A three-month consultation on the way that Liverpool should be governed has begun, with the option of scrapping the city’s directly elected mayoral position being an option.
In April, a letter will be sent to every household in the city, with a link to an online portal, to answer the question: ‘How would you like Liverpool City Council to be run?’
The options are the three forms of governance that are allowed by law:
- By a mayor who is directly elected by voters every four years (current system).
- By a leader who is an elected councillor, chosen by a vote of the other elected councillors.
- By one or more committees made up of elected councillors.
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 and 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.
A referendum on whether to change governance arrangements was ruled out by the authority’s full council on cost grounds, as it was estimated that it would have a price tag of £450,000, compared to approximately £120,000 for the consultation.
The council said that a consultation is the only way that residents can express a preference between all three governance options because a referendum can only be a choice between the mayoralty and one other option.
The consultation will last until 20 June, with the outcome will being reported to full council.
Councillors 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, it will take effect from the elections in May 2023 and will be binding on the authority for five years.
The council said that It will still be possible to hold a referendum in this period if a petition of 5% of electors is presented to the authority asking for a poll of Liverpool’s electors to vote on whether to change governance model.
Commenting, Liverpool 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.”
In 2012, councillors in Liverpool voted to implement a mayoral system, with the first elections being held that year.
The current mayor is Joanne Anderson, who was elected in last year’s election.
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(ENDS)
