LIVERPOOL’S new council leader Joe Anderson has taken charge of the region’s super- cabinet and declared: “We must work better together”.

The Labour leader has replaced Knowsley Council leader Ron Round at the head of the cabinet.

He said Merseyside’s five councils, plus near-neighbour Halton, had to work collectively to pool resources and fight their corner against cuts from the coalition Government.

Cllr Anderson said last night: “We need to develop a partnership together which is fruitful and beneficial for the whole region.”

The regional cabinet, set up three years ago, has faced criticism in the past of being little more than a talking shop.

Cllr Anderson said the cabinet needed to become more high-profile and deliver key benefits across Merseyside.

High on the agenda will be how the local authorities can save money by pooling contracts or services.

Critics have often compared Merseyside with Greater Manchester, which has been far better at speaking with one voice.

Greater Manchester’s councils and MPs have worked well to secure investment, as was seen with their successful battle for funding to extend Metrolink.

In stark contrast, Merseyside often failed to speak with a coherent voice on major projects, most notably the still-unbuilt Merseytram.

Cllr Anderson said: “We have got to become more supportive of one another, especially on big strategic programmes.

“The city-region speaks for 1.4m people and we have got to use that to lobby collectively and create the same sort of conditions for everybody.

“There are a number of questions and issues which Liverpool and authorities across the region face. Those things should unite us.

“We have to try to look at solutions to some of those issues collectively.

“From my point of view, there is a determination to build on that.

“I am looking forward to tackling the challenge and taking it forward.”