Comment: A fresh blow for struggling city

Feb 19 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

LIKE a punch-drunk old fighter already reeling on the ropes, Liverpool City Council was caught this morning by one more ruthless onslaught from the organisation that has been its most outspoken critic in recent weeks, the Audit Commission.

Just weeks after declaring Liverpool the worst local authority in the country, the local government watchdog follows up with its corporate assessment report, with the conduct of the elected councillors this time in its sights.

You have to feel a modicum of sympathy for the poor old council. At the risk of straining the analogy, if this had been a fight, surely the referee would have stopped it by now.

The report says some councillors are too scared to speak at meetings for fear of being shouted at or ridiculed, and warns that trust between councillors and officers is "not effective".

It accuses the council of a lack of long- term financial planning, citing the city’s £20m 2008 finance shortfall as a concern.

There are also, to be fair, some very positive points, like the action the authority is taking to improve the health of children, and its strong record of partnership working to deliver refurbished homes, a reduction in crime and disorder, and improved life expectancy in the city.

The report recognises, as anyone who knows our city surely would, that the quality of life for the people of Liverpool is visibly improving.

But Audit Commission senior manager Tim Watkinson warns: "Continued improvement is at risk due to the behaviour of councillors, financial capacity, too many priorities and the need to establish a clear long-term ambition."

We are doing a lot to capitalise on the unique opportunity 2008 represents, but with a potentially difficult local election looming in May, and a council leader with a Standards Board investigation hanging over him, the portents are not exactly great for more stability and better long-term planning for our future prosperity.