Member Article

Combined Authority plans under scrutiny by government

The consultation process regarding plans for a Combined Authority covering the Liverpool City Region has moved to the next stage.

A proposal was submitted to Government on 30 September 2013 recommending that the plan goes ahead.

This followed a series of consultation with businesses and residents across the City Region which identified there was strong support locally to create a Combined Authority.

The government is now inviting feedback through a further statutory consultation, which started on Thursday, 28 November 2013.

The Liverpool City Region local authorities, working with the Local Enterprise Partnership and Merseytravel, have carried out a review of strategic governance arrangements. The review concluded a Combined Authority was the preferred option.

The Review argues that a Combined Authority would not result in the formation of a ‘super council’, but would mean improving strategic decision making in the areas of transport, housing, economic development and skills and maximising funding opportunities from government.

The Review states that a Combined Authority for Liverpool City Region would help to grow the economy and jobs, which would be a great boost for the area.

The consultation closes on 22 January 2014.

The Liverpool City Region consists of the local authority areas of Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral.

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