Halton to become part of Liverpool city region

Jan 15 2009 by Oliver Clay, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

Halton to become part of Liverpool city region

GORDON BROWN has signed an agreement making Halton part of the Liverpool City Region.

Representatives of six councils met the Prime Minister at Downing Street on Monday to seal the deal.

Halton borough, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, Wirral and St Helens councils will now pool resources on specific issues in order to create a “thriving international city region” by 2020.

The regional cabinet comprises the six council leaders and the head of The Mersey Partnership, who represents the private sector.

Its first task is to tackle unemployment by finding work for 9,000 of the region’s 175,000 benefits claimants by 2012, and training 131,000 more residents.

Council staff will also step in to stop job losses due to ill health, and a “flexible new deal” programme tailored to “local needs” will help residents train and find jobs.

The city region’s remit encompasses business and the economy, transport, planning and housing, environment, waste and safe, healthy communities.

Halton Borough Council leader Cllr Tony McDermott said: “This agreement isn’t at the expense of local authorities. Whitehall has given powers to the city region so we can pool our efforts and resources to do our best for the six areas, including Halton.

“Whitehall will be waiting for evidence of us working together and we may be joined by other authorities like Chester and Ellesmere Port if the city region seems to be successful.”

He added: “It will give us, a relatively small authority, a bigger say in this part of the country.

“It’s enabled us to punch well above our weight, in part due to our well-established reputation for success and of performing the way we say we are going to.”