Gill weighs into combined authority leadership row
PROFESSIONAL Liverpool has weighed into the row over the leadership of Liverpool city region’s nascent combined authority.
Jim Gill, chairman of the professional and financial services body, said the private sector would “lose confidence” in the new authority, “if it cannot be made to work”.
His comments follow a spat over the choice of Wirral’s leader Phil Davies as chairman which prompted Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson to threaten to pull Liverpool out. In turn, this has led St Helens Council leader Barrie Grunewald to accuse Mayor Anderson of thinking he has a “God-given right to rule”.
The combined authority, which is already present in Greater Manchester, formalises existing links between the six authorities and will take over the transport responsibilities from Merseytravel. The councils have said it will make it easier to deliver business support, bid for additional Government cash and take on devolved powers. It has just been legally established, and there has already been a row over the name.
The Department for Communities and Local Government officially called the body the Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral Combined Authority because Merseyside’s council leaders could not agree on a name. They have since agreed to call it the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
Mr Gill said: “If Liverpool is not part of the combined authority, it will be extremely damaging for the city and its reputation. Liverpool is the core city so it is understandable that the Mayor would want to lead on it. However, let’s not dismantle the new authority before it has even really started – instead let’s think about what is best for the city and get behind a joined up Liverpool brand.
“Of course this is a new model for Liverpool so it is inevitable that there will be a period of transition as it evolves – we need to make sure it works for the benefit of the city region. I think the majority of the private sector are behind this in principle but will quickly lose confidence in its ability to deliver if it cannot be made to work. In Manchester, I understand the chair rotates around the ten authorities so why could that not work in Liverpool?”
