Liverpool City Region: City Mayor a ‘major step forward’

LIVERPOOL’S adoption of the city mayoral model has been hailed a success by business leaders.

Former city council leader Joe Anderson was elected Liverpool’s first ever City Mayor in 2012, with the idea being that the new position would, among other benefits, be a lever to increasing economic growth, by changing perceptions of Liverpool as a good place to invest.

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Assessing the impact after the first year of having a city mayor, Baker Tilly partner Rob Aitken said: “Liverpool City Council in years gone by was seen as not being particularly pro business. Joe Anderson has gone out of his way to make a public and positive statement that Liverpool is pro-business and wants to work with government.”

Cliff Maylor, chief executive of the North West Fund added: “People outside of Liverpool see Joe as having the capacity to replicate what Sir Howard Bernstein has done in Manchester. It’s perceived as a commercial role.”

Robert Hough, chairman of the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, agreed that the new position has helped the city raise its game commercially: “The mayoral model has brought an enhanced reputation for the city. It has helped to bring a cohesive approach to the planning of the city region.”

Frank McKenna, chairman of business lobby group Downtown Liverpool in
Business believes being able to flash the mayoral ‘badge’ on the international stage, may hep woo inward investment too.

He said: “It has had a very positive impact, with Liverpool now possessing a strong, identifiable and accountable leader who is able to champion the city at home and abroad effectively.”