Liverpool City Council has voted to remove the city’s elected Mayor position.
Wednesday’s binding vote at the Town Hall will see the title which was reintroduced a decade ago scrapped in line with the May 2023 local elections.
It means Joanne Anderson is set to be the last person to serve in the role previously occupied by Joe Anderson (no relation) in the Labour-run council.
The council, which is currently being overseen by commissioners, will revert to the leader and cabinet model which was commonplace prior to 2012.
But the decision drew stern criticism from opposing parties with local Liberal Democrats leader Richard Kemp branding the mayoral experience a ‘disaster’.
He said: “Spending £140,000 on a consultation and going for the third option of the three, shows the contempt the Labour Party has for the feelings of the people of Liverpool.”
Liberal leader Cllr Steve Radford accused Labour of ‘taking the micky’ by using a public consultation to which only four per cent of residents had taken part.
Of those who responded to the poll, over 40% said they would prefer to keep the mayoral system while just 24% opted for the leader and cabinet model.
He said: “You are saying ‘we are going to vote for the least popular option and after asking the people of the city, we don’t give a damn what they think’.”