Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the announcement that government-appointed commissioners will be introduced to oversee parts of Liverpool City Council, what relationship they expect the commissioners will have with elected city councillors.

On 24 March 2021, the Secretary of State announced his proposed intervention package for Liverpool City Council, which includes the appointment of Commissioners.

The Secretary of State’s intention is for the Council to continue to take decisions with support from Commissioners, with elected city councillors continuing their essential role of community leadership and engagement through representing the ward for which they are elected, decision-making and scrutiny. However, the Secretary of State is ‘minded to’ empower Commissioners to take decisions on the Council’s behalf if necessary. He is clear that Commissioners’ powers should be used only as a last resort if the Council fails to deliver the necessary changes, at the necessary speed

The Secretary of State has invited Liverpool City Council to make representations on his proposed intervention package by 24 May 2021. This timetable allows the Council, including the new Liverpool City Mayor and her cabinet, to respond to his proposals following the local elections that took place on 6 May 2021. The Secretary of State will carefully consider all the representations submitted to him and update the House on his decision in due course.