The Liverpool City Region LEP and Combined Authority work together to deliver the Growth Strategy for the City Region. The LEP provides strategic advice and guidance on economic development priorities while the Combined Authority brings democratic accountability and oversight for the City Region. Read the Liverpool City Region Roles and Responsibilities here. Working together in this way gives us the insights and benefits of both the public and private sectors. Private sector knowledge and expertise from the LEP ensures that strategic, business-led economic growth is at the heart of driving the economy for the City Region. Public sector accountability and oversight from the Combined Authority provides robust governance structures for the City Region to take on devolved powers and funding from central government. The Combined Authority is also responsible for delivering large-scale transport and infrastructure projects, ensuring that we can better connect people, places and jobs. Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (CA) In April 2014 the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (CA) was formed and assumed responsibility for a range of statutory duties including acting as the Accountable Body for all public funds allocated to the Liverpool City Region. The Chair of the LEP is a (non-voting) Member of the Combined Authority, in addition to the five local authority leaders, the Mayor of Liverpool and the Liverpool City Region Mayor to provide a clear link between both organisations. The Combined Authority will administer and be accountable for all public funds allocated to the City Region including decisions on individual projects. Devolution In November 2015, the Combined Authority secured a Devolution Agreement with Government, securing £900 million of funding along with the devolution of powers and responsibilities from Whitehall. This Agreement was further developed in March 2016, securing more powers and responsibilities including additional powers over transport, piloting a new approach to local government finance (based on 100% business rates retention) across the Liverpool City Region. The Devolution Agreement provides the resources, freedoms and flexibilities to deliver the City Region’s strategic priorities around economic development, transport, strategic housing and employment and skills. Part of the Devolution Agreement was to have a directly Elected Mayor for the Liverpool City Region. The Election took place in May 2017. The elected Liverpool City Region Mayor is Steve Rotheram Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) The Devolution deal will also give the City Region greater power to raise its own income and manage local funds alongside devolved funds in a Single Pot. The Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) draws together these sources of income including Local Growth Funding which is allocated to LEP areas. The Strategic Investment Fund will be administered by the Combined Authority who will manage project development, appraisal and prioritisation and also provide governance.
