Councillors demand end of TMP

Jul 21 2007 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

TWO senior Liverpool politicians last night called for the city’s “quango cull” to include tourism and investment body The Mersey Partnership (TMP).

Cabinet members Paul Clein and Peter Millea called for TMP to be amalgamated into the new Liverpool plc, which will replace three of the city’s biggest agencies next April.

Cllr Millea said the council should not be supporting an organisation that at times was involved in trying to “do in” the city – a reference to its Merseyside, rather than Liverpool-specific, allegiances.

Council leader Warren Bradley, who sits on TMP’s board, said he was supportive of it but that “in the end, if they can’t hack it, maybe they will come and join us”.

Liverpool plc will take over the functions of the cities “big three” economic agencies, Liverpool Vision, Business Liverpool and Liverpool Land Development Company.

Cllr Clein said: “It seems to me there is considerable overlap between TMP and the proposed new quango.”

He added it could be argued that the two would be duplicating work and incorporating TMP into Liverpool plc should be considered to save public money.

Liverpool plc will concentrate on four “pillars” of development – quality of place, skilled workforce, investment and enterprise.

Cllr Millea said: “The reason for us going down this road (setting up Liverpool plc) is because of the response of the private sector who said that they don’t know what door to knock on.

“Our primary aim is to get inward investment for Liverpool because we believe that what is good for Liverpool is good for Merseyside.

“Our job is to make sure Liverpool succeeds – it’s not up to us to support and carry on funding an organisation that to some extent is doing us in.”

TMP is an association of the private sector and the five Merseyside councils. It serves to promote tourism and investment into Merseyside. Cllr Bradley said: “For too long, Liverpool has relied on other people to drive its economy. We can’t wait for TMP to decide whether they are going to do this or that.”

“At the moment, I am fully supportive of them and what they are trying to achieve for the city region.

“I hope the new quango and TMP will work together.

“In the end, if the TMP can’t hack it, maybe they will come join us.”

Colin Hilton, chief executive of the council, said TMP and the council were working on initiatives to attract investment, including from Shanghai.

TMP chairman Roy Morris said it was fully supportive of Liverpool plc as it would create a more streamlined authority.

But he said TMP had a different remit for economic development and inward investment for Merseyside, not just Liverpool.

The organisation was unique and well placed to co-ordinate the approach for Merseyside.

Last night Cllr Joe Anderson, leader of the Labour group, said he sympathised with the Lib- Dem councillors but didn’t think that “slagging off” TMP was the way forward.

davidbartlett