The Mayor of Bristol is directly elected by the people of Bristol. The Mayor leads the council and its councillors, to provide services for the people of Bristol, from adult social care to waste collection.

The Mayor also performs a broader role representing the interests of Bristol’s citizens on a national and international level.

The Mayor has ultimate responsibility for all major policy decisions.  While some of this responsibility may be delegated to, or shared with Cabinet members, the Bristol Mayor retains this function.

The Mayor makes ‘executive’ decisions within the budget and policy framework set by Full council. Executive decisions are only made by the Mayor that:

• are more than £500,000 spending or savings or
• have an impact on more than one ward

Cabinet members are councillors with special responsibilities over an area of the council’s activities, such as, neighbourhoods or transport. Their area of responsibility is known as their portfolio. 

Cabinet members may work with council officers and others to develop policy within their portfolio, which then comes to Cabinet for formal approval. The Cabinet decides the council’s key policies.

Read more about the powers of the elected Mayor and their Cabinet here.

Elections for the Mayor of Bristol are held every four years. The last election was in May 2021, when Marvin Rees was re-elected. 

Visit Types of Elections for the date of the next mayoral election.

Read Types of Mayor for more information about the difference between the elected Mayor of Bristol, the Mayor of the West of England and the Lord Mayor of Bristol.

The Mayor’s diary is published every month here.