WARREN BRADLEY last night came under fire for calling for the abolition of the Northwest Development Agency.

Earlier in the week, the Liberal Democrat leader of Liverpool city council said power over spending decisions made by regional development agencies (RDAs) should pass to local authorities as a way of reducing bureaucracy.

Last night, Len Collinson, the Formby-based leader of Private Sector Partners, said: “Cllr Bradley ought to be managing Liverpool Council out of its appalling relationship with the private sector.

“The private sector believes the Agency has done a good job and the alternative of bringing responsibility for services to businesses under the city council is not credible.

“The council lacks the capacity and competence.

“Moreover, the track record of Merseyside local authorities in working together for the good of the region is poor.”

Last night, Cllr Bradley defended his call for the Northwest Development Agency to be abolished.

He said: “Following the Labour Government allowing the economy to explode out of control the way they have, something coherent and radical has to happen.”