‘FRACKING PLANS FOR RUNCORN’ CLAIMS BROADCASTER:
HALTON residents have been invited to give their views on the devolution of powers to the Liverpool City Region combined authority (LCRCA).
Public consultation has been launched over the LCRCA, which comprises Halton and the five Merseyside local authorities.
The combined authority has decisionmaking powers over strategic projects that backers say need to be planned at a city region level such as transport, housing, health and skills training.
The LCR combined authority was established in April 2014.
A Halton Borough Council spokeswoman said it has achieved ‘ a great deal’ since then, including £150m investment in 14 transport schemes, £9m of growth funding for the International Festival Of Business and regenerating the Littlewoods building on Edge Lane in Liverpool into film studios, as well as £21.5m invested in more than 30 projects to enhance learning facilities or build new ones and identify housing and development sites.
Devolution deals were struck with Government in November 2015 and March 2016. The city region’s population is 1.5m. The combined authorities’ priorities are employment and skills, housing and planning, transport, innovation, business growth and support, energy, culture and finance. City region devolution has been backed on the stated premise that residents know their areas better and the challenges that face them and therefore can spend cash more wisely than Whitehall.
Halton residents will be voting along- side everyone else in the city region for an elected mayor in May 2017.
The Halton Council spokeswoman said: “In order for devolution to happen under a mayoral combined authority, we need to review the functions and governance arrangements of the LCRCA and set out the specific powers to be devolved from Government to the combined authority and directly elected mayor in a scheme. LCRCA won’t be using its proposed powers alone – but rather in partnership with the six local councils –Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral, Government officials and other public bodies.
“This ‘review and scheme’ has now been published, but key to this process is seeking the views of people who live or work in the Liverpool City Region. You can provide feedback through an online survey, available at www.liverpoolcityregion- ca. gov. uk. “There you will find a summary of the LCRCA’s functions, what powers will be devolved, how the combined authority plans to manage them and then ask for your comments.
“In addition, comments can be provided via email or in writing, plus hard copies of the survey are available in each local authority reception area.
“The closing date for feedback is Friday, August 5, 2016, and further information, including frequently asked questions can be found on the LCRCA website www.liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov. uk
“The findings of this review will be presented to the Secretary Of State For Communities And Local Government, Greg Clark MP.
“He will then consider approving a Liverpool City Region Order, which enables the powers and resources for the directly elected mayor and combined authority to be devolved by Government.”