OUR 'city region' is now alive with speculation as to who might enter the fray to become the directly elected mayor.

I am not entering into that contest.

What I want to see is that, whoever is elected, is held to account.

That cannot mean waiting for a decision to be handed down, shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted, grumbling after the event.

We need ways of getting the new mayor to set out what they are working on.

They must be prepared to set out their projects to a wide range of councillors from across our region.

They have to be prepared to do this regularly.

I have floated the idea of a regional 'assembly'.

In my view it could be set up at the outset, elected at the same time as the new mayor.

My ideas are not set in stone.

I am willing to work on them with politicians of all parties.

I do not want to see a new bureaucracy but a slim and responsive way of sharing progress on the key projects and spending.

The clock is ticking.

The Labour leaders of our local councils, sitting on the 'combined authority' will be busy creating new ways of working.

Guidance from Whitehall is expected soon.

A new system is being set up.

To succeed it has to engender trust at its birth.

Cllr Phil Gilchrist, Leader, Wirral Liberal Democrat group.