Merseyside City Region

[Howie]

Slow off the mark
Apr 14 2008
by Haydon Wood, Liverpool Daily Post

MERSEYSIDE needs to get its act together. A year ago, a government minister, Phil Woolas, announced he’d knocked heads together and the Merseyside City Region would become a reality.

Insiders try to assure me that, under the guidance of Knowsley council leader Ron Round, work is being done to create the organisation that would be given new powers to boost skills and tackle unemployment.

Survey after survey has shown that one of the main reasons why unemployment and low pay remain worse here than other parts of the country is lack of skills.

So you would expect local politicians to bite the hand off a government offering to devolve power and cash to Merseyside to tackle these issues.

But, as far as I can see, there has been little progress since Mr Woolas did his head banging.

Instead, we see Greater Manchester’s City Region so far down the track that they are no longer talking about how nice it would be if Wigan and Stockport, Bury and Manchester could get together for a chat about things.

Representatives of their City Region are in intensive talks with senior civil servants from the Treasury and three other key ministries to put the whole thing on a statutory basis.

Before offering my explanation for the tardiness of Merseyside, I need to explain what these City Regions and their associated Multi Area Agreements are all about.

As with so many issues around the way we are governed, they may seem irrelevant and dry as dust to the public. In fact, they are very important. Without structure the people perish, in my opinion.

Believe it or not, the Government has been persuaded to release its total grip on centralised funding and decision making. It is prepared to give up some of its power to the major City Regions. So the millions of pounds spent annually on Merseyside by the unaccountable Learning and Skills Council could, in future, be decided locally. Big transport projects like a tram system or second crossing of the Mersey could be given a tremendous boost if it was jointly agreed by councils here.

My career in journalism began on the day the now defunct Merseyside and Greater Manchester Councils were created in 1974. I reported endless rows between the proud cities of Liverpool and Manchester with these upstart counties. The spirit of unity was then no more in evidence on the Irwell than the Mersey. But, under Margaret Thatcher’s threat to privatise the jointly-owned Manchester Airport, Labour and Tory councils united to see her off. A tradition of working together was born.

It’s taking a lot longer on Merseyside, although the need is arguably greater. Insiders who want to see the Merseyside City Region delivering on transport and skills are frustrated by the lack of progress. There’s a feeling that the core city of Liverpool is more interested in building structures to help itself, rather than marshalling behind it the united strength of Sefton, Wirral, Knowsley, St Helens and Halton.

Source: Liverpool Daily Post (http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/views/liverpool-columnists/columns/2008/04/14/slow-off-the-mark-64375-20759496/)

[Waterways]

Rather half baked. A proper city state should be created like Hamburg. The Wirral, Knowsley and Sefton should be incorporated into Liverpool and run as one. Southport and St Helens can go back to Lancashire where they belong.

[Howie]

http://www.oultwood.com/maps/merseyside.gif

Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council (http://www.knowsley.gov.uk/)

Liverpool City Council (http://www.liverpool.gov.uk/)

Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council (http://www.sefton.gov.uk/)

St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council (http://www.sthelens.gov.uk/)

Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council (http://www.wirral.gov.uk/)

[Howie]

April 14, 2008
Manchester in minority on city-region bodies
By Simon Binns

Manchester is one of only five of 13 metropolitan areas considering creating legally binding city-region bodies, which would have increased powers over funding, and is the only region to have discussed it with government, according to research by Local Government Chronicle magazine.

City regions, or multi-area agreement funding deals, will create statutory bodies that can allocate funding and drive their own economic development.

Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Bristol and Blackburn-Burnley are believed to be in favour of the proposals, but Newcastle, Hull, Middlesbrough, Southampton-Portsmouth, Blackpool, Bournemouth, Liverpool and Birmingham say they had no plans to create a city region.

Source: Crain's Manchester Business (http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.co.uk/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080414/FREE/815858130/1058/toc/-/-/manchester-in-minority-on-city-region-bodies)

[Howie]

'Liverpool United' could still match Manchester
By Frank Mckenna on Apr 14

Last week I took a trip over to the 'dark side', attending the annual dinner of the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce at the G-Mex centre as a guest of my good friend, and Liverpool Daily Post columnist, Jim Hancock.
There is much to admire about the lot from the other end of the East Lancashire road. From a tired and dull industrial town, Manchester has transformed itself into arguably the UK's second city.

