A "lack of strategy" is holding back Liverpool Council's ability to make changes to how it supports communities.
That was the finding of Fiona Worrall, strategic director of neighbourhoods at Manchester City Council, as she delivered a presentation on how Liverpool may look to restructure its own directorate to improve services for residents. Ms Worrall had been working with officials from Liverpool to share knowledge from its neighbouring city down the M62 to shape how the Cunard administration and future councils can create what it calls an effective delivery model to achieve the ambition set out in its council plan to create “thriving, empowered and compassionate communities for all.”
In a presentation, Ms Worrall said a pair of pilot systems have been set up in Croxteth and Picton that have identified “positive learning but have also exposed lack of overall strategy and approach.” The Manchester Council officer said there had been a “strong recognition” across the authority of a need to change and there was a willingness to take this forward.
READ MORE: “Bro I should have burned it, you’ve roped me in on a charge.”
However, Ms Worrall warned there would be “no new money” to achieve these goals and said it was about “how we do things differently.” Discussing challenges, Ms Worrall said there was evidence of “innovation fatigue” across the city as well as anxiety and suspicion from within the council and its partners over whether it could effectively deliver a new model.
Some councillors either know exactly who to talk to or face a long wait to get things done, the director said. She added this represented an inconsistency across the council.
Members don't always know lead officers in the communities either, according to Ms Worrall. Responding, Cllr Liam Robinson, leader of the Liverpool Labour group, said the council would embrace the chance to do things more efficiently in a better model even amid financial challenges.
His outlook was contrasted by Liberal Democrat group chief Cllr Richard Kemp who said he found Ms Worrall’s findings to be “underwhelming” and “deficient”. He said any new model for the city’s neighbourhoods must be led by councillors not officer.
He added: “This is what we're supposed to be good at, if not, we shouldn't be standing for election." A dissenting voice from the Labour benches came from one-time group leadership hopeful Cllr Liz Parsons.
She said communities are tired of reviews and said the council isn't "being ambitious enough with what we can build here." Cllr Parsons said the city is "still missing a trick" to address inequalities.
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
READ NEXT
Brookside is returning to TV screens for the first time in 20 years
'I knew something 'wasn't right' when hospital called after routine test'
Police close road after school bus and van crash
Funeral for 'beautiful' Elle Edwards to be held today
Lost Liverpool pub made famous in iconic 1980s television show
