A three-month consultation has begun which will ask residents of Liverpool how they want their city to be governed.
In April, a letter will be sent to every household in the city, with a secure link to an online portal, where people will be asked to answer the question: 'How would you like Liverpool City Council to be run?' Those answering will then be provided with three options.
The three options people can choose from include: by a Mayor who is directly elected by voters every four years (the current system); by a leader who is an elected councillor, chosen by a vote of the other elected councillors; or by a system made up of one of more committees of elected councillors.
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The documentation on the website includes a summary of how the consultation is being conducted and information about the models of governance and how they are different. There will be instructions available in multiple languages, to make it as accessible as possible.
Paper copies of the voting form will be available on request for those without internet access. A digital information campaign in support of the consultation will also take place to raise awareness and encourage participation.
The city council and its current mayor have been criticised by some people for deciding not to proceed with a full referendum, in which the people of the city could cast their vote on a future governance style. Mayor Joanne Anderson had previously pledged to do this when she was running for the position she now holds.
But the council is undergoing a major improvement plan following the dramatic revelation of damning government inspection last year and this has led to some significant changes. One of the most fundamental changes concerns when the council holds elections, moving from votes in three of every four years to holding all out elections every four years. This means there will be no council elections this year.
The council had previously been hoping to hold a referendum alongside the local elections this May, but with no polls taking place in the city, it says it cannot justify the one off costs of around £450,000 for a standalone referendum on governance styles at a time of budget cuts. The council says the city-wide consultation will cost around £120,000.
The outcome will be reported to a Full Council meeting and the elected members will then make the final decision on whether to change governance arrangements, taking into account people’s views. If Full Council agrees to make a change in governance, it will take effect from the elections in May 2023 and will be binding on the council for five years. It will still be possible to hold a referendum in this period if a petition of 5% of electors is presented to the council asking for a referendum of Liverpool electors to vote on whether to change governance model.
City Solicitor Dan Fenwick said: “The council wants to give as many people as possible the chance to have their say over the future governance of Liverpool City Council. I encourage everyone to take part. Full details of how to participate can be found at liverpoolourwayforward.com and we will be sending out a letter to all households which will be dropping on their doormat in April.
“We are also happy for people to email or write in with their views on a change. A consultation is the only way that local people can express a preference for all three available governance models, and we have made the process as clear and simple as we can.
“People’s views in the consultation will be reported back to the Council, which will make the final decision on whether to keep the mayoralty or move to a different model of governance from May 2023.”
The webpage with details of the consultation – which will be ongoing until Monday, June 20 - can be found at https://liverpoolourwayforward.com/.
People can also email governanceconsultation@liverpool.gov.uk or write to: Electoral Services, Liverpool City Council, Cunard Building, Water Street, Liverpool, L3 1AH.
