Chamber Response to City Mayor Proposal
In a letter signed by Chamber CEO, Jack Stopforth and Chairman, Neil Scales Liverpool Chamber provided feedback to the Secretary of State on the proposal for a referendum on City Mayors.
Jack Stopforth, Chief Executive, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce stated: "From consultation with Liverpool Chamber members, we believe that the business community also supports the creation of A 'Metro Mayor' but has reservations about the 'City Mayor'.
"We fear that 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.
Firstly, we would like to see the referendum extended to include those who own businesses or work in Liverpool but reside elsewhere, who represent Liverpool on the national and international stage.
Unless the proposed new function brings significant new powers and resources, it will be ineffective and counter-productive. In our view, there are a number of key areas that require significant city mayoral powers ascribed to them.
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.
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.
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.
Chamber Chairman, Neil Scales commented: "Ultimately the City Mayor role is a complex one. It looks to combine in one individual the essential skills of a charismatic leader, deal-maker, business planner, negotiator, lobbyist and influencer. Unless the appointee has a clear remit relative to elected councillors and the proposed Police Commissioner as well as access to sufficient and discrete resources to affect meaningful change there is a danger that the position will be viewed as mere window dressing and not serious constitutional reform."
