Liverpool City Region's first devolution agreement was signed in November 2015, and is growth focused, including powers over Further education and Skills, Transport, Business Support, Employment Support, Land and Housing, and a yearly £30m Investment Fund.
Early 2016
In early 2016 further powers were granted, including over Criminal Justice, Children’s Services, and apprenticeships.
Liverpool John Moores University and the University of Liverpool published a report in January 2016, ‘The State of Liverpool City Region Report: Making the Most of Devolution’, which sets out key goals for devolution in the region. One proposal it made was to develop a ‘taskforce’ of individuals from across all sectors, including the VCFSE, to assess key challenges and advance devolution in the region.
May 2017
Liverpool City Region elected its first regional mayor, Steve Rotheram.
Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector activity
The VS6 partnership, which represents VCFSE infrastructure bodies across the six boroughs of Liverpool City Region, relaunched in April 2015, with a renewed focus on sub-regional policy, including devolution. VS6 work on behalf of the 8,600 community groups in the region.
The group wrote to the then Chair of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Cllr Phil Davies, in December 2015, outlining ways in which the VCFSE sector could contribute to devolution. The letter highlighted work and health, community led activity, and social action as early areas for joint activity.
Since then, discussions have been initiated with the Local Enterprise Partnership, and VS6 have been invited to appoint nominees to contribute to key thematic workstreams by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
VSNW works closely with VS6, providing policy support, and facilitating conversations with key stakeholders.
Useful links
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority - http://www.liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk/
VS6 sector support partnership - http://vs6.org.uk/
Liverpool City Region's devolution deals - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/liverpool-devolution-deal