Some say that this has been achieved because of the city's ability to take advantage of the opportunity to regenerate its town centre following the IRA bombing it suffered in the summer of 1996. Others would point to the 'Madchester' music movement that was built around my old mate Tony Wilson's Hacienda superclub, and the factory record label that was established at the same time.
The full-time political leadership the city council enjoys must also be seen as a factor, whilst the contrast between how Manchester won and delivered the international event that was the Commonwealth Games, compared with how we have managed the European Capital of Culture, offers an example to the outside world of a 'can do' city.
But what was strikingly obvious, sat alongside the other 800 guests who attended Wednesday night's affair, was that this bunch has a magnificent ability across their city-region to put parochial differences to one side for the good of the wider region that is Greater Manchester.
Not for them public spats over the route that their tram system should take; just a solid determination that the existing network will be extended and funded by central government.
They see the location of Manchester United outside of the city boundary as a positive that enables the Manchester brand to impact on a wider audience.
All sixteen Greater Manchester local authorities generously fund and support its inward investment agency Midas, and the political leaders meet regularly to work up strategies and future plans via a vehicle called the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA).
The Chambers of Commerce themselves have followed suit. Where we have independent Chambers throughout Merseyside, our neighbours have established a single, powerful entity that works in partnership with the political leadership. They are about to establish a sixteen-strong business leadership group that will directly feed into and influence the AGMA agenda of the future.
I would argue that this public presentation of a 'one for all, all for one' approach has been the single most important element of the Manchester success story. And it is one that the Liverpool city-region must adopt sooner rather than later if we are to compete with Manchester and our other competitor cities.
Liverpool united would be more than a match for any provincial European city - Manchester included - and business and political leaders must step up to the plate and make it happen.
In the short term, what should be done?
First, get rid of the 'M' word, once and for all. The term Merseyside may have had its uses during the dark days of the 70's and 80's, but it should be dumped along with the image that our region had back then. In marketing terms Liverpool is the brand. Liverpool city-region should be the term adopted with immediate effect.
The re-named, Liverpool City Region Partnership, (currently the Mersey Partnership), should be developed into a properly funded, and genuinely supported strategic agency, that acts as the promotional and marketing vehicle, nationally and internationally, for the entire area.
And we should be getting on with establishing our own Business Leadership Group, not only for the city of Liverpool, but for the wider city-region. An amalgamation of our own Chamber movement could only assist in delivering this aspiration.
A collective approach to the marketing and governance of the Liverpool city region is not only preferable, it is essential, if we are to catch, and eventually overtake, Manchester. And that must be our medium term objective.
For though its pragmatism and cunning have given Manchester the edge for over ten years now, as Mr Manchester Tony Wilson himself often told me 'In the UK, Manchester is the (northern) brand. But in the world it is Liverpool.'

Source: LDPBusiness.co.uk (http://blogs.ldpbusiness.co.uk/frankmckenna/2008/04/liverpool-united-could-still-m.html)

[Broliv]

Its more than annoying the inability for the various different councils to sit round a table and do something like this.

[Howie]

‘Super cabinet’ to boost city region’s economy
Jun 3 2008
by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/liverpoolpost/sep2007/5/6/FDCAF085-F251-D52F-66E2D9114D8F14E6.jpg

A MERSEYSIDE “super cabinet” is to be set up in an attempt help the region raise its game and boost economic growth.

Each of the six council leaders in the Liverpool city region will be given a portfolio of responsibility in the new cabinet, which hopes to persuade the government to devolve powers to the region and cut bureaucracy.

It aims to increase the region’s economic output by better strategic planning and working together to increase productivity.

The Liverpool city region prospectus, which has been compiled by the Merseyside Policy Unit, identifies a number of challenges the area needs to meet.

Last night, leaders from across the region said better working across the local authorities in the area was crucial to narrow the gap with the rest of the country.

Wirral council leader Steve Foulkes said that, by working together, major projects could be delivered and fall-outs like the one that contributed to the scrapping of Merseytram could be avoided.

He said the region would be “unstoppable” if the local authorities collaborated more.

The report identifies a number of problems currently afflicting the Liverpool city region.

