Liverpool Vision to be subsumed by city council

LIVERPOOL Vision, the city’s economic development company, is to be subsumed by the city council in the wake of funding cuts from the regional development agency and the Homes and Communities Agency.

The organisation is being slimmed down, with 10 people from its development team merging with the city council’s own regeneration arm. The remainder of the 45 staff are to be offered voluntary redundancy or be placed into a pool and offered redeployment elsewhere within the city council. Meanwhile, some 20 people from within the council’s Culture Liverpool team will move into Liverpool Vision’s offices based in The Capital on Old Hall Street where it will retain its base.

Cllr Joe Anderson, leader of Liverpool City Council, said: “The council faces significant challenges following the recession and the subsequent comprehensive spending review and we need to streamline all our services to ensure maximum efficiency and to maintain the momentum of Liverpool’s renaissance.

“With its expertise and capability a refocused Liverpool Vision has a pivotal role in moving Liverpool and the city council to new levels of achievement and delivery.

“It makes sense to bring Vision’s development team within the regeneration directorate of the city council and for Vision and our culture team to come together to strengthen how we promote and exploit our economic and cultural assets.”

The current Liverpool Vision was incorporated as an economic development company in May 2008, following the merger of Liverpool Vision (URC), Liverpool Land Development Company and BusinessLiverpool.

Max Steinberg, who was appointed as chief executive in April, said: “Liverpool Vision is evolving and moving forward. It will play a vital role with business in developing the city’s economy, brand, image and international relations and build on the positive momentum generated through the World Expo in Shanghai.

“It will be the outward-facing business directorate of the city council, working closely with the regeneration and housing directorates and strengthening its partnerships with the private sector.”

Staff will transfer under TUPE rules to the city council next April.

Mike Parker, chairman of Liverpool Vision, said: “Liverpool Vision has built an exceptional reputation with the private sector in the city and this must continue.

“Through the hard work and expertise of its staff, Liverpool Vision has added value to the city’s reputation and credibility as an ambitious, ‘can do’ 21st century international destination.

Lindsey Ashworth, development director of Peel Holdings, said: “We have been working collaboratively with Liverpool City Council and Liverpool Vision on many fronts and most recently have been the lead sponsor for the City’s presence at the World Expo in Shanghai.

“This is the kind of enterprising and ambitious vision for the City which Peel shares, as our plans for Liverpool and Wirral Waters demonstrate.

“It is vital that Liverpool continues to build its International brand and reputation if it is to secure investment and business growth. Liverpool Vision is trusted and respected by the private sector and refocusing it as the outward-facing business directorate of the City Council is a bold and positive response to the challenges ahead.”