Residents and businesses in Liverpool have until Monday 20 June to express a preference on how the city is governed.
The consultation asks: “How would you like Liverpool City Council to be run?”
The options are the three forms of governance that are allowed by law:
- By a Mayor who is directly elected by voters every 4 years (current system)
- By a Leader who is an elected councillor, chosen by a vote of the other elected councillors
- By one or more Committees made up of elected councillors
In April, letters were sent to households with a link directing residents to a secure portal, for them to register their preference. Residents have also been given the option request a paper copy of the voting form, if preferred.
To make it as easy as possible for people to have their say, voting forms and ballot boxes have also been placed in the following 18 locations:
- Central Library
- Allerton Library
- Breck Road Library
- Childwall Library
- Croxteth Library
- Dovecot Library
- Fazakerley Library
- Garston Library and One Stop Shop
- Kensington Library
- Kirkdale One Stop Shop
- Lee Valley Library
- Norris Green Library
- Parklands Library and One Stop Shop
- Old Swan Library
- Sefton Park Library
- Toxteth Library
- Wavertree Library
- West Derby Library
OTHER WAYS TO HAVE YOUR SAY
Website: https://liverpoolourwayforward.com/.
Email: governanceconsultation@liverpool.gov.uk
Write: Electoral Services, Liverpool City Council, Cunard Building, Water Street, Liverpool, L3 1AH,
It’s not too late to have your say. If you are writing, or emailing, please include your name, address and postcode – this is to ensure that we do not receive multiple responses from a single person.
A Privacy Notice setting out how the information is being stored and processed is available at https://liverpoolourwayforward.com/privacy-policy/.
The outcome will be reported to Full Council and the elected members will then make the final decision on whether to change governance arrangements, taking into account people’s views.
If Full Council agrees to make a governance change, it will take effect from the elections in May 2023 and will be binding on the Council for five years.
It will still be possible to hold a referendum in this period if a petition of 5% of electors is presented to the council asking for a referendum of Liverpool electors to vote on whether to change the governance model.
City Solicitor, Dan Fenwick, said: “This is the final chance for people to have their say over the future governance of Liverpool City Council.
“You can do it online at www.liverpoolourwayforward.com or by visiting One Stop Shops and libraries and filling in the feedback form.
“If you have not already had your say, please do so. If you have, please do not submit further comments. We will be checking for duplicate responses to check for multiple responses.
“People’s views in the consultation will be reported back to the Council, which will make the final decision on whether to keep the mayoralty or move to a different model of governance from May 2023.”