The LCRCA is a strategic authority with powers and responsibilities over the regions transport, economic development and regeneration, culture and tourism, energy, justice and health.

[3] A new City Region Cabinet was established, made up of the leaders of the 6 local authorities in Halton, Knowsley, Sefton, St. Helens and Wirral and private sector representation through the Chair of The Mersey Partnership.

The Cabinet continued to evolve and in 2012, central government declared the 'Liverpool City Region Deal' which came with the establishment of a local transport body.

On 21 June 2013, the Liverpool City Region Cabinet agreed that there needed to be a wholesale review of governance arrangements in the area.

The report identified the city region as one of the fastest growing economies in the UK which had outgrown existing informal relationships between the local authorities.

The report recommended the establishment of a more formal combined authority to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of local transport, promote economic development and regeneration.

[10] The scheme to establish a Liverpool City Region Combined Authority was then submitted to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government by 30 September 2013.

[11][12] The name was changed to Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral Combined Authority in the draft order presented to the UK parliament.

[15] An explanatory memorandum attached to the orders creating the combined authorities stated that any name including 'City Region' was considered "misleading and inappropriate" by the government.

Once elected, the Mayor exercises the powers and functions devolved from the UK's national government, which are set out in the local area’s evolving devolution arrangements.

Primarily, the Mayor's role is to work alongside his colleagues within the Combined Authority and to focus on significant issues that affect the economy, infrastructure, health, wellbeing and strategic planning of the city region.

The Committee’s role is to promote and maintain high standards of conduct by Combined Authority Members, including dealing with complaints about behaviour Made up of Members of the Combined Authority, the Appointments and Disciplinary Committee deals with staff terms and conditions, including the process and procedures for the appointment and dismissal of the Head of Paid Service, the Executive Directors and the Monitoring Officer and determining pay and grading.

Their purpose is to support early engagement with Constituent Local Authorities on policy development and decision making by the mayor's cabinet, with the board not having a decision-making role themselves.

The first devolution agreement was announced on 17 November 2015 which allocated powers over local business growth and support, culture, employment and skills, energy and environment, fiscal responsibilities, housing and planning, innovation and transport.

[45] The government has committed to further strengthening the Liverpool city region’s devolution arrangements in line with national plans surrounding the Northern Powerhouse.

[57] The government also confirmed that this move did not mark the end of the city region's devolution journey, that more functions would be transferred from Whitehall and the levels of power would continue to be reviewed in the future.

[59] Across September and November 2020, the combined authority started a land commission - reported as the first of its kind in England to re-orientate the city region's economy around community wealth building.