Council Change means committee system can stay

BRISTOL City Council won't be forced to scrap the committee model at the next local elections after the government has decided to make an exception. Last summer the government unveiled plans which appeared to suggest Bristol would have to switch how the council is run yet again.

- Alex SEABROOK Local democracy reporter

Three and half years ago, Bristol voted in a citywide referendum to scrap the directly elected mayor, and bring in a new model instead. Since last year, eight policy committees made up of councillors in different political parties have run the council instead, although this is uncommon.

Most councils across England are run by a cabinet and council leader. A new amendment to a bill means Bristol won't have to switch to this system, and can keep its committees.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Stephen Williams, chair of the committee, said: “I often say nine pairs of eyes are better than one pair of eyes. And it seems the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government [Steve Reed] agrees with that observation. It may well be that the committee system in Bristol will be alive and well for quite a while yet”