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We can deal with the economy while feeding the soul We can deal with the economy while feeding the soul
(7 months later)
Bristol city council will vote next week on elected independent mayor George Ferguson's first budget, in which he aims to save £35m over the next two years.Bristol city council will vote next week on elected independent mayor George Ferguson's first budget, in which he aims to save £35m over the next two years.
"I haven't had a lot of time to really dig deep," says the successful architect, known for his bright red trousers, who swept into office in November."I haven't had a lot of time to really dig deep," says the successful architect, known for his bright red trousers, who swept into office in November.
If Ferguson was surprised to be elected – the Labour candidate was tipped to win – there was an even bigger shock in store for him: an extra £7m was added to the black hole in his budget overnight.If Ferguson was surprised to be elected – the Labour candidate was tipped to win – there was an even bigger shock in store for him: an extra £7m was added to the black hole in his budget overnight.
"When I came in, there was a £28m gap; two weeks later it was £35m, which had built up during the election. Nobody knew about the difference," he says."When I came in, there was a £28m gap; two weeks later it was £35m, which had built up during the election. Nobody knew about the difference," he says.
The Lib Dem-controlled council will vote on his proposed cost reductions, which have been widely consulted on and reviewed by cross-party working groups in a co-operative spirit inspired by Ferguson's political independence.The Lib Dem-controlled council will vote on his proposed cost reductions, which have been widely consulted on and reviewed by cross-party working groups in a co-operative spirit inspired by Ferguson's political independence.
He is clear that some services will have to be cut, while others will disappear completely: "I resisted making any financial promises during the election. I thought I would paint myself into a corner." Now though, he has strong views on where the axe ought to fall.He is clear that some services will have to be cut, while others will disappear completely: "I resisted making any financial promises during the election. I thought I would paint myself into a corner." Now though, he has strong views on where the axe ought to fall.
"When you're cutting budgets there's only a certain amount you can take out of management and out of different ways of delivering services. We'll see things that everybody assumed local government provided go, because they're not statutory.""When you're cutting budgets there's only a certain amount you can take out of management and out of different ways of delivering services. We'll see things that everybody assumed local government provided go, because they're not statutory."
A reduction of about £4.5m in management and back-office costs is still planned, including some 320 job cuts, of which 100 could be compulsory redundancies, as are proposals to close residential care places for elderly people, put forward by the council before Ferguson came to office. They will go ahead, as his cross-party review deemed them necessary, though the review concludes that more independent living schemes, extra-care housing and close monitoring of the impact of changes will ensure that nobody slips through the gaps.A reduction of about £4.5m in management and back-office costs is still planned, including some 320 job cuts, of which 100 could be compulsory redundancies, as are proposals to close residential care places for elderly people, put forward by the council before Ferguson came to office. They will go ahead, as his cross-party review deemed them necessary, though the review concludes that more independent living schemes, extra-care housing and close monitoring of the impact of changes will ensure that nobody slips through the gaps.
Some alterations to the draft budget have been made after advice from working groups or consultation with residents. Parking charges at two local beauty spots, which were designed to raise revenue have been scrapped, while police community support officers have been saved, after a deal was struck with the new police and crime commissioner.Some alterations to the draft budget have been made after advice from working groups or consultation with residents. Parking charges at two local beauty spots, which were designed to raise revenue have been scrapped, while police community support officers have been saved, after a deal was struck with the new police and crime commissioner.
Don't expect a Newcastle-style assault on the arts, despite the delaying of a planned swimming pool. Ferguson makes no bones about his first love being cultural regeneration, and he also prioritises the happiness of residents.Don't expect a Newcastle-style assault on the arts, despite the delaying of a planned swimming pool. Ferguson makes no bones about his first love being cultural regeneration, and he also prioritises the happiness of residents.
"Cultural regeneration is really important," he says. Without it a city is much less attractive as an economic prospect – and people are less happy, he adds."Cultural regeneration is really important," he says. Without it a city is much less attractive as an economic prospect – and people are less happy, he adds.
"Is local government just to feed the body in terms of delivering essential services, or is it to feed the soul through culture and sports too?" he asks. "When we're having debates about cuts, we've got to decide on the answer to that.""Is local government just to feed the body in terms of delivering essential services, or is it to feed the soul through culture and sports too?" he asks. "When we're having debates about cuts, we've got to decide on the answer to that."
