A politician has criticised a government commissioner for not declaring her links to private companies.
Her boss has told Councillor Richard Kemp, leader of Liverpool's Liberal Democrats, that commissioner Deborah McLaughlin acted in accordance with the rules but commissioners have now volunteered to declare more than they need to.
Cllr Kemp wrote to chief commissioner Mike Cunningham complaining that Ms McLaughlin had not declared her directorships with five companies, including builders Mulbury Homes Ltd, which he said had interests in Liverpool. He pointed out that Ms McLaughlin is the lead commissioner for regeneration, and said she should have declared her links to Mulbury Homes.
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She is currently the director of ForLiving Limited, ES Housing Limited and DMCL & Associates Ltd. She resigned from Mulbury Homes Limited on January 21 this year. The company entered into administration the following month. Ms McLaughlin also resigned from Manchester Camerata in March this year.
The spokesperson for the commissioner's office told the ECHO that Ms McLaughlin was not obliged to declare her directorships with companies that were not operating in the Liverpool area.
The commissioners would now declare their roles with companies that are based outside Liverpool, a spokesperson for their office said.
The procedural change follows the concern raised by Cllr Kemp.
A council spokesman said: "The rules have not changed around declaring interests. They will voluntarily go over and above what is required."
A section of Cllr Kemp's letter read: "These are actions and failures to act which might just be conceivable in a rookie officer or councillor but are clearly incompatible with a person of the supposed experience of Ms McLaughlin in the oversight role over an entire council that she currently has.
"I look forward to hearing from you what action you intend to take to regularise the situation."
The spokesperson for the Commissioners Office said: “We are aware of Cllr Kemp’s letter and points raised regarding Deborah McLaughlin’s declaration of interests. At the time of signing, the interests were accurately recorded. Deborah was on the board of, but not employed by, a few companies. None were operating in Liverpool or the City Region at the time of declaration, so did not need to be included.
“The Commissioners declarations of interest forms were updated as required in July 2022 and once verified will be published on the council’s website. In the interests of consistency and greater transparency further detail will be provided on any additional interests outside of Liverpool or the City Region.”
Cllr Kemp said to the ECHO: "If Ms McLaughlin was doing the right thing why is the procedure now being changed? As highlighted in Max Caller's Best Value report there are particular issues within the city's regeneration department."
Then Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick ordered Whitehall commissioners to be sent to oversee the troubled council departments of highways, regeneration and property management following Max Caller's Best Value report. The commissioners were appointed last in June last year.
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