New role will have significant powers
THE metro mayor will chair the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and will have powers over some policies and spending previously held by the Government.
According to Whitehall devolution documents, their role will include responsibilities for the transport budget, a franchised bus service and powers over ‘strategic planning’ with the task of creating a ‘single statutory city region framework’ and mayoral development corporation.
They will also have consult the six local authorities – Halton, Sefton, Liverpool, St Helens, Knowsley and Wirral on their plans, with councils having power of veto if two thirds object to proposals.
The city region combined authority will have control of £30m-a-year of funding over 30 years, to be invested in the Liverpool City Region Single Investment Fund, which is intended to ‘unlock the economic potential of the River Mersey and superport as well as maximise the opportunities from HS2’.
Another responsibility is to chair a review of skills education for people aged 16 and the mayor will also share the job of co-designing employment support for ‘harder-tohelp claimants’ with with Government.
Another goal is stronger working with UK Trade And Investment to increase trade and investment and to build on past successes of the International Festival For Business.