Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram is launching a major consultation asking for views on topics, including transport, jobs and skills, the environment, housing and culture. Tony McDonough reports
Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram is launching a major three-month public consultation on what Merseyside’s future should look like.
In what will be the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s biggest ever public engagement exercise, people will be asked for their views on a wide range of topics, including transport, jobs and skills, the environment, housing and culture.
Mr Rotheram will join Cllr Graham Morgan, leader of Knowsley Council, at an event in Prescot to kick-off the consultation, called LCR Listens.
Featuring a host of ways to get involved, from public events, to on-street research, through to an on-line portal, LCR Listens will aim to hear from as many city region residents, from as wide a variety of backgrounds, as possible.
Mr Rotheram said: “LCR Listens is an exercise in bringing devolution to life, to ensure that local people have the opportunity to influence genuine local decision-making. We’re making sure we speak to people from every part of our city region, who reflect our diversity, to make sure we have an accurate picture of what is important to the people who live here.
“Devolution is about bringing power closer to the people, and through LCR Listens we are stepping up our efforts to understand what is important to all of our residents. What we learn from this exercise will directly influence our strategic direction for the next 20 years and we are pulling out all the stops to make sure that we reach all of our communities.”
All the feedback the combined authority receives will specifically influence its Local Industrial Strategy, which will set out the long-term economic vision for the Liverpool city region, providing a framework for its investment decisions, and for conversations with Government about how they work together, through devolution, to maximise prosperity for all people and communities.
Cllr Morgan added: “Knowsley has benefitted from significant investment thanks to devolution which includes support for the Shakespeare North Playhouse, Halsnead Garden Village and major transport improvements.
“Gathering the views of the Liverpool city region’s residents which will be used to influence wider strategy decisions is devolution in action. I would encourage everyone to get involved and share their views.”
To have their say on the future of the Liverpool City Region or find out more about LCR Listens can click here and keep a look out for the #LCRListens hashtag on social media.