LIVERPOOL Chamber of Commerce has backed proposals for a “metro mayor”, but is looking for reassurances on the role of a city mayor.
Responding to Government proposals for a referendum on the issue next May, chief executive Jack Stopforth and chair Neil Scales, chief executive of transport authority Merseytravel, said the business community had reservations about the city mayor.
Their letter says: “We fear a city mayor without a significant relationship with the local councils in the city region cabinet other than Liverpool itself, or, indeed, the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), could undermine progress made in the city region.
“Despite this reservation, we acknowledge that the opportunity a city mayor represents to decentralise services and powers away from Whitehall and to the city authorities is one not to be missed.”
They want the referendum extended to include people who own businesses or work in Liverpool, but reside elsewhere, and represent the city “on the national and international stage”.
Their response warned: “Unless the proposed new function brings significant new powers and resources, it will be ineffective and counter-productive,” and it highlighted essential areas for city mayoral powers.
“A city-region mayor or city mayor with planning powers compatible to those of the Mayor of London is desirable – this would eliminate the requirement for developments to be called in by the Secretary of State.”
The letter added: “Merseyside’s Integrated Transport Authority crosses local authority boundaries. The mayor, as with other borough representatives, should have the opportunity, but not the right, to chair the committee.
“Digital capacity and energy infrastructure are of increasing importance to business and the economy.
“These are strategic issues more effectively dealt with at city region level. An elected mayor would also add a powerful voice to campaigns such as those to secure the Green Investment Bank for Liverpool, or the drive to achieve European Green Capital status for the city.”
It went on: “The recent Business Rates Retention review has paved the way for local councils to borrow against projected future business rates income via Tax Incremental Financing (TiF). We would expect a city mayor to work alongside councils and businesses and assume ultimate responsibility for developing the business plan to take forward TiF initiatives.
“The Localism Bill also gives powers to local councils to offer business rates discounts. We would like to see a city mayor with the power and responsibility to consult widely on such changes and decide how and where these discounts will be applied.”
