Commissioners’ exit must not be end of Liverpool’s recovery

After three years under the watchful eye of government agents, the once “dysfunctional” city council must now draw a line under the past and kick on towards a brighter future, according to the city’s property leaders.

Yesterday, the government-appointed commissioners installed at Liverpool City Council in 2021 packed up their clipboards and red pens and left the Cunard Building, leaving the authority to once again plough its own furrow.

They had been appointed following a damning report into the running of certain council departments, which laid bare the authority’s failure to “comply with its [statutory] Best Value duty to taxpayers” and branded it “dysfunctional”.

However, the Department for Levelling Up, Homes, and Communities is now satisfied Liverpool City Council has taken sufficient strides in the right direction.

The most recent commissioners report said the city council is now “a well-governed, improving organisation, with ambitious leaders who are committed to long-term change”.

Liverpool City Council chief executive, Andrew Lewis, said: “This is a significant milestone for the council and the city, and the result of a great deal of commitment and hard work from councillors, staff, and our partners.

“The council is committed to continuing our journey of improvement beyond the period of government intervention, to create the outstanding council that the people of Liverpool have the right to expect.

He added: “There is still much more work to do, but we can be proud that recent progress has been sufficient to enable this important step forward.”

Chris Bliss, co-founder and director of The Momentum Group, echoed Muir’s sentiments.

“It is very positive that the commissioners now have the required confidence in the Liverpool City Council leadership team. ]

“We are looking forward to seeing a newfound determination in the city, sending a very clear message to the UK, that Liverpool is open for business and has many exciting investment opportunities.”

What next?

While the government intervention is now over, an improvement board chaired by lead commissioner Mike Cunningham will be established to ensure the city council continues on in the right direction.

The city’s property and development community has been watching closely during the intervention for signs of improvement and will continue to monitor the situation.

Darren Muir, director at Pegasus, said the departure of the commissioners is testament to the work done within the council over recent years.

“The government-appointed commissioners leaving Liverpool can only be seen as a positive step,” he said.

“I don’t think anyone would disagree that there is still work to be done – particularly in property, but there’s clearly a plan in place and it’s working.”

Muir said his firm has noticed an “emphasis on collaboration between planners” over the last year, singling out the newly formed major projects team and Nuala Gallagher, corporate director for city development, for special praise.

“Liverpool is going to see some major, city-changing, projects come forward in the near future,” he added.

“These will need positive collaboration between the public and private sectors, but if we can get that right, people will soon forget the past and see Liverpool as a top-tier location for investment again.”

Great news

Dave Dargan, co-founder and chief executive of modular construction firm Starship described the departure of the commissioners as “great news”.

“The departure of the government-appointed commissioners signifies the remarkable progress made since 2021,” he said.

“This transformation highlights the council’s renewed commitment to transparency and ushering Liverpool into a new era.”

As the city embarks on its next chapter, Dargan is hopeful.

“I have always remained optimistic about this great city’s future and look forward to Liverpool becoming a benchmark for urban regeneration and modern methods of construction, but also showcasing exemplary leadership and a way of working that has communities at the core.”

Nuala Gallagher has received rave reviews. Credit: via Liverpool City Council

Don’t stop now

Sean Keyes, chief executive of Sutcliffe, said the commissioners leaving “opens the door for us to move forward at pace”.

“Sutcliffe takes great pride in working in the heart of Liverpool, and the departure of the government-appointed commissioners from the council is welcomed by the business community.”

While pleased about the end of government intervention at the city council, the city’s business leaders have implored the authority to kick on and not rest on its laurels.

Colin Sinclair, chief executive of Sciontec and KQ Liverpool, said: “Liverpool has clearly made great strides as a city since the initial [Max] Caller report…this has to be a new beginning, rather than an endpoint.”

“We have a fresh opportunity to look to the future and work together with the city, city region, the universities, the private and third sectors to unlock Liverpool’s enormous potential as a global brand and a world leader in health and life sciences, whilst building on our known excellence in chemistry, digital, maritime, robotics and advanced manufacturing.”

He added: “We are already known as a Capital of Culture, let’s now put the past problems behind us and become Europe’s leading City of Innovation”.

A stable and proactive local authority is what the private sector has been calling for for years. Stephen Cowperthwaite, principal and managing director for the regions at Avison Young thinks the improvements the council has made stand it in good stead.

“Looking ahead, [the improvements made] will help to unlock new opportunity for Liverpool, with a focus on delivering long-term change,” he said.

“Last month, Avison Young was appointed as strategic property partner to the city council, and we’ll be working closely with the leadership team at the authority to drive forward investment in, and improvements to, its buildings and spaces, creating a modernised property portfolio that reflects the ambitions of our people, places and communities.”