Liverpool gets £30m one year on from devo deal

Liverpool City Region today received a £30m payment as part of its devolution deal with the Government, the first of a £900m allocation to be distributed over 30 years.

The devolution deal was signed a year ago, and came with a package of new powers for the authority, as well as a promise of a new funding allocation from Government of £30m a year, reviewed every five years to see objectives are being met.

As part of the agreement, Liverpool also committed to electing a Mayor, with the election due to take place in May.

Speaking in Liverpool, Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said: “Today’s £30m cash boost is just the first instalment of nearly £1bn that will be given to the Liverpool City Region over the next three decades. This devolution deal allows the people of Liverpool to take control of the decisions that matter to them.

“With new powers over transport, business growth, housing and regeneration, voters will also get a chance to choose their region’s first mayor in May to put these powers into practice.”

Mayor Joe Anderson, chairman of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said: “Today’s meeting demonstrates our ongoing discussions with Government to devolve resources and power to the City Region. Through our devolution agreement, we are able to make decisions and manage funding for a range of issues that best serve our residents and businesses across the Liverpool City Region. We understand the issues and challenges better than Ministers in Whitehall. This funding will be used to support businesses to grow, secure new investments, improve our road transport infrastructure and rail stock, secure the future for our cultural assets including galleries, provide better training and apprenticeships which meet the needs of the City Region’s employers, as well as attracting more businesses in the City Region.”