Member Spotlight - Cllr Liam Robinson

1. What initially motivated the council to bring services back in-house, and what were the key objectives you hoped to achieve from doing this?

Over the past 30 years, Liverpool's environmental services had been delivered through a number of different models, including external contractors, joint ventures and most recently through Liverpool Streetscene Services Ltd. We took the decision to bring those services back in-house because we wanted greater control over the services we provide, greater accountability, and a stronger ability to shape services around the needs of Liverpool residents.

Environmental services are among the most visible services any council delivers. Residents see the difference they make every day in the cleanliness of streets, the condition of parks and green spaces, and the overall appearance of neighbourhoods. Our objective was to ensure we could respond more quickly to local needs, strengthen accountability and invest directly in frontline services that make a real difference to communities.

2. Looking back on Liverpool's insourcing journey so far, what have been the biggest successes and achievements?

One of the biggest successes has been us having greater flexibility to shape operations around what residents are telling us they want to see in their neighbourhoods.

We've been able to back that approach with significant investment. We've committed around £7.5 million over the next two years to strengthen environmental services, including recruiting more than 100 additional frontline staff.

We're already beginning to see positive results. Between April and June this year, requests relating to cleansing services fell by around 30 per cent.

3. If you could offer one piece of advice to council leaders considering insourcing, what would it be?

My advice would be to start with the outcomes you want to achieve for residents and work backwards from that. The question should always be whether it will help you deliver better services, respond more effectively to local needs and improve outcomes for communities.

It's also important to recognise that this is about people as much as processes. Bringing services in-house gives you an opportunity to build closer links between frontline teams, communities and decision-makers. If you keep residents at the heart of the process and remain clear about the objectives you're trying to achieve, the benefits can be significant.

4. Liverpool recently welcomed delegates to the APSE Annual Seminar. How important are opportunities such as the Annual Seminar for sharing best practice and helping councils learn from one another? 

Events like the APSE Annual Seminar are incredibly valuable. Councils across the country are facing many of the same challenges, whether that's increasing demand for services, financial pressures or changing expectations from residents.

No authority has all the answers, which is why opportunities to share ideas, learn from one another and discuss practical solutions are so beneficial.

The seminar provided a valuable opportunity for honest conversations about the challenges we face, but also about the opportunities that are available. By sharing experiences and learning from what has worked elsewhere, councils can strengthen services and deliver better results for the communities they serve.