Its relative economic position is still low, and projected future growth is not enough to close the productivity gap with average cities in the UK, Europe, USA, Asia and China. Perceptions of the region nationally are also an issue as “Liverpool city region is still seen as a region that has been defined by its problems rather than its successes”.

The skill profile of the region is also poor and self-employment rates are lower than elsewhere – less than half that of the UK average.

Poor health and low quality housing stock are also identified as key issues for the region.

In order to meet these challenges, the region must “raise its game – accelerating the performance of the city region and increasing its competitiveness and productivity is key”.

It is hoped that the new cabinet will help the local councils co-ordinate their efforts to improve the economy.

The current chairman of the cabinet is Knowsley Council leader Ron Round; a leader for the cabinet will be chosen and will hold the position for two years.

Last night, Liverpool Council leader Warren Bradley said setting up the cabinet and getting it running was important to show the Government the region meant business.

He said the only contentious issue there had been among the leaders was what to call the region.

“For me, calling it the Liverpool city region was a no-brainer, because Liverpool is a magnet and known everywhere, whereas Merseyside is not in the same way.”

He said after that it had been important to be honest about the challenges facing the area.

“The first thing was to admit that there is a gap; yes, the Liverpool economy is growing faster than other core cities, but we were miles behind.

Cllr Foulkes said there was no indication from government currently that devolution of power was on its way.

“It’s very much a suck it and see how and when powers are devolved.”

A Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: “We are working closely with Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral councils to agree a multi-area agreement (MAA). “Negotiations, which include discussion of the partnership’s economic priorities and its sub-regional governance arrangements, are positive and progressing well.

“MAAs are a long-term commitment, and signing-off an agreement is just the beginning of the process of improving outcomes for local citizens.”

Responsibilities of the six councils

LIVERPOOL – Economy and Europe

WIRRAL – Environmental sustainability

SEFTON – Safer, healthier communities

HALTON – transport

KNOWSLEY – Skills and employment

ST HELENS – housing and spatial planning

Source: Liverpool Daily Post (http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2008/06/03/super-cabinet-to-boost-city-region-s-economy-64375-21013622/)

[Howie]

Region needs to tackle challenges
Jun 3 2008
by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

ON THE face of it, it sounds like a grand idea: a Merseyside “super cabinet” to help the region raise its game and boost economic growth...


...But, while the opportunity for joined-up thinking should not be lost, it is important to ensure that such a Merseyside “super cabinet” should not become simply another layer of bureaucracy and a talking shop.

Source: Liverpool Daily Post (http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2008/06/03/region-needs-to-tackle-challenges-64375-21013417/)

[Ged]

If they could all just get on with each other and get things done, like Manchester seems to do, then it'll be for the better, if.......

[Kev]

Mike Storey: Time to dump Merseyside

Nov 27 2008 by Marc Waddington, Liverpool Echo

DEPUTY lord mayor Mike Storey today claimed it was time to ?consign Merseyside to oblivion?.

The former council leader said he believed it was time to re-brand the ?city region? as ?Greater Liverpool? and dump the Merseyside brand once and for all.

He said to go anywhere in the world and say ?Merseyside? was to be met by blank faces.

Cllr Storey said: ?Go back to the 1980s and 1990s and Liverpool was seen as a basket case. Use the name anywhere outside the UK and people still had high regard for it.?

[Waterways]

Liverpool Bay is a far better name than Greater Liverpool.

[taffy]

Mike Storey: Time to dump Merseyside

Nov 27 2008 by Marc Waddington, Liverpool Echo

DEPUTY lord mayor Mike Storey today claimed it was time to ?consign Merseyside to oblivion?.

The former council leader said he believed it was time to re-brand the ?city region? as ?Greater Liverpool? and dump the Merseyside brand once and for all.

He said to go anywhere in the world and say ?Merseyside? was to be met by blank faces.

Cllr Storey said: ?Go back to the 1980s and 1990s and Liverpool was seen as a basket case. Use the name anywhere outside the UK and people still had high regard for it.?

Mike Storey is right. Merseyside should be confined to the past. It has too many negative images. This includes all such curious titles as Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, High Sheriff of Merseyside etc when the county of Merseyside hasn't been in existance for over 20 years. I think most of the other Labour Party 1970s created metropolitan 'side areas have confined their names to history, Avonside is the latest I believe. Nobody uses the term Greater Manchester, just Manchester. So I would prefer Greater Liverpool, knowing full well that the "Greater" part will in time be dropped. The BBC constantly uses the term Manchester for the whole of the greater Manchester metropolitan area and no doubt the same will happen with Liverpool.

