The lead government commissioner overseeing troubled Liverpool Council has explained why his team is moving to expand its intervention over the local authority.
Mike Cunningham, who heads up a team of four government appointed officials, said the installation of an additional commissioner with responsibility for finance would provide the relevant expertise needed for the local authority to turn its fortunes around. The recruitment of a fifth officer was recommended as the Whitehall representatives delivered their second update to the government last month.
The wide-ranging report “identified systematic, whole-council weaknesses” alongside its financial shortcomings. As well as highlighting the “organisation-wide culture where people do not feel accountable for managing public money” government appointed commissioners at the Cunard Building have found serious gaps in Liverpool Council’s leadership, risk management, decision making and workforce capability.