Ferguson plans to raise council tax by just under 2% and believes it is "absolutely essential" to do so to protect the most vulnerable people in the city. But he maintains that it is a "ridiculous" way of collecting money locally: "It's incredibly difficult to collect, and nothing to do with people's ability to pay," he says.Ferguson plans to raise council tax by just under 2% and believes it is "absolutely essential" to do so to protect the most vulnerable people in the city. But he maintains that it is a "ridiculous" way of collecting money locally: "It's incredibly difficult to collect, and nothing to do with people's ability to pay," he says.
Ferguson has appointed directors for most council services, though he retains control over transport policy. He has recently announced Conservative councillor Geoff Gollop as his deputy mayor.Ferguson has appointed directors for most council services, though he retains control over transport policy. He has recently announced Conservative councillor Geoff Gollop as his deputy mayor.
He has strong views on planning, and opposes the building of large supermarkets in Bristol. "They don't add to the real local economy – they steal from it. I want to be very selective about what we attract and encourage," he says.He has strong views on planning, and opposes the building of large supermarkets in Bristol. "They don't add to the real local economy – they steal from it. I want to be very selective about what we attract and encourage," he says.
As the driving force behind a number of big regeneration projects in the city, including a redundant tobacco factory, which he brought back to life as a performance venue, performing arts school, restaurant, cafe-bar and block of flats, Ferguson believes that boosting Bristol's economy can go hand in hand with feeding the soul. And he wants to put the city, which he loves and has called home for 47 years, on the global map.As the driving force behind a number of big regeneration projects in the city, including a redundant tobacco factory, which he brought back to life as a performance venue, performing arts school, restaurant, cafe-bar and block of flats, Ferguson believes that boosting Bristol's economy can go hand in hand with feeding the soul. And he wants to put the city, which he loves and has called home for 47 years, on the global map.
"I'll shamelessly sell the city and be forceful about it," he says."I'll shamelessly sell the city and be forceful about it," he says.
Ferguson makes a convincing case for a music arena for Bristol : "We are the only serious city without an arena – that is something I'm going to bite the bullet about and we're going to build one." Without an arena, people will have to travel to see music and other shows, he explains. "I've got a £35m funding gap – but I'll bloody well find the money."Ferguson makes a convincing case for a music arena for Bristol : "We are the only serious city without an arena – that is something I'm going to bite the bullet about and we're going to build one." Without an arena, people will have to travel to see music and other shows, he explains. "I've got a £35m funding gap – but I'll bloody well find the money."
It is clear that, while Ferguson hasn't lost sight of his statutory duties, he does have a different way of thinking. In fact, he uses the word "different" frequently, explaining that he doesn't want to be like London mayor Boris Johnson.It is clear that, while Ferguson hasn't lost sight of his statutory duties, he does have a different way of thinking. In fact, he uses the word "different" frequently, explaining that he doesn't want to be like London mayor Boris Johnson.
"Someone asked if I was going to be like Boris and I said: 'Boris is a toff and a buffoon, and he never apologises,' and they said 'Exactly!' I want to be the George of Bristol. I think the important thing is I learn from everybody, but I want Bristol to be different and I want to do it differently. I think difference is a very important thing, that Bristol is different and it reinforces everything that is different rather than trying to be like anywhere else.""Someone asked if I was going to be like Boris and I said: 'Boris is a toff and a buffoon, and he never apologises,' and they said 'Exactly!' I want to be the George of Bristol. I think the important thing is I learn from everybody, but I want Bristol to be different and I want to do it differently. I think difference is a very important thing, that Bristol is different and it reinforces everything that is different rather than trying to be like anywhere else."
That is partly why he signed a letter to the communities secretary, Eric Pickles, earlier this year from Core Cities – a group of eight English cities – warning of a "looming crisis" as they struggle to cope with the cuts. The letter also criticises Pickles' suggestion that councils are hoarding vast sums in their reserves.That is partly why he signed a letter to the communities secretary, Eric Pickles, earlier this year from Core Cities – a group of eight English cities – warning of a "looming crisis" as they struggle to cope with the cuts. The letter also criticises Pickles' suggestion that councils are hoarding vast sums in their reserves.
