Liverpool Council expects to appoint a new full-time chief executive by next May.
Following the resignation of former authority boss Tony Reeves earlier this year, Liverpool Council confirmed last month it had moved to appoint former Northamptonshire County Council chief Theresa Grant to step in on an interim basis. It was certified last night that Ms Grant will lead the organisation for a period of around eight months.
During a full meeting of Liverpool Council, members officially agreed to Ms Grant’s appointment as head of paid service, returning officer and electoral registration officer until May 2023. Since Mr Reeves stepped down in July, the role of head of paid service had been held by Anne Marie Lubanksi, the council’s director of adult services and health, on a temporary basis.
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City solicitor Dan Fenwick had been acting as returning officer and electoral registration officer. Ms Grant’s appointment was made by the commissioners overseeing the local authority, according to documents submitted for last night’s meeting.
Mayor Joanne Anderson said she was “delighted” to welcome Ms Grant on board and paid tribute to her extensive track record in local government. She added that herself, opposition leader Cllr Richard Kemp, and cabinet member Cllr Frazer Lake were involved in the appointment.
In July, former chief executive Tony Reeves announced his resignation after four years in post as the council's most senior officer. He was appointed in July 2018 having previously worked in the Cunard administration as a consultant.
His resignation came hot on the heels of his deputy, Mel Creighton, who also walked away from her role as director of finance and resources. During last night’s meeting, Ian Duncan was confirmed as the latest postholder for the brief, with previous interim officer Chris Buss also leaving the organisation last month.
Mr Duncan has been appointed to his position for six months. According to the report, the government commissioners said both Ms Grant and Mr Duncan “bring a wealth of experience from a range of local government challenges.
“They will provide much needed expertise and stability to the Council through a critical period to the 2023 budget.” In the meantime, the commissioners have vowed to work with officers to progress the permanent recruitment to both posts.
Mayor Anderson said that both appointments would bring a “fresh energy and laser focus” for the challenges the council faces and to transform it into a local authority the city deserves. The appointment of two additional interim figures came in for criticism by opposition leaders, including Cllr Kemp, who said he was "bewildered" by the number of temporary staff across the organisation.
Cllr Steve Radford, leader of the Liberal Party group, said he felt the addition of interim staff was not an approach that "adds up" given the issues facing the council. Cllr Anna Rothery, leader of the Liverpool Community Independents, said the local authority had "long term issues that require long term solutions."
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