Nominations for candidates to put themselves forward to lead the Labour group on Liverpool Council close this afternoon.
It was revealed on Wednesday that ahead of next year’s all out local authority ballots, the current ruling group at the Town Hall is to appoint a new leader to replace Mayor Joanne Anderson in the political role before her term of office has ended. The group will confirm its new figurehead next month to lead it into May’s election with Mayor Anderson not standing for re-election as the council moves to a leader and cabinet model.
It is thought the individual chosen will focus on the impending campaign while the outgoing Mayor focuses on the direction of the city. Nominations close for the role at midday today, with hustings events to be held between shortlisted candidates following an interview process.
READ MORE: Schoolboy, 15, charged with murder
It is expected that a new group leader could be in place by December 5. So far, none of the current 53 Labour councillors have publicly announced their intention to seek nomination for leader. The Mayoral model was formally done away with during a meeting of the full council in July.
After being reintroduced under then-leader Joe Anderson in 2012, the position was scrapped following a highly contentious consultation with the city, whereby the adopted leader and cabinet model was the third choice of respondents. The current Mayor had pledged to hold a city-wide referendum on whether to scrap the mayoralty when she campaigned to replace her namesake last year.
However, she and the council chose to instead hold a cheaper public consultation. Despite the council’s claims over costs, many people were frustrated not to be given a vote on how the city is run going forward. They were even more frustrated by the way the public consultation was carried out and the subsequent actions of the Labour group.
Just 4% of the city’s residents took part in the consultation and of that number, more than 40% said they would prefer to keep the mayoral system. Around 32% opted for the committee system while just 24% went for the leader and cabinet model.
Despite the leader system finishing last of three, the Labour group on the council immediately stated that it intended to support that style of leadership, arguing that the poor response rate of the consultation meant it was not representative. Ahead of her replacement being selected, Mayor Anderson said being chosen to serve as the city’s first official had been one of the greatest honours of her life.
She said: “As a Labour group we have had discussions about the benefits of bringing in an additional leader now, who can focus on leading the Labour campaign, while I focus on leading the city. My role as Mayor remains unchanged, but this additional leadership will enable me to have a razor-sharp focus on delivering improvements and putting policies in place that truly benefit the people of Liverpool.
“In my remaining term, I will be concentrating on delivering transformations to services in order to set a balanced budget. Being Mayor has been one of the greatest honours of my life and my role and commitment to lead the people of Liverpool remains the same.”
It is thought that the reduction of councillors from 90 to 85 and the change to leader and cabinet model from next May could save Liverpool Council almost half a million pounds in the next three years.
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
READ NEXT:
ITV I'm a Celebrity's Ant and Dec report Charlene to bosses after 'breaking rules'
Millions to get more DWP Cost of Living payments and how much you'll get
Killer told ex-girlfriend they were going to enjoy picnic but actually drove her to her own grave
