The Liverpool City Region Overview and Scrutiny Committee met to appoint its Chair and Vice-Chair, nominate members to the Audit and Governance Committee, and review the Q4 performance report for the 2025-26 Corporate Plan. The committee also discussed and began to shape its work programme for the upcoming municipal year.

Appointment of Chair and Vice-Chair

Councillor Pat Moloney was appointed as the Chair of the Liverpool City Region Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the municipal year. Councillor Chris Cooke was appointed as the Vice-Chair.

Appointments to the Audit and Governance Committee

The committee nominated members to sit on the Audit and Governance Committee for the 2026-27 municipal year. The nominations, which ensure political balance, included two Labour councillors, one Liberal Democrat, one Green Party councillor, and one Reform UK councillor, along with their substitutes. The finalisation of any outstanding appointments was delegated to the Monitoring Officer in consultation with the Chair.

Q4 2025-26 Performance Reporting on the Combined Authority Corporate Plan

The committee reviewed the Q4 performance report for the 2025-26 Corporate Plan, which detailed progress against the authority's priorities. Kate Downs, Assistant Director of Evidence, Research and Intelligence, presented the report, highlighting that 86% of planned activities were rated as green, indicating they were on track for successful delivery.

Key achievements were noted across various themes:

• Economy: The Growth Hub provided export support to approximately 120 businesses and supply chain and inward investment support to over 200 businesses.
• People: The Employer Brokerage Service supported 110 employers during the quarter and over 1,000 employees across the full year. The LCR Login Programme provided device, connectivity, and training support to 1,500 residents.
• Place: The Local Nature Recovery Strategy was launched, and approval was received to extend social housing decarbonisation match funding, aiming to decarbonise over 1,000 homes and public buildings.
• Transport: The first contracts for bus franchising were awarded in St. Helens and on the Wirral, and studies progressed for the Rapid Transit Programme. The new Mersey ferry, 'The Royal Daffodil', was completed.
• Digital Infrastructure: An AI roadmap was progressed to guide the Combined Authority's approach to maximising the benefits of AI.

Seven commitments were flagged as amber, requiring further work to improve or accelerate progress. These included activities related to supporting key clusters (life sciences, advanced manufacturing, digital and creative), refocusing the Borough of Culture programme, investing in public electric vehicle charging points, establishing a homelessness task force, developing new Mersey rail stations, maximising the benefits of LCR Connect, and using digital assets for responsible AI.

During the discussion, Councillor Helen Cameron sought clarification on the breakdown of businesses supported by the Growth Hub, requesting more detailed metrics. Simon Reid, Assistant Director of Business Growth, committed to providing this breakdown in future reports. Councillor John Shaw questioned the amber rating for electric vehicle charging points, and Andrew provided an update on the procurement process, indicating that charge points could be on the ground by early next year. Councillor Dr. John Pugh raised concerns about the ambition to be the most digitally connected city region, specifically regarding the support for key clusters and the LCR Connect broadband network. Ian Inglis, Programme Manager at Cross-Tisle Infrastructure, reported that over 1,100 connections had been made for LCR Connect, but acknowledged the challenge of reaching the target of 3,000 customers due to increased fibre coverage.

Councillor Jane Corbett raised concerns about the report's implications for health improvement and health inequalities, and the Equality Act, suggesting these needed better integration. She also highlighted the struggles of SMEs and micro-businesses, particularly in the tourism and visitor economy, and asked about support for their sustainability and growth. Simon Reid acknowledged these challenges, outlining the support provided through the Growth Hub.

Councillor Paul Jobson inquired about updates on electric vehicle charging points for terraced streets and the uptake of Merseyrail's tap and go system. Andy confirmed that individual chargers would be installed where lamp columns were not feasible and that over 200,000 properties lacked off-street parking. David confirmed that over a million tap and go journeys had already been made on Merseyrail.

Councillor Cameron also asked for an update on the progress of refreshing the performance management framework, specifically requesting outcome-based KPIs with defined baselines. It was agreed that a paper on this would be brought to a future meeting.

Councillor Simon Shaw sought clarification on the awarding of smaller category two bus franchising contracts, questioning if this supported smaller operators. Louise confirmed that opportunities for smaller operators to run services, particularly those currently subsidised, were being made available.

Councillor Matt Costello raised concerns about the urgency for clarity in supporting the advanced manufacturing sector and asked about the progress of cluster planning. Simon Reid confirmed that the advanced manufacturing action plan was complete, despite a delay due to the passing of the chair of the board.

The committee noted the contents of the Q4 performance report and the work delivered to achieve the Corporate Plan priorities. It was agreed that follow-up actions from officers would be tracked and reported back to the next committee meeting.

Work Programme 2026-27

Trudy Bedford, Statutory Scrutiny Officer, presented the draft work programme for 2026-27. The programme outlined four types of scrutiny activity: reports for consideration at committee, task and finish groups, knowledge briefings, and site visits. The committee was encouraged to suggest items for inclusion.

Councillor Helen Cameron raised concerns about the decision date for the Mersey barrage location, noting that potential locations were not included in the consultation. She requested a knowledge briefing on this topic in September. Councillor Chris Cooke suggested inviting leaders of constituent councils to present at committee meetings. Councillor Jane Corbett highlighted the importance of pre-decision scrutiny on the Mersey Development Corporation and suggested looking into the city region becoming a Marmot City Region and the implications of Section 1 of the Equality Act.

The committee agreed to consider the draft work programme and authorised the Scrutiny Officer, in consultation with the Chair, to finalise it.

The meeting concluded with thanks to all attendees and supporting officers.