THINK TANK RECOMMENDS MAYOR FOR LIVERPOOL – AFTER MANCHESTER!

Influential think tank the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has recommended changes to local government structures that would include the introduction of an elected mayor for Liverpool.

These findings come at the conclusion of their Government sponsored ‘Centre for Cities’ study, of which Downtown Liverpool in Business was a consultee.

DLIB Chairman Frank McKenna told Granada News this morning:

“We welcome this proposal. The private sector in this city wants to see change in the way decisions are delivered in Liverpool. Experiences around issues such as the Fourth Grace, the Mersey Tram and the fall out between senior council officials have re-inforced that view.”

However, the report goes on to say that mayors for Manchester and Birmingham should be introduced first, with Liverpool in the ‘slow lane’ for change.

“That is disappointing, but something we have to work on,” added Mr. McKenna

The row between Sir David Henshaw and Mike Storey is stated as the main reason not to give additional powers to local government in Liverpool.