The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority held its fourth
meeting today. Progress on a range of initiatives was
presented, included updates on One North, rail devolution, freight
and logistics, the development of the City Region’s European Rural
Development programme, the draft Enterprise Strategy Framework,
together with an evaluation of The Skills Show Experience at the
International Festival for Business.
Merseytravel, on behalf of the City Region, has been working
with the other Combined Authority areas in the North of England to
develop proposals to radically transform transport connectivity
across the east-west axis from Liverpool to Newcastle and Hull.
Since the last meeting, a number of workstreams have been
established to develop the strategic economic case for improved
connectivity, to identify and assess interventions within the
strategic plan and to estimate the economic activity outputs
resulting from the proposals.
Merseytravel has also been working on proposals to decentralise
the specification, letting and management of rail franchises, and
has been in discussion with the Department for Transport on the
implementation of these proposals for the Northern and TransPennine
franchises, which are due to expire in February 2016. This work is
progressing well.
The Liverpool City Region has identified the freight and
logistics industry as one of the key transformational business
sectors to underpin the City Region’s economic development. The
Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and other City Region partners
has developed the concept of a Freight and Logistics Hub to
underpin a number of projects considered critical to accelerating
the City Region’s performance within this sector. The Hub was
a key element of the LEPs Strategic Economic Plan and the Growth
Deal struck with Government in July 2014.
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority endorsed the Mersey
Rural Leader programme for 2014-2020, which will assist in
attracting funding for the city region, which could be used to add
value to primary food products, support the visitor economy and
create more jobs in the rural sector.
The Draft Enterprise Strategy Framework for the Liverpool City
Region was presented, which will enable joined up working across
the LEP and local authorities, as well as ensuring business support
meets the needs of businesses who are looking to grow.
An evaluation of the Skills Show Experience at the International
Festival for Business 2014 was shared. The Show had over 3,500
pupils from the City Region attending the event which showcased the
training and employment opportunities available across the City
Region. The event aimed to inspire young people the future career
choices of local young people by allowing them to take part in over
120 ‘have a go’ experiences related to these job roles. Funding
options to host events in 2015 and 2016 are currently being
explored.
Councillor Phil Davies, Chair of the Liverpool City Region
Combined Authority “By the Government using Combined Authorities to
devolve decision making, we have been able to make a lot of
progress in such a short space of time. Through the creation of the
Combined Authority, we have a collective voice for our City Region
for issues like determining priorities for investment in
infrastructure – this can be evidenced in the progress with have
made through One North and the rail devolution project. We
are showing how we are working together with other areas across the
North.”
The next meeting of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
takes place on 21 November at 11am at Mann Island, Liverpool.