Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun has refused his invitation to attend the Hong Kong Summit this week. Liverpool City Council debated the issue of mayoral attendance at the 5th Annual Aerotropolis Summit in February, scheduled to take place in Hong Kong in a few days time. The conference, which focuses on the development of aerotropolis hubs around the world, had invited Mayor Ned Mannoun to present on behalf of Liverpool.
A motion allowing the Mayors attendance was initially moved by Councillor Macnaught and seconded by Councillor Ammoun, proposing that Council approve Mayor Mannoun’s attendance, accompanied by the CEO or an alternate officer. However, upon being put to the meeting, this motion was declared lost.
During the debate Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun said ” I frankly don’t care, I am happy not to attend” (46:29)
In what Councillor Mathew Harte later commented was a Work Health and Safety issue , Mayor Mannoun retired from the meeting and left the Chamber, with Deputy Mayor Harle assuming the role of Chairperson. Following this, a foreshadowed motion was moved by Councillor Ristevski and seconded by Councillor Karnib. The motion proposed that Council:
- Note the invitation from the event organisers;
- Confirm the attendance of Mayor Mannoun to present at the conference;
- Allow the CEO or an alternate officer to consider attending with the Mayor; and
- Require any Councillor wishing to attend to do so at their own expense.
This motion was carried with a majority vote. Councillors Green, Harle, Harte, Ibrahim, Karnib, Monaghan, and Ristevski voted in favour, while Councillors Adjei, Ammoun, and Macnaught voted against. Notably, Mayor Mannoun was not in the Chamber when this motion was voted on.
A rescission motion was then introduced, signed by Councillors Ammoun, Harte, and Macnaught, seeking to overturn the resolution allowing self-funded representation. The rescission motion was debated and subsequently lost, with Councillors Adjei, Ammoun, Harte, and Macnaught voting in favour, while Councillors Green, Harle, Karnib, Ibrahim, Monaghan, and Ristevski voted against. As per Council’s Code of Meeting Practice, Deputy Mayor Harle, who did not vote, was recorded as voting against the motion.
Following the rescission motion, all Liberal Councillors, including Macnaught, Ammoun, Harte, and Adjei, left the Chamber.
In an exclusive interview with localpulse.press before flying to Hong Kong on Friday Ristevski said: “Its an absolute priviledge to be representing Liverpool Council in Hong Kong this week and I am more than happy to pay my own costs rather than burden the ratepayers of Liverpool. I am disappointed that the Mayor has decided to decline such a fantastic opportunity to showcase Liverpool. I think it says a lot about the recent performance of Mayor Ned Mannoun, lets just leave it at that. I am looking forward and focussing on meeting with a number of business leaders and partners to understand and develop how we can have the residents and ratepayers benefit most from the new airport in our backyard”.
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