A call was made for the Mayor of Liverpool and her cabinet to have their pay decreased over performance.
Steve Radford, leader of the Liberal Party group at the Town Hall, and members of the newly-formed Liverpool Community Independents group have questioned the value of the allowances being spent on paying Liverpool Council’s executive team in the midst of its energy contract debacle.
Cllr Radford, who represents Tuebrook and Stoneycroft ward, is aiming to put forward a motion calling on cross-chamber support for a 20% in the fees paid towards Mayor Joanne Anderson and her seven-strong cabinet. Currently, Mayor Anderson receives an annual stipend of £83,539, “which is designed to cover the activities and duties – together with any incidental cost for which no other provision is made – in respect of the discharge of the office of Elected Mayor.”
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Deputy Mayor Cllr Jane Corbett receives £30,074 while the rest of the cabinet are handed £13,269. Pressure has ramped up on Mayor Anderson and Cllr Corbett in particular for their role in a mix up over an electricity contract that could end up costing the local authority millions of pounds.
Cllr Radford was withering in his assessment of the cabinet’s performance. He said: “I have tabled a motion to be heard at the full council meeting next week.
“The cabinet is an absolute calamity, it’s chaos. Our group has resolutely agreed with this motion and at the moment, we’re seeing the whole budget process falling apart in front of our very eyes.
“You’ve got a cabinet bereft of any experience, it’s not the finest example of financial prudence.” The top team at the Cunard building has also come in for criticism from ex-Labour members who formed the new Liverpool Community Independents group.
The councillors took to Twitter to question the fees awarded to the Mayor. They tweeted: “She (Mayor Anderson) is on £84,000 per year and still takes the money from an already financial cash strapped council…where is her sense of priorities!? If she had any compassion, she should have donated them funds to a local food bank or to the Whitechapel Centre.”
According to Liverpool Council’s scheme of members remuneration, minority party leaders, like Cllr Radford receive an additional £7,565. It is yet to be confirmed whether the motion will be considered by the full Liverpool Council when it meets for its annual general meeting on Wednesday at the Town Hall.
A pay rise of 1.75% is expected to be green lit for all members at that meeting, taking their basic allowance to £10,775 per year, an increase of £185.
