Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
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| Liverpool City Region Combined Authority | |
|---|---|
 Public domain · source | |
| Name | Liverpool City Region Combined Authority |
| Established | 2014 |
| Type | Combined authority |
| Region | Merseyside and Halton |
| Constituent | Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens, Wirral, Halton |
| Mayor | Steve Rotheram |
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is a statutory body formed to coordinate regional Merseyside and Halton functions across the north-west of England. It brings together local bodies such as Liverpool City Council, Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council, St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council, Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council and Halton Borough Council with a directly elected metro Mayor, and works alongside institutions like the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, Merseytravel and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Cabinet. The authority interfaces with national bodies including the UK Government, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, HM Treasury and Transport for the North.
History
The combined authority originated in devolution discussions following the 2010s UK political reforms influenced by precedents such as the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the West Midlands Combined Authority. Initial collaborative arrangements featured agencies like Merseytravel and the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership before the statutory formation in 2014 and later statutory expansion in 2017, when a devolution deal negotiated with the UK Government created the post of a directly elected Metro Mayor. Key local political figures involved included leaders from Liverpool City Council, Sefton Borough Council, Knowsley Council, St Helens Council, Wirral Council and Halton Borough Council and national ministers such as the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. The authority’s evolution ran parallel to regional regeneration initiatives like the Liverpool Waters scheme, cultural investments in Liverpool Biennial, and transport projects tied to Merseyrail and Mersey Gateway Bridge.
Governance and Structure
The Combined Authority operates via a cabinet of council leaders and the Metro Mayor alongside portfolio leads responsible for areas such as transport, skills and housing. The membership comprises elected leaders from the six constituent councils and non-constituent partners including Merseytravel, the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool Hope University, University of Liverpool, Edge Hill University, and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Committees coordinate with agencies like NHS England, Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, and regional bodies such as Transport for the North and the North West Regional Leaders Board. Decision-making is shaped by statutory orders under the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 and devolution deals agreed with ministers in Whitehall.
Responsibilities and Powers
Statutory responsibilities include devolved functions for transport planning administered with Merseytravel and powers over strategic investment, adult education and skills through links with institutions like City of Liverpool College and Knowsley Community College. The authority holds housing and spatial planning levers influencing projects such as Wirral Waters and Liverpool Waters and has responsibilities over strategic economic development, often coordinating with the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership and national programmes like the Northern Powerhouse. It manages certain transport franchises and concessionary arrangements in partnership with operators including Merseyrail and Stagecoach North West and oversees regional skills strategies aligned with universities including the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University.
Economy and Strategic Planning
The Combined Authority drives regional economic strategy, linking industrial policy initiatives tied to ports such as Port of Liverpool and logistics hubs including Peel Ports Group developments, university research commercialisation via Innovation Quarter Liverpool and enterprise support through the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership. Sectoral priorities include maritime and logistics linked to Sefton Docks, advanced manufacturing at sites near Wirral, digital clusters in Liverpool City Centre, and low-carbon projects associated with Liverpool Waters and offshore wind supply chains tied to companies like Ørsted and Siemens. Spatial planning instruments coordinate with local plans from councils and national frameworks like the National Planning Policy Framework to guide housing delivery, brownfield regeneration and employment zones.
Transport and Infrastructure
Transport responsibilities encompass strategic planning with Merseytravel and collaboration with operators such as Merseyrail, Northern Trains, TransPennine Express and bus companies including Arriva North West. Major infrastructure programmes overseen or influenced by the authority include the Mersey Gateway Bridge, rail station upgrades at Liverpool Lime Street, connectivity improvements across the Wirral Line and investment programmes targeting active travel and cycling schemes influenced by national funding streams such as the Department for Transport’s devolved transport settlements. The Combined Authority interacts with port infrastructure at Port of Liverpool and regional energy projects connected to the Liverpool Bay offshore sector.
Funding and Finance
Funding combines retained business rates growth agreements, fiscal elements from devolution deals negotiated with HM Treasury, targeted grants from departments like the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and project-specific funding from bodies such as the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership and European programmes formerly managed via the European Regional Development Fund. Capital projects have leveraged private sector investment from entities like Peel Group and institutional finance partners, while operational budgets coordinate with council contributions and transport levies administered through Merseytravel.
Criticism and Controversies
The Combined Authority has faced scrutiny over accountability and transparency similar to debates seen with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and West Yorkshire Combined Authority, including disputes about the mayoral model and scope of devolved powers. Controversies have involved housing and regeneration schemes such as Liverpool Waters and Wirral Waters where planning decisions drew criticism from local campaign groups and conservation bodies including SAVE Britain’s Heritage and Historic England. Transport fare changes and franchising arrangements prompted challenges from operators and passenger groups like Transport Focus, while funding allocations and business rate retention deals attracted scrutiny from oppositional politicians across Labour Party and Conservative Party benches.