[Howie]

Mike Storey will probably be consigned to oblivion (by the Standards Board for England) before Merseyside.

The latest developments regarding the proposed Merseyside city region were reported in the previous day's Daily Post, (see below).

Liverpool handed chance for greater control over transport, jobs and homes
Nov 26 2008
Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL was yesterday handed the chance to bid for dramatic extra spending power ? over transport, job-creation and housebuilding ? to drive forward economic recovery.

Chancellor Alistair Darling unveiled plans to go further and faster in devolving a wide range of key responsibilities to at least two so-called ?city regions? from next autumn.

The contest will pitch the six councils in the proposed Merseyside city-region ? Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens and Halton ? against the likes of Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle.

Mr Darling will pick the two or three best developed proposals for devolving power under a ?multi-area agreement (MAA)?, with an announcement due in March.

More (http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2008/11/26/liverpool-handed-chance-for-greater-control-over-transport-jobs-and-homes-64375-22341358/)...

[Waterways]

Mike Storey is right. Merseyside should be confined to the past. It has too many negative images. This includes all such curious titles as Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, High Sheriff of Merseyside etc when the county of Merseyside hasn't been in existance for over 20 years. I think most of the other Labour Party 1970s created metropolitan 'side areas

Merseyside was created under the Tories - Heath from 1970 to 1974.

[taffy]

Merseyside was created under the Tories - Heath from 1970 to 1974.

Well spotted !! At least Maggie Thatcher had the sense to see the error of Ted Heath's ways and abolish the county of Merseyside in 1986.

Interesting web site

NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Merseyside (http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Merseyside)

[Waterways]

Well spotted !! At least Maggie Thatcher had the sense


Oh No. Not a working class sycophant! How sad.

"Merseyside is a metropolitan county". The county council was abolished. Thatcher did all sorts of abolishing to centralise power in Westminster. The country was i such a perilous state it was ripe for take over and become a dictatorship.

[taffy]

Oh No. Not a working class sycophant! How sad.

"Merseyside is a metropolitan county". The county council was abolished. Thatcher did all sorts of abolishing to centralise power in Westminster. The country was i such a perilous state it was ripe for take over and become a dictatorship.

Aren't we close to dictatorship now with Gordon's lot in power !! George Orwell's 1984 seems almost benign in comparison. They didn't teach me the meaning of sychophant at my upper class sec. mod. school. I had to look it up. My dictionary defines it as :

" As informer against those who exported figs contrary to the law in Athens".

A highly relevant epithet.

[Ged]

Citytalk rang me just after the 6 o'clock news to talk about this. They'd previously had Mike Storey and Dean Sullivan on championing Liverpool as a brand name and the latter stating how the Beatles and LFC put Liverpool on the map. I corrcted that bit by stating we were once the 2nd city of the British Empire, though we've always believed ourselves to be the first anyway and whilst it's not p.c. to brag about our imperialistic past, nevertheless, the name Liverpool was known throughout the world through this and through the many ships in every worldwide port bearing the ports name, EFC (in the 20s) The Beatles (in the 60s) and LFC (in the 70s and 80s) merely kept our name in the worlds eye.

They also put a lady from Wirral on the line at the same time as me saying that she doesn't want to be part of liverpool (though I bet when she's on holiday and asked where she's from, they'd never hear of Pensby, yet say Liverpool....)

Anyway, she wanted to be re-called Cheshire, it's on her birth and marriage cert after all, She said 'Oh i'm not a snob by the way' as by now she was obviously realising that that's how she was coming across.

I said try telling Phil Thompson from Kirkby and Steven Gerrard from Huyton that they're not scousers, not from Liverpool and see what they say?

In the 1960s large swathes of Scotland road residents were shipped out to Kirkby and Halewood, suddenly at the stroke of a pen in 1974, they were suddenly no longer Liverpudlians, how daft is that?

I mentioned that unlike Manchester, we are not trying to incorporate other cities under our wing and rob their identities like they tried with Bolton and Oldham for instance and that these are just outlying regions.

Yes, I like the idea of a Greater Liverpool but even better if all these regions were just under the Liverpool umbrella.

