Member Article

Knowsley on board with Combined Authority

Knowsley Council endorsed the proposal of the City Region’s Review of Strategic Governance to become a member of the proposed Combined Authority.

This follows a five week consultation period where the views of partners, stakeholders and the public were sought across the Liverpool City Region.

Similar meetings are taking place in the other local authority areas of Halton, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral. If the proposals are approved by all local authorities and Merseyside Integrated Transport Authority, a formal submission will be made to Government on 30 September 2013.

The new combined authority would be able to strategically lead work on economic development, regeneration, transport, strategic housing and employment and skills in the city region, which will lead to an increase in jobs.

The councils (Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral), together with Merseytravel and the City Region’s Local Enterprise Partnership, believe that the current way of delivering these can be improved to accelerate economic growth.

It will also provide a framework for economic growth, together with clear leadership and quicker decision-making processes.

Becoming a combined authority would not result in the merger of local authorities or the creation of a ‘super council’.

Cllr Ron Round, Leader of Knowsley Council, said “The creation of a combined authority will help us to deliver our City Region’s priority, which is to accelerate economic growth and create jobs.

“Many other areas across the country are also pursuing changes to their governance arrangements and becoming a combined authority would enable the Liverpool City Region to compete with them.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .