Minister describes improvement and assurance board at Liverpool as pilot for “brand-new model”
The Government has welcomed Liverpool City Council's establishment of an Improvement and Assurance Board, describing it as an opportunity to explore a "brand-new model" for the council's improvement.
Writing in a letter to the city council's chief executive, Local Government Minister Jim McMahon said the board "provides a great opportunity to pilot a brand-new model that demonstrates how Liverpool can thrive when driving its own improvement at a local level whilst also creating a more collaborative and equal partnership between local and central government".
Government intervention at Liverpool, which began in June 2021, was set to expire on 9 June 2024 after a fifth report from commissioners had detailed "significant improvements".
Responding to the report in early May 2024, the then Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) proposed reducing the level of intervention by moving from a commissioner-led model to a statutory Assurance and Improvement Board.
However, the Government did not make an announcement on the next steps for the statutory intervention before the general election was called on 22 May.
The intervention therefore automatically ended when the directions and commissioner appointments expired on 9 June 2024.
Liverpool then took the decision to establish the Improvement and Assurance Board with Mike Cunningham CBE QPM as chair.
Commenting on the board in his letter, McMahon said: "It is essential that the pace of change and determination shown to date is maintained and I know you recognise fully the challenges which still confront any organisational change of this scale.
"I understand that you initially designed the foundations of the Board with support from departmental officials, using the proposal set out in May, and I want to give you the chance to see and demonstrate how it works."
In response to a request from Liverpool, the Government will provide support and advice, both as observer to the board and on other areas of the board's work.
McMahon also made some recommendations, calling for the board to:
- provide advice, challenge, and expertise to the council across the range of functions and services that Liverpool is focussing on;
- make recommendations to the council that would secure continuous improvement;
- provide McMahon and the council with independent assessments about the extent to which Liverpool's improvement trajectory is 'well-set' to support the council ensure that the changes are resulting in better outcomes for Liverpool residents, particularly in culture change, property, regeneration, and finance.
McMahon plans to review the council's progress and the involvement of central government in Liverpool's improvement in the Autumn.
He asked that the council and the board send the Ministry updates on the council's progress, and compliance with the Best Value duty, and how the board is working in early October 2024.
The board at Liverpool is scheduled to run until 31 March 2025.
Adam Carey