That's just not true, says Ferguson, who admits he too expected to find millions squirrelled away – "There's nothing of the sort!" The danger, though, is that people begin to think it's true and that the cuts aren't necessary. "Every single thing I'm doing is necessary," he warns.That's just not true, says Ferguson, who admits he too expected to find millions squirrelled away – "There's nothing of the sort!" The danger, though, is that people begin to think it's true and that the cuts aren't necessary. "Every single thing I'm doing is necessary," he warns.
"He [Pickles] is forgetting the whole essence of localism. He's forgetting that the government is meant to be giving us more choice," he adds, citing Pickles' obsession with freezing council tax as a major problem for councils."He [Pickles] is forgetting the whole essence of localism. He's forgetting that the government is meant to be giving us more choice," he adds, citing Pickles' obsession with freezing council tax as a major problem for councils.
Seven of the Core Cities group are Labour-led. "While they wouldn't have wished it, there is a benefit to having one non-Labour leader," says Ferguson. "I've got an advantage because I can be completely frank with ministers and they know I'm not playing party politics. It gives me enormous freedom."Seven of the Core Cities group are Labour-led. "While they wouldn't have wished it, there is a benefit to having one non-Labour leader," says Ferguson. "I've got an advantage because I can be completely frank with ministers and they know I'm not playing party politics. It gives me enormous freedom."
In the next three years, Ferguson will have to prepare a much longer-term and more fundamental budget than the one being voted on next week, to cut a further £65m by 2016. He is determined to work across political divides to lessen the impact of cuts, but he feels strongly that decisions made in Whitehall are unfair. He refers to the relationship between ministers and local government as confrontational and says he would like to see Pickles spend more time in communities rather than in his department. "I don't want to whinge, because I do think we have to sort problems out for ourselves, but there are some things that the government puts in the way and they need to liberate us a bit more."In the next three years, Ferguson will have to prepare a much longer-term and more fundamental budget than the one being voted on next week, to cut a further £65m by 2016. He is determined to work across political divides to lessen the impact of cuts, but he feels strongly that decisions made in Whitehall are unfair. He refers to the relationship between ministers and local government as confrontational and says he would like to see Pickles spend more time in communities rather than in his department. "I don't want to whinge, because I do think we have to sort problems out for ourselves, but there are some things that the government puts in the way and they need to liberate us a bit more."
Yet he is quick to add that despite the sleepless nights, being mayor of Bristol is the best job in the world. "I can't think of a more fulfilling job", he says, "much better than being prime minister."Yet he is quick to add that despite the sleepless nights, being mayor of Bristol is the best job in the world. "I can't think of a more fulfilling job", he says, "much better than being prime minister."
Curriculum vitaeCurriculum vitae
Age 65.Age 65.
Lives Bristol.Lives Bristol.
Family Single, three children, three grandchildren.Family Single, three children, three grandchildren.
Education Wellington college, Berkshire; Bristol University, Bachelor of architecture .Education Wellington college, Berkshire; Bristol University, Bachelor of architecture .
Career 2012-present: Mayor of Bristol; 1979-2012: founding partner, Ferguson Mann architects (has resigned chairmanship); 2007: writer/presenter, Building Britain (BBC); 2005-06: Demolition, Channel 4; 1983 and 1987: parliamentary candidate in Bristol West for the Liberal/Alliance; 1973-79: Liberal councillor, Bristol city council.Career 2012-present: Mayor of Bristol; 1979-2012: founding partner, Ferguson Mann architects (has resigned chairmanship); 2007: writer/presenter, Building Britain (BBC); 2005-06: Demolition, Channel 4; 1983 and 1987: parliamentary candidate in Bristol West for the Liberal/Alliance; 1973-79: Liberal councillor, Bristol city council.
Public life 2010, CBE for services to the community; president, Royal Institute of British Architects (2003-5); founder, Acanthus, UK network of architectural practices; co-founder, Academy of Urbanism; trustee Arnolfini art gallery; founder, Bristol Beer Factory; former trustee, Demos thinktank; former high sheriff of Bristol (1996-97)Public life 2010, CBE for services to the community; president, Royal Institute of British Architects (2003-5); founder, Acanthus, UK network of architectural practices; co-founder, Academy of Urbanism; trustee Arnolfini art gallery; founder, Bristol Beer Factory; former trustee, Demos thinktank; former high sheriff of Bristol (1996-97)
Interests Arts, travel, theatre, food, architecture.Interests Arts, travel, theatre, food, architecture.
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