Liverpool Council defends leaving taxpayers with another hefty bill for government officials

Liverpool Council has defended taxpayers having to fork out tens of thousands of pounds for a new board to oversee the city.

It was revealed earlier this week how despite the formal intervention into the city coming to a close three years after the damning Caller Report, residents face a new bill to pay for a voluntary panel helping Liverpool Council get on its own two feet. One of the three panel members is in line to take home £35,000 for the equivalent of seven weeks of work.

In a fresh report, the local authority said the amount being set aside for the new body was a “significant reduction” on what the five-strong team of commissioners received during their formal work.

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A fifth and final report into Liverpool Council last month said such was the progress since the shocking findings in 2021, the city had done enough to warrant an end to official government oversight. With some work still required, however, it was recommended that an informal board be set up to help the council through the final steps to a lasting transition.

Cllr Liam Robinson, leader of Liverpool Council, said the move was a “really significant stage” for the city. Cabinet documents released this week said “many challenges remain” for the city and it owes a “deep responsibility” to its people to continue its improvement journey.

Former lead commissioner Mike Cunningham is expected to be appointed as chair at a rate of £1,000 a day for 35 days’ work. His colleagues - yet to be confirmed - will receive £900 a day for 18 days respectively, totalling £16,200 each.

A further £10,000 has been set aside for expenses, taking the full cost to £77,400.

This figure has been defended by the local authority in documents going before the city’s audit committee next Thursday. A report on the improvement board said: “The cabinet report also details the additional costs of the new board, which are a significant reduction compared to the costs of a formal intervention and previous commissioner costs.”

These will be funded from the council’s corporate policy and contingency budget in 2024/25. Across the three years of the intervention the council had set aside almost £2.5m to fund the commissioner costs which was funded from the improvement reserve.

The estimated costs of the new improvement board are “significantly less” than the council could have expected to pay had the formal intervention continued beyond last month, according to its own analysis. The board is to be formally ratified on Tuesday July 16, with further announcements on who will join Mr Cunningham in post.

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