WECA becomes WEMCA in December 2024 and ongoing political issues (updated title)

[whole diary]

[infoman]

taking place at the BAWA club in North Bristol,starts at 1pm.

[infoman]

So all the issues he will promise till he stands down next year(2025)won't carry much weight.

https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2024-09-23/metro-mayor-dan-norris-not-able-to-stand-next-year

[grahame]

So all the issues he will promise till he stands down next year(2025)won't carry much weight.

I'm not sure I would agree that conclusion.    He had weight "X" as mayor,  to which he added weight "Y" as an an MP^▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context).  Chances are he will nominate / support another labour candidate for mayor ... and whilst the weight won't total X+Y, I suspect it might not be far short.  If issues he promises are aligned regionally with labour and government strategy, there's something of a strength there.

[WelshBluebird]

I do wonder if the greens have a shot at this.

No incumbent, they weren't that far away in 2021 and have had a pretty big boast in the area (obviously getting an MP^▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) in Bristol central, but also doing very well in some of the other local constituencies and obviously did well in the Bristol council elections too).

Whilst WECA^» (West of England Mayoral Combined Authority - about) is a lot more than just Bristol, I'd expect low turnout and a general dissatisfaction at Labour (both locally aimed at Rees and Norris, and nationally given the government are having to make some hard decisions that will upset people) to help the greens more than anyone else.

[ChrisB]

that's certainly a possibility if they choose a known candidate.

He previously told ITV West Country that there was "precedent in politics" for MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) to have a second job, specifically referring to MPs who are also Cabinet Ministers.

Not quite the same analogy, Dan - a cabinet minister is still working within Government.

[Noggin]

I do wonder if the greens have a shot at this.

No incumbent, they weren't that far away in 2021 and have had a pretty big boast in the area (obviously getting an MP^▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) in Bristol central, but also doing very well in some of the other local constituencies and obviously did well in the Bristol council elections too).

Whilst WECA^» (West of England Mayoral Combined Authority - about) is a lot more than just Bristol, I'd expect low turnout and a general dissatisfaction at Labour (both locally aimed at Rees and Norris, and nationally given the government are having to make some hard decisions that will upset people) to help the greens more than anyone else.

I suspect it rather depends on whether North Somerset joins WECA (see https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/north-somerset-interested-in-joining-weca/).

They are apparently keen, but I'd imagine it would stack the odds in the favour of a Conservative candidate, and on those grounds Labour in Westminster might be inclined to drag their heals somewhat.

Without North Somerset I'd have thought a Green Mayor was quite plausible - in the first round Jerome Thomas got 21.7% in 2021 vs 33.4% for Dan Norris.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Posting from a local perspective, I'm not convinced. 

In the most recent council elections, our traditional Conservative majority were annihilated, and in the recent general election, our Conservative MP^▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) of 32 years was unseated by Labour.

That's maybe why North Somerset Council are now apparently rather more receptive to the possibility of joining WECA^» (West of England Mayoral Combined Authority - about), without having any Conservative candidate on their agenda?

Chris from Nailsea. 

[Red Squirrel]

I attended this event at the Watershed, Bristol, last evening.

Five of the six candidates for WECA^» (West of England Mayoral Combined Authority - about) Mayor were present:

Helen Godwin, Labour
Steve Smith, Conservative
Mary Page, Green
Oli Henman, Liberal Democrat
Ian Scott, Independent

Reform's candidate Arron Banks was also invited. Social media posts had apparently indicated that he would come, leading to enhanced security and an anti-racist protest outside the venue, but he did not attend.

The candidates were asked questions such as: How did you get here this evening? (Steve Smith came by bus, Oli Henman took a train from Bath; I think the others all drove).

They all supported Bus Franchising and expanding the local rail network. Steve Smith opposed the Park Street Bus Gates and bus lanes on the Keynsham Bypass.

In summing up, Helen Godwin stated that while all the candidates (present!) were in broad agreement about what needed doing, a Labour Mayor under a Labour government was most likely to be able to deliver.

There's a full write-up by Bristol 24/7 here: https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/ebln-lessons-reducing-car-dependency-weca-mayoral-hustings/

Oh, and full disclosure: I went by bus. But it was the last bus from Failand, at just before 6pm - so the only way back was to get Mrs Squirrel to give me a lift!

[Chris from Nailsea]

An update, from BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) News, West:

Mayor hopefuls reject Park Street restriction plan

[Image from here is not available to guests]

None of the candidates vying to become the next leader of the West of England have supported plans to restrict cars from a major Bristol road.

During a BBC election debate the six mayoral candidates for the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) were asked if they were in favour of closing Park Street to through-traffic.

Bristol City Council's Green councillors approved the £15m plan to limit Park Street to only buses, cyclists and pedestrians at a meeting in March.