[Howie]

Don?t try to get rid of us, Mike
Nov 28 2008
by Luke Traynor, Liverpool Echo

MERSEYSIDE council leaders have condemned former Liverpool leader Mike Storey's plan to ?consign them to oblivion?.

They reacted strongly to the deputy Lord Mayor's comments that the name Merseyside should be scrapped in favour of Greater Liverpool.

His claim, made on City Talk?s breakfast show, that the ?sub-region of Liverpool? should use the city as its greatest asset was met with scorn by leaders.

Cllr Storey called on Knowsley, Wirral, Sefton and St Helens councils to stop promoting their own brands.

Today, the comments were greeted with surprise and some consternation by council leaders from neighbouring authorities.

Cllr Brian Spencer, St Helens leader, told the ECHO: ?If you go throughout the world, it?s obvious that Liverpool is recognised.

?But St Helens, working with the Liverpool city region, is successful in its own right.

?A lot of people in our borough think they come from Lancashire as opposed to Merseyside anyway.

?Mike?s got his own views, but I?m content in the way we are and calling ourselves the heart of the northwest.?

His views were echoed by Cllr Peter Dowd, Labour leader from Sefton, who added: ?One of the strengths of the Liverpool city region is its diversity and the way it is made up of many communities. Southport is sometimes marketed as a Liverpool seaside town when it is in Sefton. The Grand National is in Aintree, which is in Sefton.

?Around 80% of Liverpool?s Docks are actually in Bootle. These bring benefits to the Liverpool city region.?

Cllr Storey said: ?We are in a downturn and we are going to have to fight hard with our best assets.

?During local government re-organisation the area around Manchester became Greater Manchester. So let?s consign Merseyside into oblivion. This should be Greater Liverpool.?

Source: Liverpool Echo (http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2008/11/28/don-t-try-to-get-rid-of-us-mike-100252-22358761/)

[marky]

I only ever use 'Liverpool'. I won't use the terms Merseyside, Liverpool City Region, Greater Liverpool or anything else politicians can think up. I don't agree with the idea of 'super-councils' anyway. Not since Merseyside County Council was created.

[gregs dad]

When ever I am asked where I come from, which is very rarely with my dialect, I always say Kirkby on the outskirts of Liverpool.

[Broliv]

thats one thing i'll agree with Clr Story on. However they (The politicians and chief exec) need to sort out the managerial mess that is the council first before any of our esteemed neighbours would even think about ditching the Merseyside title and taking up the Greater Liverpool one.

[Waterways]

Aren't we close to dictatorship now with Gordon's lot in power !!

No. Please stop your sycophantic ways. Get a grip.

[Waterways]

They also put a lady from Wirral on the line at the same time as me saying that she doesn't want to be part of liverpool (though I bet when she's on holiday and asked where she's from, they'd never hear of Pensby, yet say Liverpool....)


The people in the Wirral I find baffling. They look down on Liverpool - I don't know why? I can't see what they have that is special.

The fact is that the Wirral is a part of Liverpool socio-economically. Without Liverpool they would not exist.

Why was this woman actually listening to a Liverpool radio station?



Anyway, she wanted to be re-called Cheshire, it's on her birth and marriage cert after all,


Mine has Lancashire on it and I want nothing to do with Lancashire. I want Liverpool and only Liverpool on it.




Yes, I like the idea of a Greater Liverpool but even better if all these regions were just under the Liverpool umbrella.

Yep all one city, except Southport, St. Helens and Newton-le Willows. They are culturally firmly in Lancashire, don't like being with us and better away from us. Listen to the accents. I see Johnny Vegas does not say he is from Liverpool - he right in not saying he is. St. Helens should be let go.

The Wirral only came about because of Liverpool. Without Liverpool it would be a small collection of hamlets.

[Waterways]

I only ever use 'Liverpool'. I won't use the terms Merseyside, Liverpool City Region, Greater Liverpool or anything else politicians can think up. I don't agree with the idea of 'super-councils' anyway. Not since Merseyside County Council was created.

Liverpool (Merseyside) should be a city state - like Hamburg.

[Howie]

Liverpool?s bid for regional ?super cabinet? moves a step closer
Dec 30 2008
by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL?S bid for dramatic extra spending power ? at the heart of an official ?city-region? ? is due to be ?signed off? by Ministers next month, it was announced yesterday.

