The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has announced that Michael Gove, Levelling Up Secretary, has expanded the government intervention into Liverpool City Council.
The intervention was introduced to get the council’s finances back on track, in order to deliver value for money for the taxpayers in the city. This has led to the appointment of commissioners, with the powers of those commissioners being increased in this recent development.
New powers over governance, financial decision-making and recruitment have been announced as part of the expansion, to improve the running of the council, alongside the appointment of a Finance Commissioner.
That Finance Commissioner, Stephen Hughes, has previously worked as interim Chief Executive at Bristol Council and will oversee the financial management of the council, with the aim of guiding it towards a brighter future. Hughes’ experience will be utilised to ensure that a balanced budget is set, using money in a wiser way. This includes the strengthening of financial resilience, management and accountability across the council, which will hopefully rebuild the trust between the people of the city and the council.
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said:
“I am committed to helping Liverpool City Council come out of this intervention as a stronger organisation and that is why I am taking further steps to put the council on a firmer footing.
“Liverpool is a city of fantastic potential and, under the guidance of the new Finance Commissioner, I am confident they will be able to rebuild trust with those they serve and deliver for the taxpayer.”
Government intervention in the council began in June 202, with the appointment of four commissioners to oversee the council’s highways, property and regeneration functions. The original commissioners are Mike Cunningham, Joanna Killian, Neil Gibson and Deborah McLaughlin.
