

Mayor of Bristol

Metro Mayors should be SELECTED, not elected!

I saw your interview, Elizabeth with Liam Byrne on Friday's 'Midlands Today'.  Liam is incredibly eloquent and slick in his answers.  I admire these professional politicians for their instant, clever answers that I find quite impossible to catch them out on.  Until your interview!

Liam was either being disingenuous or worse or, most surprisingly, mistaken after four years, as to the powers of the Metro Mayor.  Liam, if elected, is unable to do any of the things he spoke about in your interview.  He is no more than a representative, a public relations man and, as respected journalist Jonathan Walker of the 'Birmingham Post' wrote, a "figurehead" for the Combined Authority.  A Combined Authority that also has a Chief Executive, Deborah Cadman on more than double Andy's salary, I believe!  Here is my evidence:-

I've just been reading up about the Bristol Mayor Marvin, who is the Bristol City Council leader but without that title.  It is the Metro Mayors, like Andy Street for us, who have no official powers and have to work alongside the council leaders in the W Mids Combined Authority.  Similarly, the West of England Combined Authority that also has a Metro Mayor as a figurehead without any formal, official powers.

from:    https://thebristolmayor.com/role-of-the-mayor/

"The role of (Bristol) Mayor replaced the previous Council Leader and leads the city council and its full range of services – from social care to waste collections. The Mayor also performs a broader role representing the interests of Bristol’s citizens on a national and international level.

"In May 2017 Tim Bowles was elected as the first West of England Combined Authority Mayor (commonly referred to as a ‘Metro Mayor’) and will work alongside Marvin Rees and the council leaders for South Gloucestershire and Bath and North East Somerset" (my emphasis).

I think that it is unsatisfactory that all participants endanger themselves and, possibly, spread the virus for an election for a Mayor that has no powers and is no more influential than you or I!  Shortly after he was elected in May 2017, Andy volunteered the information in a BBC 'Today' interview that he had "no formal powers".  Andy has the integrity, the honesty to say that.

In my opinion, Metro Mayors should be selected in an open, fair and transparent process.  Not elected!

I would like you, Elizabeth to challenge Liam to be as equally honourable as Andy, and to no longer mislead and exaggerrate as he did on Friday evening in talking to you.

With every good wish

To Mayor Marvin Rees

QUESTION FOR 24 FEB: Could we move away from car culture by encouraging families to use public transport that is free for ALL and not just for old crocks like me who are on our way over and out? What a great compensation for CAZ coming in and to boost bus and train use!