More (http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2008/12/30/liverpool-s-bid-for-regional-super-cabinet-moves-a-step-closer-64375-22572117/)...

[Howie]

New sustainable growth plan for Liverpool city region
by Nick. Published Tue 15 Sep 2009 16:32, Last updated: 2009-09-15

Local residents and businesses stand to benefit from a long-term plan for sustainable economic growth after the second and final phase of the Liverpool City Region Multi Area Agreement (MAA) was signed at Tate Liverpool.

The MAA will provide a further boost to local leadership by strengthening the City Region?s partnership working with Government, providing the City Region with greater responsibility and the opportunity to use resources more effectively to tackle the biggest challenges facing the area.

The Agreement between the six local authorities of Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, key partners, and Government represents the next stage in city region working. This means that Government will support Liverpool City Region efforts to respond swiftly to the current economic downturn as well as maximising the longer term ambitions of improving the economic and social prospects of the area.

By working together to a common set of goals the MAA will help the Liverpool City Region to continue to compete for jobs and investment and create a thriving international City Region. This will be delivered through four transformational actions - Culture and the Visitor Economy; Liverpool SuperPort; Low Carbon Economy, and the Knowledge Economy. By capitalising on these economic opportunities there is significant potential for Liverpool City Region to narrow the productivity gap with the rest of the UK.

Delivering the transformational actions will mean:
? Investment of ?110m to 2012 in tourism events and infrastructure supporting local businesses and creating jobs.
? The development of the Liverpool SuperPort to become a global destination and logistics hub.
? To increase the current 9,000 people directly employed in the environmental technologies sector by 6,000 to 15,000 by 2015.
? Position Liverpool City Region as an international region of knowledge and science renowned for its creativity and innovation.

These actions will be supported by activities that reduce worklessness and increase skill levels; build a modern and sustainable transport network that reduces carbon emissions and tackles climate change; and improve our existing housing stock, including affordable homes for people living or moving into the region.

Aims include:
? Reducing the number of workless people in the City Region by some 81,000.
? Turning around the decline in house building and ensure that 3,800 homes are completed per year by the end of 2012.
? Increasing the rate we tackle poor quality housing by 20% each year by 2012.
? Helping an extra 2000 workless people a year get back into work by providing public transport services that link jobs with disadvantaged residential areas.
? Using the Smarter Choices programme to support the Low Carbon Economy through a transport network that reduces carbon dioxide emissions and tackles climate change.
? Supporting SuperPort by improving access to the Port and Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

On January 12th 2009 the six local authorities, and partners, signed the first phase of the MAA in Downing Street, formally committing the region to work together to help safeguard local jobs, improve the skills of people and support business. This partnership working, led by Knowsley Council, has helped 32,655 people from benefits and into work during 2008?09, as well as the creation of 100 City Region apprentices in sectors identified as key for growth.
Cllr Ron Round, Leader of Knowsley Council and Chair of the Liverpool City Region Cabinet said: ?The document we are signing today further cements the support that we have from the Government to make a real difference in the Liverpool City Region.
?I welcome this commitment to closer working which I believe sweeps away unnecessary bureaucracy in our collective efforts to securing sustainable economic growth for the people of this region.?
The Mersey Partnership (TMP) chairman Rod Holmes, who represents the private sector on the City Region Cabinet, said: ?We have already shown that we can work together at the City Regional level. Central Government is now committed to recognise the decisions we take about City Region priorities.

?We are now in a stronger position to work in partnership to grow our economy: to ensure that the people living in Liverpool City Region develop the skills and create the business opportunities for a more prosperous future and better quality of life.

Mr Holmes added: ?As the Sub Regional Economic Partnership, The Mersey Partnership has a central role in all this, on behalf of the private, voluntary and higher education sectors.?

Robert Hough, Chairman of the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), said: ?The NWDA welcomes this agreement, which is a significant step forward in the drive to transform the Liverpool City Region economy. Strong partnership working is one of the key foundations for successful economic development and this agreement demonstrates a firm commitment between partners to deliver a thriving, international City Region. We look forward now to working with our partners in the Liverpool City Region to ensure that this agreement delivers its ambitious goals for the area.?

Source: Click Liverpool (http://www.clickliverpool.com/business/business-news/126160-new-sustainable-growth-plan-for-liverpool-city-region.html)