Not one of the candidates raised their hands in support of the plan - including Green Party hopeful Mary Page.

Reform candidate Arron Banks described the scheme as a "terrible idea", adding that businesses on the street had been forgotten.  Pointing to a scheme banning through traffic from part of central Thornbury, where he lives, Mr Banks said it has created "a ghost town".  "You've got to have some consideration for the people who trade there and it kills the vibrancy of it," he said.

Labour candidate Helen Godwin said she was "very unsure" about the scheme, raising concerns about traffic instead being directed past the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and the Bristol Royal Infirmary which she described as "already one of the most polluted streets in the country".  She added that she was "not convinced" of the need for a bus gate on Park Street, having travelled through the area by bus during the morning rush hour without seeing heavy traffic.

On 1 May voters will head to polling stations to pick their new mayor of the West of England Combined Authority.  Made up of Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset (Banes) and South Gloucestershire, the combined authority holds power over transport, skills, economic development and planning in the region.  Decisions made by Weca, however, require the agreement of other council leaders.

During the BBC election debate, some of the candidates set out their transport plans if they were to be elected as Weca mayor.

(Article continues)

[johnneyw]

Events at WECA^» (West of England Mayoral Combined Authority - about) have taken something of a turn this evening regarding the current Metro Mayor.  This arrest is likely to have an effect on the continuing debates but by how much remains to be seen.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czx48gq0y77o

[ChrisB]

One allegation of rape is timed in the 2020s - and and a second allegation of misfeasance in public office seems to indicate an allegation while mayor?

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

[Image from here is not available to guests]
The six West of England Combined Authority mayoral candidates (from left): Arron Banks, Steve Smith, Helen Godwin, Mary Page, Oli Henman and Ian Scott

Most of the candidates standing in the election to run the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) are calling for the franchising of buses.

That would mean turning the clock back on 40 years of private control.

If it happens, the new mayor would decide on routes, fares and timetables. But there are warnings that it could mean an increase to council tax bills.

It was 1986 when buses around Bristol and Bath were put into private hands. Over the following decades passenger numbers declined, and dropped sharply amid the Covid lockdowns.

The main operator, First Bus, says since then there has been progress. Passenger numbers have risen in the past two years, though are still below pre-pandemic levels.

Partly funded by Weca, it now runs more services on the most popular routes. But a shortage of council funding led to many subsidised services being cut.

May's election could herald big changes. Five of the six vying to be mayor favour franchising. That would see control of routes, fares and timetables taken out of the hands of private operators, and given to Weca.

Recent changes in the law have made it easier for mayors to do this. Manchester finished its move to franchising in January 2025. Liverpool, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire are also aiming to make the change. But it all comes with a warning: it will cost taxpayers.

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Bus campaigner David Redgewell said the scheme could either be financed through taxes or higher fares

The transition would come with a price tag; there would also be yearly running costs.

"It's the right way to go, but we've got to have the finance to do it," cautions bus campaigner David Redgewell.  "There are only two ways to pay for it. One is through the taxpayer, and your local taxes and government grants, and the other way is through fares."

However, it is not just down to who wins on 1 May. Any such change would take time – several years in Manchester's case. And with set-up costs of tens of millions of pounds, it might be difficult at a time of such stretched budgets.

[grahame]

So what does the position of the arms in the publicity picture tell me?

Two gave hands crossed over their crotch (what are they protecting?)
Two have their hands behind there backs (what are they hiding?)
One has hands by her side (is she doing anything?)
And one has his hands crossed oveR his chest (does he look fed up?)

[Chris from Nailsea]

I have today discovered that the West of England Combined Authority has recently renamed itself as the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.

There has been no public announcement of this change, so far as I am aware, and the WECA^» (West of England Mayoral Combined Authority - about) website - https://www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/ - makes no specific reference to the change.

However, as it has apparently happened, I have updated our Coffee Shop forum 'abbreviations & acronyms' page, at https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/acronyms.html to include expansions and links to 'WECA' and 'WEMCA^» (West of England Mayoral Combined Authority - about)' - they are interchangeable - in the interests of clarity here.

CfN^▸ (Chris from Nailsea, an administrator on this forum).

[stuving]

There was a rather silly FoI exchange on this. The response says:

The legal name of the Authority is set out in the West of England Combined
Authority Order 2017 as “the West of England Combined Authority”.

The legal name has not been changed.  There is therefore no correspondence
to HM Government requesting the change of the name of the authority. 

WEMCA^» (West of England Mayoral Combined Authority - about) is a branding. There is a bit more information about them being upset that they have so little public recognition (a common problem!). So there was a relaunch of the new branding in December with new logos. However, their use of the WEMCA name throughout, even before it was made public, makes it impossible to know whether December was the public launch of the name or a relaunch!