'Bigger Business Role Needed in Local Government Shake Up'
14th April 2004

Business leaders should be given a bigger say, and a more formal role in any reformed local government structure, according to Frank McKenna, the Chairman of Downtown Liverpool In Business (DLIB).

Responding to government calls for Liverpool to vote 'yes' in the forthcoming referendum offering the Northwest an opportunity of elected regional government, Mr.McKenna, the former Leader of the current Regional Assembly, said:

"One of the reasons why the debate about an additional tier of government for Liverpool has failed to capture peoples imagination is that we are being presented with a 'more of the same' agenda.

"The government has missed an opportunity of exploring more innovative and inclusive structures of governance, that would enable a more formal role for business leaders and other sections of the community in any new local government institutions.

"The business community, through groups such as the CBI, the Chambers of Commerce and the Institute of Directors, has a credible infrastructure that would be able to identify and elect representatives to serve on an elected body, and my guess is that the turnout for such a selection would compare favourably to those we have witnessed in recent local elections.

"The strength of many of the successful partnerships we have seen operate in this region has been borne out of the public and private sectors working together, and I am a little disappointed that the government hasn't yet included any specific recommendations that provide businesses with a forum to directly participate in the new structure they are proposing.

Mr.McKenna concluded:

"Given that the key objective of a regional assembly is to improve the economic performance of the Northwest, then surely the option of involving those largely responsible for economic success - business leaders and entrepreneurs - should be given favourable consideration."

ENDS

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